Category: The Cordillera Connection

Cordillera’s most featured musicians initiated a summer free music tutorials for guitar and vocals on 1st April, previously scheduled in March but was moved due to a prolonged brown-out. With the support of their affiliate music learning institution, I-Grab, and the hosting facility, they came up with the idea of partnering with TCC to conduct such free music tutorial.

According to Margaret Locano, one of the volunteer musician, “Its our 2nd time to conduct free lessons.. but we have thought of partnering with TCC since most tutors or coaches are involved with TCC… So I asked sir Taag and he said yes.. He suggested it as an arm of Project Takkay (a special project initiated by Dr Ruth Taguiling, specialising in community education programs). This is to shape and target future performers which we can invite in our TCC concert series.. at the same time, TCC is helping the school promote their music lesson offers”..

Acknowledging the approval of Mr Gregorio Taag, TCC-Philippines President, they are hinting the idea that I-Grab and TCC could also be partners for projects involving music since the facility is located at Betag, La Trinidad, also within TCC’s locality, and is open for activities anytime.

“Also, this is one way to influence them to focus on music rather than gadgets or bad vices,” adds Margaret.

“I-Grab wants to emphasize that our socio-civic role is to help build families and communities through music,” says Mrs Riza Orpilla, manager of I-Grab and also one of the tutors.

A member of the Hagpatan Band of Tip Top and Maria Basa, Baguio City, who attended the tutorial testifies: “Manang mayat dyay lesson I learn a lot like the anatomy chuchu. Dyay Breathing which is talaga nga nakatulong .. Marigatan ak gamin di una ngem tadta medyo maalalak. Pati dagidyay techniques tapnu maala dyay high notes and low notes. Tapos helpful met lng nga talaga dyay humming pay bago ikanta tapnu maala dyay song . idyay placement met medyo maalala met ketdi .. Looking forward idyay sumaruno manen nga ada kastoy ta guyuden mi kakadwa mi. Umay kami amin.”

Another learner said, “It was a great experience Manang and very helpful for us beginners na hindi naman kagandahan ang boses but we have the heart and eagerness to learn. We are very thankful nga nag-organise kayo ti kastoy nga activity kase you are giving hope to those children who are interested in music.”

The tutors and coaches who initiated and officiated the music lessons are Gayle Torrado, Riza Orpilla ,Keneth Inocencio, and Margaret Locano. Juan Jaymoh Javier from Music for Change, was not able to join due to prior commitments. They are also volunteer performers of TCC’s Concert for Life Series which has already supported more than 280 medically-ill beneficiaries.

Margaret, Kenneth and Jaymoh are also members of the TCC Band, the only band that toured the whole Cordillera for their bid to campaign for Cordillera’s Autonomy in partnership with NEDA (National Economic Development Authority).

Watch until the end. an Igorota OFW who’s having fun with her native dance. We helped her be provided with her needed music.

OFWs, generally, are finding ways to relieve their homesickness as they work long distance from their families. In this video is an Igorota OFW who’s having fun with her native dance. We helped her be provided with her needed music. Dance with her native moves. No kill joy and no bashing, only for fun’s sake.

TCC’s Mc Cultural 2017 Competition

“Do to others what you want others do unto you.”

This golden rule once again proved its real-life meaning.

A talented singer from Bohol, who once asked TCC to help her province when it was struck by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake in 2013 has now wholeheartedly given back support to TCC. Gee Luengo, a singing talent of Bohol,  helped mobilise a charity event back in 2013 intended to raise fund for Bohol Earthquake and SuperTyphoon Yolanda. Thru the said event, TCC was able to raise Php54K for Bohol. This fund was then used to repair a library in Gee’s locality, Tubigon, Bohol. Gee was so thankful of TCC since, and promised to help back in the future.

Ela Hidalgo, also an active team member of TCC, tells below the story on how Gee has put TCC in her heart.

January 28 (Sunday) BAR FM , was the night wherein eight contenders for the title of Master of Songwriting, the first filipino songwriting competition in London, performed their songs live. They were Emma Lauson , Eugene Arcilla, Dodie Victorino, Gee Luengco,  Harin Perera,  Ken Kiwas, , Nane Guno  and Regin Raquedan.  All of the eight contestants really showed their creativity in expressing how they feel, through writing their own songs. They all performed amazingly.  Although they are equally talented, in every competition, there are winners to be declared and chosen by the judges, through certain criteria. The said contest was judged by professional musicians, radio and TV journalists namely, Rey Abesamis of One Philippines , Alexa Taag of A’ GEM, Ronald Dalida of Pinoy Underground, Ador Miranda  of Radyo Manila UK and Rose Eclarinal of the biggest Filipino channel, ABS- CBN.

Therefore, the songwriters who had their winning songs are:

Gee Luengco : Grand Champion with her song “Internet”, based on the Overseas Filipino Workers’  life in Hongkong. Luengco said, she was inspired to write a song about the lives of OFW as she witness how hard life is working abroad. This is about an OFW who is a breadwinner and working so hard for her family back home and uses the Internet to find a lover, hoping that that someday, true love and love will be found.

