By Ladylove May Baurile

Los Baños Laguna- The municipality of Los Baños held the Grand Revelry last night at Paciano Rizal Park. Grand Revelry is still part of the Paskuhan sa Bagong Los Baños wherein revelry is a noun synonymous for festivity.

According to Vice Mayor Baby Sumangil’s opening remarks, the municipality realized how concerned their citizens became when typhoon Habagat reached their place ever since. They chose to support the five barangays affected by Habagat instead of continuing the activities for the Bañamos Festival.  “Napakabait po ng ating Poong Maykapal dahil ngayong Disyembre,… ngayong kapaskuhan, nagkaroon po tayo ng magandang panahon…. upang ihandog po sa inyo  ang pamaskong handog ng Bagong Los Baños,” said Sumangil.

Part of the said event was the introduction of winners of past contests like Miss Los Baños Jonnadel Dongsay of Brgy. Timugan, Los Baños Idol Nimfa Arevalo of Brgy. Anos , Miss Gay aka Tony Gonzaga of Brgy. Baybayin and Make your Move’s Nasty Boys. The winners for the Fluvial Float Parade were the Brgy. Bayog, Brgy. Mayundon, and Brgy. Baybayin for the first, second, and third places, respectively.

Winners of Los Baños Idol, Ricky Mendoza, Aya Aguinaldo and Nimfa Arevalo, and of Make your Move Dance Contest, the Nasty Boys, performed on the said event. Mendoza sang “Rolling in the Deep”, Aguinaldo chose “Di kita Pipilitin” and Arevalo performed “Muntik na kitang Minahal” plus her winning piece, “Kahit Sandali”

Groove it! Make your Move first placer Nasty Boys proved to people that they deserved to win through their performance last night at the Paciano Rizal Park (photo by LMBaurile).

The highlights of the event were the act of duo-comedian Iyah and Tekla, the performance of the band, Itchyworms and the fireworks display.

Iyah and Tekla were hired from Punch line, Laugh line and Metro Bar. Itchyworms performed their hit singles “Kabataang Pinoy”, “Akin Ka Na Lang”, “Gusto Ko Lamang Sa Buhay”, “Love Team”, “Freak Out Baby”, “Beer” and “Pahingi Ako Niyan.” Moreover, people enjoyed the grand fireworks displayed for about ten minutes.

The Grand Revelry. Jugs of Itchyworms led the band in performing their hit singles “Kabataang Pinoy”, “Akin Ka Na Lang”, “Gusto Ko Lamang Sa Buhay”, “Love Team”, “Freak Out Baby”, “Beer” and “Pahingi Ako Niyan” (photo by LMBaurile).

Save the best for last. Itchyworms, the last highlight of the event, rocked the Los Baños community through performing their seven hit singles (photo by LMBaurile).

Past activities of the Paskuhan sa Bagong Los Baños like Marian Convention (Dec. 6), Dia Agua Santa: Elejer (Dec. 7), Fluvial Float Parade (Dec. 7), Himigsikan (Dec. 9), Miss Los Baños Talent Night (Dec. 12), Miss Los Baños Swimsuit Competition (Dec. 13), Make your Move Dance Competition (Dec. 13), Los Baños Idol (Dec. 14), Miss Los Baños Coronation Night (Dec. 15) were presented and flashed on screen.

According to Mayor Anthony Genuino, having a new Los Baños wherein the local government aggressively develop services for health, occupation and education and make long-term projects for each barangay was just a dream before but that dream becomes a reality as of today.

“Actually, itong Grand Revelry ang main event ng Paskuhan kasi lahat ng best of the best na nangyari sa Paskuhan ay dito pinalabas… I think in the next more years… mas maa-uplift pa yung tourism in terms of events, yung mga tourism sites siyempre madedevelop ‘yon at… mas maa-upgrade pa ‘yong quality,” shared KC Manaquelod, municipal tourism officer and Grand Revelry coordinator.

Reach for the skies. People of Los Baños enjoyed the grand fireworks symbolizing the new Los Baños. It was displayed for about ten minutes in the Grand Revelry (photo by LMBaurile).

By Ladylove May Baurile

With reports from Kezia Grace Jungco

Los Baños, Laguna- Twenty two candidates showcased their talents and fought for the title of Los Baños Idol last night at the Paciano Rizal Park.

The participants were divided into three batches that performed accordingly. The first batch consisted of Elaine Kaye Teaño (Malinta), William Don Criste (Lalakay), Mart John Renz Regis (Tuntungin-Putho), Aira Bautista (Bayog), Lenie Briones (Lalakay), Fiona Beltran (Mayundon) and Amiel Job Liwanagan (Batong Malake). The second batch was composed of Ricky Mendoza (Bayog), Regine Masecampo (Anos), Emmanuel Casubha (Batong Malake), Ana Liza Belloga (Maahas), Marie Fe Cao (Bayog), Shararayah Sto. Domingo (San Antonio) and Caren Patiten (Mayundon). Moreover, the third batch consisted of Lord Cedric Pavia (San Antonio), Roel Anthony Wagan (Batong Malake), Kathleen Anne Galula (San Antonio), Nimfa Arevalo (Anos), Ronnie Teaño (Malinta), Aya Mikhaela Aguinaldo (Bayog), Jomark Mesa (Bayog) and Dianne Ubaldo (San Antonio).

Another highlight of the event aside from the performances of the participants was the intermission of the duo child dancers who will compete for “Batang Pinoy National Dancespat Competition” and the “Laguna Teatro Kislap”.

The contestants were also given memberships to the “Organisasyon ng mga Pilipinong Mang-aawit” (OPM). Among the chosen participants were Nimfa Arevalo, Ricky Mendoza and Marie Fe Cao who was chosen among the three to perform for the organization’s upcoming concert.

