The competition is supported by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA); Cultural Center of the Philippines; Commission on Higher Education (CHEd); and Department of Education (DepEd). The finalists are in ballet, choir, piano, rondalla, strings and woodwind.
In cooperation with the Tagum City LGU and Tourism Council; Ilocos Norte Tourism Council and Office of the Ilocos Norte Governor; and the DepEd Regional Directorates, the regional-center semi-finals events were conducted in Tagum City, Iloilo City, Paoay, Ilocos Norte, and Quezon City Sept. 17-Oct 15.
Earlier, the regional elimination round was held July 31-Aug. 4 at the CCP and the University of the Philippines.
Of the 166 contestants for solo instruments, 103 made it to the eliminations and 63 contestants qualify for the finals.
In the group competitions for choir and rondalla, 24 passed the eliminations out of 76 groups that applied, and 12 groups qualify as finalists.
The traditional music ensemble competition registered 23 group contestants.
Traditional music
For the traditional music ensemble competition, judges José Buenconsejo, Verne de la Peña and Patricia Sylvestre chose the following as winners: Bolton Elementary School “Sa Tabok” Cultural Dance Ensemble from Davao City; DepEd Bulacan Performing Arts Group from Malolos City; Dinupdop Ethnic Group from Lagawe, Ifugao; Likayan Children Cultural Group from Bontoc, Mountain Province; P. Kindat Music Ensemble from Gen. Santos City; Tiempo Elementary School Cultural Dance Troupe from Tabo, Abra.
Contestants are elementary-school students 7-12 years of age. Each group presented a local tradition of their cultural community, whether celebration, ritual, ceremony or similar communal activity involving musical performance.
The presentations were prepared under the guidance of a recognized local culture bearer—master, elder, teacher, expert, artist or leader—acting as the main informant or consultant of the ensemble.
Ballet
This year’s junior (13-18 years old) ballet competition has 39 finalists of whom 28 are from NCR; five from Region IV-A; two from Region VI; two from Region VII; and one each from Regions X and XI.
Judges were Esteban Basilio Villaruz, Corazon Iñigo, Edna Vida and Nonoy Froilan. Ballet masters were Froilan and Raul Dauz.
Choir
Tristan Ignacio chaired the jury; with Maria Lourdes Hermo, Robert Delgado and Oscar Pantaleon Jr. as members.
The finalists are: D’Voce from Gen. Santos City; Ilocos Norte National High School Youth Choir from Laoag City; Kantika Baao from Baao, Camarines Sur; Muntinlupa Science High School Chorale from Muntinlupa City; UP Rural High School Glee Club from Bay, Laguna; and The Young Minstrels from Baguio City.
Robert Delgado’s “Sa Aking Mga Kababata,” especially composed for this competition, and in commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of José Rizal, serves as the contest piece.
Piano
Three contestants out of seven were declared finalists during the piano semi-finals: Chance Elan Israel, Lorenzo Medel and Gabriel Allan Paguirigan, all from NCR.
Carolyn Cheng chaired the jury; with Reynaldo Reyes, Mary Ann Espina, Katherine Fernandez Asis and Augusto Espino as members.
Espino’s “Piknik,” was the required piece for the semi-finals. Contestants are 15-19 years old.
Rondalla
The Namcya rondalla competition for elementary-school level had Elaine Espejo Cajucom as chair of the jury; with Celso Espejo, Orlando Ocampo, Jegger Anjao, Jay Sarita and Fe Ballester as members.
The contest piece for the finals, “Estudiantina,” was arranged by Espejo.
Finalists are: LCES Rondalla from Gen. Santos City; Lucban District Children’s Rondalla from Lucban, Quezon; Maco Heights Central Elementary School Rondalla from Maco, Compostela Valley; Rizal Elementary School from Panabo City; Sariaya East Children’s Rondalla from Sariaya, Quezon; Surallah Rondalla from Surallah, South Cotabato.
Strings
There are two categories for the strings competition: Category B for contestants ages 13-17 years, and Category C for contestants ages 18-27 years.
Jorge Joy Sababan, together with judges in both eliminations and semi-finals rounds, Joy Allan de la Cruz, Felicitas Ronquillo and Crisancti Macazo, announced the finalists for the Strings competition:
Category B—Ira Alexis Aclan, violin, Region IV-A; Joven Edward Aquisap, viola, Region III; Rhynette Joyce Borromeo, violin, Region II; Chris John David de Guzman, violin, Region VI; Miguel Angelo Estrada, violin, Region III; Marian Antonette Mayuga, violin, NCR; Maria Jeline Oliva, violin, Region V; Roi Aldric Trawon, violin, NCR.
Category C—Kyla Mae Ibero, violin, Region VI; Jonathan Livioco, violin, NCR; Kim Carl Mirandilla-Ng, violin, Region V; Christian Tan, violin, Region III; Jimmy Tagala Jr., violin, NCR; Maria Corazon Reyes, viola, NCR; Rose Belle Cama, cello, Region III; Giuseppe Andre Diestro, cello, Region IV-A; Gerry Graham Gonzales, cello, Region VII; Paolo Jaime Alcantara, bass, NCR.
Woodwinds
From 10 semi-finalists in the Namcya Woodwinds competition, the following were chosen as finalists: John Lester Armenta, flute, Region IV-A; Angelo Mateo, flute, Region III; and Adriane Constantino, saxophone, Region IV-A.
Judges were Arnaldo “Bombie” Custodio, Ray Lazaro, Tots Tolentino and Olivier Ochanine.
National finals
The national finals are scheduled on Nov. 22-25, at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater) and Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (Little Theater) of the CCP.
The six national winners of the traditional music ensemble competition will be presented on Nov. 26, 6 p.m. at Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino. The national winners in the ballet, choir, piano, strings and woodwinds competitions will perform at the concert of Namcya winners on Nov. 27, 6 p.m. at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo.