The Kanta Binisaya as an advocacy project is being supported by the Department of Tourism, Tingog Partylist, Leyte Normal University, and the provincial government of Leyte whose partnership and support is contained in a Memorandum of Agreement signed during the Kanta Binisaya Book and Logo launch at the Palo Municipal Hall which aims to promote the rich musical heritage of Eastern Visayas. (Photo: PIA Leyte)
PALO, Leyte (PIA) — Kanta Binisiya continues to grab the opportunity to preserve the rich musical heritage of the Eastern Visayas region with its recent book and logo launch at the Palo Municipal Hall.
The event also signals the start of a series of activities that will mark the Kanta Bisaya Choral Festival from February to March.
Authored and published by UP Professor and musical arranger Dr. Stephen Lagarde, the launched sequel book entitled Kanta Binisaya Intense, is designed to promote the rich musical heritage of Eastern Visayas by providing teachers, choral groups, students, scholars, researchers and music enthusiasts copies of the book.
The book contains new and updated choral materials of Eastern Visayan heritage songs that may be used for instructional and performance purposes. It is primarily meant to sustain and maintain the gains and accomplishments of Kanta Binisaya as an advocacy project.
Meanwhile, according to Lagarde, the logo design is an attempt to capture and depict the colorful, rich and vibrant character of Eastern Visayan culture, heritage and identity.
“By making use of a contemporary edgy feel in conveying what it means to be Eastern Visayan, the design asserts the notion that traditional music does not have to be perceived as something outdated, obsolete, old-fashioned, boring, uninteresting and dull. Rather, it underscores the idea that re-discovering, saving, understanding, promoting and passing on one’s distinct musical culture with pride is vital in shaping one’s sense of nationhood,” he said.
Kanta Binisaya has evolved into an advocacy to save distinct regional culture and heritage from irreversible extinction which is difficult as it is challenging dealing with powerful forces and influences that drown indigenous narrative and identity, he noted.
At its core, Kanta Binisaya advocacy aims to bridge the generation gap by introducing classical and beautiful Binisaya music of the past to modern Eastern Visayans, offering them the necessary educational resources.
The book and logo launch also signals the start of the Kanta Binisaya Choral Festival which will be marked by capacity building activities for choirmasters and choral conductors, chorale clinic and the Kanta Binisaya Choral Festival Concert to be held free for all the public at the People’s Center and Library on March 29, 2025.
This project is supported by the Department of Tourism, Tingog Party-list, Leyte Normal University, and the provincial government of Leyte. (ACR/PIA Leyte)
