“Gitara Cebuana” Workshop to Revive Interest in Guitars

Guitar is an emblem of Cebu, and playing the guitar is synonymous with Cebuano music. Cebu’s reputation in music has gone far and wide, known not only for its best musicians and singers but also for world-class guitar craftsmen.

However, in this modern time and age, electronic equipment and gadgets have somewhat caused the young generation’s interest to shift away from tradition and culture.

It is for this reason that Vice-governor Agnes Magpale, through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), initiated ‘Gitara Cebuana’, a guitar workshop for 24 musically inclined children from different municipalities in the province of Cebu.

The ‘Gitara Cebuana’ project has teamed up with the Cebu Guitar Foundation (CGF) with an aim to revive the youth’s interest and appreciation for the guitar instrument and also help enhance their talent and skills.

The 24 talented children will engage in a workshop session every Saturday for six months starting June 6 and will be trained by CGF members and music enthusiasts of the provincial government.

“We believe music is a medium in developing a child’s interest to revive the music and guitar making industry. We thought of training the children, daghan man jud diay out-of- school youth who don’t know how to read notes pero maayo kaayong mo gitara,” Magpale said.

Magpale, vice chairperson of the Provincial Council for the Welfare of Children (PCWC) also said that they have been working to improve the craft. PCWC has been conducting guitar duet competitions for the past three years as part of the Children’s Month celebration.

“We are trying to perfect the craft and what they have learned by introducing professional mentors… hoping that these trained children will eventually become mentors in their own respective towns,” Magpale said.

“The other goal is to form a guitar ensemble with these 24 children, nga atong magamit sa atong mga activities and festivals, and also to entertain our foreign guests,” she added.

Talents of PCWC are expected to perform a solo guitar, duet and an ensemble piece at the “Halad sa Kabataan” and at the Provincial Founding Anniversary in August this year.

‘Gitara Cebuana’ workshop will be launched on June 20 and 21, Saturday and Sunday at the 4th floor lobby, Legislative Building, Capitol Compound. (Heart Rizarri/Mae Ann Tapayan-CIT University Intern)

www.cebu.gov.ph