OUR friends from the media will be in Silay today for the media launch of the International Rondalla/Plucked String Music Festival 2018.
The Festival gathers more than 300 of the world’s best rondalla-plucked string musicians from the Philippines, France, India, Israel, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Uganda, and Vietnam in Silay City on November 3 to 11, 2018.
The International Rondalla/Plucked String Music Festival 2018 is a collaborative undertaking of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) through the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) Foundation, and the Musicological Society of the Philippines (MSP) with the Silay City Government and the Department of Education-Silay City Division. It is supported by the Office of Senator Loren Legarda.
Media delegates will assemble at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol and the Silay City Government will provide a bus for them. The venue of the press conference is the Silay Puericulture Center. Mayor Mark Golez will give his welcome remarks and message.
Dr. Ramon Santos, the national artist for music and festival director of the 5th International Festival/Plucked String Festival will talk on the topic, “Rondalla: Call for Peace through Music.” This will be followed by the performance of the Kabataang Silay Ensemble under the baton of Jegger Anjao.
Loen Vitto, the project manager, will present the 5th International Rondalla/Plucked String Festival. Media men will then ask questions. Lunch will be hosted at the lobby of the newly renovated Gabaldon structure Silay Puericulture Center.
Attending media men will be provided copies of the festival schedule, international symposium and workshop, opening of the exhibit, and the outreach performances which will be held in Vallehermoso, Murcia, La Castellana, Manapla, Provincial Capitol, Himamaylan, Cadiz, Victorias, Bago, Escalante, University of St. La Salle, Kabankalan, La Consolacion College, Colegio San Agustin, Carlos Hilado Memorial State College, San Carlos, La Carlota, and Toboso.
Other highlights that will go with the festival are “Kaon Ta,” a November 5 festival within a festival to be held at the grounds of Balay Negrense Museum. This will showcase the best food of Silay prepared by the traditional “cocineros,” the modern chefs, the women from the “buena familias” and the daring street food producers.
Visitors will be brought also to the different places of interest around Silay to showcase the best of the “land of sweet surprises.” There will be cooking and selling of anything adobo on November 10. Visit Silay to hear excellent music and savor the best gustatory delights.