In a one splendid night at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, witness a celestial rendezvous as prominent Visayan artists grace the stage on a one-night-only performance to showcase Visayan culture and arts in a musical show dubbed Si Lapulapu, Si Rosas Pandan: A Bisaya Musical Extravaganza on Nov. 22, at 8 p.m.
“This extravaganza is a development of regional culture. The Visayan culture is very rich. Many of what have been incorporated into what is known as Philippine culture originated from regional communities in the Visaya,” Baltazar Endriga, president of Kadugong Bisaya Foundation, said.
Kadugong Bisaya, the presenter of the event, is a national organization that promotes Visayan languages, culture and arts, fosters a common cultural identity and solidarity among its members. It also promotes nationalism, civic consciousness and participation, and contributes to the development and use of Filipino by the incorporation of Binisaya, Cebuano-Visayan, Ilonggo and Waray concepts and words into the evolving national language, and to the development of the national culture.
“We’re not attempting to separate or distinguish ourselves from the rest of the local cultural groups. Rather, we want people to appreciate the diversity of regional traditions throughout the country,” Endriga furthered.
Truly Bisaya
During the event’s press conference at the Silangan Hall of the CCP, organizers of the event elucidated some interesting facts that prove the richness of Visayan culture. Endriga told the press that the word bukid, which has been known to be a Tagalong term for ricefield, actually means mountain, and that the Philippine national dance Tinikling is a game originally played by children in Leyte.
“I felt proud when I learned that the Tinikling was the national dance. In my youth, we used to play a game where we used bamboos named after a native bird, the tikling,” Endriga recalled.
Singer Verni Varga, who plays Rosas Pandan, rendered an impromptu number singing Visayan love song Usahay. Rosas Pandan is the mythical Bisaya maiden that symbolizes rustic beauty and virtue. Her stage partner Lapu-lapu, on the other hand, is the heroic chieftain of Mactan, Cebu, who has been a symbol of Filipino valor when his men defeated Magellan in a historic battle.
“We chose Lapu-lapu and Rosan Pandan as main metaphors for the extravaganza to showcase the whole spectrum of art and culture and contributions of the Visayan culture to the national concert,” Chris Millado, the shows director said.
Millado was ecstatic to reveal that the stage design will be done by renowned furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue whose clients reportedly include Hollywood actor Brad Pitt and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Among the special performers in the much-awaited musical event are Cesar Montano, Varga, Joey Ayala and Bayang Barrios, Elizabeth Ramsey and Jaya, Rachelle Gerodias, Jose Mari Chan, the Philippine Dance Sports Association, Noni Buencamino, Raki Vega, Deeda Barretto, Jerry Dadap’s Andres Bonifacio Choir, Ballet Philippines, Modern Ballet Dancers and Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group.
The Philippine Madrigal Singers will pay tribute to Yoyoy Villame by reliving his novelty classics. Cameo appearances will be made by Visayan cinema personalities like Gloria Sevilla, Caridad Sanchez and Virgie Solis.
The extravaganza also celebrates several venerable Visayan composers, lyricists and singers like: Jovita Fuentes (Ay Kalisud), Gregorio Labja (Usahay), Ben Zubiri (Matud Nila), Manuel Velez and Jose Galicano (Sa Kabukiran), Maning Villareal (Kahibulongan), Manuel P. Velez (Rosas Pandan).
The finale of the program, which will be participated by the entire cast, is the singing of Kasadya Ning Taknaa, an original Bisaya Christmas carol that was adapted in Tagalog as Ang Pasko ay Sumapit.
For tickets call CCP Box Office, with telephone nos. 832-3704 and 832-1125 local 1409.
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