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[av_heading heading=’MY LIFE AS ART ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY PETER SOLIS NERY
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XXIII. SINGING CONTEST
Many are called, but few have talent.
*
A small band introduced the female emcee as Matt, in white attire, lined up to get tickets from a makeshift booth at the auditorium gate.
The auditorium was roofless with eight feet tall woven sawali mats serving as walls.
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, the shrill voice of the emcee floated in the air, Tonight we continue the celebration and merrymaking of our Bakunawa Festival with a singing competition.
There is a P5,000 cash prize to be won. This is an open mic contest, so to get listed, just see me backstage.
*
Now, please welcome our first contestant to sing “The Impossible… (a gulp) Dream,” Mr. CecilinoKamagong!
The people applauded heartily.
When Matt finally got inside, the auditorium was much pretty packed with people still in their standard Bakunawa Festival costumes.
The stage was decorated simply with Styrofoam cutouts declaring: Champion of the Festival, and in smaller letters below it, singing contest. A stylized design of a wavy five-line musical staff with G-cleft and several one-fourth, one-eighth notes, also in Styrofoam, hung over them.
On the right side of the stage, the small band provided instrumental accompaniment to the songs.
*
Several more contestants sang an eclectic repertoire of musical pieces, from cover hits by Engelbert Humperdink to Freddie Aguilar, Madonna to Jaya, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Imelda Papin, Freddie Aguilar, Pilita Corrales, to the Philippine high-note divas — Regine Velasquez, Kuh Ledesma, Dulce, Lani Misalucha.
A girl contestant of about nine sang a signature 1980’s wishful thinking song “Sana” made popular by Kristina Paner and Florante de Leon.
*
Good voice, but dressed terribly in an awful Christmas tinsel fashion crime dress, a blue ribbon with a big contestant number 18 pinned on her waist.
Sana ang buhay ay walang dulo o hangganan
Sana’y wala nang taong mahirap o mayaman
Sana’y iisa ang kulay, sana ay wala ng away…
*
In the audience, Matt smiled before heading backstage to sign up with the female emcee.
The audience applauded the girl, after which a drunk cadaverous man, in his sixties, in frosted organza barong, with ribbon number 19, sang “My Way,” a swaggering, powerful cry of defiance. (To be continued)/PN
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