Monday, July 07, 2008 Costanilla: Potential song writers By Sam Costanilla Spotlight
YOURS truly had a great time interacting with close to 30 teeners coming from eight municipalities and two component cities during a songwriting workshop organized by the Cebu Provincial Council for the welfare of children chaired by Board Member Agnes Magpale.
The young participants were from Consolacion, Catmon, Sogod, Compostela, Oslob, Samboan, Malabuyoc, Carmen and the cities of Mandaue and Talisay. The event was held at Intosan Resort in Danao City last week.
Gani and Gloria Villarojo of Soundtraxx Production Studio were commissioned by Magpale to facilitate the two-day activity for the purpose of teaching the young participants all the techniques and rudiments of composing original Cebuano/Visayan songs.
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MY topic was all about the choice and use of appropriate Cebuano/Visayan words and phrases, spelling and pronunciation.
The teeners (12 to 17 years old) were very receptive to my point on the use of “deep” Cebuano/Visayan words, although I didn’t encourage the participants to use them in their comositions right away. I believe the process should be gradual. I emphasized to the teeners that the local tongue is so beautiful and as Cebuanos, they should learn — eventually — to love and fluently speak the dialect with so much pride.
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THE other lecturers were composer Jude Gitamondoc and singing coach Jay Unchuan. Jude spoke on songwriting 101 while Jay, who manages the Center for Pop Music Cebu branch, tutored them on proper song interpretation or how to interpret songs correctly. It’s surprising to know that before the teeners slept, they were already able to present to us their respective songs a capella (without accompaniment), which Jude recorded on his computer.
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NEXT Monday, I shall enumerate the names of the teeners whose original compositions have made it to the magic 10. Their songs will be produced in a compact disc album that Soundtraxx Production Studio shall produce. In October, which is the Children’s Month, the 10 songs will be interpreted by their young composers at the Cebu International Convention Center with no less than Gov. Gwen Garcia herself as the guest of honor and speaker. The October event is a contest and the governor, through Magpale’s office, has allocated a substantial amount as prizes. We should commend the provincial government for giving our talented children a chance to hone their musical artistry and skill.
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ONE of my Spotlight readers e-mailed this funny article titled “Is China Really Ready for the 2008 Olympics?” This has something to do with different notices and signages being displayed in various public places of China. Let me share this article with you, hoping to lighten your burden. After all, laughter is the best medicine, right? Here goes: 1) “Notice —please don’t touch yourself, let us help you to try out.” 2) “This comfort room is free of washing, please leave off after pissing or shitting.” 3) “The free toilet paper please treasure the use.” 4) “Please, no conversation, no saliva.” 5) “Slip carefully, take care to fall into water.” 6) “Please, throw anything and toilet paper into the toilet bowel.” 7) “Welcome for coming!” 8) “Please, do not feed the fishes with your private.” 9) “Special for deformed” (for the disabled). 10) “If you are stolen, call the police at once.”
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THIS self-proclaimed broadcaster is claiming to have a multi-million-peso deposit but that he could not withdraw even a single cent from it because of some legal constraints. His friends now doubt his credibility despite his constant use of biblical quotations during presscons.
