Gugmang Tralala

Several of this year’s entries were works of artists that had already entered in the previous years. Some made it to the final 12. That’s understandable. Perhaps the songwriters get all the more fired up with the contest after a while. And, also, they must have gotten familiar with the kind of music that the competition is looking for.

I was one of those who sat in the screening panel for this year’s Cebu Pop. There were a dozen of us, in all. And we were quite a diverse group. There were singers, choir trainers, teachers, writers, media people, a businessman, a policeman.

The structure of the screening group was obviously intended so as to arrive at a consensus that represented the current musical taste of the general Cebuano public. The songs to be picked out must match the present musical trend. The compositions had to be fresh and timely, using both words and music that depict today’s Cebuano life experience.

The actual choosing of the 12 finalist songs was quite a task. It took a full day to finish, at a pace that could be considered quite brisk. The Cebu Pop office has, through time, already established an effective screening procedure that does not allow for wandering deliberations, but without depriving each entry the ample time to show its merits, either.

The panel had common favorites. But each panel member had his or her own personal favorites, too. I had mine. It was entitled “Gugmang Tralala.” I liked it on first hearing.

I’m no music expert to be able to fully explain why I liked the song. It just sounded right to me; exactly what a Cebuano pop song should be, I thought. The lyrics and the melodic flow were light — but very catchy.

Very likely, its songwriter was a young person. You could easily sense that. The lyrics was laden with youthful Cebuano slang. The title itself was proof: “Gugmang Tralala,” a youthful term suggesting love that’s incomprehensible and unmanageable.

Yet it was not only the words used; the whole idea of the song told of a young person’s romantic experience. Young people could very well relate to it, no doubt. It was, to me, a potential hit.

For sure, I was not the only one in panel that liked “Gugmang Tralala.” The song made it to the first 30 choices, from which number the 12 finalists were soon decided. We listened to it again. And I liked it all the more.

Towards day’s end, the panel had to do the final voting. I just knew “Gugmang Tralala” would make it. As the votes were tallied, eight of my favorites showed up. “Gugmang Tralala” did not.

But there were only 11 songs in the list, so far, at that point. Three or four other songs were in a tie for the 12th spot. That included “Gugmang Tralala.”

So, again, we listened to those songs in a tie, for the third time. I was confident my bet would make it. I was wrong.

The screening panel officially declared the following songs as the 12 finalists in this year’s Cebu Pop: (in alphabetical order) “Among Panginabuhi” by Roy Tabasa, “Ang Tambag ni Nanay” by Bernard Gocela, “Asa Paingon?” by Manolito Languido, “Bugtawon ang Kagahapon” by Ponce Jed Bellones, “Bulawanong Tambag” by Danilo Abapo, “Kabataan—Kagahapon ug Karon” by Jun Cabillar, “Kami ang Kabataan” by Juve Villar, “Sa Ngalan sa Nasud” by Dennis Martin, “Sulti Pa Ka” by Jay-arr Librando, “Tim-os Kong Gugma” by Jun Cabillar, “Tinuhoang Buktot” by Jay-arr Librando, and “Tsambang Musikero” by Abner Lagdameo.

I do not know whose work was “Gugmang Tralala.” We were not to know the songwriters behind the entries unless they made it to the final 12. I’m sure, though, that if the guy doesn’t allow his musical zest to be dampened by not making it to the Cebu Pop this year, he will not remain unknown for long.

Cebuano songwriters should keep on making new songs. Our very own brand of songs, I believe, is a potent expression of our common soul as a people. Well, yes, Cebuano life will still go on even without new Cebuano songs. But, for sure, it won’t be as beautiful.

(E-MAIL: [email protected])

 Watch POR VIDA-TV”s “Old Cebu” episode, for a walk down memory lane, tracing the remnants of Cebu’s glorious past. On Studio 23, this Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.