SERENATA. I remember that during the incumbency of Dr. Florentino Solon as Cebu city mayor, there used to be an afternoon musical treat on weekends called Serenata. It was staged in the different rural and urban barangays of the city featuring what was then known as the Cebu city orchestra. That weekly event was never continued by the other city mayors that followed Solon. Clearly, it was only Solon that had the passion to feature the city orchestra as part of his effort to uplift Cebuano music. Sadly, the other leaders after him didn’t care about local music as one way of promoting arts and culture.
REVIVE. So what ever happened to the city-funded orchestra? If I’m not mistaken, it was disbanded after Solon left City Hall to continue his job at the Philippine Nutrition Center in Manila. Questions: Where are the musical instruments? If they are still intact, why not utilize them again? If they were sold, how much money has been raised from such a sale? Too bad and sad that other mayors after him didn’t take the initiative of reviving the orchestra which was a source of pride in the field of local music. I am hoping that Mayor Mike Rama, a certified music lover and singer in his own right, will do something as far as the revival of the city orchestra is concerned. It’s also the best alternative or substitute to his usual minus-one accompaniment.
CHEERS. The latest survey by Kantar, a Manila-based radio survey group, has revealed that all programs of dyHP of the Radio Mo Nationwide (RMN) network are leading compared to those of its competitors. One such program is titled Gabayan Sa Kaayohan (GSK) that is being aired in the 8 to 9 p.m. time slot. It is a consistent top-rated block time program every night despite the simultaneous airing of those Tagalog teledramas. Cheers to program producer Hildi “Ate Ging” Montesclaros and all GSK talents for another victory!
CLARIFICATION. This is just to clarify an important point regarding the holding of the weekly Tapok-Tapok media forum of the Cebu chapter of the Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc. (Papi). Its former president is no longer recognized by the club’s Manila officers due to his acts that are inimical to the interest of the local chapter. But despite this, the media forum continues at Cebu Business Hotel every Saturday morning, although attendance to it is by invitation only.
CELEBRATION. Veteran broadcaster Andy Manatad turned a year older last week but he believes, and I agree, that he is always young at heart. Aside from being an insurance executive and television show host, he also acts occasionally. In fact, you will see him appear in an important role in a Cebuano teledrama that I directed and to be aired on Thursday, June 4, within the program As Time Goes By on CCTN channel 47 from 10 to 11 p.m. Cheers, Andyboy!