NEWS
Songwriting tilt winners bared

Unfazed by two recent calamities that left hundreds dead and thousands homeless in Bicol, organizers of the First Pasko sa Kabikolan Songwriting Festival went on with their scheduled competition at the Universidad de Sta. Isabel, Thursday, December 28 drawing some of the best composers in Bicol and A project of Congressman Luis R. Villafuerte who has continuously sponsored activities designed to enhance Bicol culture for more than 20 years now, the songwriting contest was held under the management and direction of Ferdinand Dimadura, himself a noted composer, lyricist and stage director. Dimadura was composer of “Bicolano Ako”, which won in 1982 the first place in the First Bikol Music Festival.

Divided into two categories, the Original Bicol Christmas Songs and the Bicol adaptation of English carols, the USI competition had seven finalists in the first category and five in the second category.

Henry P. Turalde, who in 1982 vaulted to fame with his composition “Boses ni Lolo” which won second place in the First Bicol Music Festival, this time copped the first place in the Original Bicol Christmas Song category.

Together with his son and daughter, Turalde also peformed his winning piece “Maogmang Pasko.”

Second place in the same category went to Ildefonso Celocelo, Jr. for his composition “Pasko na Naman” while Jun de Loyola captured the third place. First, second and third prizes were P30,000. P15,000 and P10,000, respectively, including customized trophies for both categories.

In the Bicol Adaptation of Christmas Carols category, Joseph Condeno, a Bachelor of Music graduate who teaches at the Camarines Sur National High School, won the first prize with his “Bitoon sa Kalangitan”. He also performed his piece himself.

Second place went to Rote Mary Jean Maristela for her “Banal na Bangui” which was performed by Melody Alarcon of Caramoan, Camarines Sur.

Third place winner was Diggs Villabroza, a faculty member of the Ateneo de Naga University whose contest piece was “Ang Enot na Pasko”.

Other finalists in the Original Bicol Christmas Songs category were Tel Satiano, Robert More, Coney Olea and Arlete Logronio, while Raul Roxas and Robert More made up the remaining finalists in the Bicol Adaptation of Christmas Carols category.