30th Chabacano song fest reels off

TWELVE contestants coming from different villages in Zamboanga City are competing with each other for the title in the 30th Chabacano Song Festival, which kicked off Thursday night in line with the celebration of Fiesta Hermosa 2012.

The competition, which is being held at the Garden Orchid Ballroom, is a battle of original chabacano melodies and lyrics.

The competition is themed “Tres decada de canciones de chabacano.” The contestants include Liberty Heart Borres with the song “Iyo Lang Sale;” Rashella Cerillo, “Tu Mi Esperanza;” Regine Varquez - “Nuay Otro Ciudad;” Addie Arellano - “Preserva;” Jing Solomon - “El Amor;” Ayjay Campay - “Este el Sueño;” Froline Jane Poole - “Mi Promesa;” Eric Mata - “Hace Claro;” Jessiebel Langki - “Yo ay Espera;” Alracia Serra Buklao - “Nungka;” Jeffrey Langa - “Porcausa Contigo;” and Rev. Fr. Larry Gador - “Ancina.”

Prizes include P10,000 for the first prize; P5,000 for the second prize; P3,000 for the third prize.

The best composition will get a prize of P10,000, while non-winners will receive a consolation prize of P1,500 each.

The Chabacano song fest is one of the City Government’s efforts to preserve the Chabacano language, the only one of its kind in the country and entire Asia, earning Zamboanga the title as “Asia’s Latin City.

It is the brain child of the late Mayor Maria Clara Lobregat, mother of incumbent Mayor Celso Lobregat and who initiated the competition when she was still the president of the defunct First United Broadcasting Corporation in 1982.

Fiesta Hermosa is a celebration of songs, dances, presentations and other activities in honor of Nuestra Senora La Virgen del Pilar.

The celebration is themed “Fiesta Hermosa: Mas Alegre na Zamboanga.”

October 12 will be devoted to religious activities at the Fort Pilar Shrine. (Bong Garcia)