By: Lian Marie Z. Collo
Have you ever felt totally star-struck? When you watch a performer and reach a state of total awe and admiration for their craft. If screams and cheers were any measure, the students of ADDU SHS can truly attest to that feeling, lighting up the gymnasium the moment Ma-an Chua belted out the opening lines of Itadyak.
“Mindanao, Mindanao….”
To say that this year’s Buwan ng Wika celebration was memorable barely scratches the surface. That Friday was a rich celebration of our language and cultural heritage seeped through the duration of the event, while teachers, students, and staff donned their best traditional clothing.
One major highlight segment of the event was honoring Filipino music, with numerous tribute performances to legends who have paved the way for the local music scene. And truly, what better way to close the festivities than to witness a Dabawenya icon take the stage?
Maan Chua graced ADDU SHS with a roster of her greatest hits, namely, “Itinadyak (Mindanao),” “Sayaw Dabaw,” and “Indak, Galaw, Sayaw.” During her performance, she invited the students to get up and dance along with her on stage. Soon enough, a massive burst of energy surrounds her as students jump and sing along with her in glee.
Rey Francis Galindo, a Grade 12 student who was part of the crowd who danced with her had this to say about the experience: “Overjoyed is a bit of an understatement, but I enjoyed the experience of just being present with someone who has impacted Mindanaoan pop culture. Maan Chua’s songs really feel like you’re in the culture and one with the rhythm. I felt so proud to be a Dabawenyo.”
The fact that the students were up, cheering, and singing along from the first few lines of her songs alone speaks to her impact to the youth. Her songs are ones students know by heart, knowingly or not- songs immediately associated with being a Dabawenyo. Especially during an event like Buwan ng Wika, where we honor our cultural heritage, it was more timely than ever to connect with our Mindanaoan identity with love and pride.
The singer-songwriter, once dubbed as “Davao’s Icon of Mindanao Music,” has always used her talent to illustrate the beauty of our beloved island.
During her career, she was commissioned to create jingles and theme songs to promote numerous regions in Mindanao, created artworks inspired by Mindanaoan culture, and performed across the country and beyond. Her lyrics utilize the Filipino language to reflect the experiences of being a Mindanaoan, and therefore, represents us. Being a region with such a diverse group of people, visibility in mainstream media through music has been vital more than ever in showcasing our identity and fostering unity in our community. Ma-an Chua truly is an artist that never forgets where her roots are; she has let it truly embrace and and shape her art.
Ella Fitzgerald once said, “Music is the universal language…. It brings people closer together.” As Ateneans who champion cultural sensitivity, we can learn one thing from artists like her as we close Buwan ng Wika: language truly is is the greatest asset to show pride and honor our history.
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