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Friday, August 11, 2006
Serna: New studios
By Roger Serna
Sounds and images
A day before the Kapuso Network met the Cebuano community for the Kapuso Day they held at the Mandaue Sports and Cultural Complex middle of last month, GMA 7 executives met some members of the Cebu media at the roof deck of the GMA Cebu studios at Nivel Hills.
It was so humble and honest on the part of GMA chairman, president and CEO Felipe Gozon to admit that, except for its news and public affairs program, the network lags behind its closest competitor in Cebu.
The network is exerting so much effort (and spending a corresponding budget), though, to improve its reach in the Vis-Min area to keep up with the competition. Gozon opined that for so long a time the network has allowed the market to be dominated by its competitor. He quickly added that the network is catching up with lost time.
Because of this, the Cebuano audience, that of the entire archipelago and the Filipino communities outside the country can expect better and sensible programming from these networks, thanks to stiff and cut-throat competition.
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Last Sunday’s production number contest among Capitol employees which served as the culmination of the week-long celebration of the 437th founding anniversary of the Province of Cebu showcased not only the beauty and color of the different festivals of 18 local government units but also the interest, enthusiasm, industry and spirit of competition among the employees of the six participating clusters.
This fact was acknowledged by Gov. Gwen Garcia herself in her anniversary message delivered a few minutes before the announcement of winners. The Builders which presented the Mantawi, Haladaya (of Daanbantayan) and Kadaugan sa Mactan festivals bested the other contestants and won for themselves P25,000 cash prize.
The Executives came in second with an impressive presentation of the Kabkaban, Siloy and Kadagaya festivals of Carcar, Alcoy and Madridejos, respectively. The Legislators, banking on their remarkable rendition of the Palawod, Dinagat and Sinanggiyaw festivals of Bantayan, Cordova and Dumanjug, respectively, ended up as third placer.
For the Agri-Meds which performed the Tostado, Inasal and Bonga festivals of Santander, Talisay City and Sibonga); the Jailers (Sarok, Soli-soli and Karansa of Consolacion, San Francisco and Danao City); and the Unified Team (Kabanhawan, Caballo and Sadsad of Minglanilla, Compostela and Oslob), there is always a next time.
The aforementioned festivals were picked out of the more than 30 around the province for the simple reason that these are the ones (as of selection time) which already have existing festival jingles which were used in the cluster presentations.
While the rehearsals for the competition were going on, at least two more festivals came up with their own jingles. If and when the program and entertainment committee of the province’s anniversary celebration decides to have another showcase of the LGU’s festivals next year, perhaps a little over 20 or close to 30 festivals will already be featured.
Incidentally, at least two festivals are staged this week, the Bonga and Dinagat. More power!
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In an unexpected turn of events, yours truly personally met top-rated, respected and award-winning composer Vehnee Saturno right here in the heart of Cebu City, first at the Soundtraxx Recording Studio and then at the inauguration of Hagiazo recording studio.
Vehnee was with Rene Mercado of Sarua Records as the latter’s talent, Maria Donna (she sang in the Asean Games opening ceremonies last December, remember?) recorded four of the former’s compositions.
Gani Villarojo of Soundtraxx divulged that of the four songs, two are intended for the Shanghai songfest in the last quarter of this year and perhaps in another songfest somewhere in the Middle East before the year ends.
Yes, Maria Donna is among those being considered to represent the country in the first songfest. Her fate will be determined with the outcome of the recordings she has just made. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and wish Maria Donna the best of luck.
Who knows, another feather will be added to the Cebuano talents’ cap when the time comes?
Yours truly (and some friends from the entertainment beat like Ryan Mark, Nathalie Tomada, Dodong Morallo and Kriss Relatado, among others) met Saturno once again the following day at the blessing of Homer Cang’s Hagiazo Audio Productions Co. at the Cherry Court complex along Gen. Maxilom ave.
Right after partaking of the cocktails, we toured around the studio and were amazed at the state-of-the-art sound engineering equipment of the studio. Homer, beaming with excitement and pride, let some guests listen to some compositions and arrangements he has made including a song by Saturno himself, which was interpreted by Search for the Star In A Million Season Two winner Kris Lawrence.
Some guests, including yours truly, were even more surprised to learn that some commercial jingles often played over the FM and AM band airwaves were also made by Homer.
With the interest and enthusiasm of local composers to have their works recorded, played and released commercially as evidenced by the composers who entered some of their works in next year’s Cebu pop fest, a new addition to the existing recording studios in the metropolis is a very welcome development.
Those of you who share the same interests with Homer, and have the necessary resources, there is still enough room for more studios, and still be assured of return of investments.
As some of those in the know say, Cebu is fast becoming another hub for the music and entertainment industry, among many other things. Grab the opportunity when it knocks at your door.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 11, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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