Wednesday, October 15, 2008 Local musician bags Thomasian awards
A MUSICIAN and a homegrown artist got the prestigious Thomasian Award in the Field of Music and Arts in line with the 57th Founding Anniversary of Sto. Tomas for his various contributions to the field of local art as well as to the enrichment of music in his town.
Jose Irwin Nucum of San Bartolome here, an award-winning composer and lyricist, was awarded by Mayor Joselito Naguit and other municipal officials here during the formal honor rights at the Sto. Tomas Municipal Hall here.
Naguit said the award is given to outstanding Sto. Tomas residents who have contributed immensely to the cultural uplifting and prestige of the municipality.
"This serves as an inspiration for our fellow Thomasians so as they would strive better in their chosen fields," Naguit said, adding that Nucum has qualified immensely for the award.
Nucum attributes his honed talent and passion for music to his alma mater, the Mother of Good Counsel Seminary where he earned his Bachelor of Arts Major in Philosophy Cum Laude in 1987.
Since his entry into the seminary in 1982, Irwin has been of service to various parishes in the Archdiocese of San Fernando as liturgical music director. Over the years, he has composed several Pampango hymns and liturgical songs for the further promotion and enrichment of our own music and language.
A recognized composer, Nucum bagged the Grand Prize in the Archdiocesan Songwriting Contest with his obra maestra "Dalit ning Jubileo." This majestic piece became the official anthem of the Archdiocese on its Golden Jubilee as a Diocese in 1998.
Years later, he emerged as the 2nd Grand Prize winner in the prestigious Ligligan Kantang Pasku sponsored by the Center for Kapampangan Studies with his work "Salamat 'Ting Pasku." Salamat 'Ting Pasku is among those featured in Holy Angel University (HAU)'s Paskung Kapampangan CD compilation.
Through the years, Nucum has been commissioned to pen the official hymns of schools (Dominican School of Apalit, San Matias High School and Distrito ning Sto. Tomas) and parishes [Himno king Sto. Niño (CSFP), Himno kang Sto. Tomas Apostol (Sto. Tomas), Himno kang San Bartolome Apostol (Magalang), Himno kang San Pedro Apostol (Apalit) and Himno kang San Luis Gonzaga (San Luis)].
He also composed some Lenten songs like "Ing Panalangin king Gethsemani, E Daka Lakuan, Mikakalugud Kayu and Ing Tauling Apunan" to form part of an original Kapampangan passion play staged yearly -- live -- in the Parish of St. Thomas the Apostle.
For the 2004 Archdiocesan celebration of the World Meeting of Families at Clark Amphitheater, he wrote and arranged "Ing Pamilyang Manalanging Abe-abe" as an appropriate hymn for the occasion. For the said opus, he was conferred a Certificate of Merit by the San Lorenzo Ruiz Center of Schools and Studies in the same year.
In 2005 Mon David recorded Irwin's masterpiece "We'll Always Remember," the officially-adopted anthem of the Federation of Pampanga High School (PHS)/Jose Abad Santos High School Alumni Associations Foundation, Inc.
The said anthem, a grand tribute of the two artists to their alma mater, is earnestly sung during homecoming, reunion, get-together, convention, fellowship, seminar and meeting of PHS alumni and most especially during the commencement exercises of PHS' graduating students.
In 2007, Nucum made the lyrics and music of Uli Mu, Muli Ku that became the banner canticle of the Mother of Good Counsel Seminary alumni on their 25th Year Founding Anniversary. Uli Mu, Muli Ku later landed as one of the ten finalists in the 1st Aslag Kapampangan Song Festival and was among those enshrined in a commemorative album. Uli Mu, Muli Ku was also featured during the Sentenaryu: The 2008 Centennial Celebration of Pampanga High School.
Nucum's greatest and long-lasting achievement is when he paid a fitting homage to his kabalens by leaving them a perpetual legacy with his inspired "Himno ning Balen Sto. Tomas (P.)." The "Himno," majestically interpreted by Mon David, was unanimously adopted as the official hymn of the Municipality of Sto. Tomas by its august Sangguniang Bayan
"This is not about the honor but about how great the people of Sto. Tomas could be," Nucum said as he held up the award given by the municipality.
Also awarded in the event were Antonio Galang (Poetry), Diomari Ivan Tayag (Sports), and Councilor Nelson Santos (Public Service).
Certificates of recognition were also given to Barangay Health Workers Lourdes Lansangan, Corazon Silva, Teresita Catacutan, Socorro Manansala, Josefina Pangilinan, Rosemarie Pineda, Rosita Bundalian and Teresita Fernanez for their outstanding performance in health service.
For invites, comments, suggestions, violent reactions, hate-mails, indignant rebuttals and what-have-you email the author at ianocampoflora@yahoo.com. (09275425466) (IOF)
