ATONG ilailahon ang usa sa mga most award-winning Visayan singer-composer sa atong henerasyon nga tua na nagbase sa Bohol uban sa ilang family farm nga maoy nagsilbi niya karong bag-ong `higala.’
Ang “Ako Kini Higala” `80s hitmaker nga si Roland Amila malipayong gipaambit ang iyang kinabuhi karon nga layo sa kaguliyang ug hulga gikan sa pandemya.
Duyogi ko sa pagbalik-lantaw sa iyang mga bulawanong huni ug awit sa atong pakighinabi niya. Roland Amila, Ssssuper Ka!
Unsa nay imong gikabisehan karon?
I’m living in our family farm - a homestead which my father acquired when he was alive. Since none of my siblings here with me. I’m taking the responsibility. Simple living, less stress.
How do you cope with this pandemic?
Just be responsible enough to follow safety measures and orders from the government. It’s for everybody’s sake. While we can say nga wala kaayoy cases sa Covid 19 sa among lugar, anything still can happen. There is nothing wrong with being optimistic as long as we temper it with caution and realism.
Do you still sing “Ako Kini Higala?”
Yes. A lot of people love it. Mao sad ni una nakong komposisyon nga nasud sa 5th Cebu Popular Music Festival in 1985 that won third prize.
Among your songs unsay imong most unforgettable?
All the songs that I wrote, for me, is unforgettable, whether it has been recorded or not. Someday, I hope to record them all.
Di ba nidaug sad kag grand prize?
Yes, pero composition to sa akong only brother. Eldest namo si RTC judge Venancio Amila. The song was “Gugmang Nagpahilayo.” Ako ray ni-interpret. Actually, na-rejected ni sa Bohol Pop. Akong giutro ang style ug tempo. Akong gi-submit sa Cebu Pop. Natinga siya kay nasulod.
Kumusta na imong brother?
Retired na. Agakun na. Actually nakaapil pa siya kaduha. Ang usa gipakanta nako ni Jaime Salazar kay nilarga man ko sa Japan. Naka-2nd or 3rd prize ba to.
Nag-unsa ka sa Japan?
Tukar mi sa Tokyo Bay Hilton with my band The Equinox. I was a member of the then Cebu Plaza’s Equinox Band. That’s how I got started singing professionally. As a composer, well, it was a trial and error. My only training in music was when I became a member of Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology choristers in Iligan city, where I spent my first two years in college.
Unsa pay uban nimong kanta?
I wrote the commercial jingle of Gillamacs, “Wa Nay Lain” and the Skygo jingles performed by Ms. Vina Morales. I also composed the hymns of two municipalities in Bohol: “Sierra Bullones,” where I was born and raised, and “Pilar,” where I’m residing now.
Unsay unahon nimo maghimo kag kanta?
Ang melodiya. Dayon akong kantakantahan with words nga mohaum sa tono, until I can say, ah this is what the song is all about. Anha pa nako i-develop ang lyrics.
Wala na ka moapil og mga contest?
Last nako was 2007. Cebu Pop ra may akong giapilan. Kay gipa-judge man ko sa Sandugo Song Festival 4 times na including pag-July 2019. Uwaw na pud moapil pa. Gawas sa Cebu Pop, the only singing contest nga akong naapilan was dyRC’s CBC Amateur Hour. Ka-batch mi ni Girlie Lapinid sa grand finals. The rest is history.
Mga song entry ni Roland Amila sa Cebu Pop
“Ako Kini Higala” (composed and interpreted by Roland Amila)- 3rd Prize- 5th Cebu Pop in 1985;
“Kalampusan, Katagbawan Ba?” (finalist)- duet with Joy Gonzales- 6th Cebu Pop in 1986;
“Pagmahay” (interpreted by Girlie Lapinid)- 3rd Prize;
“Kay Ikaw Nagsunod Kanunay” (composed by Carlo Magno Amila/Roland Amila): 2nd Prize;
“Pagmahay” (finalist);
“Paghigugma” with Cris Cuizon (finalist)- duet with Zonia Monte;
“Gugmang Nagpahilayo” (composed by RTC Judge Venancio Amila)- Grand Prize/ Best Interpreter- duet with Bob Steel Bacalso- 9th Cebu Pop in 1990;
“Kay Tawo Ka” (finalist);
“Kay Ikaw Nagsunod Kanunay” (finalist);
“Sabong” (finalist)- 27th Cebu Pop in 2007