Extravaganza of music, culture for SEAG opening
Credit to Author: Arlo Custodio| Date: Fri, 29 Nov 2019 16:14:56 +0000
A grand display of Filipino musical and artistic talent will lend color and pageantry to the opening ceremonies of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games tonight at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
The show starts off with Lani Misalucha leading the singing of the national anthem.
The extravaganza will be divided into suites, each with its own theme.
The “Sigla” or “The Energy Of A People” — after the Parade of Nations, presents the courtship of the Harana, with Aicelle Santos and Christian Bautista rendering the immortal Tagalog song“Minamahal Kita” against a starlit backdrop where a nipa hut is carried to the center stage by villagers to emphasize the Filipino spirit of bayanihan.
At the crowing of a rooster, the scene shifts to modern Philippines with Iñigo Pascual singing “Man From Manila.” Elmo Magalona then reprises his father Francis Magalona’s “Mga Kababayan Ko.”
KZ Tandingan takes the stage with her own rendition of “Tayo’y Mga Pinoy” in her signature rap-song.
The spotlight then turns on Apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas as he performs his iconic “Bebot” number.
Facing the media after the dress rehearsal on Tuesday, the Angeles City-born international sensation Filipino-American, whose real name is Allan Pineda Lindo, said becoming part of SEA Games staging in the country is a dream come true.
Born and raised in Sapangbato, which is just outside Clark Air Base in Angeles City, Pampanga, where many of the events are staged, he said he is happy with what’s happening to his hometown, and glad to be part of the torch relay in the province last week.
Revealing more of his plans to the media, he said that from the devastation of the Base wrought by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991, Clark is now a Green City, offering many employment and business opportunities.
The Fil-Am artist will return to the stage during the closing ceremonies at New Clark City on December 11.
Amid a set design of a “bamboo forest” that utilizes LED panels, the screen heightens the content of each segment with a stage inspired by the Banaue Rice Terraces. Segment titles are rendered in Baybayin (the pre-Hispanic Filipino writing system) by Leo Emmanuel Castro.
The Welcome Suite — “Ugat Ng Ating Lakas” or “The Roots Of Our Strength” — opens to National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab’s “Kyrie Eleison” from his landmark work, “Misa/Mass,” chanted in the style consistent with many Philippine indigenous peoples’ oral traditions.
After that comes the Sarimanok dance of performed rituals that explore how strength, agility, physical prowess and competition have long been ingrained in the country’s culture and tradition.
Highlighting these cultures are visual backdrops using traditional textile motif unique to each cultural group’s dance — “Ginum” of the Bagobos of Mindanao where they channel the power of the Philippine eagle as it takes flight; the Kalinga’s “Pattong,” where successful warriors are welcomed on their return to their villages after raids; the Filipino ancient art of self-defense, arnis, with female fighters in the routine; “Sagayan” warrior dance of the Maguindanao and the elaborate “Sayaw Sa Kasingkil” of the Maranaos, where a prince, a princess and fan dancers gracefully cross the bamboo poles in rhythmic claps.
The welcome parade has Jota dancers swift effortlessly into movement routines that evoke the dance traditions of each of the competing countries — enriched by the dance movements of Myanmar, Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and other competing countries.
Providing back up are students and artists from various schools and groups trained by Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group — Upeepz, Vpeepz Hiphop, Far Eastern University, Centro Escolar University-Manila, Rizal Technological University, First City Providential College, Para駋ue National High School, Mariano Marcos Memorial High School, Lakandula High School, Mga Anak ni Inang Daigdig Dance Troupe, Technological University of the Philippines, Universidad de Manila, University of the East and Villamor High School.
The opening ceremonies finale, dubbed “Pagkakaisa,” will make use of the capiz shell as a backdrop, creating dazzling mosaics while 11 of the country’s top artists gather to sing “We Win As One” — with lyrics by Floy Quintos, who is the creative director of the opening ceremonies, and melody by National Artist for Music, Ryan Cayabyab.
Apl, Misalucha, Santos, Bautista, Pascual, Magalona and Tandingan are joined by Jed Madela, Anna Fegi and the TNT Boys. They are accompanied by 11 young Filipinos representing the 11 competing Southeast Asian countries.
As the 11 headliners segue into the final chorus, the symbolic lighting of the SEA Games cauldron will be beamed into the Philippine Arena from Clark, then performers from the previous suites join for the official opening.
“All in all, the opening of the 2019 SEA Games in Manila is a showcase of Filipino culture and belief systems — with indigeous, Hispanic, folk and contemporary street/pop culture are highlighted in each suite,” Quintos explained in his notes furnished exclusively for The Manila Times.