In a first for Mindanao, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has brought the “Musikapuloan” music fest to Davao City. Philippine folk and contemporary music was celebrated in an unlikeliest place—a popular nightspot pub street.
The event held at the pub area of the Matina Town Square was organized by the NCCA National Committee on Music and was undertaken as part of this year’s National Arts Month (NAM), whose theme was “Ani ng Sining, Alab ng Sining.”
Project director Maricel Cayas said the music-centered celebration of NAM in Mindanao should complement the region’s dynamic art scene.
She noted that Mindanao has very rich musical traditions.
It’s through music that we understand each other particularly now that Mindanao is pushing for peace, Cayas explained.
Performances were mounted by the Davao Girls Choir, award-winning University of Mindanao Chorale, Kuerdas Gensan, Kuntaw Mindanao, Mebuyan and Davao musician Popong Landero.
Cayas said the event tried to expose locals to both traditional and contemporary music forms.
Coinciding the event was the “Sayaw Pinoy” dance fest, also by NCCA, which toured Davao schools such as the Philippine Normal College, Ateneo de Davao elementary campus and Vicente Hizon Elementary School.
Students were treated performances by Lahing Batangan Dance Troupe of Lyceum-Batangas, Halili-Cruz Dance Company, University of the East Silanganan Dance Troupe, and University of Immaculate Conception-Davao.
Stealing the show was a Batangan dancer who did a balancing act with a stack of pots of varied sizes atop her head.
—CONTRIBUTED