•
Bohol’s Festival of Lights, Dance of Lights
•
When Harry meets
Mabi and friends
• Bamboo
Flowers Red Carpet on Oct. 26
Wake-uppers:
Scene: Multi-awarded Boholano lyricist and composer Jimmy Borja
posted on Facebook: I want to share some
good news with my FB friends. My song is the title and theme song of the new TV
series "Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin" which will start airing first
week of September 2013 on ABS-CBN (Philippines) and on The Filipino Channel
(worldwide). This song is the second most recorded that I've written after
"Sana Ngayong Pasko". Lani Misalucha's version was the one that made
it immensely popular, and there have also been other stellar versions including
Jed Madela, Martin Nievera, Nyoy Volante, etc. I still have a clear
recollection of the night I wrote "Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin", it
was at Boy Morala's recording studio in Makati where I was the resident
songwriter in the mid 90's. Jude Michael who was then a Polycosmic/Polygram
artist at that time had asked me to write a song for him. I wrote it on a Korg
X5 keyboard, it came together pretty quickly, I got the melody and lyrics in
about an hour. I did a quick worktape/demo of it and Jude cut it on his CD. It
was not a single but a few years later, it found its way to Lani Misalucha
through her producer Ben Escasa who was also Jude's producer. And since then,
the song just exploded. It's been a blessing, I can't thank God enough for it.
Scene: Our dear Ruth
“Neneng” Udtohan (Nov. 4, 1983-Sept. 9, 2001) is lovingly remembered on her 12th
death anniversary. Treasured in our
hearts you'll stay, until we meet again someday.
***
Bamboo
plant grows abundantly in our country. It is known for its flexibility and versatility.
It can be used in making furniture, musical instruments, kitchen utensils and
other items for practical use.
 |
| Courtesy: Bamboo Flowers/Facebook |
I
bet you didn’t know that bamboo grass bears flowers. In Loboc River, bamboo
flowers are hanging like chandeliers.
But
what some people probably don’t know is that when the
flowers bloom, the bamboo dies.
In
northeast India, the people fear bamboo flowering. According to an ancient
belief, when bamboos flower, there is death and destruction.
That
is what Bamboo Flowers is all about. A
film by Boholano certified master director Maryo J. Delos Reyes will be screened
during the Sining Pambansa National
Film Festival All-Masters Edition this week.
The film’s Facebook account says, “The film
talks about the youth's problems, hopes and aspirations; about love and life;
about sacrifice, forgiveness and acceptance; about life and death.”
There is
a popular saying, "The Filipino is as pliant as a bamboo." The bamboo
is generally considered pliant, and symbolically it has been compared to the
Filipino character. The Filipino character is similar to the bamboo because it
has flexibility, endurance and harmony with nature. Like the bamboo grass,
people bend with the wind, surviving the many trials in life.
Bamboo Flowers premieres on Sept. 8
at SM Megamall, Cinema 7 and opens at SM Theaters Nationwide starting Sept. 11.
There will also be a special Red Carpet Premiere at Island City Mall,
Tagbilaran City in Bohol where the film was shot in its entirety on Oct. 26.
***
Outgoing US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K.
Thomas Jr. loves not just music but also the environment. In his visit to Bohol,
he went to barangay Taloto in Tagbilaran City last Friday, Sept. 6, to
know the efforts done in the Mabaw Reef Pride Campaign.
 |
|
Photo taken from the Twitter
account of Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr.
|
Finally, Ambassador Thomas met the famous Mabi, the clownfish
mascot of Mabaw Reef, who has been making the rounds of elementary schools and
other reef conservation activities in the province since 2011.
And Mabi also brought his friends, Meloy (a
panther grouper or melo-melo) and Agaw (a threadfin
bream fish).
The Taloto schoolkids had a great story teller as
Ambassador Thomas read to them a story about the importance of marine
environment.
Mabi, who has a Facebook account, posted, “I'm
very excited to see you in this very significant event.”
The
Mabaw Reef Pride says that it is a 84,339 sq. m. patch reef, about 3 km off the
shores of Taloto, Ubujan and Manga in Tagbilaran City and home to more than
eight species of Acropora corals and 70 fish species including the orange-and-white
clownfish, locally known as bantay botbot. It has been declared a no-take zone
marine protected area (NTZ-MPA) by the city government through an ordinance
enacted in April 2006.
RARE,
an international conservation organization, with its Philippine office located
in Bohol, is organizing the event.
Ambassador Thomas also visited the Bohol Crisis
Intervention Center and Garden Cafe. He praised Garden Cafe as he posted in his
official Twitter account (@AmbHarryThomas), “Great
food, better business! Eat @ #gardencafe
- opportunity by and for the deaf in #bohol started by
@PeaceCorps volunteers.” He also
posted Garden Cafe’s menu.
 |
| Courtesy: Rey Anthony Chiu |
"Farewell #Bohol! Leaving with memories of gracious ppl, success stories from
@USAID_Manila & partners @Rare_org."
Ambassador
Thomas’ visit to Bohol maybe his first and last as an
ambassador. US President Barack Obama has appointed Philip S. Goldberg as
Thomas’s successor.
***
Loon Mayor Lloyd Lopez expressed
his gratitude for the huge success of this year’s Festival of Lights.
Special mentions were the
organizers, participants and the Loonanons here and abroad for joining the
whole event.
 |
| Courtesy: Rey Anthony Chiu |
Loon’s festival of lights is one
of the most important and religious festivals in Bohol calendar and a visit
promises unforgettable memories. It is
one of its kind in the Philippines because the street-dancing is done at
night.
The
street-dancing competition is held in honor of the town’s patron saint, the Virgen de la Luz or Birhen sa Kasilak (Our Lady of Light).
Unlike
most street dancing competitions, which are known for their colorful costumes
and props, Loon’s version is very challenging and different.
The
emphasis is on the lights, how to make it move and dance.
This
year’s festival had six schools and three barangays contingents. They wowed
their crowd in the street-dancing...and they danced their way to the
260-year-old Nuestra Señora De La Luz
Church, the biggest church in Bohol, where the contest would culminate.
 |
| Courtesy: Ric Obedencio |
The
people appreciated the entertainment and jaw-dropping sight of the dancing
lights. The beat of the drums and lyres also added fanfare during the night.
One
contingent carried sakayan with
lanterns shaped like baskets and fishes. The dancers used traditional candles
underneath the lanterns. The lanterns were shaped into flowers, leaves and
bulbs.
Of the school-based category,
declared winners were: Sandingan National High School (grand winner), Sta. Teresa
High School (first runner-up) and University of Bohol- Loon (second runner-up).
A fireworks display capped the
event.
Take a bow, Mayor Lloyd Lopez!
Take a bow, Mr. Reigh Monreal and
friends for a job well done!
***
Thanks for your letters, all
will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan
at Twitter /Facebook.
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