Monday, January 28, 2008 Costanila: Radyo Bisdak By Sam Costanilla spotlight
MY GOOD friend Rolly Wagas, who is now based in Texas, e-mailed to inform everybody that he has just established an Internet radio station called Radyo Bisdak, Ang Tingog sa mga Bisaya. Rolly, a prolific songwriter and fine singer, used to play in some nightspots in Cebu before he and his family decided to move to the US for good. He wrote that in order to listen to his Internet radio station, we simply have to visit http://radyobisdak.com anytime of the day.
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TO me, Rolly’s decision to establish this Internet radio station is so laudable considering the large Cebuano-speaking populace, not only in Texas but in other US states as well. Our fellow Cebuanos there stand to benefit from this endeavor. In his e-mail, Rolly stressed that his only aim in setting up Radyo Bisdak is to provide an avenue for all Cebuanos/Visayans in Texas and other states to get in touch with their relatives here in Cebu and other parts of the country, and vice versa. The same Internet radio station will also allow Cebu-based musicians to air their songs for all Cebuanos/Visayans in Texas and other states. By the way, Rolly, the brother of Compostela Mayor Ritchie, has a nice term for all Visayans abroad and that is Bisyaw. It means Bisayang nanglangyaw. Cute.
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SOME spectators of the 28th Cebu Popular Music Festival, staged last Jan. 18 at the Cebu Coliseum, commented negatively about the appearance of the University of the Visayas Chorale members in an ethnic costume while rendering two Cebuano classic love songs before doing a third number that justified their getup. Strictly speaking, that should not have been the situation. The singers should have been in a Filipiniana costume in keeping with the harana concept. Their third number, however, justified their ethnic costume, but since the event was all about Cebu popular music, that particular number should not have been included in their repertoire.
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THE ad lib made by a male member of the choir prior to their songs was uncalled for. According to some people in the audience, it was highly improper for him to say something about the delay in the announcement of the judges’ verdict. Well, lapses do happen in live shows, but they could have been avoided had everything been thoroughly discussed in pre-production meetings. For instance, the show director could have asked the choir members about their songs and costume days before the actual event. Imagine haranistas (serenaders) in g-strings. Funny!
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TEARS of pride and joy were shed by some spectators that witnessed the spectacular dance numbers that 1,500 Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) inmates did two Fridays ago. As emcee of the three shows that the dancing inmates presented, I saw a lot of spectators wiping away tears of joy and pride upon seeing them perform various dance steps in perfect timing and precise movements. What the people saw and will continue to see is a product of the culture of discipline that Governor Gwen Garcia, in her capacity as chief provincial jailer, has imposed upon the inmates. At first glance, one can hardly believe that the CPDRC inmates can dance at all but they could—gracefully and well.
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EVEN foreign correspondents who covered the inmates’ shows could hardly believe what they saw. I was able to talk to one of them and she said she’d been covering important events all over the globe but it was her first time to cover an event featuring inmates dancing for more than an hour. Their version of Sinulog was spectacular while their finale number, titled Mabuhi, was so touching especially in the portion where the Philippine flag was proudly waved by an inmate. The governor herself danced with the inmates in this particular number. The plan to do a monthly show for the general public is most welcome as this could give the rest of the Cebuanos the chance to see the CPDRC inmates perform live, up close and personal.
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THIS writer seldom sells tickets but this time, I am selling some because I believe in the noble cause for which such effort is being exerted. I am referring to a dinner-concert for a medical cause that the Cebu United Radio and Television Artists (Curta) Corp. is staging on Feb. 16 at the Baseline grand ballroom. Proceeds of this show will go to the medical aid fund of our club whose membership includes retired, semi-retired and active radio and television drama writers, directors, talents, spinners, etc.
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THE dinner-concert will feature some Curta Corp. talents as performers, like Dante Luzon, Baby Condeno, Ester Alferez, Cora Rosales-Jayma, accordion wizard Bebe Rizada and yours truly as their pianist. Curta Corp., headed by veteran drama director Emil Rizada Jr., would appreciate it very much if you buy tickets to the show and help a noble cause. Kindly text this writer or call tel. nos. 2544280 or 2618466 or cell phone number 09285050017 and look for Ella.
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THIS notorious couple is using a local radio station in making fast money by extortion. The husband-and-wife team’s nefarious activities continue to be the talk of the town.
