MusiKagitingan 2015: Alay sa Bayaning Beterano

Araw ng Kagitingan - Philippine Veterans Week 

23 March 2015, Quezon City – The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) Technical Working Committee in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) presents the "Musikagitingan 2015: Alay sa Bayaning Beterano", a musical cum cultural variety show in honor of our Filipino veterans with the theme “Ipunla ang Kagitingan sa Kabataan, Ihanda ang Beterano ng Kinabukasan” held at the Tanghalang Aguinaldo, AFP Theater, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo.

Executive Order No. 23, series of 1987, declares April 9 of every year as a national holiday for the observance of Araw ng Kagitingan. Meanwhile, Proclamation No. 466, series of 1989, designates the period of April 5 to 11 of every year as Philippine Veterans Week in order to promote, preserve, and memorialize the principles, ideas, and deeds of our war veterans as a means to enhance patriotism and love of country, especially among the youth of the land.

The week-long celebration is an occasion to honor not only the Filipino War Veterans who died or served the country. It also provides an opportunity to remember those who render honorable military service in defending the country in times of war or peace to gratefully acknowledge their contributions in preserving our sovereignty and defending our national security.

As a prelude to the Philippine Veterans Week proper, the Technical Working Committee has lined up the said event that aims to drum-up the publicity and promotion of the week-long commemoration.

The program started at around 1400H with a doxology and the singing of the Philippine National Anthem led by the PVAO Chorale. Inspirational messages from the Deputy Director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Hon. Marlene Ruth Sanchez, MNSA; and the Undersecretay for Public, Veterans & Retiree Affairs/Head, Technical Working Committee, Hon. Eduardo G Batac followed.

Afterwards, MUSIKYAW which showcased a wide variety of Filipino talents followed. This portion started with the Philippines’ premier ventriloquist Mr. Ony Carcamo which showcased Kulas, a young student who sees himself as a soldier in the future but failed on his 1^st grade. The duo’s comic antics drew loud cheers and laughter among the audience. 

Immediately after, an exciting exhibition of diabolos or Chinese yoyos was presented by Spyro Marco, the brother-tandem which won the acclaimed 4th Talentadong Pinoy Grand Winner in 2013 and the 2015 ABS-CBN Showtime’s 1^st PINASikat Grand Champion.Next to perform is 2010 Grand Champion Performer and Vocalist of the World of the international competition, World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA), Ms. Marielle Corpuz which serenaded the audience with classic OPM hits Hanggang and Ikaw. Subsequently, 2010 Philippine Representative to the World Supremacy Battlegrounds International Competition in Australia and 2010 Champion of Groove Philippines National Competition by NCCA Next 2 Innocence set the stage on fire with a modern dance number. 

St. Dominic Savio College Cultural Dance Troupe

After that, a medley of songs was performed by the all-male choir, Boscorale of the Don Bosco Technical Institute, Makati. The high school singing group, which gathered the loudest cheer from the audience, received the following accolades in the 2014 Orientale Concentus VII - Gold Award in Ensemble, Folksong and B3 Categories, Category Winner in Ensemble, and Grand Prix Finalist. Last but definitely not the least to perform was the St. Dominic Savio College Cultural Dance Troupe. The troupe, which was awarded as the Best Cultural Group in the 24th Annual ALIW AWARDS for Live Entertainment (2011), performed a number of folk dances.

L-R: TSg Soria, Cpl Hondrada, 2LT Bernardo, Cpl Filipino and TSg Melo

L-R: TSg Soria, 2LT Bernardo, 2LT dela Cruz, Cpl Filipino and TSg Melo

Members of the Headquarters and Headquarters Service Support Group (HHSSG) 1^st Technical and Administrative Brigade, NCR were lucky to be part of this event through the approval of our Commanding Officer, COL ERIC C GARCHITORENA MC (GSC).

MusiKagitingan 2015 was of free of admission and was widely attended by men and women of the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, different government offices, faculty and students of Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo High School and Camp Crame Elementary School.

The three-hour long program ended with a final curtain call with all the performers offered flowers to our World War II Heroes. 

Photo Credit: 

2LT ERICKSON R BERNARDO NC