Thursday, July 24, 2008
Utzurrum: Fiesta celebrations and piano concerts
By Chinggay V. Utzurrum
The scene
ONGOING till Aug. 6 is the Swissness from A-Z, a Swiss foodfest at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel, showcasing everything Swiss from Alpine-dried beef (A) to Zurich-style sliced veal (Z).
There’s a lot in between, too, like graubunden-barley soup, fondue seafood, raclette cheese with new potatoes; beef tongue with port wine sauce; spatzli, zopf, Swiss choco mousse, zuger-kirch, etc. Menu choices change daily.
Highlight of the fest is Swiss National Day on Aug. 2 when a buffet spread will dazzle your taste buds. Various entertainments will include: games, yodeling, a bonfire that perks up the sky, alphorn and folk music. Don your best Swiss costume and you might just win a trip to this Alpine Country!
So much-anticipated are the Romantic Piano Concert Journeys (RPCJ) of the musical tandem Ingrid SalaSantamaria and Prof. Reynaldo Reyes that they are now on their 16th outing which started last June 26 and will end on Sept. 12.
After traversing the Luzon and Mindanao areas, can the Visayas be far behind? Cebu will have two on Aug. 3, and on Aug. 4 and 5 with venue will be the Sisters of Mary School for Boys and Girls in Minglanilla and Talisay City, respectively. On Aug. 6, the duo will play for budding Cebuano talents at the Mandaue School for the Arts in Mandaue City.
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Remember Rey Roa? Cebu has been lucky to be witness to his many musical talents sometime in the 90s. Well, we have good news. Now Utah-based, Rey has been transformed into a fine pianist, voice teacher, organ player and choral pedagogue. And he’s back in his hometown to give a concert.
As a brief backgrounder: Rey has held a variety of musical positions with musical director, performer, soloist, assisting artist, choirmaster in Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Japan and Indonesia, and in European countries like Germany, France, Switzerland, and Austria.
In December 2006, he founded the Salt Lake City Fil-Am vocal Ensemble. And in April this year, the group performed in concert, “Something beautiful for God” to raise funds for the St. Joseph the Worker Catholic church.
Last July 22, Rey and soprano/violinist June Ong, did a concert at the Pedro Calungsod shrine. Tomorrow, July 25, it will be at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral at 1 p.m.; and on July 28 at 7 p.m. the venue will be the San Francisco Church in San Francisco, Cebu.
He is at present working on a four-CD recording project which will be launched on Aug. 1.
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How do you say “start” in Cebuano?
Sogod, right? Which suits the municipality of Sogod, through its charming Vice Mayor Lissa Marie ‘Moonyeen’ Durano just fine. “This is why we are celebrating beginning this month, the first Panagsogod Festival with the slogan 'Ang Sinugdanan',” enthuses Lissa Marie.
This promises to start new hopes and thoughts for a better future for its people. Likewise, it is a thanksgiving of sorts, and a renewal of more blessings to come.
Panagsogod, which coincides with the Sogod town fiesta on July 25, will honor its patron saint, Señor Santiago (St. James the Apostle) and will start a shower of events, like a church wedding for local couples, talent showdown, an agro-fair, special dinner affair at the Alegre Beach Resort, crowning of the Sogod Festival Queen, street dancing by talented contingents, disco parties, etc.
Indeed, this is the start of a brand, new vision for Sogod which in time, will bring in a tourist rush! Sinugdanan gyud! It has started!
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St. John the Baptist fiesta goers always wear the color red, when commemorating his feast every June 24. According to one of its prime movers, Louie Nacorda.
Let's go back to Aug. 29, 2005 when a group of Cebuanos decided to formalize the feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist.
This august group of 12 founding members was inducted into the Cofradia de San Juan Bautista by its first spiritual director, Msgr. Cayetano Gelbolingo, PA, at the sacristy of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. They are Pepit Gorordo Revilles, Louie Nacorda, Margie Matheu, Dodong Paulin, Val and Ofelia Sandiego, Gavin Bagares, Luz Mancao-Sandiego, Yolly Oporto, Cookie Newman, Linda Martinez and Jeremi Nacorda.
The Cofradia has for its main purpose the promotion of the devotion to the saint and to imitate his spiritual life.
This year is the second year that the feast has become truly festive, and now commences with Holy Mass, a brief procession and dinner.
Same time next year, Louie?
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 24, 2008 issue)
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