Soil
erosion and degradation, land abandonment, and lack of interest in farming.
These are just some of the many issues that affect the Banaue Rice Terraces.
According
to the local government of Banaue, around 600 hectares of the site is
abandoned, contributing to its deterioration. This places the Banaue Rice
Terraces at risk of being removed from the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In
response to this, the Banaue Rice Terraces Restoration Project was formed. The
project targets to restore and conserve the biodiversity and cultural practices
at the site. One component of the project is to generate widespread public
awareness and participation to the cause, and one of the initiatives to support
this is the Banaue International Music Composition Competition (BIMCC).
After
months of preparation, 20 composers from all over the world are heading to
Banaue to see the world-famous Banaue Rice Terraces for the first-ever BIMCC.
The 10-day immersion trip is meant to showcase the Ifugao culture and bring
their issues closer to the composers for their deeper appreciation and
understanding.
“The
Banaue Rice Terraces is more than just a breathtaking view. It is home for a
community fueled by their culture,” stated General Jaime de los Santos, Project
Manager of the Banaue Rice Terraces Restoration Project. “The area has faced a
host of challenges in recent years, and we aim to bring it back to its full
glory through the Banaue Rice Terraces Restoration Project. We recognize that
there is much work to be done and what we’re doing is just a start. Through
BIMCC, we want to call attention to the
scale of the challenge and how the public can show support through a
celebration of music and culture.”
The
competition called for Banaue-inspired symphonic compositions and received an
overwhelming response from composers all over the world, generating 84 entries.
Following
screenings and deliberations, 20 composers were chosen to go on an immersion
program in Banaue, where the top 10 finalists will be chosen at the semi-finals
to be held at the Banaue Hotel. The chosen pieces will then be performed by an
orchestra at the Grand Finals Night at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo at the Cultural
Center of the Philippines on July 25, 2018.
TITLE
COMPOSER
AGE
COUNTRY
Tugtugin
para sa mga Supling ng Pinagsapin-saping Lupa
Christian
Joshua Padre Ansale
21
Philippines (Rizal)
Water Steps
Bracha Bdil
29
Israel
Symphonic Suite
“Archipelagos”
Theodoros
Broutzakis
49
Greece
Beyond the
Mountains
Jan Neland
Cabuguas
32
Philippines (Negros Occidental)
Pagpapanumbalik
Jimuel Dave
Dagta
27
Philippines (Quezon City)
From Wonder
into Wonder. Green Steps to the Sky
Caterina Di
Cecca
33
Italy
The Hills
of Banaue
Jonathan Feasey
(Shaw)
22
UK
Pugaw
Avner
Finberg
35
Israel
The Story
of Ifugao
Leon Firŝt
23
Slovenia
Hymn to
Nature
Eteri
Kourbanov
30
Israel
Terraces
Lee Jinjun
27
Singapore
Banaue
Symphony
Raquel
Sanchez Martínez
23
Spain
Symphonic
Poem: The Rise of Banaue
Michele
Masin
21
Italy
The Harvest
of the Rice
Mario
Alfredo Oyanadel Guiñez
27
Chile
Balitúk:
The Divided Child
Charlie
McCarron
31
USA (Minnesota)
Hudhud
Alessandra
Salvati
49
Italy
Lightning
Storms on the Terraces
Eduardo
Soutullo Garcia
49
Spain
Kabunyan
Jem Robert
Bautista Talaroc
27
Philippines (Quezon City)
Crossing
the Rice Terraces
Miran
Tsalikian
31
Greece
The Ifugao
Cloud
Stefano
Giannotti
55
Italy
“Through
music, we are sending a strong message to the public and the world about the
beauty and culture of the Banaue Rice Terraces. We hope to draw out attention
from Filipinos to help restore our famous World Heritage site and the ecosystem
that thrives in and around it,” shared BIMCC Artistic Director Professor Chino
Toledo.
“All
the Banaue-inspired compositions that we received from composers from all over
the world signify how different cultures can relate to and work on a common
goal of preserving an international treasure, as well as the diversity and rich
heritage surrounding it,” added Toledo.
Helping
out Filipino farmers and the agriculture sector has been a longtime advocacy of
Universal Harvester, Incorporated (UHI). UHI President and CEO Dr. Milagros O. How.
“Our
work on the Banaue Rice Terraces Restoration Project also calls attention to
the need for greater support to the agricultural sector. UHI formed our advocacy arm under TOFARM to push for the
advancement of the Philippine agriculture and to recognize farmers as the country’s
heroes. Through these activities, not
only are we unlocking potentials and boosting productivity, but also preserving
our heritage as Filipinos,” explained Dr. Ong-How.
The
first BIMCC Grand Prize winner will receive US$12,000 and two runners-up will
each receive US$6,000.
The
public can further support the cause by getting donor seats at the Grand Finals.
Prices range from Php1,000 to Php5,000. Proceeds from the event will be used
for the benefit of the projects to rehabilitate and restore the rice terraces
starting at the Barangay View Point, Banaue, Ifugao.
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