CAGAYAN de Oro City launched its inaugural CDO Boot Camp, a key highlight of the Higalaay Music and Arts Festival 2024, at the city's Tourism Hall starting Friday, August 23.
This three-day event, named "Sonampat," reflects the city government’s people-centered approach, spearheaded by Sheila Lumbatan, Chief of Staff at the City Mayor's Office and Gender and Development (GAD) focal person.
The boot camp featured a unique training program crafted by renowned musician Joey Ayala.
Dubbed "Siningbayan Kamalayan Kasarian Kabuoan," it aimed to inspire young music and arts enthusiasts in Cagayan de Oro through a music-driven exploration of soft skills.
Over the course of three days, participants engaged in sessions focused on purpose-driven creativity, sustaining creativity, and using creativity for development.
According to Lumbatan, these sessions, held from August 23 to 25, were designed to ignite the passion and potential of the city’s youth.
In an interview, Pauline Salvaña Bautista from the Bagong Lumad Artists Foundation, Inc. (BLAFI), highlighted how the city’s GAD approach seeks to enhance the economic conditions of families.
"This is achieved by cultivating a mindset of sustainable and inclusive prosperity among local creatives," said Salvaña-Bautista.
"Sonampat" (Sonata and alampat) or "music and arts" boot camp project head Sol Mosquida explained how the city government supports younger generations in exploring music and arts.
Mosquida stressed that the boot camp emphasized purpose-driven creativity, sustainability, and the developmental potential of artistic endeavors.
According to Mosquida, participants gained a deeper appreciation for environmental sustainability and gender inclusivity.
These themes were woven throughout the sessions, encouraging youth to integrate them into their creative processes, she said.
Salvaña-Bautista echoed these sentiments, noting that the workshops helped participants appreciate the integrity of inclusive and sustainable practices in music and the arts.
Joey Ayala himself led the workshops, emphasizing the expansion of self through music.
Ayala, a Filipino musician who has made significant contributions to the folk rock and rock genres, creates a distinctive and engrossing listening experience by fusing modern sounds with traditional Filipino rhythms and instrumentation.
During the workshop on Saturday, Ayala encouraged participants to reflect on peace and freedom as fundamental aspects of sustainability and inclusion, core themes in his training modules.
Ayala also covered various musical topics, such as timbre, rhythm, tempo, dynamics, and melody. These elements were presented as essential components of artistic expression, fostering a holistic understanding of the arts.
Meanwhile, Lumbatan maintained that the boot camp offered a values-oriented creative process centered on inclusive relationships.
Participants left with a renewed sense of purpose and a commitment to fostering a vibrant, inclusive culture in Cagayan de Oro, according to Lumbatan.
This event marks a significant step in promoting arts and culture in the city, aligning with broader goals of gender inclusivity and environmental sustainability.
"The success of the Sonampat boot camp sets a promising precedent for future initiatives," said Lumbatan.
