Making waves with talent is tough competition in the vast ocean of artists and entertainers. The public's attention usually takes years to develop and often publicity from the media can help and of course sponsorship funding. This 2nd year, the Making Waves Festival relocated from the Harbourfront to Ontario Place. The local entertainers were joined by imported performers such as David Pomeranz, Boy Katindig, Tillie Moreno, Lirio Vital and UP Alumni and Friends Rondalla. The VIP Party for media and sponsors were entertained by the beautiful strings and singing of UP Alumni who flew in from New Jersey, especially their all string version of 'The Phantom of the Opera', and later Lirio Vital who flew in from Manila, along with speeches from Philippine Embassy and Toronto Police, and Teresa Torralba, its organizer. Despite the rain, the VIP Party was full, had a hot buffet, and a view overlooking the water, which was appropriate for the Waves concept. Mainstreaming Philippine talent into the Canadian entertainment scene can be a challenge since many other cultural groups have their own entertainers, especially American. David Pomeranz, a composer from the USA sang hit songs -- If You Walk Away, Got to Believe in Magic, and a new song about Charlie Chaplin. The Philippine Canadian community has a lot of events but most are mainly by associations based on dialect and region, and only a few branch out to the mainstream public. With time and endurance, the waves can get bigger and bring in the crowd. We all need to feel along or escape into the imaginations of artists and entertainers to be inspired in our lives by their magic. We can be swept along with the waves of feelings triggered by their songs, enriching our souls and personal relationships.
