4 new songwriters to participate in Cebu Pop Music

CEBU - Four of 12 composers are set to compete for the first time in the 29th Cebu Pop Music Festival this Friday, January 16 at the Cebu Coliseum.

“This year we have four new composers including ABS-CBN Cebu’s Juve Villar. All 12 of them though are very talented and have come up with very interesting compositions ranging from love to social awareness,” said Philogene Florita, Cebu Pop project director, during the recent 888 News Forum held at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug.

“Tinuohang Buktot” by Jay Arr Librando talks of superstitious beliefs of the Cebuanos still being practiced today, while “Pungko-Pungko” by Roy Tabasa describes the fondness of Cebuanos for affordable meals made available in stalls on roadsides.  

Other compositions are “KKK - Kabataan Kagahapon ug Karon” and “Tim-os kong Gugma” by Jun Aliño, “Tsambang Musikero” by Abner Lagdamo, “Bulawanong Tambag” by Danilo Abapo, “Sa Ngan sa Nasud” by Dennis Martin, “Bugtawon ang Kagahapon” by Fr. Ponce Jed Bellones, “Asa Paingon?” by Manolito Languido, “Ang Tambag ni Nanay” by Engr. Bernard Gocela, “Sulti Pa Ka” again by Jay Arr Librando, and “Kami ang Kabataan” by neophyte Juve Villar.

During the same forum, it was learned that 10 out-of-town contingents are expected to present during the Sinulog grand parade this Sunday. However, there is no final list yet as to what particular places these contingents would come from.

Ricky Ballesteros, executive director of the Sinulog Foundation Inc., said that aside from the 10, winners of the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan and the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan are also expected to join.

However, he said that those contingents that did not make it in the competitions can still participate in the grand parade.

As of this writing, 26 registrants have already signed up for the float category and another 25 for the “higante” category. 

As for the photography contest, Ballesteros confirmed that there is an increase in the number of registrants for this year. As of yesterday, registrants already reached around 700.

According to acting mayor Michael Rama, a bigger crowd is expected for this year’s celebration. He said that VIPs would probably be coming over to witness the celebration but that there is no notice yet on who would be arriving.

Further, there will be a welcome activity for “balikbayans” expected to arrive at the Mactan Cebu International Airport today.

As for the traffic jam, Rama said he has instructed the city police to refrain from closing too early certain roads or to close-open them depending on the situation. – AJ de la Torre, CIT MassComm intern/MEEV   (THE FREEMAN)