15 finalists vie for Huniño song contest

On Wednesday, April 25, all roads will lead to the Basilica del Sto. Nino Pilgrim Center as the 6th Huniño: Huni Halad Alang Kang Señor Sto. Niño de Cebu original songwriting contest grand finals night is staged with the finest Cebuano singers interpreting the top 15 compositions.

The 15 compositions vying for top honors in the competition is “Huniño,” composed by Jay-arr Librando. Jay-arr is a music teacher at St. Francis of Assisi School in Lahug, Cebu City. “Huniño” will be interpreted by Jeo and friends.

“Sto. Niño, Pasayloa Kami” is composed by Leah Villordon, who is based in Oxford, California, USA. The song acknowledges man’s sinful nature and the Sto. Niño’s everlasting love for mankind. Neil Christopher Ampo breathes life to the song.

Rev. Fr. Ponce Jed Belones is also a prolific songwriter. His compositions have won recognition in different songwriting competitions. His entry, “Sto. Niño Pit Señor,” once again won the nods of the screening committee to be among the 15 finalists. To be interpreted by R-Lyn Ygot, “Sto. Niño Pit Señor,” pictures the fervent devotion to the Sto. Nino, for His guidance and for His graces.

The song, “Señor Sto. Niño Sampiton ug Yukboan Ta” is a collaborative work of Joseph Daan from Getafe, Bohol and Ramonito Carbon from Argao town, southern Cebu. Daan teaches music at the University of Cebu (UC) main campus in Cebu City. He is also the adviser and musical director of the UC Rondalla and Symphonic Orchestra. Ramonito is a Math teacher and a Cultural Admin staff of UC. Their entry, to be interpreted by Jacqueline Eborlas, emphasizes that there is nobody to call upon in times of distress and deep sorrow except the Sto. Niño.

The next finalist is an English composition, “On Bended Knees” by Rev. Fr. Charles Louis Jayme from Sto. Rosario Parish on P. del Rosario Street, Cebu City. Fr. Jayme is also a singer, having been an interpreter in the 26th and 27th Cebu Pop Music Festival. His entry is a prayer for guidance, mercy and obedience to God’s will. The song will be interpreted by John Benedict Omilig.

The song, “Ikaw Ang Kahayag” is written by Shoji Hakayawa, a 17 year old Filipino-Japanese. A student of St. Francis of Assisi School, Hakayawa, ironically, is not a Catholic. But he sees the wonders the Sto. Nino brings to those who believe in His power. The song is a retelling of Shoji’s own life story. There is nobody more appropriate who can convincingly give life to the song except Hakayawa himself.

“Sto. Niño, Paglaum Ka” is composed by Emmanuel Abellana of the National Statistics Office in Cebu. The lyrics are written by Lizette Abellana. Emman’s “Sto. Nino, Kaluwasan Ko” was the grand prize winner in the 3rd Huniño songwriting competition in 2009. The song expresses one’s faith and trust to the Holy Child who is our refuge and hope for peace and unity among ourselves. Arielle Famador is picked by Emman and Lisette Abellana to interpret the song.

Russel Alegado from Cebu composed the melody of his entry, “Yugto Sa Pag-ampo.” The lyrics are written by Ronil Vincent Watin. The song talks about prayer to God the Father, to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to the Sto. Niño against all forms of evil. Annabelle Salvo is chosen to breathe life to the song.

Another song that made it to the top 15 has lyrics both in English and Cebuano. The song is “Hello Sto. Niño, My Friend”. The melody is composed by Britz Bryan Briones, while the lyrics are written by Rowena Tampus-de la Cruz. Briones taught violin for seven years at the Centre For International Education. He was the 1992 regional champion of the organ competition. Rowena is a plain housewife who is a psalmist at the Basilica del Sto. Niño. “Hello Sto. Nino, My Friend” mirrors God’s humility as represented by the Sto. Nino when He humbles Himself as a child to be a friend to all. Czrnee Therese Liszt Briones, a 7-year-old daughter of a composer is going to interpret the song.

Simply titled “Pit Senyor,” the song’s melody is written by Jundel Bacalso, an accounting ctaff of Castilex Industrial Corp. He is a singer/guitarist of the Rhytcom Band, the Fifth Season choir and the VOW Singers. Putting lyrics to Jundel’s melody is Jean Suarez-Dabasol, who is also member of the Fifth Season choir. The song was purposely written to honor and glorify the Sto. Nino. To interpret the song are the VOW Singers.

“Diha Sa Gugma Mo” is composed by Rommel Ambi, a church organist and choir trainer of St. James Parish in Badian town, southwest Cebu. The lyricist of the song is Rev. Fr. Charles Louis Jayme. “Diha Sa Gugma Mo” is a prayer that offers oneself as a humble gift to God in recognition of His great love for all of us. Wilson Po’s soothing voice will definitely make the song come to life.

The only Tagalog song that made it to the finals is Melvin Corpin’s “Isang Munting Panalangin.” Melvin hails from Tacloban City and is presently residing in Canada. The song speaks about social consciousness and family life. It will be interpreted by Haydn Marie Beltran.

“Balaang Sto. Niño, Ang Giya Ko” is a collaborative effort of Ian Gerhrome Perpetua (lyricist) from Quezon City who takes up Bachelor of Arts in Music at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation and Kurl Francis Dedumo (composer), who is a graduate of Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Southern Philippines. Their composition is a thanksgiving and a supplication for guidance in the face of trials we encounter. Perpetua will breathe life to their composition.

“O Señor Sto. Niño, Nahigugma Kami Kanimo” is composed by Mary Jean Saile, an evangelist of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and Cebu Evangelization Ministry. The song acknowledges God’s overwhelming greatness and power. To give life to the song is Jade Andrew Rosit.

To complete the 15 finalists is another English song, “Teach Us, O Lord.” The melody is composed by Laurice Licmo-an, a Chemical engineer who is the costing supervisor of Tamiya Philippines, Inc. She is an instrumentalist of the Camellia Choir. Writing the lyrics is Kimberly Licmo-an, a Nurse at the Cebu General Services, Inc. She is a member of the Camellia Choir. The song asks God for guidance for the people to become better citizens. The song will be interpreted in a duet by Chris Dave Rufo and Therese Monique Rufo.

All the fifteen entries will be included in the CD album which will be available at the Sto. Niño store. The contest is produced by the Augustinian Community of the Basilica del Sto. Niño.

Admission is free.