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Friday, August 19, 2005
Costanilla: At long last
By Sam Costanilla
Spotlight
SCREENING. After more than five hours of screening 151 original Cebuano compositions, yours truly and 11 others were able to come up with the top 12 entries that shall vie for big cash prizes in next year’s Cebu Popular Music Festival a.k.a. Cebu Pop. The songwriting competition is a yearly project of the Cebu Arts Foundation, Inc. chaired by Rep. Eduardo Gullas. I must admit - we screeners were having a tough task in choosing the magic 12 in that the entries carried various themes and made of different genres.
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MAGIC 12. After breaking at least five ties (for the 12th slot), we then completed the winning circle. Those that made it to the magic 12 (and their composers) are the following: Tatay, Pauli Na and Bidlisiw sa Bag-ong Paglaom by Dennis Gregory Sugarol, Bahalag Yabag by Jay-Ar Librando, Sugbo-ok by Troy Ciar, Bitoon Mo and Ning Kiliran by Jun Cabillar, Bombero, Barbero, Kusinero by Frederick Villarojo, Buhata Na by Nicanor Tampus, Jr., Ang Hagit by Joseph Abella, Silpon by Eugene Tan, Kaminero (Metro Aide) by Rev. Fr. Ponce Jed Bellones and Charles Louis Jayme and Laylay sa Inahan by Glen Salve. These and those entries that didn’t make it to the magic 12 carried various themes and made of different genres.
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SCREENERS. Aside from this writer, the other screeners were stage actress-singer Jamna Gicole, former television host Carol Ballesteros, composer-singer Lauro Flores, singing banker Bobby Jamiro, disc jockey William Sienes, choir conductor-educator Mila Cañete, executive Nestor Ouano, Vilma Galan of the UV college of nursing, singer Renan Ediza, singer-actress Baby Condeno and choir conductor Loi Cinco. We were ably assisted by Cebu Pop executive director Philogene Florita and Soundtraxx Production Studio bigwigs Gani and Gloria Villarojo.
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CRITERIA. In picking the magic 12, we used the following criteria as guide: lyrics (45%), music (45%) and impact (10%). Shortly before listening to the entries, we were also reminded by Sir Philogene that we should focus on those compositions that are radio-friendly. As planned, Sir Gani should be able to finalize the final recording of the magic 12 after the musical arrangement shall have been completed. Compact disc copies of these songs shall then be aired over local radio stations starting November this year.
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CONCERT. Tomorrow, Saturday, our very own Ultimate Diva Raki Vega shall stage a concert at the New Minglanilla Cultural Complex as one of the activities marking the annual fiesta celebration of the municipality. It’s a show that we Cebuanos should not miss. With Raki will be Angelica Jones and Salbakuta. The concert starts at exactly 8:00 p.m. but I advise you to be at the venue much earlier as seats are on a first come first served basis. Tickets are at P1,000,
P300 and P50. See you there.
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DUBBING. I think the issue on dubbing (from Tagalog to Cebuano) of some GMA 7 programs has become moot and academic considering that the network has decided to scrap the strategy in trying to win the hearts of the Cebuano televiewers. Now we can claim that the network has listened to our plea and criticism. I was also told that the network has received numerous e-mails assailing the airing of dubbed programs. Thank you, GMA 7, for being sensitive to public sentiment.
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BLUNDER. As far as I am concerned, being a concerned Bisayista, although not necessarily an expert in the dialect, I truly and deeply appreciate GMA 7’s effort. Such commendable move. However, the strategy used was erroneous. It committed a big blunder in trying to win the Cebuano viewers’ hearts. The network has employed what should be aptly tagged as “Binisayop,” not Binisaya. Of course, we understand that dubbing is less expensive than shooting a completely new Cebuano sitcom but in so doing, GMA 7 defeated the purpose of entertaining the Cebuanos. In fact, a substantial number of GMA 7 viewers shifted to ABS-CBN 3 and the less popular networks.
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WEIRD. This radio station manager has a weird way of making fast money at the expense of his/her employees.
The boss has a standing policy that station employees who entertain visitors from competing stations will be fined via salary deduction.
(For feedback, e-mail samcost@yahoo.com or text 0915-4992844).
(August 19, 2005 issue)
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