Capampangan Christmas carols fill the air

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The Christmas season in this province, considered the country’s lantern capital, has become more Capampangan than ever.

A Capampangan Christmas songwriting competition and a compact disc of original Capampangan Christmas carols have stirred local folk in what academicians described as "a revival of Capampangan culture and arts."

The Center for Capampangan Studies of the Holy Angel University in Angeles City recently held its first Ligligan Kantang Pasku, a Christmas songwriting contest which received 27 entries.

But what seems to be the talk of the province is the CD of original Capampangan Christmas carols written by a former priest.

The CD titled Kalam ning Pasko (Grace of Christmas) was produced by Crispin Cadiang, 44, who stirred a controversy in 2003 when he left the priesthood and got married and then launched a career as an academician and composer.

Kalam ning Pasko is a revised version of the first-ever CD of original Capampangan Christmas carols Cadiang produced in 2003.

"My aim is not really commercial. It’s my way of making a statement on the respectability of Capampangan songs," he said, noting that Capampangans have lagged behind Ilocanos and Cebuanos in this field.

"The songs were done in such a way that Capampangan youths, who normally think that native songs are baduy, will be attracted to them," he said.

The CD is contained in a Christmas card measuring five by nine inches. Cadiang launched it recently together with the first of his three compilations of 39 original Capampangan liturgical musical scores.

The Christmas CD features 13 original Capampangan Christmas carols and the popular Ibpa Mi, the Capampangan version of Our Father, which, unknown to Catholics who sing it during Masses all over the province, was Cadiang’s first composition in 1979.

Cadiang said only 1,000 copies of his CD and only 300 copies of his compilation of liturgical musical scores are available.

Cadiang himself sang many of the Christmas songs in the CD. The others were performed by singer-actress Antoinette Taus, balladeer Mon David, and Nick Morales.

Dr. Beatriz Urbano, director of the Institute of Capampangan Studies of the Angeles University Foundation (AUF), said Cadiang’s CD and musical score compilation are reviving the Capampangan musical culture which "seems to have frozen since the still popular Atin Ku Pung Singsing came into being many years ago."

Urbano said Cadiang’s compositions, especially the liturgical ones, "will live on through many generations of Capampangans."

Academicians have noted a growing interest among Capampangans in local culture, music and arts.

Earlier, a local artist also came out with a CD featuring Capampangan interpretations of popular Christmas carols such as Silent Night.

The concerts of the dance group ArtiSta Rita, whose performances revolve around Capam—pangan themes, have also become big hits in various Pampanga towns.

"I have assured some people who felt sad about my leaving the priesthood that I will stay on through my liturgical compositions," Cadiang said.