3 blind musicians shine in Maguindnanao talent contest
BULUAN, Maguindanao – Three blind ethnic Muslim villagers reigned supreme after dishing out inspiring performances in the province-wide kategelan (talent) contest here on Wednesday, to rule contest’s category for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
El- John H. Aliman, 35, of Ampatuan town captured top honors and 50,000 cash prize, enough to purchase an electric organ to further advance his musical talent.
The rest of the sum, he added, will go to his family for caretaking him since he was born blind.
Love is indeed blind Aliman played the organ and sang a Maguindanaon song about a man pledging to continue loving a woman he knows even if he could never see her until death.
His rendition impressed the contest’s three-member board of judges chaired by Dr. Lilibeth Bermudez Edaño and the audience most.
Stevie Wonder of PH He confided to the Manila Bulletin that he once thought of ending his life outdo despair brought about by his condition, but his love for music spurred by an inkling to become a good musician someday made him think twice.
“I want to be like Stevie Wonder and Jose Feliciano, who I was told are blind like me but gained global fame in music,” Aliman said in mixed Pilipino and Maguindanao dialect. Indigenous instruments in focus
Bagging second place honors was 74-year old Esmail D. Ahmad of Talitay town, who played the kutyapi, a fourstringed guitar-like Moro instrument, and two types of insi, a local version of the flute.
Ahmad, also born completely blind, received a trophy and P30,000 cash, which he intends to share with his family and friends who looked after him and his needs.
Part of the sum, Ahmad said, will be channeled to charitable causes to help people who are in greater need.
Bryand Kendayo, 45, of Datu Odin Sinsuat town grabbed third place hon- ors. Kendayo played the guitar and sang a Maguindanaon song about love for freedom, unity and peace with utmost concern for humanity. He won a trophy and 15,000 cash.
Annual festivity Aliman, Ahmad and Kendayo were among 10 finalist contestants in the Kategelan contest’s category for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
The 10 finalists were chosen from more than 50 senior citizens and PWDs in Maguindanao’s 36 towns.
Many PWDs and senior citizens in Maguindanao Gov. Esmael G. Mangudadatu organized late last year into separate groups with provincial chapters, have taken turns in appreciating the Kategelan contest, an event incorporated in 2015 as another highlight in the annual Sagayan Festival, through which they said their untold talents could be showcased.
Ten finalists representing their respective municipalities participated in the other category.
Lumad vocalist Dante Saliling of Upi town ruled the said category after his stellar rendition of “The Wonderful Sound,” popularized by Tom Jones.