31st Cebu Popular Music Festival – My Song Entries

In the afternoon of August 2010, I received a text from Niño Bañares telling me that the screening for the finalist of the 2011 Cebu Popular Music Festival is wrapping up and added that three of the songs I submitted made it to the finals.  I thought he was just kidding but when I checked my mobile FB, and saw that Miss Gloria Sua-Villarojo posted the 12 finalist and indeed, the three title of the songs I submitted were there.  The song titles were, “Call Center Agent”, “Ikaw Ang Hinungdan” and “Isaad Ta Karon”.  The next few days the local tabloids disseminated the information as well.  I was overwhelmed with joy thinking that I have more chance of winning this year’s event. 

Even before “Call Center Agent” was submitted for entry, I already asked Jay Arr Librando to interpret it in the final nights if ever it becomes a finalist since I already recorded a demo of it.  I was also thinking of Chiko Pineda in case Jay-Arr’s own entry becomes a finalist as well.

“Ikaw Ang Hinungdan” was intended for Gayle, but I had Jenny in mind in case she declines the offer.  Gayle was pleased and willing to demo the song.  I gauged the final and key of the song for Gayle’s vocal range before recording the demo using my wife’s range.  I was amazed that Gayle nearly perfected the notes of the song with just a short period of listening.

“Isaad Ta Karon” was a revision of the 2002’s original version demoed by Rochelle Vega and Wilson Po which did not pass during that year’s screening.  We changed the accompaniment, I changed and polished some of the lyrics, and had Arceli and Daryl to sing it.  We had to lower the notes by one semi-tone as requested by the singers.  At first Joseph Abella protested but eventually agreed.  The melody of this song was made by Joseph Abella and I wrote the lyrics.

25th Original Marian Songwriting Festival (OMSF)

This blog was supposed to be posted September 2010 but circumstance beyond my control has left this draft lying for months until today.  Here it is...

This year, the World Apostolate of Fatima (WAF) Philippines, Cebu Archdiocesan Division celebrates its 25^th Original Marian Song Festival (OMSF),  September 8, 2010 at the Mariner’s Court Convention Center.

The yearly theme “Gasa Kang Mama Maria,” aims to pay tribute to the Blessed Virgin Mary on her birthday. This event is not a competition but an offering to Mama Mary's birthday.  Participating composers, lyricists and singers will not receive cash reward but a token from the organizers, the WAF and the Cebu Archdiocesan Division.

Through the songs, we as songwriters exalt and promote Blessed Virgin Mary’s virtues, especially her humility so that people may imitate them.  The melody and the lyrics of the songs we present are original. We were informed that using traditional Marian prayers as lyrics is not encouraged, but these prayers can be paraphrased and used as lyrics. The lyrics can be in Pilipino, Cebuano or English.  The genre of the song is for us to decide but the organizer has the option to change or revise.

Ever since I became aware of this event, I tried my best to offer my composition every year.  I remember the first time I presented a song was in 2000, with a quartet where I was one of the performers.  Singing with me were Moises Manabat, Elvis Igot and Romulo Basilgo Jr. The succeeding years were followed by a trio, Danny Cabarrubias, Moises again and Me. In 2005, Gayle Marie Sinadjan presented my song “Mary”, a year later Christian Communities Male Choir rendered two years in a row with the song “Holy Mary” and “Rayna”.  This year, I had my niece Christianne Joie Tan Briones perform my composition.  My good friend Joseph Abella who is now based in Texas did the arrangement for the minus one while another friend Elvis, who owns the Musikinesis Recording Studio did the back-up vocals.

I feel honored for being able to offer my song to the the Virgin Mary on her birthday.  I pray that God will bless me with more years of my life that I may continue writing songs for the Blessed Virgin Mary for the glory of God.

I Sing For You

I came to know the MQHM or Mary Queen of Heaven Missionaries when my friend Nino Bañares informed me that they would like to include my song “I sing For You” in their fund-raising album entitled “Forever Yours”.  I did not have second thoughts when I was informed of their intention. 

