FOR someone covering the entertainment beat, the past week was such a loaded one. The Press Freedom Week celebration, in itself, was loaded with a lot of activities.
I already wrote about the selection of the Mr. and Ms. Press Freedom 2015 last week. The day after the pageant, media workers from print and broadcast participated in a fun walk.
A holy mass was celebrated at the SM City Cebu Trade Hall. The dance competition followed with the groups from the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), The Freeman and Cebu Daily News showing off their dancing skills. KBP won the grand prize.
Sun.Star Cebu missed the competition but promised to be back into the groove next year.
Several fora were held at the Marcelo B. Fernan Cebu Press Center. Then the Globe Media Excellence Awards were given away last Thursday at the Grand Convention Center.
The culmination night was held at the Bayfront Hotel last Saturday with Lens, the photographers group, besting eight other beats to win the dubsmash-themed competition. Needless to say, the week-long celebration was a huge success.
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After screening beautiful Cebuano compositions for next year’s edition of the Cebu Popular Music Festival the other weekend, I came face to face with world-class Cebuano performers. They were interpreting award-winning compositions from the “Huni Alang Kang Sto. Nino” tilt and some pop songs.
Folk dances endemic to Cebu were also performed by dance troupes from some Cebu universities.
The event dubbed Pasundayag sa Plaza Sugbo was in celebration of the Tourism Month spearheaded by the Cebu City Tourism Commission. Ms. Jaja Chiongbian-Rama was kind enough to invite me to the event.
Among the songs performed were O! Senyor Sto. Niño (Japril Yap), Musikang Binisaya (KC Dilao, Joie Lyn Catamora, Charlie Sumalinog, Danielle Mae Ozaraga, Roy Caballero, Baby Condeno and the University of Cebu Dance Co.), Karon (KC Dilao), Sama sa Usa Ka Damgo (Roy Caballero), Langit ug Yuta (Baby Condeno with Wilbert Aunzo and Pearl Marie Caneda of Dancesport Team Cebu), Nalumos sa Sabaw (MC Rey Nacilla with the Knapsack Dancers), Padayon Sugbuanon (Danielle May Ozaraga, Joie Lyn Catamora and Charlie Sumalinog with the Knapsack Dancers), Hagawhaw (Charlie Sumalinog with Ms. Cebu winners wearing the Filipiniana collection of Philip Rodriguez) and I Love Cebu by all the performers.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, himself, interpreted Kausa Nabasa ang Tubig. Jun Villarta’s interpretation of the Yoyoy Villame novelty song Magellan (together with the Cebu Association of the Deaf) stood out in my list.
Mga Sayaw nga Sugboanon sa Kapatagan (rural dances), Sugboanong Sayaw sa Panahon sa mga Español and Sinulog sa Sugbo were interpreted by the UC Dance Co., the University of San Carlos Dance Troupe and the Lumad Basakanon, respectively.
One cannot help but feel so proud of Cebuano culture, arts and heritage with such spectacular display of talent and artistry.
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Fresh from her successful, sold-out, two-night show in the Music Museum dubbed Timeless Diva, Cebuana songbird and Asia’s Diva Dulce performed songs that not only chronicled her rise to fame since she was 12 years old, but also served as soundtracks of the lives of those who watched the show.
She dished out her Maalaala Mo Kaya version. Her intro was enough to elicit a loud applause. Of course, she performed her signature Ako Ang Nasawi, Ako Ang Nagwagi song, which she said was written by George Canseco on his hospital bed a week before the latter passed away.
After her last bow, the audience could not seem to get enough of the diva so they lined up for some selfies and groufies with her. Dulce was only too glad to accommodate them.
She later divulged that the show was far different from her Timeless Diva concert in the Music Museum. Hopefully, some enterprising Cebuanos will bring the show to Cebu. Paging, Ms. Aida Patana of M Talents Events and Promotions. Interested?
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In time with its annual fiesta in November, Carcar City will present the Binibining Carcar beauty pageant. Fifteen beautiful ladies from different places in the province vie for the coveted title with handsome prizes at stake.
More of this next time.