Monday, July 02, 2007 Costanilla: Screening Cebu Pop By Sam Costanilla spotlight
ONE of our Spotlighters, a certain Cherie Cel Santos, e-mailed to inquire about the screening of Cebu Popular Music Festival entries. She wrote: “Is it true that the contest screeners really do not know the names of the participating composers? How about the Villarojos (Gani and Gloria) who own Soundtraxx Production Studio where some of the entries are being recorded prior to submission for screening?” My reply: As a screener myself, let me point out that we do not have any idea as to the composers’ names because their lyrics sheets do not bear their identity. Also, in fairness to the Villarojos, they have a limited role in the screening of the entries.
LET it be stressed here that as far as Gani is concerned, his only role in every screening is merely to play the compact discs of the entries using his owncd player. He’s like a spinner, and out of delicadeza, he cannot screen the songs. True, some entries submitted for screening are being recorded at Soundtraxx but let me reassure Cherie and the rest of the public that the Villarojos have never influenced the screeners or did other acts which could affect the outcome of the screening. Gani and Gloria, as Cebu Pop album producers, have never thrown their weight around. On the contrary, they have been very helpful in ensuring a smooth and hassle-free screening of entries.
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BEFORE I forget, let me also remind interested composers to submit their Cebu Pop entries before July 31. Festival executive director Philogene Florita says this deadline is already fixed because he wants us screeners to hear all submitted songs second week of August. Entry forms are still available at the President’s Office of the University of the Visayas. Yes, a composer may pass as many entries as he can to widen his/her chances of making it to the magic 12.
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THE newly-created Cebu United Radio and Television Artists Corp. (CurtaCorp) is now duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Founding chair Emil Rizada, Jr. showed us CurtaCorp officers and members the club’s document signed by SEC Cebu director Merle Cunanan bearing registration number CN 200727397.
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IT is also worthwhile mentioning here that Reps. Tony Cuenco and Raul del Mar have already committed to help CurtaCorp’s medical/hospitalization program for its needy members. They also suggested that the rest of the Cebuano congressmen - and even those from the other provinces of Central Visayas - be tapped and asked to follow suit.
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WHAT’S this I heard that some participants to a recent Jose Rizal drama competition were complaining because they lost? I was told that the losers were harping on the qualifications of the judges who, by the way, are men of unquestioned credibility and integrity. That’s the trouble with some contestants - they could not accept defeat. Strictly speaking, contestants to any competition do not have the right to question the judges’ qualifications if their verdict does not make them (the participants) happy. I am sad that those young drama talents who questioned the judges’ qualifications have learned the ways of sour loserswith obsolete and distorted views about competitions. They better stop joining contests in the future.
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THIS youthful fitness gymmate of mine is being envied by her female peers after they learned that she is now driving a brand-new CRV for which she paid in cold cash for. The car is as sexy as the lovely owner, physical attributes that her female peers can never hope to achieve, however hard they sweat it out.
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ON a personal note, I felicitate my favorite Chinese restaurant for opening a new branch at the Gaisano Country Mall in Banilad. Undoubtedly, Family Choice is everybody’s choice because of its fine food and good service. Try it there.
