Huniño: A songwriting festival for the Sto. Niño de Cebu

The Augustinian Fathers of the Basilica del Sto. Niño de Cebu is set to hold a liturgical songwriting competition that will showcase inspiring musical pieces to further promote the devotion to the Sto. Niño de Cebu.

Dubbed as "Huniño," the contest is a noteworthy and pioneering endeavor in the storied history of the Basilica.

After drawing in 122 entries sent in by distinguished and aspiring Cebuano composers, the selection committee narrowed down the finalists to 12, which are to be interpreted by some of Cebu's big-name and emerging singers as well as choral ensembles and accompanied by the Huniño Chamber Orchestra with Prof. Roberto del Rosario as the conductor. The Sto. Niño Pilgrim Center will serve as backdrop of this milestone that is happening on Wednesday, January 10, 2007 at 7PM.

The 12 entries include "Sto. Niño Kami Panalipdi" by Emmanuel Labrador Abellana, an engineer and former member of the Cebu Youth Symphony Orchestra from Pit-os, Talamban; "Sto. Niño, Our Hope For Peace" composed by Russel Alegado with lyrics by Janice Warnack, who are choir master and member, respectively, of The King's Minstrels of Carcar; "Hiyas Ni Sto. Niño" by husband-and-wife Melchor and Flordelis Gilig of Lapu-Lapu City; "To Be A Child Like You" by Ogie Melgar, a grade school principal from Talisay City; "Yukbo-an Ug Pasidunggan" by Rommel Salazar Ambi from Maasin, Southern Leyte with lyrics by Fr. Ponce Jed Bellones, parish priest of Malabuyoc; and "Sto. Niño, Tabangi, Panalipdi Ang Sugbo" by Manolito Laguindo, a native of Tuyan, Naga who works under the engineering services department of a hospital.

Rounding up the rest of the finalists are "O Miraculous Sto. Niño" by Eugene Tan, who originally hails from Iloilo City; "O Santos Nga Diyos" by Nida Orio, an elementary teacher from Borbon; "O Holy Child" by Jay-arr Librando, a seminarian at the Seminario Mayor de San Carlos; "O, Senyor Santo Nino" by Renato Sagayno, a high school math teacher; "Himaya-on Ka, Sto. Niño" by Norman Jabonero, also a seminarian at Seminario Mayor de San Carlos and "Sto. Niño Nga Milagroso," a collaboration of Roy Tabasa and Gwendolyn Suico-Cresencio, a choir member of the Pardo Parish choir and a college professor, respectively.

Each of the finalists will receive P5,000 and a plaque. As for the major winners, aside from well-crafted trophies, the Grand Champion will get P50,000; while the second and third prizewinners will take home P30,000 and P20,000, respectively. An additional P10,000 will be awarded to the Best Interpreter.

All songs have already been recorded in CD format (inclusive of minus-one). The 1st Huniño Songwriting Contest CD is exclusively sold at the Sto. Niño Store inside the Basilica. Sale proceeds of the CD will go to the Basilica del Sto. Niño Children Welfare Foundation, Inc. (BSNCWFI).

Guest performers are the Sandiego Dance Company and Asia's Crystal Voice, Cebu's very own Sheryn Regis, who herself is a confessed Sto. Nino devotee.

Produced by the Augustinian Community, the Basilica del Sto. Niño Community and the Sto. Niño Store, the first-ever HUÑINO-Huni Halad Kang Senyor Sto. Niño de Cebu-Songwriting Contest 2007 is also sponsored by Duracon, Biz Depot, Large Form Ads and Papicture with Soundtraxx Production Studio providing assistance in the staging of the competition.

Catch the Grand Finals Night this coming Wednesday. Admission is free.