Sunday, May 04, 2008
Handumanan: Songspell in US tour
By Stella A. Estremera
LAST week at the Philippine Women's College audio visual center, the place was filled with songs, children as young as five to young adults aged 20, giving their best at their final dress rehearsals before the group flies out on May 7 for their "US Tour 2008: Handumanan".
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Handumanan is a Visayan word that means memory or remembrance, and the group of young Davao singers will be bringing memories with their Broadways, Pop OPMs, and kundimans to excited concert goers in San Francisco, California; Washington, DC; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Charleston, South Carolina. Aside from their concert tour, the group will also be visiting New York City and Los Angeles, California from May 7 to June 7.
In their repertoire are Broadway hits like Everything's Coming Up Roses, You'll Never Get Away from Me, Love Changes Everything, I Could have Danced All Night and many more in their Gypsy Overture, followed by Do You Hear the People Sing, Master of the House, Look Down, and the haunting On My Own and I Dreamed A Dream among several other songs in the Les Miserables Suite, and then the upbeat, OPM and Dance Medley that showcases the hiphop moves of the young singers in Hahabol-habol and Sumayaw Sumunod.
The whole repertoire slows down to old memories in the Kundiman suite with Hanggan, Ang Maya, Pag-Uwi, Bayan Ko, and Ako Ay Pilipino.
Young as they are, they will surely bring smiles, laughter and tears to Filipinos in the US who long for their homeland.
The children and young performers are Isabela Dominique Advincula, Klyd Joshua P. Agayan, Karen Joyce P. Agayan, Aaron M. Ansaldo, Melisa Nikola M. Ansaldo, Sydney May D. Besana, Enrico Luis C. Cordero, Athena Rae C. de Guzman, Isabella Lucita R. Francisco, Jazchrisha Toni C. Ferriols, Jerocho H. Given, Eunice Amanda Marie C. Laguesma, Joseph Raviv O. Leonor, Jacklyn Care A. Linayao, Benedict Edmund F. Madrazo, Demi Mae E. Marin, Dontia Thea E. Marin, Shiela Mae M. Mendoza, Earl Jan L. Miranda, Francis R. Orias, Jessa Mae R. Pondoc, Brazil Prosianos, Leilani L. Roca, Victor Mari V. Salvador, Lili Marguierite Isabeau P. Sevilla, Jerrico P. Sevilla, Madelle Dione T. Tabunda, Mark Justin M. Tanagon, Mona Lorraine M. Tombo, and Peter Paul C. Villaluna.
Under the guidance of their musical director Nelly Domingo Castro, giving guidance and much-needed assistance to the children are the Songspell officers: President Maline C. Cordero; Vice Pres external Kara Marie Francisco; Vice Pres internal Brigitte Ansaldo; Secretary Denise Marin; Treasurer Baby Morales; and Auditor Chino Porras.
And those who are part of the production, like Christine Mae de Guzman, who aside from being a mother of one of the children, is also sounds director; stage manager Nelson D. Edralin, who also gets to whip some songs; and voice coach and choreographer Mignon Margaret Sevilla.
Accompanying the young singers are mothers and an aunt: Danna Adincula, Cecilia P. Agayan, May D. Besana, Hamilinda Baltazar, Kim Harper Given, Marie Elizabeth C. Laguesma, Priscilla A. Linayao, Mary Jane L. Miranda, Mary Joy R. Pondoc, Celymar I. Prosianos, and Hannah Karina P. Sevilla.
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Zamboanga. For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (May 4, 2008 issue)
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