COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/21 July) – Asia’s Got Talent winner El Gamma Penumbra held everyone in awe with its show on Monday that relayed the message of environmental protection and peace to a full-house crowd inside the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex at the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao compound here.
The group’s free performance was part of the Eid’l Fitr celebration which marked the end of Ramadan courtesy of the regional government through the ARMM Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team (HEART).
Led by Cotabato City native Whalid Minanga Bucana, alias “Tisoy,” the group performed several dances, including “I choose ARMM,” a show that put the region in the country’s tourism map.
Social media and radio plugs enticed many residents to come and see the show but the venue could only accommodate 5,000 people. Those who came late had to be content watching the spectacle on the widescreen placed outside the regional building.
The audience could not hold their amazement, letting out “ohs” and “ahs” at the group’s exciting ways of playing with lights and shadows.
“No question that it won this year’s Asia’s got talent,” said Lennilyn Esparagoza, one of the 5,000 spectators who brought her entire family for the show.
“Teary-eyed, I was emotional as they performed,” said another spectator, Bai Linang Talusan of Cotabato City who kept applauding all throughout the show.
Lawyer Laisa Alamia, ARMM executive secretary, said the group’s message reinforced the advocacy launched by the regional government.
Lawyer Kirby Abdullah, ARMM-HEART focal person, said El Gamma Penumbra’s performance proved that ARMM has gone far, “that international performers are willing to perform here now”.
The amazing dancers were elated by the warm reception it got from ARMM.
Bucana said his group will continue spreading the message that peace will bring prosperity in the region.
His group also vowed to continue their advocacy against illegal drugs and the value of loving and caring for the senior citizens.
Bucana pioneered the group when his family moved to Tanauan, Batangas in 2008.
When his group was asked to perform in ARMM, Bucana said they readily agreed knowing fully-well that the group can contribute in the campaign for environmental protection and for peace.
“It’s the first time in the city we saw this huge flock of people coming for an event, grabe ang traffic, more peace pa, more progress pa, this is what we want,” said Rhonalyn Navarro in her Facebook account. (Ferdinandh Cabrera/MindaNews)