The Pilgrim's Pots and Pans

Filipinos are known for being hospitable and food is always part of any event. Tonight was no exception. The show was free then right after, guests were served lelut manuc (arroz caldo/chicken congee), suman (sweet rice sticks) and tsokolateng binatirul (frothy hot chocolate), gratis as well! This entry is not about food although I’ll try to be nice and post the recipe of lelut manuc when it starts raining hard in the next few weeks.

For now, let me say share with you tonight’s event as I just about got back from the launching of ArtiSta.Rita’s second album at the half-buried San Guillermo Parish Church in Bacolor, Pampanga. That’s the Artistang Santa Rita Foundation for you, dear friends – a pioneer group committed to the revival and enrichment of Kapampangan arts and culture. You may remember the Duman Festival they organised and which we featured last December.

Tonight’s CD launch was sponsored by Holy Angel University’s Kapampangan Studies Programme, the Pampanga Governor’s Office, Nestlé Philippines and a few other groups.

The event was quite a spectacle! The talents never fail to amaze as they constantly improve. I’m not saying this just because they’re mostly my townmates. The production numbers went smoothly. The costumes look much more professional yet authentic. Their folk dancing is noticeably more graceful. Technically, they are also so much better than their previous concerts. It’s not that they were mediocre before, far from it! They’re just more polished now, sounding and performing like a professional production company which rehearses full-time. Full-time rehearsals? Far from it too! The talents are students, teachers, farmers, carpenters and many other citizens who live normal lives when not onstage. And the stars of the show are humble enough to carry their own materials after the concert. Although the pioneer cast and staff are from Santa Rita, I found out that there are now members from San Fernando, Candaba and Guagua towns. The two little girls from Guagua were among the new faces and such cuties too! Neither of them could have been more than six-years-old.

Which is this extraordinary group? Well, they just happen to have passionately revived Kapampangan arts and culture. Their previous CD transformed old folk songs into popular culture. Hmmm… that doesn’t sound right. Let’s just say before ArtiSta.Rita was organised, old Kapampangan folk songs were probably on the brink of being lost forever, supplanted by the prevailing MTV culture and other more inane ditties. Now there’s hope!

In less than five years since its inception, this group has been able to produce several shows (one had them as Lea Salonga’s back-up singers, take note!) and two compact disc recordings (lyric sheets include English translations).

The first CD, Kapampangan Ku (I am Kapampangan), was launched in December 2003 and co-produced by the Don Juan Nepomuceno Center for Kapampangan Studies of the Holy Angel University. It made such an impact that it seemed the carrier album of last year’s the Pampanga Day festivities.

The second album, Pamanuli (Homecoming), has both folk songs and original compositions. The Pampanga Provincial Government and the Center for Kapampangan Studies co-produced it.

Selected reviews from previous performances:

“One of the most accomplished performances I have ever seen on any stage in the country.” – Prof. Randy David, Columnist/Philippine Daily Inquirer

“Very inspiring. Genuinely uplifts the Kapampangan soul for life in the future.” – Tonette Orejas, Philippine Daily Inquirer

“It’s a precious heirloom of music for all Filipinos. Encore!” – Marilou Diaz-Abaya, Director/Philippine TV and Cinema

“Listening to the ArtiSta.Rita for the first time awed and moved me close to tears, for they sang not just beautifully but with such passion and purity. I feel so proud being Kapampangan.” – Mary Anne Tayag, Columnist/Philippine Star

In Metro Manila, CDs are available at the Ayala Museum Cafe Shop, the CCP Souvenir Shop, Mangan & Ebun Restaurants and all outlets of Cabalen Restaurants.

For those who wish to purchase CDs from abroad, please e-mail me or leave a comment while we’re trying to find arrangements for that purpose in the meantime.

I will postpone writing about this exceptional group for a while more. This note is especially meant to encourage certain highly talented beings (yoooohoooo, you know who you are!) to send me materials and BETTER pictures to post. Fans need your online presence too, you know! 

Update: Tonette Orejas wrote about the launch too. It’s on the 12 July edition of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The ArtiSta.Rita website is now online though still on the testing phase.