I met Sister Gloria, one of the singing nuns who.  She asked me to sign some papers which the OMB (Optical Media Board) required for their album production.  I was so delighted to have allowed them use my song after she narrated to me the purpose of their fund-raising and the nature of their apostolate. 

A few weeks later, they invited me and my family for a get together celebration.  The party was for those directly and indirectly involved with the production of their album.  Kishanta multipurpose was a great venue.  It is situated in an area in Talisay where it overlooks the city and the shore.   The sisters prepared irresistible menu.  Soprano Lilac Caña and tenor Zennith Rivera rendered several songs to the guest’s and host’s delight.  Some of the guests swam in the pool two levels down.

The launching of the album “Forever Yours” and the perpetual vow of seven nuns were held on the same day.  The perpetual vow was held in the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral at 10:00 AM.  It was officiated Cardinal Vidal himself.  The Mandaue Children’s Choir under Dennis Gregory Sugarol was splendid.  Miss Lilac Cañas responsorial psalm was captivating.  The duet of Zennith Rivera and Miss Lilac was overwhelming.

We proceeded to the Archbishop’s Palace for the reception.  This was also the occasion where the album “Forever Yours” was launched. The introduction was short followed by a prayer then the meal proceeded.  The MQHM sisters presented some songs from the album.  The Mandaue Children’s Choir gave their part; Miss Lilac Caña and Zennith Rivera performed again.  The program was short and continuous.  The launching was successful and we parted ways happy and smiling.

The Myth Of The Ancient Sealed Door (The Play Date)

This was the day the musicale "The Myth Of The Ancient Sealed Door" runs in SM cinema one. The music preparation was already in place. The sound system was mounted the day before. The props were already at hand. The costumes were already distributed. The lights were already tested and ready to glare. Everything was a GO.

 

The matinee showing went well except for the desktop computer which malfunctioned on the fourth cue. Luckily, there was a back up professional CD player which neutralized the panic, we left out the desktop computer.

The gala showing was very much delayed because the laptop computer which was programmed to direct all the light's movement per scene, malfunctioned shortly before we were supposed to begin. The lighting contractor did not have a plan B so we disregarded the laptop and decided to go on with the play using the lights manually. It was fine but nothing compares to a pre programmed light movement...that works.

The first scene was supposed to be a UFO descending on a thick smoke. OMG! where's the smoke? I overheard from one of the crew that the smoke machine ran out of "smoke". I began to think the outift they hired to do the smoke effects and lighting effect were ill prepared.

The choreography and dances were very good. The acting and lines were delivered near perfect. A delay of turning up the performer's microphone causes the muted sound at the start of each conversation. The performance was satisfactory. Although the vocals for all the singing part were pre-recorded by the singers in a studio to minimize drop-outs when the singer dances, they were doing their parts well. The choir was was greatly energetic.

The Myth of The Ancient Sealed Door

“The Myth of The Ancient Sealed Door” is an original musicale of Marie Ernestine School and Marie Ernestine High School (Cebu-Lapulapu-Mandaue). This will be their musicale in their traditional play presentation following their commencement exercise this year 2010. The “libretto” was written by Pastor Dino Mapa and edited by Miss Peachi Fajatin-Pegarido in 2007. All the songs are composed by this writer, Eugene Tan. Play date is in March 27 at the SM cinema 1.

“The Myth of The Ancient Sealed Door” was shelved in 2008 because the school matriarch requested “High School Musicale”, a very popular Walt Disney musical movie in place of it. I was immensely disappointed because the musical compositions were already in the stage of refinement. All the vocal demos have been done and I have poured a great amount of time and effort on it already. I am glad they decided to do this play instead of the planned “The Princess and the Frog”.

