Catandunganon wins 1st Musikang Bikolandia

NAGA CITY --- A breadwinner from Catanduanes just won P100,000 in cash and a specially designed wood trophy in last night’s Musikang Bikolandia Kusog Bikolandia Song Writing Contest held at the UNC Sports Palace here. Genesis Efondo of Virac, the capital town of the island province of Catanduanes was declared first prize winner in the first songwriting competition sponsored by Kusog Bikolandia, a regional political party that advocates Bicol unity, cultural enhancement, youth development, progress, and economic prosperity. His original piece was entitled “Kusog Bikolandia.” The second prize winner went to a youthful band composed of talented millennials who call themselves as “God is Good”, from Naga City. Their piece, “Kusog Bikol”, received P50,000 cash and a trophy. Another youthful band, “Guira and GGWP”, actually a merger of two independent bands that combined as one for the piece, “Mabalos,” won P30,000 cash and a trophy. Winners were determined on three important criteria: originality, creativity, and stage performance. Out of 103 entries from all over Bicol received by the organizers of the songwriting competition, ten were selected as finalists that presented their contest entries before a huge crowd at the UNC sports palace and 5 well-selected judges during the competition proper. Virtually the first prize winner was the unanimous choice of the 5 judges, including their chairman Mike Hanapol. The three top winners received the average scores of 85.14%, 84.60%, and 84.52%, respectively. Rapper Cloc-9 provided the intermission number to the delight of the audience who are mostly of the young crowd. The songwriting contest, as articulated by the contest pieces, delved on Bicol unity and strength, culture, faith in God, great sense of pride, and our people’s collective aspirations towards progress and development, which incidentally are the primary objectives of Kusog Bikolandia. Kusog Bikolandia is chaired by businessman Noel de Luna, with Atty. Jorge Sarmiento as president. Naga City Vice Mayor Nelson Legacion and Atty Sarmiento handed the trophy and cash prize to the first place winner. jbp