Meet the Pinoy behind the team that won its biggest medal haul at 2024 WCOPA

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The UAE won 156 medals in this year’s edition of the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA), thanks to a multi-awarded Filipino expat from Sipalay City, Negros Occidental who put a 20-member delegation together and trained them for the competition.

Elipas Sibua, 43 years old, couldn’t be happier as it was the biggest haul so far in the team’s five-year history. Sixty-five of the medals were won by the delegation’s 10 Filipino participants. 

The team had 13 WCOPA delegates last year who altogether won 65 medals, Sibua said.

“Seeing my students and protégés become successful is incredibly rewarding. It’s a testament to their hard work, talent, and dedication. And it fills me with immense pride and joy,” said Sibua, who’s no stranger to the world of the performing arts, having started with glee clubs during his grade school days before spending a lifetime composing and teaching music – vocals, piano and guitar.

“Witnessing their growth and achievements, whether they’re excelling in competitions, performing on prestigious stages, or simply reaching personal milestones, validates the effort and passion I pour into teaching. It’s also a reminder of why I chose this path — to inspire and support others in realizing their potential. Their success is not just a reflection of their abilities but also a shared triumph that we’ve built together, and that makes it all the more meaningful,” Sibua added.

Sibua also has bragging rights to numerous awards under his belt, including  Excellent Director at WCOPA 2024, Gold in Traditional Music and another Gold in Broadway Music at the American Protégé New York, and 2023 finalist in the arranger and interpreter category at Cannes World Festival for a movie theme song.

He likewise composed the theme song for this year’s Philippine Independence Day celebrations in Dubai. 

Among highlights of the WCOPA’s Team UAE is 14-year-old Jairahmarie Carranza from Fujairah, UAE, a WCOPA 2023 multi-medalist who has won 1st place in both the Traditional and Broadway Music Competitions at the American Protégé in New York, USA.

“Her remarkable achievement has led to an invitation for her to perform her winning pieces at Carnegie Hall on December 21, 2024. This performance will be a crowning moment that has brought her to this globally recognized stage. She will be the first 100-percent Filipina to perform at one of the most famous halls in the world,” Sibua said.

The WCOPA Team UAE began in 2019 when Sibua moved to UAE and was initially appointed as regional director for the Middle East. A year later, the WCOPA organization promoted him as national director for the UAE. Now in its fifth year, WCOPA UAE has grown significantly.  All contestants were Filipinos during the team’s first year. Sibua then opened the competition to other nationalities, reflecting the diversity of the UAE.

This year’s delegation represented a diverse mix of nationalities, including participants from China, India, the Philippines, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Armenia,  Argentina, and Indonesia.

“Being national director of the UAE team at WCOPA is undoubtedly a deeply rewarding and fulfilling experience. It involves navigating various challenges and responsibilities, from coordinating the team’s preparation to ensuring they are well-represented on a global stage,” said Sibua. 

Seeing his students excel and make a mark at what has been dubbed as the “Olympics of the performing arts” is exhilarating, Sibua said, adding that it “not only validates (my) efforts, but also brings immense satisfaction and pride, knowing that (my) mentorship has played a key role in their achievements.”

“The journey is both a professional challenge and a personal triumph, reflecting the impact of (my) leadership and the talent of (my) students,” said Sibua. 

Sibua currently manages his own performing arts studio, where he teaches vocals and the piano while working at a school as a music teacher, specializing in vocals, piano, and guitar for VIP students.

He has a bachelor’s degree in Church Music at the Asian School of Music in Quezon City, having majored in Choral Conducting with a minor in Composition from 2000-2004.

Sibua was a high school music teacher before he joined the diaspora to teach music to students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. His musical journey began with a glee club in elementary school where he was often selected to lead the group in singing and to represent their school in various competitions. 

These experiences nurtured his love for music and gave him a sense of accomplishment such that his role in music expanded beyond school activities by the time he reached second year high school. 

“I began teaching our church choir, guiding them in two-part harmony. This experience honed my leadership and musical skills and deepened my commitment to music,” Sibua said.

He joined the West Negros Glee Club during college. “It was then that I realized music was not just a hobby, but my true calling. Despite my siblings' impressive vocal talents, none of them pursued music professionally, which further fueled my desire to follow my own path,” he said.

Sibua, who comes from a large family, being the sixth of seven siblings, later on moved to Manila in pursuit of his passion.

The WCOPA 2024 was held from June 28 to July 7 in Long Beach, California, USA. It is an annual, international event where several Hollywood stars have taken off with their careers.  —KBK, GMA Integrated News