SOMETIMES it takes a tragedy to bring out the best in people and let them shine.
That was the road taken by students aged 12 to 14 two weeks after superhowler Yolanda hit Cebu in 2013, including Bogo City.
While the city’s residents were picking themselves up from the rubble and bravely starting to rebuild their lives, some teenage students listened to the music within them and became members of the city’s first-ever rondalla ensemble on Nov. 30, 2013.
The ensemble is one of the disciplines in the Arts program of the City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy (CBSAA), the brainchild of Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr.
To date, the 36-member ensemble has 15 playing the banduria, five the laud, five for octavina, eight for guitar and three for bass.
Despite their youth, they can ably perform a repertoire of Visayan, classical and modern pieces, and Filipino folk songs and dance music compositions.
Even during rehearsals, their passion is unmistakable. Most are smiling, others have eyes glued to their instruments or music notes, and still others tap their feet while their hands tickle their guitar strings.
Not the school work or the grade requirements stop them from showing up at the daily after-class practices from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Their trainor Humildad Daclan and conductor Slavsky Ybañez, both Bachelor of Music graduates from the Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion, require a dedication no less from the ensemble members.
To qualify and stay on the team, all members must have perfect attendance at rehearsals and performances, full parental support and consent, and consistently positive attitude towards peers, rehearsals and performances.
Such winning formula has won the attention and accolades of select and elite audiences at the Cebu Provincial Capitol, the Waterfront Hotel during the Ceso National Congress and the Sarossa International Hotel during the 7th National Convention of the Political Science Society.
Local audiences have raved over the ensemble’s performances at the Fuente Osmeña during Sinulog sa Kabataan Night, and at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City.
Their most prestigious performances yet were at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2013 and 2014.
Already, the rondalla ensemble aims to compete in this year’s national Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA)–Rondalla Category, after which is the International Rondalla Festival.
By such performances, the CBSAA’s objectives of helping preserve Filipino cultural heritage and promoting both national and international recognition will have been well realized.
That would please the young artists and their trainor and conductor to no end. Daclan was a NAMCYA winner, and has trained various rondalla groups in Cebu City and Talisay City.
Ybañez, a Master of Arts in Teaching Music graduate of Philippine Women’s University, was himself a NAMCYA–Choir finalist.
Prior to being HR Officer at LGU-Bogo, he was with DepEd as former high school principal in Medellin, division music coordinator for Cebu Province, and division MAPEH coordinator for Bogo City.
(lelani.echaves@gmail.com)