Slideshow of Viva Marinduque. Background music performed by Pangkat Kalutang of Bangbang.

"BILA-BILA" BUTTERFLY

MSC Sambayang Sining Lahi dances "Bila-Bila", composed by Prof. Rex Emmanuel Asuncion as part of "Viva Marinduque '09".

TORMEA CHOIR

"TORMEA Choir" of Torrijos. The best singers of the Torrijos Municipal Employees Association under the baton of the multi-talented Jess Briones.

"MARINDUQUE AKIN KA"

"Reunited Choir" of Boac.

"Marinduque Akin Ka"

Titik at Musika: Eli J. Obligacion

Isang paraiso sa gitna ng dagat

Ay muling nabuhay

Sa aking pangarap ngayon

Kahapo'y di mawaglit sa aking isip

Ngayo'y buhay ka't di na panaginip.

Marinduque akin ka

Puso mo'y puso ko

Awit mo'y awit ko di ba

At ngayo'y magkayakap

ang ating damdami'y iisa.

Isang paraiso'ng ilaw sa karimlan

Batis ng pag-asa

Bayan ma'y sadlak sa dusa

Kahapon mo'y may pait, luha at sakit

Ngayo'y nagising diwa'y nagupiling.

Marinduque gising na/akin ka

Puso mo'y puso ko

Awit mo'y awit ko di ba/di baga

At ngayo'y magkayakap

Ang ating damdami'y iisa.

(Repeat Koro)

Ang ating damdami'y iisa

Marinduque akin ka.

"HAPIT HIMIGAN"

"Hapit-Himigan" was a choral competition, one of many activities, held in connection with this year's "Araw ng Marinduque" celebration at the Boac Covered Court. "Marinduque Akin Ka", a song I wrote way back in 1992, as the theme song of "Mara Unduk" was chairman, Fe Corazon Recalde's choice as the contest piece.

For many years now, the said song has been sung by the Provincial Capitol Choir as part of their repertoire when performing for official guests and for out of town performances.

Participating groups were Gasan's "IFI Choral Ensemble" of the Parish of St. Joseph, "Reunited Choir" of Marinduque National High School and Boac North District, "Live Echoes Choir" of St. Mary's College of Marinduque, "Mogpog Municipal Chorale", and "TORMEA" Choir of Torrijos.

Judges were Prof. Norma Soldevilla of Gasan who also notated the contest piece, Dr. Roberto Montellano of Boac, Prof. Anacleto Mendoza of Sta. Cruz, Dindo Asuncion and myself. The "IFI Chorale Ensemble" (shown in photo), garnered the championship trophy, TORMEA choir was 1st runner-up and "Reunited Choir", 2nd runner up. Thanks to Ms. Recalde's efforts, there was a huge audience turn-out with municipal choir fans providing moral support to their entries.

OLIVER "BHONG" MACUNAT, 22

Bhong Macunat (to the right) and me.

Bhong first joined our community theater group last year (2008).He was in charge of designing and making the special hand props and in supervising the stage preparations for our performance tour in the six towns of Marinduque. For this year's "Viva" project, however, he focused on creating additional dance movements for "Moryonan".

I first spotted Bhong when he was still a member of a modern dance group that joined local contests. They performed during the Buenavista Fiesta in January 2008, and there, he simply stood out among the dancers. I offered him the "Katalona" role in "Bulong" but was not interested, preferring to join us only as a member of the production staff.

During Viva rehearsals he supervised the warm-up exercises. He had an ability to command the attention of everybody with his smile and presence.

Because of his good looks and pleasant disposition, Bhong was extremely popular especially among the girls. They had fun imitating his antics and sensual gyrations when he did the exercises. He'd often say: "Hindi ko hinihingi na maging magaling kayo! Hinihingi ko lang na sundin ninyo ang pinapagawa ko!" (I'm not asking you to do it well! I'm just asking you to follow what I ask you to do!)
.
I practically begged him, again, to do the "Katalona" role this year. Bhong didn't have to be directed. I knew he'd come up with the most unforgettable Katalona performance ever. But he didn't budge, and I could only be sad about it. He was bent, as before, on working only behind the scenes.

During the cast party at my Bahaghari house, Bhong asked for the tarpaulin streamer for "Viva Marinduque" as a souvenir, and I was only too happy to hand it over to him.

A month after the Viva project, in March, he texted to say he's back in town and had a new cellphone number. He was back to Marinduque after spending a few weeks in Manila. By this time we, the Teatro Balangaw group from Buenavista, Gasan and Boac were busy with rehearsals for "Ang Kristo: Pasyondula", passion play.

Asked Bhong if he could please help us with the rehearsals. We only had a couple of weeks to mount it.

I never got to see him, again.

A couple of days later, he figured in a motorcycle accident in Bognuyan, Gasan where we used to hold rehearsals for "Moryonan" and "Bulong". The accident turned fatal.

Oliver 'Bhong' Macunat.

So young, so full of life and talent and promise.
Our dear Bhong said 'goodbye' at 22.

VIVA CAST 09

The VIVA MARINDUQUE 09 cast arriving in Santa Cruz town for the last performance.

BUENAVISTA COASTAL PARK

We chose the newly constructed coastal park in Buenavista as venue for our theater presentation as the stage at the town' covered court was too small to hold over a hundred performers.

This open space allowed freer movement for the performers and even for the huge audience expected to watch.

"BULONG" MURAL

Installing the "Bulong" backdrop mural painted by artist Raymond Go as his personal contribution to Teatro Balangaw.