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Kundiman a dying art? Not with a new crop of composers
The air was tense on Tuesday afternoon at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino at the Cultural Center of the Philippines as what was to be a 15-minute break extended to almost 30 minutes.
It was the finals of Konsiyerto ng Kundiman: Timpalak Kundiman 2018, a contest for kundiman writing. And it turned out that the judges had a hard time picking a grand prize winner from the eight finalists.
One couldn't blame the judges — Dr. Alfredo Buenaventura of Sta. Isabel College Conservatory of Music, Prof. Josefino Toledo of UP College of Music, Dr. Eugene delos Santos of the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music, Prof. Emeritus Ruth Elynia Mabanglo of University of Hawaii at Manoa, and soprano Raye Lucero of Tres Rosas and Mabuhay Singers.
The songs which made it to the finals were stirring and melodious, harkening to a time when kundiman tunes ruled the airwaves.
A word about kundiman
Kundiman was popular in the late 1800's to the early part of the last century. Even national hero Jose Rizal's poem was used for a kundiman titled "Kundiman ni Rizal" written by Paulino M. Cadsawan.
Dr. Francisco Santiago was credited as the Father of the Kundiman Art Song. Some of the singers who were known for their kundimans were Ruben Tagalog, Ric Manrique Jr., Sylvia La Torre (Queen of Kundiman), Conching Rosal, Diomedes Maturan, and Cely Bautista, to name a few.
What makes the kundiman dear to the Filipinos' heart is it's very emotional, or full of "hugot" as Dr. Michael Coroza, project director of Timpalak Kundiman 2018, and chair of the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas, said.
"Kung hugot at hugot din lamang naman kasi ang pag-uusapan, nauna na ang kundiman sa pagiging ekspresyon ng masidhing pagdadalamhati o pagpapakasakit na inaaring luwalhati," he said.
Coroza went on to quote former National Commission for Culture and the Arts chair and UP Prof. Felipe M. de Leon Jr.: "The emotion captured by the kundiman is one of affectionate probing, exploring, sensing, and empathisizing with the object of love and devotion, whether it is a person, community, country, spiritual symbol or ideal. The kundiman songwriter, singer, and listener becomes involved in an essentially dynamic, ever-flowing, creatively transforming and living process."
It was worth noting that most of the finalists in the Timpalak Kundiman 2018 were millennials. And it is not hard to figure out why: a love lost or yearned for is a common experience for most people throughout generations. In other words, "relate"! And they just proved that the kundiman isn't a dying art.
Finally, the judges came out and it was announced that they were not going to name a first, second, and third prize. Instead, they will award three grand prizes for the best kundiman.
The three grand prize winners who each took home P100,000 and a hegalong trophy are:
- Rica Aquino and Khamille Ann Linsag for "Kundiman 2600" (sung by Ronan Ferrer);
- Anton Luis Villa and Stefanie Quintin for "Kabiyak" (sung by Lara Maigue); and
- April Merced-Misa and Vim Nadera for "Pag-ibig" (sung by Ivan Nery).
Nery was also given an award and P10,000 for best interpretation.
Other finalists include:
- Paul Hildawa for "Kung Di Man" sung by Krissan Manikan Tan;
- James Noriel Reyes for "Kung Hindi Na ay Paalam Na" sung by Dondi Ong;
- Queeny Rose Ann Peñaflorida for "Pangungulila" sung by Annie Luis;
- Ramoncito Carpio for "Minsan Lang" sung by Joseleo Logdat; and
- Serafin Murillo for "Kundiman ng Paglisan" sung by Radnel Ofalsa.
Timpalak Kundiman 2018 was part of the activities for the Buwan ng Panitikan this year.
The event also featured performances by Mabuhay Singers and the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra. — LA, GMA News
