The plot thickens in the exchange of accusations and denials between singer Jojo Mendez and practically inactive actor Mark Herras.

The plot “thickener” is actor Claudine Barretto totaking the side of Mendrez based on her revelation that she and the singer are friends. 

Asserts Barretto in her social media account as quoted by showbiz scribe Rodel Fernando in his Facebook account: “Nandito ang support ko sa’yo, 100 percent. Huwag kang pumayag na magpaapi ka, ginagamit ka, or inaabuso ka. Mahal kita kaya andito ako bilang kaibigan, bilang kapatid.”

“Gaya ng sinabi ko, huwag kang matakot. Nandito kami. Walang pwedeng manakit sa’yo. Tandaan mo ’yan. Mahal na mahal kita ( I am here to support you 100 percent. Don’t allow yourself to be abused, used, or taken for granted. I love you. This is why I’m here as a friend and sister. Just like what I said, don’t be scared. I’m here. No one can hurt you. Remember that. I love you very much).”

Reports of Mendrez and Herras’ alleged fallout surfaced after a video taken during the PMPC Star Awards showed the singer being uncomfortable around the actor. He was supposed to present an award with Herras, but inactive actor Rainier Castillo, a contemporary of Herras on GMA 7, mysteriously took Herras’ place instead.

Mendrez also alleged in an ABS-CBN News report that Herras allegedly threatened to burn down his house. However, the latter denied making such threats against the singer. 

Herras and Mendrez are suspected to be lovers, though Herras is married and has two sons. Both deny a romance going between them. Mendrez has asserted that his management company pays for all amiable public acts Herras bestowed on him. 

Herras denies having threatened Mendez but remains mum about being paid to show sweetness to Mendez in public.

***

Any large-scale cultural entertainment event that can be held remarkably somewhere in Metro Manila may also be hosted just as impressively in Palawan, specifically in Puerto Princesa City, the capital of the elongated island.

That perception must be the primary reason the National Association of Filipino Choirs Inc. (NAFC) has decided to hold the first Palawan International Choral Festival (PICF) in Puerto Princesa City  on 12 to 16 August despite the knowledge that the Andrea O. Veneracion Memorial Foundation has announced in 2024 November about holding the sixth Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival (AOVICF) in Metro Manila on 20-24 also in 2025 August. 

The foundation later revealed that the competition will be held at the Arete Hall at the Ateneo de Manila University in Katipunan Avenue, QC. 

Take note that the PICF is a maiden event for NAFC while the AOVICF will be its sixth run. 

But then it might not be to compete with AOVICF that the NAFC chose to hold its debut global event also in August but to give chance to the chorales that for some reasons did not make it to the event inspired by the country’s National Artist for Music. 

August is the choice month for both events as it has been observed to be an uncrowded period for international tourism in the country even as it has been found out that a substantial number of foreign tourists are willing to visit the country for a spell.

On the other hand, in the Philippines alone, there may easily be a thousand chorales based in parish churches and chapels, along with secular groups that sing harmoniously in scaled voices. The church-based groups are more numerous simply because singing in holy masses is more appropriately done as a community of worshippers. A number of Philippine universities and colleges, whether they have a music school or not, put up chorales to add prestige to their names, aside from maintaining athletic teams.

The late and practically revered Veneracion is popularly identified as the founder and choir master of the internationally recognized Philippine Madrigals. Robert Delgado, the NAFC president, was a member of The Mads (which is how the Philippine Madrigals is better known for years now) for nine years during which he became a resident arranger of the chorale. Delgado wouldn’t dare go against the spirit of Veneracion which pervades the life of chorale singing in the country. 

We found out from the PICF website that the Madz choir master, Mark Carpio, whom Veneracion assigned to the prestigious position herself during her last sickly years, is a member of the PICF artistic committee headed by Prof. Raul Sunico, a former president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. (Maestra Veneracion passed on at the age of 84 in July 2013 from a lingering heart ailment.)

The website further reveals that the PICF is not Delgado’s brainchild but of Maestro Jae Joon Lee, a renowned conductor from Daegu, Korea, who envisioned creating a platform for cultural exchange through choral music in the picturesque setting of Palawan.

The website also reveals that 5,000 people are expected to turn up at the PICF, including those who want to experience not only watching an international choral festival but also also swimming and hanging out in the world-famous beaches of Palawan.

Do Puerto Princesa and the province of Palawan have the facilities and amenities for large-scale international events?

We turned to Google AI bot Gemini for an answer, and it churned out: “Puerto Princesa City has demonstrated its capability to host significant events. In 2024, the city accommodated 812 meetings, conventions and seminars, attracting over 91,947 transient visitors.”

“The city offers various venues suitable for large events. The Mangrove Conference & Convention Center by Astoria, for instance, features a main convention hall with a capacity of up to 450 guests, along with additional function rooms for smaller gatherings.”

“While this capacity is substantial, accommodating the expected influx of participants and attendees for the PICF may require utilizing multiple venues and outdoor spaces to ensure a seamless experience for all involved.”

A Department of Tourism online report states, thus: “Palawan has been seeing massive success with tourism and revenue — skyrocketing to P57.2 billion in 2023 compared to 2022’s P30.5 billion. The province also saw an 87.47 per cent increase in tourist arrivals, reaching 1,527,159 visitors in 2023.”

The assertion these days is: The success of the PICF hinges on close collaboration with local authorities and organizations. 

Puerto Princesa’s City government  and the Palawan provincial government should be key partners in the endeavor, providing support and resources to facilitate the festival’s logistics and operations.

Delgado agrees, declaring: “The collaboration between the festival organizers and local government units is crucial in ensuring that all aspects of the event, from accommodations to security, are well-coordinated and meet international standards.”

The PICF is divided into four parts: the international competition with a registration fee; the national competition with a chance for the winner to compete for free in the international competition; the Boronyugan festival happening concurrently with the PICF in various barangay venues in Puerto Princesa City; and the academic gathering of choral music majors.

The NAFCI estimated about 20 choral groups participating in the national competition. The winning chorale will receive a cash prize of ₱P300,000.

The competitions are separated into different sizes — Small, Medium, Large and Grand with a maximum of 50 members; as well as divided into different genres — Pop, Sacred, Folklore.

As part of the NAFCI’s mission to recognize authentic regional pieces from different parts of the country, Folklore is divided into two sub-genres — the usual choral folklore done in competitions, as well as the indigenous folklore.

Some venues for specific events have been determined this early, such as the Immaculate Conception Cathedral for the Sacred category competition, and the Citystate Asturias hotel for the academic conference of choral music scholars. 

A musical event can be held in-door or outdoor. The folkloric competition may best be held outdoor. The competition may even be a free-ticket affair.

The national competition among choral groups in the country can avail of free registration and lodging, and the winner has the chance to compete in the international competition without the registration fee if they have 85 percent standing in the national competition.

However, local choral groups could also join the international competition as well by paying the registration fee. The international competition will have a grand prize of US$500.

Aside from the two competitions, the Boronyugan festival also happens on the same days as the PICF. Thus, choral groups from all over Palawan may spend those four days in the public gymnasiums of barangays around Puerto Princesa City in a non-competitive situation, singing songs that reflect Palaweño culture.