BACOOR CITY, Cavite – City Mayor Lani Mercado Revilla confirmed Monday the participation of 11 international and 23 other local bands in the first-ever international band competition in the country, which is slated here from June 22 to 24.
Host city Bacoor, dubbed as the ‘Marching band capital of the Philippines,’ has partnered with Winter Guard International (WGI), a non-profit organization considered as the world’s premier organization producing indoor color guard, percussion, and winds competition; and Asian Marching Band Confederation (AMBC), the ‘marching arts power of Asia,’ a non-profit organization established to assist in the development of Music and Marching Band Arts in the region.
Revilla expressed excitement for the city's hosting of another historic event.
“It (the marching band tilt) promises a new level of cultural awareness and an appreciation for the arts of our young Filipinos,” Mercado said.
Bacoor City, being the only city with the most number of community bands (15) and drum and lyre groups (30), has been staging the National Band Competition since 2011. It aims to level up the local competition to global standards by bringing in the international competition, added City Tourism Officer Edwin Guinto.
International and local bands will compete for three WGI divisions: color guard, percussion ensembles and wind groups; as well as AMBC’s marching show band, street parade competitions, drumline and bassline battles.
Participating international groups include the Big Shell Drumline, Sarabun Brass Theater by Sarawittaya, Taipei Yuehfu Drum and Bugle Corps, St. John’s Institution Naval Cadet, Marching Band Listya Dwijaswara, Jember Marching Band, Marching Band Projo Taman Sari, MB Citra Derap Yogyakarta State University, Cinderella Talungagung, Vanguard Pegasus Marching Band, and Dream Drumline.
The local bands, which confirmed their entries, included the City of Bacoor Youth Composite Band, Citizen’s Brigade Band of Dasmariñas; The Dragons of the Cabiao Youth Concert Band 88; Band 96 Cabiao; Banda Dos Kabataan; Banda San Jose; FEU Drumline; Sandugo Drumline; KERDLC Drumline; The Elite Drummers of Banda Kabyaw Inc.; Sandugo Guardline; Sinag Color Guards – Sicogu, United Central Color Guards;
4th Raiders Color Guards; Francisco Barzaga Memorial School Color Guards; Moonwalk Elementary School Color Guards; Lahing Kayumanggi Percussion Ensemble (by MDLC); Gonzales Ascutia National High School; Crisanto Guysayco Memorial Elementary School; Parcen Elementary School Central; Sinag Percussion; GenTri Warriors Drum and Lyre Corps; and Baclaran Elementary School Unit 1.
The competition will open with a grand program at the Quirino Grandstand at 9 a.m. of June 22, and the battle of the musical bands' finals will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena from June 23 to 24.
Local folks will have a chance to see the competitors along General Evangelista Street as part of the 6th Cityhood celebrations. Fifty bands will participate in the traditional street parade from 8 a.m. to 12 noon on June 23.
Marching bands in the Philippines have made an indelible mark in the country’s history from the time General Emilio Aguinaldo declared the country’s independence in 1892, during which, the ‘Marcha Filipino Magdalo’ was played by San Francisco de Malabon band and had stirred the patriotic fervor among Filipinos. (PNA)
