P-Noy at OPM officers oath-taking

MANILA, Philippines - Newly-elected OPM (Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit) officers Ogie Alcasid, Christian Bautista, Gary Valenciano, Jose Mari Chan, Dingdong Avanzado and Noel Cabangon joined with past officers Mitch Valdez, Celeste Legaspi and Jim Paredes were sworn in by President Benigno Aquino III at Malacañang’s Rizal Hall last Aug. 13.

Oathtaking ceremonies began promptly at 4 p.m. with Mitch’s heartwarming retrospect speech. She recounted the time OPM was officially launched in the presence of the late former President Corazon Aquino (right after the EDSA Revolution) and has come full circle that day, being revived with new leaders in the presence of her son, President Noynoy.

OPM president Ogie Alcasid echoed P-Noy’s famous lines in his speech, “Nasabi po ninyo: Walang wangwang, walang lamangan, walang tiwaling daan. Dagdag naming mga mang-aawit: Walang sintunadong tinig sa awit ng pagkakaisa at tagumpay.”

P-Noy gave his speech after.

Ogie recounts, “P-Noy responded with words that came directly from his heart. He reiterated the importance of music in our society and how important it is that we remember to help our beloved music industry. He has directed us to agencies in government that would assist OPM in achieving its goals. He was in a cheerful mood and as always, very humble and charismatic. “

Other celebrities who witnessed the event were Regine Velasquez, Jessa Zaragosa-Avanzado, Girlie Rodis, Angeli Valenciano, Leo Martinez, Raymund Sajor, Franco and Ayen Laurel (who did song numbers with the cast of Banaag at Sikat), and youngest, newest OPM member Kea Mauna Chan, who led the Pambansang Awit.

Highlight of the day came after the ceremonies. Celebrity officers took a short ferry ride across the palace to P-Noy’s residence, Bahay Pangarap for a short courtesy get-together. P-Noy warmly welcomed them, generously spent time with them and shared his love for music by playing tracks of his all-time favorite OPM standards plus some Brazilian jazz, Michelle Legrand, Burt Bacharach and Sergio Mendez.

Special thanks to Ogie for e-mailing me the official oath:

Ako (name of officer) na hinirang sa katungkulan bilang (position) ng OPM, simula ngayong ika 13 ng Agosto 2010, ay taimtim na nanunumpa na tutuparin ko nang buong husay at katapatan, sa abot ng aking kakayahan, ang mga tungkulin ng aking kasulukuyang katungkulan at itataguyod ang organisasyon at mga layunin nito sa lahat ng oras at pagkakataon.

Nanunumpa rin akong magiging huwarang mamamayang Filipino na magtataguyod sa saligang batas at iba pang alituntunin at mga sagisag ng bansa at mga mamamayan nito. At kusa kong babalikatin ang pananagutang itampok at ipagmalaki ang Musika. Kultura at lahing Pilipino nang walang anumang pasubali po hangaring umiwas.

Kasihan nawa ako ng Diyos.