“Sumali ako dito para mashowcase yung talent ng barangay namin at para mapprove na ang mga Los Baños ay magagaling, masaya dito kasi nakakabonding mo ang mga kalaban mo at hindi mo aakalain na yung kompetisyon ay ‘di ganoon kabigat,” shared Marie Fe Cao.

From the top 5 out of 22 finalist of the Los Baños Idol singing competition, only one will become the champion. The top 5 have performed amazingly in the elimination rounds and in the final rounds. (Photo by Joan G. Nacorda)

The top five performers for the said activity were Ricky Mendoza who sang “Don’t Stop Believin”, Lord Cedric Pavia who sang “Lady”, Marie Fe Almazan Cao who sang “And I am Telling You”, Aya Mikhaela Aguinaldo who sang “When you Believe” and Nimfa Arevalo who sang “Kahit Sandali”.

The winners were Nimfa Arevalo, Marie Fe Almazan Cao and Aya Mikhaela Aguinaldo respectively. They received cash prizes of P10000 for grand winner, P7000 for the first runner-up and P5000 for the second runner-up with scholarship from Informatics Institute.

“Sumali ako dito kasi gusto ko matulungan si mama, patay na kasi si papa kaya ako na lang ang inaasahan… kaya thank you po sa lahat lalo na kay God,” said Nimfa Arevalo.

It is the inaugural staging of the Los Baños Idol, which is still part of the Paskuhan sa Bagong Los Baños.

Nimfa Arevalo from Brgy. Anos bests 21 other finalist at the Los Baños Idol singing competion. She joined the competition in hopes of helping out her mother. In fact, she hopes to buy building materials for their house with the cash prize. (Photo by Joan G. Nacorda)

“Sa mga nanalo sobrang salamat sa pakikiisa sa programa namin at congratulations sa lahat kahit tatlo lang yung nabigyan ng OPM… lahat sila panalo dahil naipakita parin nila sa Los Baños ‘yung talent nila,” said Hon. Julius Moliñawe, event coordinator of the event.

By Danielle Torralba

‘One Love Crew’ won the ‘Make Your Move Dance Competition’ last night at the Paciano Rizal Park, Los Baños

Composed of 11 members, One Love Crew scored a total of 90%, beating the other ten dance groups and earned 15,000 pesos as grand prize. The ‘Freestylers’ took home the second spot, receiving 10,000 pesos. The ‘Stylistics Dance Squad’ finished in third for 7,000 pesos.

James Burgos of the One Love Crew said that they were not expecting to win the competition. Marvin Umali, Jose Emmanuel Lingao, and Neil Gonzaga judged the competition. “I’m looking for something innovative, new, and experimental”, said Mr. Umali, the Chairman of the Board.

The top three finishers are no strangers to winning dance competitions. One Love Crew made the finals of Showtime Season 1; the Freestylers were first-runners up in Pilipinas Got Talent Season 2; and The Stylistics Dance squad won the ‘Shall We Dance’ championship. The three teams once again took home the awards last night before a jam-packed crowd that included Los Baños Mayor Anthony Genuino, Vice Mayor Baby Sumangil, and the Councilor Julius Moliñawe.

Meanwhile, two members of the JR Crown dance group were brought the first aid area after a failed dance stunt attempt. 14-year-old Kennedy Leh de Bora landed on the ground after doing a “hyper double back” stunt. “Madulas kasi yung sahig (The floor was slippery)”, he said. The incident gave him a minor headache. 15-year-old Enzo Onopre also slipped on the floor after doing a “round off double back flip” stunt. He sustained sprain in his right knee which is expected to last for two to three days, according to Melanie Villamor of the medical team. One of the crew’s senior members, Matt Pastrana said that the group has been doing the stunts for quite a while although this time the floor was slippery.

After the accident, Councilor Julius Moliñawe asked the rest of the competitors to remove the stunts to prevent more accidents. KC Managuelod, the activity head, also emphasized that the stunts were not part of the criteria ad that they reminded the contestants that they would not be liable to any accident that may arise.

The ‘Make Your Move’ dance competition is part of the municipality’s annual Christmas celebration Paskuhan. More events for the Christmas celebration include the Los Baños Idol which will happen tonight. The final event will be the Grand Revelry on Sunday wherein winners from different competitions are expected to perform, along with guest band Itchyworms.

by Kamille Anne Anarna, Aizel Dolom, and Gretzel Lantican

(Updated as of 10:39am) The Lopez Children’s Choir and the Christian School International Choir (Glee Club) won the young and adult category of last night’s Himig Pasko 2012. The event started at 7pm in the Municipal Covered Court.

Organized by Ms. Jenette Palisoc from the Civil Registry Office, Himig Pasko is a choir competition involving schools and organizations. It is part of the month-long celebration of the Paskuhan sa Bagong Los Baños.

This is the fourth year that the Himig Pasko was held. Pattricia Legaspi, Los Banos’ SK Chairman and host of the event, said  “mas tinangkilik yung Himig Pasko ngayong taon. Yun nga lang mas okay kung mas maraming contestants.”

The participating groups were divided into two categories. The first group was composed of young competitors aged 8 to 14 years old from Los Baños Central School Children’s Choir, CSI Elem Choir, Brigada San Antonio Children’s Choir, and Lopez Children’s Choir.

On the other hand, the second group was composed of adult competitors aged 15 years old and above from Los Baños Community National High School, Los Baños Seventh Day Adventist Singing Group, and CSI Choir (Glee Club).

The first, second, and third placers received their prizes amounting to P10,000, P7,000, and P5,000, respectively.