Monday, November 06, 2006 Costanilla: Cebuanaos shine in Shanghai fest By Sam Costanilla Spotlight
THERE is really truth to comments that Cebuano singers are tops in local, national and international competitions. When it comes to singing, we Cebuanos are undoubtedly amazing. Proof of this was the recent victory of two Cebuano performers who represented not only Cebu but the entire Philippines to the Shanghai Asia Music Festival held in China. The competition had a total of 24 finalists.
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THIS writer attended the victory dinner for Maria Donna, one of the two winners. Jimmy Marquez was still in Manila during the dinner at Casino Español de Cebu. Maria Donna won the gold, while Jimmy garnered the silver, being the first runner-up. Maria Donna said she could hardly believe that she won the top prize in the fiercely fought competition. “The other singers were popular and veteran artists in their respective countries so I was resigned to the fact that I could not make it even to the magic three,” Maria Donna remarked.
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SHE also admitted that days before the competition, she prayed hard to the Sto. Niño and vowed to offer her victory to Him. “My victory was a miracle for He really answered my prayer,” Maria Donna said. She revealed that it was the very first time in the competition’s history that two Cebuanos won the top prizes. Mind you, she even did her own makeup on contest night as her vocal coach Jay Unchuan had to attend to other pressing concerns elsewhere. Sarua Records top honco Rene Mercado and manager Baste Balboa are now finalizing plans to produce Maria Donna’s and Jimmy’s homecoming concert. To you, Maria Donna and Jimmy, cheers! You brought more pride and honor to Cebu and the Cebuanos.
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THE ever-lovely singer Raffi Quijano texted me that her album titled Manila Blend is now out in the market. She stated that the album is a collection of original Pilipino music (OPM) bossa nova pieces featuring the single Friend of Mine. Yes, Raffi is busy as far as her recording career is concerned but it doesn’t mean that she is neglecting her duties as chair of the Sangguniang Kabataan of Barangay Day-as in Cebu City. According to her, it’s just a matter of time management. By the way, Raffi is asking the general public to watch out for her music video on MYX soon. She is appealing to all to simply text MYX VOTE FRIEND OF MINE and send to 2366.
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SOUNDTRAXX Production Studio bigwigs Gani and Gloria Villarojo are saddened by the fact that one of the finalists to the Pinoy Dream Academy did not care to return what she had borrowed from them after her graduation. The couple said the lady, who was then completing her mass communications thesis, borrowed from them their only compilation of previous Cebu Popular Music Festival tapes because she had wanted to do an extensive research on the annual songwriting contest. The Villarojos assisted her until she was able to complete her thesis and eventually graduated.
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WHAT Gani and Gloria didn’t like is that until now, the Pinoy Dream Academy finalist didn’t even bother to call or text about the tapes that she had borrowed from them. The Villarojos are worried about the status of their only Cebu Pop compilation. Through this column, Gani and Gloria are requesting the finalist to kindly ring them up. They are hoping she still has the elementary courtesy of returning what she had borrowed from them. Maybe Pinoy Dream Academy head master Jim Paredes would take note of the finalists’s misdeed while she was still a student in Cebu. But I don’t know if this could be a minus factor for Chai Fonacier, which could lead to her possible eviction from the academy.
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MY pool of talents will be staging a two-hour variety show in Carcar next Monday, Nov. 13, as the town prepares for its annual fiesta celebration. It will be an evening of wholesome fun and laughter. Rozlyn Pena-Roy, a Carcaranon now based in Hawaii, is the sponsor of the show. Rozlyn is the owner and vice president of Coffees ‘n Epicurea, a shop of gifts and home accents based in Mamalahoa Highway, Captain Cook, Hawaii. Our Nov. 13 the show will have a comic duo, a magician-illusionist, singers and dancers. It’s a free entertainment treat which yours truly will be directing and emceeing.
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THIS popular priest here owns a sprawling resthouse somewhere in the south. But while this man of cloth is projecting the image of a very charitable and compassionate servant of the Church, he is actually greedy and arrogant when not in public. Not even his relatives can visit his resthouse by the sea.
