Monday, March 03, 2008 Costanilla: Summertime music lessons By Sam Costanilla spotlight
IT was an afternoon of immortal Cebuano/Visayan love songs last Thursday at the Tisa residence of Cebu United Radio & Television Artists Corp. founding chair Emil Rizada Jr. where Canada-based composer Mil Villareal dropped by to meet with some long-lost friends, including this writer. Maestro Mil, one of Cebu’s musical giants, gamely accompanied Eking Fernandez, Ester Alferez, Cora Rosales-Jayma and Baby Condeno on the keyboard. Mario Jadraque came in late, just as Maestro Mil and yours truly were about to leave for another engagement.
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THE foremost songwriter told us that he and his wife Tita are now on their 18th year as residents of Edmonton, Canada and that they’re enjoying life there. Fondly called Maestro Mil, he is now serving a local church in the area as its pianist. He may no longer walk comfortably without the aid of a cane (he had a hip replacement surgery in Canada) and one of his eyes may no longer be that sharp and clear but his style of playing the keyboard is still as impressive as ever. To recall, Maestro Mil was the pianist of the defunct dyRC from 1947 to 1972.
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INCIDENTALLY, Tony Sitoy, one of Maestro Mil’s New Jersey-based friends, is in Cebu now. He is here for Ginatilan’s town fiesta celebration next week. Tony and his brother Doc Rene and textile engineer Lino Monares have been collaborating with Maestro Mil in re-recording some of the latter’s immortal compositions for commercial distribution. Tony is now a retiree; he used to work for Revlon in New Jersey.
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THE dancing inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center continue to attract large crowds every time they entertain the general public inside the facility. Capitol consultant on security and jail matters Byron Garcia told me that the dancing inmates themselves have been prodding their choreographers Gwen Lador, Glen Mayol and Roger “Mamaru” Madera to teach them more and new dance numbers. So if you happen to watch the dancing inmates’ monthly presentation, you will notice that there are at least two new dance steps that they add to their usual lineup and it’s always refreshing to see them offer new numbers that highlight their unique and distinct dancing prowess and skill.
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BY the way, I was also informed by inmate Hermes Suaring (he used to work as field reporter of dyLA) that they will have their annual Siete Palabras or the recitation of Christ’s Seven Last Words on Good Friday, Mar. 21. He added that they are also planning to stage a dramatization of each Word. The speakers are selected inmates themselves. They include Domingo Casanes (sermon), Jotham Gono (introduction), Rony Ferrolino (otra introduction), Joel Rondobio (first word), Nilo Quirante (second word), Vicente Dingcong (third word), Jhon de los Cientos (fourth word), Nilo Villarico (fifth word), Freddie Piala (sixth word) and Hermes Suaring (seventh word). Rodolfo Ruiz will be the emcee. I still have to inquire if the inmates’ Siete Palabras is open to the general public but I think it’s a good idea to let the people come in and contemplate on Christ’s suffering together with the provincial inmates on Good Friday. What do you think?
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AS vacation time is fast approaching, maybe it’s a wise move on the part of parents to enroll their children in a music school and encourage them to develop their talent under the able tutelage of Maestro Dennis Gregory Sugarol, a well-travelled and multi-awarded musical artist, composer and mentor. He and his wife Gladys have set up Muzikhaus Studio at the CTK Commercial Bldg. in Tabok, Mandaue City. I advise the parents to enroll their kids now before summer classes begin on April 1. Muzikhaus Studio offers lessons on piano, organ, voice, instrumental ensemble, choral conducting, violin and guitar. I know that being new in the business, the studio offers a very affordable rate as part of its opening promo, so call tel. no. 420-5018 or cell nos. 09228556133 or 09202053194 right now because the slots are limited.
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THIS former recording star here continues to call his friends and colleagues to tell them about his “invention.” He annoys them with his “new alphabet” although those who know him well would just laugh. They are wondering if the former singer is still hooked on prohibited drugs.
