Bontoc, Mountain Province – The public are invited to watch and support their acapella performers who will sing the Drug –Free song of Mountain Province as contest piece during the Choral Fest at 5:00 – 7:00 in the evening of April 2, 2018 at the Provincial Plaza.
As part of the activities in celebration of the 51st Mountain Province Founding Anniversary and 14th Lang-ay Cultural Festival, the Choral Fest aims to campaign for the sustainment of the Drug- Free status of Mountain Province since its declaration on February 14, 2017.
According to Provincial Anti –Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) Focal Person Angel B. Baybay, this is a perfect timing in soliciting the support of the public in the fight against illegal drugs as constituents and visitors will be gathering in the capital town for the two provincial celebrations.
As of this writing, he reported that seven groups have signed in for the competition. These are choral groups from Paracelis, Bontoc, Tadian, Sabangan, Bauko, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Mountain Province Police Provincial Office (MPPPO).
Baybay mentioned that they have sent invitations to all the municipalities, national government agencies, non- government organizations and other sectoral groups in the province to join the Choral Fest.
The group who will be the champion in the Choral Fest shall receive P20, 000.00 as cash prize. The second place will receive P15, 000.00 while P10, 000.00 will be given for the third place. A consolation prize of P5, 000.00 each will be given to the participating groups who will not make it to the Top 3.
The mechanics of the competition are: participating groups should have at least 20 members; must have one warm –up piece either in unison or in the four voices to include Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Base; the Drug-Free song composed by Rev. Fr. Marcial Lloyd C. Castañeda shall be the contest piece and must be sung in acapella and in the Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Base; and participating groups must be at the venue one hour before the start of the competition. Baybay further emphasized that the judges’ decision is final.
Baybay added that audience will also be entertained with the performance from a band comprised of police officers from the Police Regional Office –Cordillera (PRO-Cor). PSSupt Allen S. Ocden, the Provincial Director of the MPPPO, earlier made a request for the PNP Band to entertain the public as part of the celebration of 51st Mountain Province Founding Anniversary and the 14th Lang-ay Cultural Festival.
Last year, the Drug- Free song was also the contest piece during the Battle of the Band initiated by the PADAC. This was participated in by the public and private junior and senior high school learners in the province. // Alpine L. Killa, Mountain Province –PIO
