|
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
The guitar man
By John Ferrick Casinabe
DUMAGUETE City is the socio-cultural and academic hub of Negros Oriental. It is dubbed as the "City of Gentle People". And it is the home of the Boulevard Guitar Man who plies the stretch of Rizal Boulevard entertaining promenaders with songs for a small fee.
I first met this guy during my freshman year in Silliman University. I was hanging out along the boulevard with several dorm mates when he approached and without any ceremony belted out a song from Hagibis. Pleased, we requested him to sing us any song from the Beatles. When he was through, the last notes drifting away with the breeze into the open sea, we asked, "how much?"
"Bisa'g pila lang," he said simply.
It was our first of several encounters with the Boulevard Guitar Man.
Later we learned that his name is Jerry Mendoza, a native of Pamplona town, but staying in Barangay Banilad, Dumaguete City. He spent his first and second year of high school in Davao City and learned how to strum the guitar there too.
Jerry knows a lot of songs including, not surprisingly, several gospel songs. His serenade begins at sundown and ends at nine o'clock in the evening.
His earnings depend on the number of people strolling along the boulevard. Generally, he averages P150 a night.
Jerry said he started his boulevard career in 2001 when he noted the presence of hundreds of visitors flocking to the city for the centennial celebration of Silliman University.
Most tourists, he said, especially those from Davao City, Manila, Bacolod City, and Cebu pay a lot for a song or two. "Dako sila manghatag ug kwarta," he said.
Jerry's repertoire ranges from folksongs to gospel songs. But he prefers old songs to the new ones.
One evening, our guitar man entertained us with Parokya ni Edgar's "Mr. Suave". Through his sweat, his voice straining and cajoling, and body movements, we felt Jerry loved what he was doing. His voice might not have been of the rock star's, but he sang with passion.
He said that if he weren't in Dumaguete City, he would have been doing the same thing probably along Manila's Roxas Boulevard.
Jerry may look strange and could be jeered at or made fun of. But, he has an air of confidence and optimism. He does his song with passion. And he enjoys his vocation. No problem. He could last a lifetime.
"Wala ra man, wala ra basta enjoy ra ko... bisan pa'g 300 years," he said in jest.
The next time you happen to stroll along Rizal Boulevard, look for Jerry. He will gladly oblige you with a song.
* John Ferrick Casinabe is a junior mass communication student at Silliman University. He is on internship at Sun.Star Dumaguete
(May 30, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
