A student from Subic who was bullied in school for being half-African-American; an engineering student who was an illegitimate child; and a Communication Arts major from Ateneo are vying to win a new talent contest.
The Peninsula Manila has embarked on a unique corporate social responsibility program that not only aims to discover Filipino talents but also hopes to attract a younger crowd to the hotel.
“The Pen wants to contribute to educating the youth. It wants to tap on the innate musicality of the Filipino,” said musical director Leonyl Torres.
Targeting college students, the Sing@Ning Ultimate Voice Music Competition has attracted 249 contestants who underwent a stringent elimination process.
The contest revolves around how well the contestants can make their own musical arrangements and play to an intimate venue such as Salon de Ning.
“Some contestants were good simply because they learned the song the way the original artist sang it. We are looking for originality and their ear for music. In other competitions, contestants merely sing. Here, they make their own arrangements,” said Torres.
Sing@Ning consisted of three elimination rounds focusing on Original Pilipino music in the genres of soft rock, ballad and jazz. Each batch had such vocal coaches as Sweet Plantado Tiongson from The Company; Jacqui Magno; and Camille Lopez Molina, whose classical training helped them to manage their breathing in the ballads.
Finalists
On Nov. 6, Garrett Bolden Jr, 20; Rafael Gutierrez, 19; and Joselle Feliciano, 21, will compete in the final round. Each contestant will have their 15 minutes in the spotlight singing three songs of their choice. The second half will challenge them to interpret a Filipino folk song in a contemporary arrangement. They’ve already selected “Kalesa,” “Pen Pen de Sarapen” and “Sitsiritsit.” All the songs will be backed up by a full band and a synthesizer.
“All three have their specializations. Gareth is good in R&B and soul. Pael is a balladeer. He’s also the most versatile. Both are tenors. Joselle is suited for jazz and bossa nova. She has a high alto voice,” observed Torres.
When Bolden, a Business major at University of Lyceum in Subic Bay, joined a singing contest in America, a neighbor of his father told him about his namesake. Although Bolden didn’t make it, his biggest reward was reuniting with his father.
Gutierrez, a Computer Engineering student from the University of the Philippines, said his father had three families. When the father fell ill and could no longer look after his children, Gutierrez tutored high-school students and repaired computers to pay for his education.
Feliciano shifted from Management Economics to Communication Arts to pursue her passion. She also got a scholarship to study Voice with Trumpets Play Shop.
Coaches
The finalists are being coached by Pinky Marquez.
Thespians Robert Seña, Isay Alvarez, Jett Pangan and talent manager Girlie Rodis will be judging the championship round. The Grand Prize is a scholarship at Spotlights Artists Center; John Robert Powers; P100,000; and a three-month contract to perform at the Pen’s night spot, Salon de Ning.
Meanwhile, the other semifinalists will participate as backup singers. In December, they will be part of the Peninsula’s Christmas ensemble.
Torres underscored the importance of education credentials. He said he wanted to uplift the image of singers in lounges by showcasing college students serious about getting their diplomas.
“Sing@Ning is Pen’s way of touching the lives of young people and how they can contribute to the progress of Pilipino music. The contestants have gotten out their comfort zone. Over time, they matured as individuals, both musically and emotionally.”
Although questions were raised about why an international chain such as the Pen would highlight Filipino songs, Torres said: “If you go to Paris, you hear French songs. As a foreigner, I appreciate that. For Filipinos, it’s a medium to appreciate their own music and to see how it can be enjoyed by other individuals from other parts of the world.”
