Featuring the Benildean faculty, associates, and administrators across De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), Can This Be Love?: A Cayabyab Valentine Special showcased the ever-famous Ryan “Mr. C” Cayabyab’s cult classic and contemporary songs.
Photo by AJ Surema
In partnership with Center for Campus Art (CCA) together with AB Music Production Program, Can This Be Love?: A Cayabyab Valentine Special, tweaked the hearts of its viewers at the 12/F School of Design and Arts (SDA) Gallery, DLS-CSB.
The audience was brought to their days of giddy youth and were made to feel the loss of a lover they never had. A sense of familiarity, intimacy laid thick in the air as a drape amidst the sonorous quips of piano keys and guitar strumming. Raw yet undiscovered, different Faculty members and administrators unraveled their talent to the Benildean community.
From a technician of Music Production Mr. Marvin Fabular singing “Ganun Ba” with suave to associate Dean of SDA Ar. Choi Funk, one was not only reintroduced to tunes of fancy; but stories behind tunes such as Tunay na Ligaya and Araw Gabi that were birthday gifts of Mr. C to his wife Emmy Punsalan in 1984.
Photo by AJ Surema
In an interview with The Benildean, Ar. Gerry Torres shared that the Cayabyab Valentine Special is not limited to Benildean student’s creativity and talent, but also of harnessing these people’s talents—who otherwise would not have been known to be good singers—despite being on the most mundane of school work or meetings.
“It’s also a way of fostering a [Benildean] community bonding, a sense of belongingness but also with a certain quality,” Ar. Torres said.
Consistent with Cayabyab’s preference for inclusivity in music, Can This Be Love? is the first among a series of concerts celebrating Cayabyab songs. As a performative means of continuing the Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika exhibit, yesterday’s event paved the way to strut their enticing voices to everyone.
Since visually showing music is limited, Can This Be Love? was presented through a concert. On sleeves and on musical sheets, hearts were laid bare as Ar. Gerry Torres added, “Love is universal, like music.”
Through an open-mic performance, audiences were also allowed to sing their hearts out to the National Artist for Music 2018’s love songs of their choice.
