The 11th year of the Musikahan sa Tagum Festival formally opened yesterday (February 21) in a colorful ceremony that elicited excitement from people who flocked to the iconic new City Hall of Tagum to witness the grandest music festival in Mindanao.

As Tagumenos witnessed grand musical performances, global audience were also serenaded through live streaming in the worldwide web, courtesy of the information technology students of the different academic institutions in the city.

After the opening rites, the first celebratory concert was held, featuring Asian Gems such as Korean Soprano Eun Ha Choi, Indonesian Kulintang Player Symon Adare, pianist Gabriel Paguirigan, violinist Jimmy Tagala, Soprani Myramae T. Meneses, and Miss Rochelle Venuti.

Local groups also performed in the concert to include the Maco Children’s Rondalla, La Filipina National High School Folk Dance Troupe, and the Tagum City National High School (TCNHS) Alumni Rondalla.

After a decade of annual staging, the Musikahan 2012 will gather musical enthusiasts in the city and other parts of the country and in Asia for musical competitions, celebratory concerts and outreach performances in malls, hospitals and correctional institutions.

This year’s theme is, “Harvest of Creativity, Celebrating Global Harmony.”

Tagum City Tourism Council president Alma Uy underscored the importance of holding this annual festival which also “celebrates creative harvest” in pursuit for “social cohesion and pride of place.”

City senior councilor and guest speaker De Carlo “Oyo” L. Uy magnified music as “an indispensable part of our lives.”

He challenged everybody to utilize it as it has maximum “power to change lives.”

“Music transcends national values and connects human cultures,” the young Uy told the crowd which includes his father, Tagum City Mayor Rey T. Uy.

Councilor Uy later advocated for the strengthening of the Musikahan Festival through the Public-Private Partnership.

Among the highlights of the Musikahan 2012 are: Himig Handog Choral Competition, Rondal-Awit Rondalla and Solo Singing Competition and Festival and Avenida Musika Marching Brass Band Competition.

Pasiklaban sa Musikahan Battle of the Band Competition and the Huni ug Kasikas sa Dalan Drum, Lyre and Bugle Competition shall add tone and color to the revelries.

The newest component of this year’s festival is the Musikahan @ I.T. Competition which shall explore the multi-faceted use of information technology and the new media in creative industry and knowledge production.

This will be participated in by IT educators and students from different learning institutions which shall compete in producing creative outputs promoting Tagum through websites, e-marketing application software disseminated through cellular phones and production of ringtones. (CLC/CIO-Tagum City)