Cebuano talent on display

CEBU, Philippines - It’s six days of local entertainment free to the public featuring homegrown musical talents and a lovely bevy of festival queens at the SM City Cebu Northwing Atrium from January 10, until Cebu City’s grand day on the 15th.

In line with its annual exhibit aptly dubbed “Cebu! Cebu!” as it showcases our city’s best in fashion, furniture, accessories, car design, photography, beauty and musicality, the Northwing will once again play host to a slew of daily performances which began with the Tribu Basakanun band last January 10.

The Tres Guitaras band took their turn on Jan. 11 (6pm), while candidates for this year’s Sinulog Festival Queen contest will strut their innate grace and colorful costumes in a parade today (6pm). A group of international award-winning youngsters collectively known as the Mandaue Children & Youth Chorus will perform on Jan. 13 (6-7pm), while the Sabor Latino Band and the Renaissance Band will play their signature tunes on Jan 14 (5-6pm) and 15 (6-8pm), respectively.

The mall exhibit was launched in a brief program last Friday, which saw an applause-worthy performance from the Mandaue Children and Youth Chorus.

Guests and mall-goers admired the exhibit's central attraction, a Porsche-patterned car made with coconut flower’s stalk and rattan strips. Christened by its manufacturer Clayton Tugonon as the “Una Cebu Car,” it is said to be the first automobile in the world manufactured using indigenous materials exclusive to Cebu designed after a 1959 Porsche 356.

One of the highlights of last year’s FAME Exhibit in Manila, the car’s dashboard comes from a “blend of two-toned shells while the steering wheel and shift knob are made from Shagreen (more commonly known as Stingray and is only found on Indo-Pacific waters).”

Another ingénue who once again answered the invitation to display her proudly Cebu-crafted masterpieces was respected designer Arcy Gayatin. Known in the industry as a “master of material manipulation with ageless designs that can easily be brought from the runway straight to a woman’s closet,” she is another testament of how Cebuano creativity is at par with the world.

The other featured designer in this year’s “Cebu! Cebu!” edition is Philip Tampus, otherwise known as the Romantic Designer. This bridal and evening gown designer competed in Mega’s Young Designer’s Competition in 1994 and was one of those Cebuano contestants for Project Runway Philippines Season 1 in 2008 where he placed first runner-up.

When fashion is around, photography could not be far behind. But this time, Cebu’s Images Camera Club focused their lenses on some of our province’s most famous landmarks and centuries-old churches as subjects. Featured photographers are club members including Dwight Lu, Erwin Lim, Jade Saducas, Jo Oja, Kenneth Sy, Mike Jo and Ted Madamba.

Not to be outdone, furniture and home accessories shop owner (GA Cebu Intertrade Export) Grace Alberio Guinefolleau lent her handbags, clutches, jewelry boxes, home accessories and rare furniture to the display. What makes her creations stand out? They are intricately processed from fish skin such as again, the Shagreen.

Daily performances end on Jan. 15, while the exhibit runs until January 29.(FREEMAN)