Proud to be Pinoy

For the past five years, visiting balikbayans to Cebu who partake of the annual fiesta of the Sto. Niño are invited to an evening of Cebuano music, poetry, songs, and dance appropriately called Handumanan.  

 The hardworking and dedicated Dr. Odette Jereza of the University of Southern Philippines, project director, harnessed her generous friends and associates to produce an endearing as well as a memorable performance.

 This years’ Handumanan had for its theme, “A Retrospective of the Prestigious Carnival Queen of Pre-War Years,” a beauty pageant that featured the country’s young and beautiful women.

 An audio-visual presentation depicted the pre-war years, the war and the booming ‘50s to the overture by the Mutya Orchestra.

 Cebu ’s very own Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, a US-based celebrated novelist, and daughter of former carnival queen Concepcion Cuenco Manguerra, was the Carnival Queen.

 Damas Penny Weigel Sarmiento, a Sto. Niño devotee, and Marlinda Angbetic Tan, co-chair, committee on Cebuano language, culture and the arts of the provincial tourism and heritage council, were elegantly dressed in Allan Plattring creations.

 Once settled on stage, the “balitaw” and “balak” ensued and as tradition dictates  the program was dedicated to the queen and her court.

 Well-applauded performers included acting Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama who sang Carmela with some “balak.” Dante Luzon revived Ol’ Blue Eyes magic in his post-war English medley, Globe Telecom’s Jerry Yntig whose Patay’ng Buhi rendition mesmerized the guests.   The popular singing doctor Roy Caballero delighted everyone with his interpretation of Matud Nila while Girlie Lapinid-Laspiñas sang her winning song Tim-os Kong Gugma during the recent 2009 Cebu Pop Contest.

 For three hours the balikbayans, starved for genuine Cebuano songs and tradition, remained glued to their seats, enjoying the show, laughing at the antics and novelty songs of Cebuano National Artist Max Surban and Cebuano diva Dulce who both shared their time and talent which added to a most enjoyable evening.