Ethnic Philippine Music, Dance Group to Perform in Albay

The orchestra “Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipino” (Kontra-GaPi) Ethnic Music and Dance Ensemble will bring to Albay and to local music enthusiasts awareness and skills training in music that is native to the Philippines.

An orchestra with 20 members from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, Kontra-GaPi specializes in the use of traditional (pre-Hispanic) Filipino instruments, especially the “gamelan.”

The gamelan consists of gongs and drums; wood and metal xylophones; flutes and whistles; assorted bamboo, wooden and metal percussion and voices.

More than a musical event, the activity will start with a main concert at the Albay Astrodome on July 25,

At the concert, Kontra-GaPi artists will sing, dance, mime and play as many as ten instruments each for about 90 minutes.

The Marcial O. Rañola Rondalla will be the front act.

According to Dr. Sabas C. Loriaga, president of the board of trustees of the Simon of Cyrene Foundation Inc. (SCFI), the event will help create awareness and appreciation of the Filipino culture as well as advancement of community-based and culture-based tourism in Albay.

“It will promote our advocacy for inclusion. The hearing-impaired persons with disabilities (PWDs) can watch the show. The visually impaired who can hear the music and all other persons with disability will enjoy the concert,” Loriaga said.

After the concert, he said, a series of workshops will be conducted for teachers and students from selected high schools and colleges, who would like to develop a repertoire on traditional instruments.

The workshops will run until July 31.

“All the proceeds of this project will benefit the children and PWDs in their quest for education, dignity, inclusion, autonomy and livelihood,” he said.

Kontra-GaPi has been made possible with SCFI’s collaboration with the Provincial Government of Albay, Dios Mabalos Po Foundation, Inc., TAYO, JCI Daraga and partners in the church. (PNA)CTB/FGS/EMC/cbd/

Meanwhile, Puerto Princesa to Host Additional International Flights

The existing Puerto Princesa City International Airport (PPCIA) will soon host additional international flights.

This developed as an airline company wants the city to be a destination of a direct flight from Incheon, South Korea.

Engineer Percy Malonesio, area manager of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), said this during his courtesy call to the Sangguniang Panlungsod Monday.

According to Malonesio, representatives of King Air, which operates Sea Air, said they will have a 100-seater plane plying the Incheon, South Korea-Puerto Princesa, Philippines route.

This will start supposedly on July 23. However, Malonesio said this remains tentative schedule since the plan still needs finalizing this week.

The Puerto Princesa International Airport currently hosts 21 daily flights.

When members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod asked if the airport is ready for the possible entry of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona virus or MERS-CoV, Malonesio said “I will order our human quarantine to strengthen our monitoring of passengers entering Palawan.” H

e also said that they are currently using a hand scanner in the arrival area.

Councilor Vicky de Guzman said that being an international airport, CAAP should request a thermal scanner. (PNA)