Even though I worked on the musicality of this specific project two years ago, I will be working with the same amount of effort this year because creativity evolves. As of this writing, we are working on the arrangement of the musical accompaniment or minus one of the songs. We auditioned the singers and gauged their vocal range because the cast this year were different from two years ago.

I learned from Miss Peachi that we will be tapping a different sound system outfit this time - the same they used last year for the “Alice in Wonderland”, Colmenares Sound System.  The costume designer as well is different, it will be Danny Booc who's designing this year.  Most of the main cast are from the New School in Talamban.

The Princess Bride

Following the previous year’s success of Marie Ernestine School and Marie Ernestine Science High School (Cebu-Lapulapu-Mandaue) in their “musicale” following their commencement exercise, the school director Marie Ernestine Denise Fajatin-Pegarido, also known as “Peachi” decided to venture into a new milestone in directing. This time, an adaptation. She wanted a different presentation this year.

 

“The Princess Bride”. This is their 2007 presentation at the SM Cinema 1. The original of this version is not a play or musicale you’ve seen in theatres but only a movie on video. There is no music involved in the video because it is just a plain movie with a storyline. So Miss Peachi sought the assistance of Pastor Dino Mapa to write the “libretto” of this play. She also asked this writer (Eugene Tan) to compose the music for the songs of the “libretto” result. This is a new challenge for creativity. This writer also did the task of musical arrangement of accompaniment or “minus-one” for the songs and background music.

 

My preparation in terms of the music and the songs started as early as December 2006. There were lots of changes made as to the tempo and voice range of the songs. The musicality should be adapted to fit the character of the song, and the lyrics of the song. The main cast and performers were mostly from the high school department while the dancers were from the nursery, kindergarten, elementary and also high school department of Marie Ernestine School and Marie Ernestine Science High School. There were two performances in SM Cinema 1, the gala and the matinee. The children and the youth did very well in terms of acting and dancing. Some acting was even very exceptional on versatility and flexibility.

 

To spice up vocal impact on the choir we recorded additional back-up vocals at Salonga Recording Studio. This writer did the technical while Miss Peachi supervised the entire individual recording and Ompong Chiong, the studio owner did the recording and mixing. The recording gave us headache but a KFC meal would just wipe them out. At the cinema, Mao Dizon’s supervision on the effects of light made a great impact on the scenes, Marty, the top tech of Salonga Audio System facilitated all the sound gadgets to be working satisfactory. The costume was artistically fabricated by the costume designers of Val Sandiego.

The Zhen Zhu Scroll

It is the yearly tradition of Marie Ernestine School and Marie Ernestine Science High School (Cebu-Lapulapu-Mandaue) to do a “musicale” or play following their commencement exercise. In 2006, The “Zhen Zhu Scroll” was the title of the play. The venue for the play was in SM Cinema 1.

Zhen Zhu Scroll is not a regular play you’ve already seen in theatres or videos because the “libretto” of this play was written by the young school director Marie Ernestine Denise Fajatin-Pegarido also known as “Miss Peachi”. Peachi is the daughter of the school founders, Mr. Dennis Fajatin and Marie Ernestine Fajatin. Peachi directed the play. This musicale is original and the music was composed by this writer (Eugene Tan). This writer also did the accompaniment arrangement of the songs and background music.

 

The preparation in terms of the music and the songs were done ahead of time (December 2005) to give room for improvement and augmentation. The cast and performers did a lot of preparation as well. The cast was represented by children and youth of Marie Ernestine School and Marie Ernestine Science High School from all grades and level. Although the performers were all amateurs, the presentation was fantastic and awesome considering they did not have basic training of acting and dancing. There were two presentations, the gala and the matinee.

 

Additional recordings and back-up vocals were recorded at Salonga Recording Studio handled by Eugene Tan, Miss Peachi and owner Ompong Chiong, The lights and light effects of Mao Dizon was overwhelming, The artistic creativity of Val Sandiego’s costume team was so appealing and the sound system in the cinema provided by Salonga Audio System was cool.