Last year, the General Steering Committee decided to lessen the fiesta features including the suspension of the famed Harana At Iba Pa. The committee assured to celebrate this year in full blast and for best upshot of the 2006 Town Fiesta; the GSC resolved to reconvene this month of June. One of the reasons of the deferral of this feature, apparently, is to support  the economic problem of our beloved PI.  

Harana Atbp. started in the year 1988, the pet project of Dr. Ben Barcelona and Mario Racela. I recollected and it was a set of 4 years from 1988 to 1991 and was sustained in the year 2001 to 2004. Basing from this, it seems it works in a set of four years then breaks. I haven’t heard of its resumption this year. 

I’m writing this article because this fiesta feature is really worth missable. Let me reminisce my days in Harana when I was under the working committee and then the Director. 

“It is success that colors all in life. It is 10% complementation of sponsors or benefactors and 90% best shots of the team”. 

This is the working principle of Harana Working Committee guided by the teamwork, coordination and harmony of all team members and officers. 

In a Committee work like Harana, it is likened to building a monument, a monument of fame and glory giving tribute to the noble works of the front liners as well as the back liners. This means that extra ordinary and superior works of all are recognized and appreciated. This, we give credit not only to those who occupies top positions but also to those with lowest position.   

We have a modest beginning. We started from few then expanded to what we are. We have our UPS and DOWNS. We emerged from weak to stronger and transformed from inferior to superior. So we stand up better and enriched. 

The tasks of the committee were HERCULEAN but nevertheless, we came out steadfast, persevering, committed and united in one noble cause – that is to bring Harana into the limelight, to make it the longest running talent search, well-loved, well-participated, well-attended and definitely, the only existing socio-cultural show that showcases the talent, skills and creativity of the residents of the 6 municipalities of Ilocos Sur encompassing METRO SAN ESTEBAN. 

The Harana is a manifestation of the socio-cultural upbringing and collaboration of united San Estebanians who wanted to put San Esteban on the headline and definitely on top of the world thereby making our town, the musical capital of Ilocos Sur and Region I. 

Our clients are the musical talents of all ages. We develop not only their singing prowess but also their TERPSICHOREAN skills in dancing. We hone their speaking skills in declamation, oration, monologue and any talent for that matter. HONESTLY, we develop the TOTAL being of our contestants. 

Behind all of our achievements in the Harana At Iba Pa, we battled all odds, we surmounted all problems, we resolved all conflicts, we trouble shot deficiencies, we refined technicalities, we  accepted and opened up to your criticisms, we withstand the pain and agony of being blamed of faults, we smiled and comforted our detractors and sour-graping critics, we colored the lives of our viewers, we exalted and brought out the enthusiasm and confidence of our contestants, we sustained our momentum, we catalyzed and balanced political differences, we sweat out in preparing all our paraphernalia, we had developed our guts in begging the benevolence of our sponsors and judges, and we had endured sleepless and snack less days and nights. 

With all these strings of challenges, rivers of obstacles, oceans of criticisms and mountains of intrigues, I profoundly say that running the Harana is no joke and not as easy as you think of. 

We came out victorious, for Harana had achieved its objective towards the visions of San Esteban. We are proud then that the Harana working committee had survived all obstacles and challenges, thus made us strong, confident, mobilized and energized for a better, more exciting and bigger Harana. 

May I express once again my earnest gratefulness to all our viewers, contestants, sponsors, speakers, judges, tabulators, participating schools, prayer leaders, fellow San Estebanians, Municipal and Barangay Officials, benefactors and supporters, detractors and critics, Dr. Galahad “Ben” Barcelona, Mr. Mario Racela, Mrs. Dolores Vergara, Dr. Florence Ramirez, Mrs. Lily Foronda, the Officers and Members of the Committee on Harana At Iba Pa from 2002 to 2004 who inspired, supported, assisted, suggested and criticized us. Our love and prayers. We should be united as one and say HARANA… We love you! HARANA… We care for you! And HARANA… We are proud of you!