NAAALALA KO NOONG ako ay nag-aaral pa sa aking hometown sa Borongan, Eastern Samar ay uso ang harana. Tuwing may bagong dating na dalaga galing sa Maynila, asahan mo ang mga binata na may dala-dalang gitara at nag-uumpukan para magpraktis ng kanilang harana. The serenade was a soothing lullaby sa mga nahihimbing ng tulog sa gabing madilim.
Maging sa mga pelikula noong araw ay mayroong mga eksena kung saan ang isang lalaking nagmamahal ay naghaharana para suyuin ang babaeng itinatangi. One of the classic films that featured a harana scene is Pakiusap (1940) where the landlord’s son disguises himself as a peasant in order to serenade a pretty country lass. The immortal kundiman of Francisco Santiago is sung on top of a papier-mâché swan in a fluvial parade while the son plans to rescue his beloved.
Kung ang pakiusap ng Eraserheads sa kanilang kantang Harana ay “Buksan mo ang ‘yung bintana. Dungawin ang humahanga. Bitbit ko ang gitara at handa nang mangharana” ay nagtatanong naman ang Parokya ni Edgar kung “Uso pa ba ang harana?”
Hindi ko alam kung uso pa ang harana sa mga probinsiya. Pero ang sigurado ako, magmula noon hanggang ngayon, the guitar is one of the most (if not the most) famous musical instruments in the country. Ngayon ay hindi lang ito pangharana kundi pang-concert pa gaya ng matutunghayan sa Guitarra 2010.
The UST Conservatory of Music, in cooperation with the Foundation for the Musical Filipino, will present the First UST International Guitar Festival titled Guitarra 2010 from August 23 to 27. Bilang bahagi sa pagdiriwang ng Quadricentennial celebration ng UST, Guitarra 2010 will cover a week of concerts, master classes, lectures for all devoted to the country’s most popular instrument. Ang mga concerts magmula August 24 hanggang 27 ay gaganapin sa Philamlife Auditorium in UN Avenue, Manila at 8 p.m. while all the other activities from August 23 to 27 will be held at the UST Conservatory of Music.
The performances, as well as specialized topics and master classes, will feature international-renowned guitarists as well as the country’s top performers and teachers. AngPhilamlife concert ay tatampukan nina Agustin Castilla-Avila (Spain) at Angelito Agcaoili sa August 24; Ruey Yen (Taiwan) at Joseph Mirandilla sa August 25; Meng-Feng Su (Taiwan) at Manuel Cabrera sa August 26; at ng UST Guitar Quartet and the Festival Guitar Orchestra which consist of faculty and students of the UST Conservatory of Music sa August 27. Festival Director and UST Guitar Department Coordinator Ruben Reyes will join the lecturers and panelists.
Ang mga tickets para sa concerts at daytime lectures/master classes ay mabibili sa UST Music office (7314022, 4061611 local 8246) at sa Philamlife lobby bago ang performance. Senior and student discounts apply.
Kaibigan, usap tayo muli!
Points of Boy
by Boy Abunda
