Harana: Awit ug honi nga banikanhon

As a breather from debatable topics, say, the barangay assembly confusion as top hit, there's another kind of a two-day trouble-free "barangay assembly" now existing for the last 25 years of service.

This refers to the Cabadiangan United Brotherhood - "CUB" for short - of Compostela, Cebu now celebrating its Silver annual reunion and homecoming this coming 21st and 22nd instants.

The CUB is an informal socio-civic NGO in Cabadiangan, Compostela that yearly honors its young academic graduates and recognizes whatever barrio achievers. It has also undertaken projects for the school and the barrio folk, like, classroom and campus improvements, maintenance of artesian wells, free medical and dental clinics, as well as sports and entertainment activities.

In fact the CUB was able to get P1M in seed money from Senator Flavier for the asphalt-paving of the Cabadiangan Provincial Road. Lately, in collaboration with the municipal officials led by Mayor Antonio Dangoy, the barangay officialdom and the PTCA, the CUB also actively involved itself in requesting Gov. Gwen F. Garcia in the asphalt-paving of the entire barangay/provincial road. Hopefully, the good lady governor will make good her commitment within the year.

In festive mood now for its Silver Jubilee, the CUB in its inimitable way features on Friday, April 21, a revival of purely indigenous Cebuano songs and music, the "Harana: Awit ug Honi nga Banikanhon".

Ang maong Binisaya nga halad agi ug paghanduraw, kun pagpukaw, o balik-hinumdom sa baryohanong buhilaman kun kultura, pinaagi sa Cabadiangan Kumparsa nga motugtog sa honing tahunon ginamit ang karaan nga mga "instrumento" o igduduyog. Kini mao ang "sista", "bandorya" nga maoy "molitok" sa honi, "tenor", ug "baho".

Ang ilang tukahon o tugtugon mga lunsay nga Binisayang awit, sama sa, Matud Nila, Matud Mo, Usahay, Handurawan, Bisan sa Damgo Lang, Garbosong Bukid, Rosas Pandan, Lagkaw (gamay nga payag), Balud sa Kapalaran, ug uban pa.

Agi ug palain apan tukma gihapon sa maong halad nga banikanhon, adunay bangga sa awit, ug ang tanang mangapil kun mga "contestants" moawit gihapon sa lunsayng awit nga Binisaya. Ang moduyog nila mogamit gihapon sa "sista" o ubang "string instruments". Gidili ang paggamit sa plaka, "minus one", "karaoke", o "sing-along", og susamang binag-ong duyog.

Sa lintunganay, magbanus-banus ang Cabadiangan Kumparsa ug ang mga magbanggang mag-aawit, sulod sa duha ka taknang kalingawan. Ang dugokan ning yanong "harana" mao nga bisan unsa ang mga binag-o o moderno nga buhilaman, dili nato hikalimtan ang kanhiay ug tiunay natong awit ug honing tabunon.

The prime movers of CUB have for the past 25 years sustained their commitment to provide annual venue and opportunity for Cabadianganons in residence and those who have moved to other places for one reason or another, to renew and strengthen familial relations and neighborly bonds by retracing their common barrio roots together yearly.

Even without the various school and community projects, the CUB has justified its reason for being in inspiring the barrio folk in sending their children through school despite non-affluence.

Thus, recognizing in yearly programs the honor pupils and students, the high school and college graduates, or post graduates, and honoring the barrio folk achievers in different fields of endeavor with fitting plaques, medals, ribbons, and certificates or recognition, are humble but fitting tributes worthwhile emulating.

As one guest speaker glowingly complimented CUB some years back, perhaps it's the only one of its kind existing over the years with such sustained socio-civic dedication.