Why Bohol is in Kirby Asunto’s heart

Rising Broadway star Kirby Asunto, who was handpicked by Manny Pacquiao to sing the Philippine National Anthem in the Pacman-Bradley fight in Las Vegas in 2012, is back again in the country, and she considers this latest visit as extra special.

 

 “This is special because I will be helping my fellow Boholanos,” said the 16-year-old Kirby during the presscon of her ‘Gift of Joy’ concert.

 

Kirby Asunto on Bohol: ‘It’s more fun here.
The best octopus is in Bohol!’ Courtesy: Shirley Asunto

Kirby feels it is important she should go back to her Visayan roots and help her kababayans who are victims of the killer quake.

 

“It’s not really only for Loon, but it’s for whole Bohol. I did it because I want to help out to my fellow Bol-anons since my mom is from Garcia-Hernandez,” said Kirby.

 

“There are lot of guests that are coming. Pop songs, Whitney Houston songs, more Broadway songs..a lot!” exclaimed Kirby.

 

Guests are Arnel Pineda, Jacob Benedicto, Marlo Mortel, Fr. Jonas Mejares, OSA, and the Loboc Children’s Choir.

 

Kirby should feel right at home in Bohol because this is her second visit.  In her first visit late last year, Kirby had admitted to knowing the Filipino culture, having been born in Manila and migrated to the US at age 6.

 

You see, her mother Shirley is from Garcia-Hernandez from the Madelo clan.

 

Her mom said she raised her four kids (Kirby is the youngest) very Filipino.

 

Kirby said she loves Bohol “because the best octopus (kugita) is here.”

 

“I also love dinuguan,” shared Kirby.

 

Like a true-blue Filipina, Kirby is warm and friendly and very “connecting.”  Her sing-song voice as musical as ever, answering every question with infectious verve, straight from the heart. She easily breaks into laughter that makes her so charming. I’ve seen it for myself during our interview with her.

 

Career-wise, she plans on recording her debut album next year.

 

Asked if she has a boyfriend, Kirby laughed.

 

 “No, I don’t have a boyfriend.”

 

Kirby Asunto (with concert producer Dr. Rosendo Lopez III)
at dyRD to promote her concert on Dec. 13. Courtesy: Shirley Asunto

“Wala talaga, way uyab,” said Mommy Shirley.

 

To prove that she is a Boholana by heart (and still looking for someone ‘special’), Kirby sang Ang Bol-anon (she will be expected to sing Visayan medley songs during the concert):

 

Kung ikaw Inday mangita'g pamanhonon  

Siguro-a baja Inday ang Bol-anon,    
Kung matuman mo suwerte ka,  

Ang Bol-anon buotan gayud

magmahal kanimo hangtud sa kahangturan. 

 

Apan ayaw baja Inday hikalimti

Bisan dako’g gusto magpadili-dili

Ilabina na gayud sa palikerong ulitawo

Kay gusto siya mohangyo kanimo ay..

 

Magmahal kanimo hangtud sa kahangturan!

 

After the presscon, I made my way to ask her some questions.

 

Her eyes lit up and she cooed, “I really like your hair!”

 

Oh well, I know she was telling the truth. And when she flashed her million-dollar smile at me, I was transfixed.

 

Kirby Asunto made my day.

 

(Note: Rebuilding Loon “Gift of Joy” happens on Dec. 13, 7 p.m. at the Bohol Wisdom Gymnasium. It is produced by Dr. Rosendo Lopez III in collaboration with K&N Productions of LJ Lumayag and sponsored by  City of Tagbilaran, Bohol Quality, Island City Mall (Alturas Group of Companies), J&N Caltex, Lite Shipping, Dr. Oliver Yu, YS Construction, Madelicious, Du Ek Sam, Goldilocks, Vita Derma, Apple One, Hydrotech Water Refilling Station and Best Diagnostic. Ticket prices: P1,000 (VIP), P700 (Platinum Seats), P400 (Gold Seats) and P250 (General Admission).. Call 09173041183/09157572551/09275649047.)

