History in the making

Heavy rains failed to dampen the spirit of the crowd as they stood still to witness the first ever Huniño- Huni Halad Kang Sr. Sto. Niño de Cebu, Wednesday night at the Pilgrim Center. Many were soaking wet as heavy rains fell intermittently. The interpreters of the 12 official entries also did not quiver. All of them gave their best, hoping to make it in the annals of history as the first best interpreter in the first Huniño staging. Call it devotion or simply faith, but those who strongly believed in the miraculous Sto. Niño remained in their seats, glued to the unfolding of history and glorified the very reason of their being there from start to finish.

From the originally 122 entries submitted by both neophyte and veteran composers, only 12 made it to the finals: "Santo Niño Kami Panalipdi" by Emmanuel Labrador Abellana; "Santo Niño, Our Hope For Peace" by Russel Alegado, lyrics by Janice Warnack; "Yukbo-an Ug Pasidunggan" by Rommel Salazar Ambi and lyrics by Rev. Fr. Jed Bellones; "Hiyas ni Santo Niño" by Flordelis Gilig and lyrics ni Melchor Gilig, "Himayaon Ka Santo Niño" by Norman Jabonero, "Santo Niño, Tabangi, Panalipdi ang Sugbo" by Manolito Languido, "O Holy Child" by Jay-Arr Librando, "To Be A Child Like You" by Ogie Melgar, "O Santos nga Dios" by Nida Orio, "O, Senyor Santo Niño" by Renato Calago Sagayno; "Santo Niño nga Milagroso" by Roy Tabasa and lyrics by Gwendolyn Suico-Crescencio; and "O Miraculous Santo Niño"by Eugene Tan.

After more than two hours of judging, based on 40% lyrics(should be liturgical), 40% musicality (should be catchy) and 20% originality, Sagayno's "O Senor Santo Niño" which was interpreted by Japril Yap emerged as the grand prize winner. The upbeat mood of "Himayaon Ka Santo Nino" by Jabonero and interepreted by The Revelation, landed second, while Librando's "O Holy Child" completed the top three. Reston Senining, Rhine Rose Echivarre and Jay Librando bagged the best interpreters, as well.

Huniño was meant to collect new songs to glorify the Holy Child; thus, most of the songs are about how miraculous, forgiving and kind the Sto. Niño is. The message is based from personal experiences to pastoral influences of the Sto. Niño through the years. First prize got P50, 000 cash plus a plaque and an image of the Sto. Niño; P30, 000 for the second, and P20, 000 for the third prize. Consolation prize of P5,000 for each finalist was given while the best interpreter received P10, 000 cash. The good thing is that all songs are compiled in a commemorative CD album sold at P350, proceeds of which will go to the Sto. Niño Children's Welfare Foundation Inc.

The Huniño Chamber Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Robert del Rosario, accompanied the singers while the renowned Sandiego Dance Company, under the tutelage of Val Sandiego, and Crystal Voice of Asia Sheryn Regis, were guest performers.

Personal surrender and thanksgiving

It was july 2006 when sagayno started composing his winning piece but time constraints prevented him from finishing it until september, just a week before the deadline for submission of entries. But he stressed that the concept was already formed in his mind, including the melody. He was sure that it would be a song about thanksgiving, personal surrender, something that would include a scriptural passage, with historical value and pastoral message, as well. thus, "o senor santo niño" came to be.

A math teacher at the University of Cebu high school department main campus, Sagayno plays the piano and is among the movers of the Holy Angel Choir. It was 1990 when he first submitted an entry to the Cebu Popular Music Festival. He did not make it. Eight years after, his composition became a finalist. Sagayno also submmitted an entry to this year's Cebu Pop but to no avail, again. But he was never dissuaded. "Lain man gud akong baruganan, kun unsa ray ihatag mao ra say akong dawaton. Suway suway lang gud," he explained.

The winning streak of Sagayno eventually started May last year when he bagged the grand prize in a songwriting contest organized by the Fatima Parish in Basak, Mandaue. The song was entitled "O, Birhen sa Fatima." Sagayno shared that "O Senor Santo Niño" is actually inspired from the one he composed for the Virgin Mary but only the structure and the melody are the same. Each is unique and is different from the other. It was that music fest that enabled him to meet his interpreter.

On the submission day of entries for the Fatima tilt, he still did not have an interpreter. He sought the help of a co-choir member who teaches at the University of San Jose Recoletos and who recommended Japril to him. A member of the renowed USJR Dramatics and Cultural Ensemble, Japril became a campus figure after she won the university's "Words of Music," an annual speech, dance and song competition participated in by students from various departments. When they reached Japril through her mobile phone, she was in Lutopan, Toledo City, her hometown. They asked her to come to Cebu City and she agreed. She was able to rehearse for only two hours and they recorded the song, beating the deadline. Naturally, Sagayno had Japril again as interpreter for the Huniño.

Listening to the other entries, Sagayno admitted he felt they had better chances of winning. Two days before the grand night, he was nervous for Japril because she was used to practicing with a piano so she had a hard time adjusting to the orchestra.

"Perte gyud namong iniphanay kay maglisud man si Japril og sulod sa intro. Nakaloy-an gyud siya kay pag-actual na diretso ra man siya and I told her ayaw na paghuna-huna og lain, just think nga prayer offering nimo ni sa Santo Niño. Kun modaug ta bonus na lang na, importante makapasalamat ta sa Balaang Bata."

Not religious but believer

A banking and finance junior, Japril admits she is not religious but she has a strong faith in God. When she came on stage to interpret the song, she was surprised she felt relaxed. "Nakuyawan ko but paggawas nako wala na. Lahi na kaayo akong feeling, mura'g gaan akong paminaw. Prayer ra gyud to nako sa Sto. Niño, tribute," Japril revealed.

Maybe the P1 coin she inserted under her right foot, according to folk beliefs, did the trick for her, but the more convincing fact could be her experiece. Born and raised in Lutupan Toledo City, Japril started singing in public as young as four years old. She has joined lots of amateur singing contests. In fact, Star in a Million runner-up Jimmy Marquez, who is also from the same city, is a relative and among those who participated in those singing tilts. After winning in USRJ, her friends and classmates prodded her to join the recently concluded first Philippine Idol search. She made it to the top 80 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. She was saddened by her elimination but deep in her heart she was certain God has prepared something big for her. And the Huniño victory came.

For Japril, practice makes perfect; thus, if her voice is in good condition, it is because she is having a mini-concert at home every night. " Kada gabii jud ko mag-practice, between 7-10pm. Tanang klase sa kanta bahalag baduy o bisan unsa kantahon nako. Mga 20 songs akong makanta kada gabii."

Now referred to as "Cebu's inspirational diva," after her back-to back victory in the said religious songfests, Japril pointed out that she also sings other genre such as pop and slow rock. She looks up to Barbara Streissand, Mariah Carey, Martin Nievera and Leah Salonga as her influences and idols.

So what is next for her singing career after their Hunino victory? Japril smiled and said, " Muhuman sa gyud ko og iskuyla kay lahi ra gyud kung naa kay diploma. Aron sad dili ka i-look down."

Well said! In the same way that she also has a good explanation why she opted for a course not related to music or performing arts: "Ganahan lang gyud ko mo-try og laing field, pareha sa akong mga auntie nga mga negosyante."