RPN 9’s launches ‘Boses Tinig Pinoy’ in Batac

Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff Reporter

Batac City—RPN 9’s “Boses” was successfully launched at the Imelda Cultural Center (ICC) in the Batac City on August 24.

RPN 9 Batac officer-in-charge Rene Lagadon thanked all the participants who came to Batac from other municipalities in the province.

Before the contest, RPN 9 CEO and President Robert T. Rivera held a press conference to explain the concept behind the “Boses” competition as well as its purpose.

BOSES IN ILOCOS. RPN 9 CEO and President Robert T. Rivera (right) answers some questions from the members of the local tri-media in a press conference held August 24 at the Imelda Cultural Center in Batac City during the launching of “Boses Tinig Pinoy”. Accompanying with Rivera are singers Eileen Papin and Anthony Castelo. (Doms del Cruz)

Rivera was accompanied by singers Eileen Papin and Anthony Castelo.

According to Rivera, “Boses” is a national singing contest for young and talented artists and which would be staged by the 12 RPN 9 radio stations nationwide.

Rivera added that Filipinos are talented in singing but “Boses” this time is a cappella a singing competition.

A cappella is singing without any instrumental accompaniment.

This way, Rivera believes that the singers can be heard using their natural and powerful voices.

Rivera said the competition focuses only on a cappella for duet and trio to produce a harmonic melody with choreography because there would be no harmony to be created in solo a capella.

What separates this from other singing competitions, Rivera explained is all contestants can form a duet or trio with other contestants regardless of what group they came in with.

“Maaring mag-combine ang may mga magagandang boses na napili galing sa duet o sa trio para mabigyan pa sila ng isa pang chance mag-perform,” Rivera said.

He also disclosed that the competition is open even to persons with disabilities.

He cited an example in Cagayan De Oro City where some contestants were blind.

Rivera further divulged that RPN 9 officials personally visit different provinces in the country just to discover talented singers.

Winners for the weekly, monthly and quarterly finals will qualify for the grand finals in manila.

Rivera proudly announced that Superstar Nora Aunor is a product of RPN 9’s Tawag ng Tanghalan radio variety show.

The first and second rounds of auditions were held in Baguio City and Cagayan De Oro City in June and July, respectively.

Meanwhile, Lagadon thanked to the Batac City government headed by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta for the use of the ICC.

Ilocos Norte Governor Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos, who was the special guest, also expressed her gratitude to the RPN 9 organizers for coming to the province to discover new singing talents.

Rivera also thanked the governor for gracing the occasion despite of her hectic schedules.

The contest is open to a cappella duos and trios with members aged 15 and above.

The nationwide winner will take home P1 million cash prize plus a recording and a talent management contract with RPN 9.

Winners for the duet competition were Coleen Mangabat and Mhelrose Uy of Batac National High School while the in the Trio category, Jasper Arizabal, Phoebe Faye de Guzman and Johanna Miranda of Alpha and Omega Christian Ministries International took the top prize. 

There were eight duet and seven trio contestants. 

Aside from the two singers, Rivera was also accompanied by RPN 9 assistant general manager for finance Ida Barameda, operations regional manager Nestor Sandoval and engineering manager Engr. Rene Allarde.