Sunday, September 7, 2008

Cover Story

Tunog Mindanaw
By Stella A. Estremera

TWO Kadayawan Fetivals ago, I thought the compositions that made it to the 1st Tunog Mindanao World Music Festival Competition were very impressive.

In that festival held at the NCCC Mall, the music that was distinctly Mindanao but with a lot of polish and zing took centerstage, performed by singers and artists from all over the island.

But the 2nd Tunog Mindanaw is even more impressive, a confirmation that given the proper venue and exposure, Mindanao artists have what it takes to shine and grab the stage.

This observation is backed up by the fact that in the eight finalists to the music festival, four were members of the Mebuyan Peace Project.

Mebuyan, for those not familiar with the group, performs often at the Matina Town Square and had performed in a considerable number of music festivals, bringing Mindanao music to all those who stop to listen.

They are also serious in their art, and are now set to release their second album, "Mga Kwentong Mindanaw", after the successful launch of their first album, "Mga Kwentong Bata".

The top prize was grabbed by Mebuyan member Paolo Salvado T. Sisi with his "Mag-Iban Kita".

Paolo, a physical therapy graduate, is a bassist of the group and is also a member of several Davao bands, including the Seventh Heaven, Kardams, Suave Latin, and Earth Music Foundation.

His upbeat entry "Mag-Iban Kita" was a last-minute entry after being urged by his colleagues Geejay Arriola, Gauss Obenza, Maan Chua, and Marie Cantaoi who have already started working on their compositions for the Tunog Mindanaw.

Second prize went to Geejay's "Hohoy!"

The heart of Mebuyan Peace Project, Geejay has been writing songs for plays about Mindanao for almost two decades now, starting out with Kaliwat Theater Collective's Lemafeu sa Habagatan.

Her song-writing art has since brought forth other musicals like Siak sa Duha ka Damgo, Oya, Arakan!, Mindasilang, Panaw, and Salima. Their CD, Mga Kwentong Bata, carries her compositions, as well.

Third placer, "Panawagan", entranced the audience by its peaceful but powerful composition, lyrics, and rendition. Although "Panawagan" may be lost to some of the younger crowd and adults as well, because it's more leaned toward the classical rendition, still it managed to stand out and grab the judges' nod.

Written by Francisco A. Englis, regarded as a guru by a lot of Mindanao musicians, his piece was performed by the Gruppo Musica Mundi.

Englis is founder of Gruppo Musica Mundi and is director and conductor of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology Octava Choral Society since 1978. As if to attest to the distinct music he came up with for this festival, Englis has masters of art in ethnomusicology from Kent State University in Ohio, USA.

Among the finalists were three Mebuyan members: Gauss Obenza with her "Hugyaw", Maan Chua with her "Uswag Mindanawon", and Marie Cantaoi with her "Pagkakaisang Tinig".

Gauss started her music career with Kulturang Atin Foundation Inc. (Kafi) in 1987 and was also familiar face in folk houses in Davao City during those times. Aside from Mebuyan, Gauss also helped set up the Bagaylan Women Quartet, Seventh heaven, and 4Elements, and has been in the forefront of International Women's Day concerts in Davao.

Aside from Kafi, Gauss also became part of Kaliwat Theatre Collective, and the Kathara Theatre Collective.

Marie, a graduate of fine arts at the Philippine Women's College of Davao composes, plays the guitar and percussions, and is into theater and film productions.

While, Maan, a composer and vocalist, has played the lead in Earth Music Foundation's "Salima", a musical play about a child of war in Mindanao.
Maan has won as Best Solo Artist in Musika del Sur's 2007 Music Awards, and also won first place in the Mindanao Commission for Women's Global Cooling Songwriting Competition.

Rounding up the finalists were Pio L. Pataganao with his "Baton Baton Diwata", Edwin Eway Priete with his "Musanay", Gemmalyn Panes with her "Kadayawan: Awit Pasalamat" and Romeo M. Rosalita with his "Kadayawan Na".

Pio and Edwin complete the trio from out of town who made it to the finals.

A Manobo from Bukidnon, Pio is a regular performer and competitor in various Mindanao music festivals where he weaves indigenous instruments with guitar, bass and drums, while Edwin is a composer, singer, arranger, and producer from San Francisco, Agusan del Sur.

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