“ I was overwhelmed and thankful that my song was chosen and I bagged the grand prize.  I did not expect anything except that I only wanted my songs to be heard. I would like to say Thank you to all organisers of Masters of Songwriting 2018, Mr. Michael Cana and Miss  Ela Hidalgo for making this event possible. This helps improves and develops  confidence  as a musician. I would also want to encourage, young musicians to write their own song lyrics and develop their own musical styles”, says Luengo. She received a £300 cash, guitar, 2 nights stay in Belmont Hotel Pasay Philippines with breakfast for 2 persons, 1 hour body massage and a trophy.

Luengo promised herself that she will share her first cash reward to charity. She had chosen  the Cordillera Connection, a UK registered charity as her beneficiary. According to her, TCC is one of the many who helped out in rebuilding school and churches in Tubigon Bohol when her province was hit by earthquake in 2013.

Regin Raquedan : First Runner Up with his song, “Binalewala”. He received a £150 cash, 30 minutes massage voucher and a trophy.

Nane Guno : Second Runner Up with her song, “ Habang buhay ang Gabi”. She received £50 cash, 30 minutes massage voucher and a trophy.

Gee Luengo generously donated £200 of her £300 prize to TCC. This is a big help in supporting TCC’s charity works in the Philippines. TCC, established here in the United Kingdom is also supported by its different chapters and supporters in Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, Thailand, Singapore, and OFWs in other countries.

This proves that TCC, because of its genuine charity works, is blessed by the Divine Almighty, our Creator. Though full of challenges, He gives light and hope for the continuity of its calling.

From Far East to the West, TCC- Hong Kong and TCC-Montreal achieved a massive successes on their bid to help materialise TCC’s charity objectives. With their admirable enthusiasm, team work and dedication, they were able to conquer all the challenges and difficulties to achieve it.

TCC-Montreal in Canada, thru the leadership of Ms Grace Marcos and the concerted effort of the team just recently celebrated its 2nd Anniversary thru a health-oriented activity, Zumba and Dinner-for-a-cause raising a fund that will help TCC in their Scholarship program and other projects that they have planned to implement.

Meanwhile, TCC-Hong Kong thru the leadership of Mrs Rosemarie T. Amoy, made a huge success on their October-Voice Frolics that brought Cordillera’s hottest band, Project Jon to Hong Kong for a historical concert. Historical as it was organised, carrie-out, and finished with mixture of challenges and twists. It was a memorable Cordilleran concert in Hong Kong that even the rain can’t stop. Some members of the band were even put a strange situation when they missed their flight home. Astonishingly,  TCC-HK, friends and relatives of the band members immediately extended help and turned it as a sweet experience. Expectedly, all the challenges resulted to a huge success leading them to raise  the amount of HK$35,000.00. TCC-HK has pledged to budget these amount to fund the Concert for Life series for the benefit of TCC’s more than 200chronicle ill patients.

A big congratulations to, TCC-HK and TCC- Montreal. You have shown a great example of team work, charism, dedication, and commitment.

TCC-UK also made a big success on its 6th Anniversary thru its Ms Cultural World 2017. The event did not raise a considerable amount but it has greatly achieved its charity objective in the Preservation and Advancement of Culture, Arts and Heritage where different cultures like India, Philippines and Zimbabwe came together to celebrate the beauty of diversity.

As a responsible Cordilleran, give us your verdict on the Autonomy if referendum is held today. Please state your reason on the comment portion.

Article by: Gregorio C. Taag

 

Regional Development Council (RDC) thru its NEDA-CAR Regional Director invited TCC to be a partner in the Regional Autonomy endeavor.

The partnership comes into structure as TCC’s long-time volunteer band performer was contracted to head the campaign sorties. Project Jon, composed of Jon Sawac, Kenneth Inocencio, Stephen dalacan, Jayson Raras, Vener Yano, Margaret Locano, Juan Jayno Javier, Melvin Soriano, Clinton Morgan, and Patrick Sarmiento compose the group. The band is a conglomeration of talents with a wide array of music genre on their sleeves. RD Milagros Rimando saw TCC group page and appreciated its endeavours; the Concert for Life series and thus invited TCC.

NEDA-CAR, thru RD Milagros Rimando and her staff, Maris Cabato, and the rest met with GC Taag first, then took along Jon Sawac so he could input in the proceedings.

The endeavour involved a partnership where the band members will also be rewarded with an honorarium package which is hard to refuse. This is TCCs way of paying back its talents. GCTAAG also lined up the younger performers, the TCC Band, to serve as front acts for Project Jon. They too were given singing gigs with the DENR, another government entity. For now, TCC is branching out and trying other fields where it can also help, aside from charity works. Thanks to its volunteers who always strive to do better each time.