Looking forward to a reinvigorated Cebu Popular Music Festival

Dear Sir:

There is no doubt that the Cebu Popular Music Festival has achieved its purpose in serving as an encouragement and venue for songwriters to demonstrate their talents. However, its following from the general public has dwindled as can be observed by the number of audience in attendance during the festival competitions for quite a long time now.

The 34th Music Festival was a breath of fresh air. It has diversified to three categories/genres. This is a move responsive to the beat of the times. The cash prize was considerable. The live band accompaniment was acceptable though a full orchestra would have been more desirable, and the program design was outstanding. These are very significant improvements.

A few more changes and positive inputs will give the Cebu Popular Music Festival the glow which it used to have.

We humbly submit some comments and suggestions:

1. Shorten the message of the CAFI chairman. The sarcastic remark of  the emcee on the "BREVITY" of  Gullas' message was unfortunate.

2. Find an emcee who can ably master the ceremony. The current emcee engaged in so many lengthy and uncalled for comments which served to project himself, instead of facilitating the flow of the program by giving uninterrupted prominence to the participants and the event itself. He dispensed jokes which were in poor taste (the theme of his jokes this year is infidelity of the marital vow told in front of Archbishop Jose Palma, etc.). Costanilla should not mistake popular for vulgar. THE INTEGRITY AND STATUS OF THE FESTIVAL MUST BE PROTECTED. Costanilla might as well look for another stage for a stand-up comedy performance. There is always a time and place for everything.

3. Shorten the introduction of entries. Composers introducing their entries during the festival is good addition to the program but let them not meander forever as they speak. A 30-second scripted introduction would be good. The project managers must have realized the mistake as they did unceremoniously cut subsequent introductions.

4. Have a full orchestra for accompaniment. The live band is a poor substitute for a full orchestra but it was certainly better than minus one.

5. Project the lyrics of the songs at the background as these are interpreted. It will enhance understanding and appreciation of the songs from the point of view of the audience. It is a fact that the lyrics almost always are not discernible to the audience having heard the songs for the first time.

6. Maximize audience attendance. An aggressive and sustained marketing and advertising strategy is imperative.

Imagine if the lapses and irritants are eliminated and our humble suggestions materialized. The festival will be focused, shorter, and will deliver maximum audience impact. The audience will be leaving the venue wanting for more rather than feeling relieved that finally there is no more…

Let the 34th Cebu Popular Arts Festival be the opening salvo of a new day for a reinvigorated CEBU POPULAR MUSIC FESTIVAL.

We thank the Cebu Arts Foundation Inc. (CAFI) for staying the course all these years and for introducing significant relevant changes to the festival. We thank Atty. Eduardo R. Gullas for his passionate and unselfish support for the Cebu Popular Music Festival.

We always make the festival a part of our itinerary every time we come home to Cebu. We look forward to the 35th Cebu Popular Music Festival.

Thank you.

Mary Rose Arcilla