Feature: Cebu ’s 5Th Halad sa Kabataan showcases talents in guitar, singing & rondalla
By: Minerva BC Newman
CEBU, Oct 27 (PIA) -- Twenty-nine sets of children contestants in the guitar duet, vocal solo and rondalla competitions vied for the cash prizes and honor representing various local government units in Cebu Province for this year’s 5th Halad sa Kabataan (Gift to Children) held on October 26 at the Cebu Cultural Center, UP-Cebu campus, Cebu City.
With a Cebuano theme “Palig-onon ang Kaugmaon sa Batang Sugbuanon” (Strengthening the Future of the Cebuano Children), this year’s Halad sa Kabataan showcased children’s talents in guitar duet with seven (7) participants; vocal solo competition with 12 contestants; and in the rondalla with 10 groups.
Danao City guitar tandem Kier Mata and Jaime Duterte III got the grand champion with a P10T cash prize and a trophy while the contestants from Ginatilan and San Remigio towns got the 2nd and 3rd prizes respectively.
For the Guitar duet category, contingents played all novelty songs of Cebuano composers and singers, Yoyoy Villame and Max Surban as tribute to them. The winners were given cash prizes of P10T for the champion; P8T and P6T for the 2nd and 3rd prizes respectively and consolation prize of P4T each for the non-winners. Each winner also got a trophy.
For the vocal solo competition Jenelyn Tapuyao from San Fernando town got the championship with a cash prize of P5T plus trophy and a pair of Baktas shoes.
Beverly Jane Dulay of Dalaguete and Jomar Capuyan representing Danao City got the 2nd and 3rd prizes of P4T and P3T in cash plus trophy and a pair of Baktas shoes respectively while the non-winners were given P2T each.
For the Rondalla category, there were 10 groups with “Rosas Pandan” as the contest piece and a choice of Filipiniana compositions as warm-up pieces.
The Sisters of Mary Boystown Rondalla of Minglanilla was the champion for the rondalla category. The group received P30T cash prize and a trophy while the Argao Rondalla and Danao City Central School Rondalla got the 2nd and 3rd prizes respectively.
Argao Rondalla received P25T and Danao City Central School Rondalla got P20T cash and each received a trophy. All the other non-winners also received cash prize of P10T each group.
Cebu governor Gwen Garcia in her message said, she was very much elated at the great improvements of the children’s talents, specifically in the guitar and Rondalla categories from the 1st Halad…
Garcia hopes that the endeavors of the Provincial Council for the Welfare of Children (PCWC) will bear the next generation of children that will hold the reigns of government.
“The Halad sa Kabataan is a venue and medium for our children to love and embrace the Cebuano culture and heritage,” adding that “after all the Cebu Cultural Center completed in this administration, is really timely for this event even before its inauguration,” the governor smiled.
Obviously happy with the turn-out of the 5th Halad sa Kabataan, governor Garcia announced that she is giving an additional P20T to each LGU that sent contingents to the competitions as financial aid for their expenses to the Halad sa Kabataan this year.
In related developments, Cebu province also gave awards to Child-Friendly LGUs with P50T cash. Topping the list of awardees were; Talisay City as Most child-Friendly Component City of the Province;
Argao town for the 1st-3rd class municipalities and Tabuelan for the 4th-5th class municipalities’ categories.
Pilar town in Camotes Islands got the “Hall of Famer” award being a consistent regional and provincial winner for three consecutive years and a national finalist for this year.
Three major activities – the children’s congress for the pre-school children; children’s summit for the youth and the Halad sa Kabataan are yearly programs of Cebu Province that enhance the capability, skills, talents and artistry of the Cebuano Child. (PIA-7 & PCWC)