 

Fil-American singer Kirby Asunto with the Bohol media. Courtesy:  Shirley Asunto

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10 contingents to join Pilar’s 1st Panubig Festival ; Kirby Asunto to hold benefit concert for quake victims

Salamanca

•10 contingents to join Pilar’s 1st Panubig Festival
•Kirby Asunto to hold benefit concert for quake victims
Wake-uppers:

Scene: Marina S. Salamanca, Ph.D. is the new assistant schools division superintendent of DepEd, Division of Bohol. Salamanca is a multi-awarded Scout Leader and trainer of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, having received the Silver Usa for her meritorious and outstanding service to scouting.

Seen: Sen. Bongbong Marcos was in Bohol last Friday for the multisectoral dialogue on Infrastructure Development, Climate Change Adaption and Disaster Preparedness.

Scene: Making sure that no one is left behind in all the educational programs available, NYC Commissioner-At-Large Jose Sixto “Dingdong” Dantes III was in Bohol last Monday for the Abot Alam Project. Abot Alam seeks to locate out of school youths (OSYs) and enroll them in program interventions in education, entrepreneurship, and employment. Dantes stressed the collaboration with partners in engaging ordinary citizens to adopt an OSY and ensure that they are enrolled in the Abot-Alam program.

For his part, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Bill Tweddell gave books for the OYs through Abot Alam event. He said education is "a critical component of human development which in turn is necessary for economic growth."

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Rising Broadway artist Kirby Asunto is spearheading a fund-raising concert billed Gift of Joy to benefit the victims of the Oct. 15, 2014 quake that killed nearly 200 people and displaced thousands of Boholanos.

The show will take place on Dec. 13, 7 p.m. at the Bohol Wisdom Auditorium.

Guests include JM de Guzman, Fr. Jonas Mejares, Loboc Children’s Choir, Penelope, Van and Maki Rickafort of the Singing Bee.

Kirby Asunto is coming to the province for a benefit concert on Dec. 13. 

 Photo grabbed from her official Facebook page.

Asunto got her first shot at fame during the fight between Pacquiao-Bradley fight in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2012. She was personally handpicked by Pacman to sing the Philippine National Anthem during his match against American boxer Timothy Bradley Jr.

The New Jersey Suburban News reported that “Asunto has earned high recognition in the Filipino-American communities in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Washington, D.C. even at her tender age.” As Most Outstanding Filipino in New York, she was the grand champion of the Philippine Fiesta Grand Idol singing competition.

Ticket prices are P200, P 500 and P750. For inquiries, please call 09157572551/0927-564-9047.

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Ten contingents will take part in the first-ever Panubig Festival, a socio-religious event in honor of the Our Lady of the Pillar, the most revered saint of Pilar town, on October 11.

“As the center of rice granary in the province of Bohol, “Panubig” is a general term commonly used by the people to irrigate the farm, since water is life,” said Butch Bernas who conceptualized the first Panubig fest.

Pilar, formerly a barrio of Sierra Bullones town, has the Malinao Dam which was constructed to help irrigate the farms of Pilar and nearby towns of San Miguel, part of Ubay and Alicia.

Butch said that the actual feast of Our Lady of the Pillar is celebrated on Oct. 12 with grand nine-day nightly events every year in her honor.

“Panubig festival will commemorate its maiden celebration as thanksgiving and blessing of the people in honor of Our Lady of Pillar for giving a bountiful harvest to the devotees,” said Butch, a member of the Bohol Arts Culture and Heritage Council.

On Oct. 11, the town of Pilar will reverberate to the sound of revelry 

as residents and visitors celebrate the 1st Panubig Festival. 

Courtesy: Butch Bernas

One of the highlights of the festival is the search for the Panubig King and Queen.

“Each contingent has one Panubig Queen and one Panubig King,” said Butch.

“The music to be used is a combination of Pilar Hymn or any religious chants and must be celebratory,” said Butch. “It is of a free rhythm, not patterned from Sinulog or other famous festival in the region.”

“The entire performance shall be divided into street dance and ritual. Each contingent must perform the street dance routine using only progressive movements, no backward steps,” said Butch.

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