CRMC President Brings Back Local Bogohanon Comparza Tradition

The Cebu Roosevelt Memorial Colleges launches back the colorful tradition of comparza to revive the dying form of educational art in Bogoi City

Bogo City councilor and concurrent CRMC President, Victor Elliot Lepiten III initiates the revival together with the entire Cebu Roosevelt Memorial Colleges. Part of its revival is to pay homage to the unique art of story telling in choreographed dance sequences with colorful, elaborate and spectacular costumes 

Many of the educators in Bogo City complained of the proliferation of modern forms of artistic genre that Rido Mahusay of the CRMC’s research center has labeled as the “age of ugliness.”

Councilor Lepiten said, “The spreading of popular culture has diminished the quality of art forms in society. It is due to the permeations of western pop trends that corrupted the traditional cultural heritages.”

He added, “This nonsensical evolution has been brought up by the Filipinos misunderstanding and malpractices of some cultural implications of the western pop trends that evolution  of its hideous kind is showcased in many avenues: school programs, community activities and even academic events.”

“True beauty must emanate in all art forms, visual, performing or music. It has to aggressively portray the essences of life, its mysteries and truths. However, students are already acculturated with a new breed of genre patronizing ugly art forms as been advocated by the sexbomb girls and the ‘taktak’ dancers.” He referred to the popular noon time show dancers.

He maintained that schools should work on its mandate as the cultural trustees of the country and that a fight must be done to preserve the dying brand of the rich and unique cultural heritages of the Philippines.

In its quest, the comparza has been revived to showcase once again to the public the creative genius of the local story tellers. Many agree that such colorful traditions should not be limited to the Sinulog or to the Folk Arts Theater guilds in the land.

After five years, the Don Celestino Martinez Sr. Sports center shall once again shine with the most spectacular comparza ever this year.  March 1 will be the ultimate day in commemoration of its 60th College Fiesta Celebration, CRMC will showcase various events to the public.

Since its foundation in 1948, CRMC traditionally portrays the comparza to the public but halted in the late 1990’s. It has staged a revival in 2003 but halted again after the death of Victor Eliot Lepiten Jr., the father of the current president.