The world is a huge place to explore.
And Waraynon music artist Michelle Nikki Junia, a true blue Tolosanon from Leyte, is ready to embark on other artistic endeavors after conceptualizing and implementing the successful “BaRaptasan,” a hybrid of the traditional joust or poetical debate Balagtasan, named after the prolific Filipino poet Francisco Balagtas and the contemporary rap music which originated from the ghetto of the West.
“BaRaptasan” was a pet project of Kanto Kultura, a program Michelle Nikki was one of the prime movers to cultivate, promote and preserve artistic talents from the grassroots or literally, from street corners of the country.
Kanto Kultura germinated at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Committee on Arts Education which Junia used to chair.
When this writer talked to Nikki during the “BaRaptasan” competition recently held at the Rizal Park Open-Air Auditorium, she was proud to be one of the jurors of the contest which Bagong Koronadal Advocates of Koronadal City won First Prize; Ang mga Supling ni Angela of Tabaco City, Albay romped away the Second Prize and Haraysista of Labo, Camarines Norte and DMD of Makati City tied for Third Prizes.
One of the endeavors Michelle Nikki is passionately involved, is the management of Musik Garten Manila, a music academy designed for music as a tool in education.
Musik Garten Manila is proud it has served a lot of music education to deserving youth, primarily the kids, who have honed not only their musical talents but their multidisciplinary acumen as well.
It is piano or guitar playing, all right, but the corresponding learning of counting as in musical beats or reading notes or the science of sound making of a decibel etc. are also honed.
That’s how holistic is the educational thrust of Musik Garten Manila located at Pacita Avenue in San Pedro City, Laguna.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #BaRaptasan #MichelleNikkiJunia #CCP