Awit at Laro invites us to sing & play

Gary Valenciano has a few questions. “What games did you play in the past? What games do you want to play once more? What games have you heard of but never played? What memories come to mind when you hear Jak en Poy, patintero, sipa and luksong tinik?” 

Gary V himself got the answers and more when he got on board the Awit at Laro project. A brainchild of Bambi Manosa-Tanjutco, daughter of National Artist for Architecture Bobby Mañosa, Awit at Laro uses music to focus the spotlight on Filipino games and folksongs and introduce them to today’s kids and to remind their parents of the fun they once had as children at play.

Awit at Laro is made up of 20 native songs like Magtanim Ay Di Biro or Sitsiritsit Alibangbang and songs about our childhood games like sipa or patintero. Almost a hundred artists got together to do the songs and recordings while others contributed artworks about the subjects. The result is one wonderful book with pages of song lyrics and incredibly impressive artworks.

Awit at Laro makes me very proud. These tunes, these games are parts of our heritage and they are all here, reimagined for the new generation in such a handsome package. I am sure that reading this and listening to this music will be more than enough to lure kids and elders back to the outdoors to try out a game of tumbang preso or piko.

Now, please pardon the list. I just want to name the creative people who lent their talents to this worthy undertaking. If I had the space, I will also mention all the arrangers and musicians and everybody else but I will let you find that out for yourself. And you will when you get your copy of Awit at Laro.

Bahay Kubo song by Jungee Marcelo, performed by Jona with artwork by Ruben de Jesus: Sitsiritsit Alibangbang with additional words and music by Gino Cruz, performed by Francis Concepcion, Kiefer Sanchez and Mackie Empuerto of the TNT Boys, artwork by Abi Goy; Leron Leron Sinta sung by Suklay Diva Katrina Velarde, artwork by Fran Alvarez; Paruparong Bukid with additional words and music by Jack Rufo, performed by Yeng Constantino, artwork by Liza Flores; Magtanim Ay Di Biro, set to new music by Bamboo and band performed, of course, by Bamboo, artwork by Kara Pangilinan;

Pakitong Kitong by Jungee Marcelo, performed by Lea Salonga, with artwork by RV Basco; Sarung Banggi sung by Sam Concepcion, artwork by Bea Carague; Atin Cu Pung Singsing by Jonathan Manalo, performed by Janella Salvador, artwork artist is Bernadette Solina Wolf; Nanay Tatay, written by Gloc-9, performed by Darren Espanto with rap by Anne Curtis, artwork by Onofre Guiao; Patintero by Ryan Cayabyab and Jose Javier Reyes, performed by Lara & the AMP Band, artwork by Leo Kempis Ang;

Tagu-Taguan, composed by Mon Espia and sung by KZ Tandingan, artwork by Jericho Moral; Piko, written by Lara Maigue and sung by Morissette Amon, artwork by Robert Alejandro; Luksong-Tinik, composed and performed by Joey Ayala artwork by Aaron Asis; Sipa, composed by Ogie Alcasid and performed by Ogie and Gary V, artwork by Anca Bautista; Tumbang Preso, composed by Noel Cabangon and performed by Kiana Valenciano and Billy Crawford, artwork by Tasha Manosa Tanjutco;

Jak En Poy, composed and performed by Bullet Dumas with artwork by Robby Singh; Pitik Bulag, also composed by Jungee and sung by Julie Anne San Jose; Touch…Move, composed by Jim Paredes and sung by AC Bonifacio, artwork by Al Estrella; Saranggola, written by Ebe Dancel performed by Gary V with artwork by Rommel Joson. Also included is Bawat Isa Sa Atin (Minsan Ay Tulad Nila), an original by Gary Valenciano who also performed with the Mandaluyong Children’s Choir, artwork by Beth Parrocha-Doctolero;

Proceeds from the album will go toward funding children’s causes via UNICEF, where Gary V serves as a national ambassador, the Tukod Foundation, Shining Light Foundation and towards the improvement of Museo Pambata’s exhibits and facilities.

Awit at Laro is available at special shows promoting the campaign at Ayala Malls nationwide every weekend of the month. Those interested in getting a copy of this beautiful album can catch Gary V and his guests at Ayala Malls Cebu with Jona and host Hannah Pangilinan on Dec. 12; at Harbor Point Olongapo with Joey Ayala, Kiana Valenciano and RJ dela Fuente on Dec. 15; and in Bacolod with Katrina Velarde on Dec. 22.

If you are unable to attend any of those, then you can stream the album. But better yet because streaming or downloading works only as far as the music is concerned, and there is just no way you should miss out on those artworks go to www.awitatlaro.com, which hopefully has instructions on where to get a copy.

Make that copies. Because Awit at Laro is such a superb way to say Merry Christmas.