Tagum’s Musikahan Festival Beckons Country's Rondalla Groups

Various Rondalla groups in the country can now take part in the world-famous Musikahan sa Tagum Festival 2013 slated in the city on February 19 to 24.

“Musikahan is not only the country’s longest-running music festival but it is also one of the most-attended with thousands of revellers coming to the city to witness the various competitions,” Tagum City Tourism Council chairperson Alma Uy said.

Uy said Rondal-Awit or the pluked string ensemble competition is one of the main events during the Musikahan Festival along with Himig Handog and Avenida-Musika.

Rondal-Awit Competition 2013 has two categories: the Children’s Category for children between 7 and 13 years old and the Open Category for youth and adult 14 years old and above.

“The competition is open to all Rondalla groups in the Philippines whether based in schools or in the communities,” she said. The Rondalla groups can feature solo singers who can win up to P3,000 for the Junior Category or up to P5,000 for the Senior/Open Category provided they do not have existing contracts with any commercial recording company in the country, she added.

She said the competition allows Solo or Duo Instrument Playing but using only the laud, octavina and banduria as their plucked string instrument. The Champion for the Junior Category under the Solo Instrument Playing can win up to P8,000 in cash with the P5,000 for the Best Conductor.

Uy said the Rondal-Awit Competition is open to Rondalla groups with 10 to 25 members excluding the conductor, solo instrument player and the singer. Each group will be allowed a maximum of 15 minutes for their performance.

Participating Rondalla groups will be required to perform their chosen music piece which can be composed or arranged by a Filipino or a foreign artist, a contest piece which the Festival Executive Committee will provide, their chosen Filipino folk song interpreted by a Solo singer and a special number which could be a solo number accompanied by a Guitarist or a duet using the prescribed rondalla instruments.

Those competing under the Children Category can win from P20,000 (3rd place), P40,000 (2nd place) and P60,000 (1st place). For the Open Youth/Adult Category, the cash prizes are P30,000, P50,000 and P75,000 for the 3rd, 2nd and 1st prizes respectively. (RGA/Carmencita A. Carillo/PIA XI)