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Friday, August 05, 2005
Serna: Where have all our talents gone?
By Roger Serna
Sounds and images
The extension of the deadline for submission of entries for next year’s Cebu Popular Music Festival surely did create some noise. The extension, as we learned from the grapevine, was arrived at by the Cebu Arts Foundation Inc. that runs the songwriting fest due to insistent requests from interested composers who really found it hard to beat the deadline due to various reasons.
Some narrated that they were unable to finish their compositions immediately.
This columnist, a frustrated composer himself (now, it can be told!), could just surmise that one of the reasons could be lack of inspiration. Shallow? Whatever.
Others said they had difficulty in finding the right interpreters who could give justice to their songs. Oh, I thought Cebu was a virtual reservoir of talented singers.
Where have all these talented individuals gone, then? Have they been sucked up by the talent searches who are mostly based in Manila? Sad! Well, the prospect of winning a million pesos in cold cash, a house and lot, and all the other prizes at stake is just too attractive and tempting to ignore.
The thought of acquiring all these things in only a few months of ‘sacrifice’ also adds up to the lure of these talent searches.
So, can we blame these performers for, as they say, striking while the iron is hot?
On the other hand, if Cebu really teems with talented performers, regardless of whether they’re raw, slightly polished or already a shining jewel, the possibility of helping these people find their rightful places under the sun could also be something that the composers can give to these aspiring singers.
All they have to do is to ask around. For sure there are people who have seen or heard these people in videoke bars or in private functions. Who knows? They could just be waiting there somewhere for their chances to be discovered and eventually rise to fame. How about that?
The other source of the ‘noise’ resulting from the deadline extension are the composers who have been diligently working on their compositions early on so as to really come up with masterpieces that could eventually merit the screening committee members’ nods, while at the same time beat the first deadline.
Needless to say, they also have every reason to voice out their objections to the development. One said he now felt ‘the agony of waiting.’
Whatever, one thing is sure: the Cebu Pop has aroused interest among local composers. And possibly, Visayan music lovers, too!
The changes instituted in the songfest starting this year could be an indication that the songfest is really starting to live up to its name and that the real Cebu popular music is now surfacing.
Potential classics may not be found in this batch of songs, but at least they will revive the interest in Cebu music among local listeners, especially the young ones who have this misconception that Cebuano or Visayan music is ‘baduy’ and is below par, side by side with foreign compositions.
Hopefully, more young music lovers will compose the screening committee for compositions with modern touches and trimmings to be noticed and appreciated. Needless to say, Cebuano/Visayan music needs the young generation to appreciate it and perpetuate the beauty that Cebuano/Visayan music uniquely possesses.
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In one of the reviews about the ABS-CBN shows held in the United States, one that caught my eye was that written by Ruben Nepales of the Los Angeles Correspondent.
Among others, the writer praised Vina Morales whom he described as ‘a revelation’ having held the audience ‘in rapt attention with her singing and dancing skills, stage presence and most especially, her obvious joy in performing.’
Having seen Vina perform both on TV and live onstage, yours truly can only agree a hundred percent. Another thing, Vina is one of the few performers this writer considers as a personal friend. You can quote me on that.
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You may have noticed that Rosanna Roces is again on television granting interviews and, more often than not, badmouthing this or that person. Is she making noise preparatory to a comeback?
I’m wondering why she’s still given the chance to open her foul mouth. I don’t think being frank is a license to hurt other people’s feelings. When I heard her badmouth a former handler (who happens to be a host in the rival network) in The Buzz, I immediately thought of the possible consequences.
Now, ABS-CBN has issued a statement that, as per agreement with MTRCB, future interviews with Rossana will henceforth be pre-taped.
Come to think of it, why bother? There are definitely more good copies out there.
(August 5, 2005 issue)
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