To promote camaraderie, unity among Port Management Offices, to showcase the talents of PPA employees, and to have a more exciting and meaningful Christmas celebration, the Philippine Ports Authority has embarked once again on landmark events—the search for the SiReyna ng Pantalan 2019, and the year two of the Chorale Singing Competition. All PMOs were enjoined to participate per cluster, who shall be conducting pre-qualifying rounds for the said competitions.
On 27 November 2019, the Northern Mindanao cluster composed of PMOs of Agusan, Misamis Occidental/Ozamiz, Lanao del Norte/Iligan, Surigao, and the Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro, the host PMO, conducted the pre-qualifying round in Grand Caprice, Limketkai, Cagayan de Oro City.
SiReyna ng Pantalan
The term is “Sireyna” (or sirena)/ (English term: mermaid) connotatively refers to male homosexuals, especially those who are effeminate. This term “sirena” was made popular by the song of Filipino rapper Gloc-9 of the same title, describing the life of a gay.
Primarily aimed to promote gender equality and sensitivity in the workplace, another landmark contest was hence introduced— the SiReyna ng Pantalan. In this concept, male candidates from each PMO were dressed in festival costumes in vibrant colors, and in elegant evening gowns later on the show.
After the competition of flamboyant performances, and wits during the Question and Answer portion where the candidates were asked about the environment, “Serbisyo at Malakasit”, how to address LGBT issues in the workplace, among others, the SiReyna of PMO MO/C, Neil Jordan Paña, emerged as the winner. When asked about the promotion of 3Rs among his colleagues during the Q and A, Paña said that the Port of Cagayan de Oro is Green Port Award System (GPAS) recipient having been recognized by the APEC Port Services Network; thus, good practices for the environment were already inculcated among port employees like him. To sustain this, he would constantly remind others that the protection and preservation of the environment through efforts like Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, is not just for the present people but for future generations.
Came as 1st runner-up is the SiReyna of PMO Iligan, and from PMO Surigao as the 2nd runner-up.
Chorale Singing Competition
All dressed in their respective sparkling and eye-catching costumes, a 12-member chorale group from each PMO delivered admirable musical performances. The groups performed the song “Sirena” by Gloc-9 as their common song which was specially participated by their respective SiReyna candidates, while their second piece was their song of choice.
Members of the chorale were also part of the production number of the SiReynas.
Albeit keen competition, PMO Surigao bagged the first place; while last year’s winner, the PMO MOC, came in second; and PMO Agusan who was not able to join last year’s chorale singing competition finished at third place.
The first-place winners will represent the Northern Mindanao cluster to the finals/championship round on 12 December 2019 at the PPA Head Office in Manila.
The rest of the delegates of the PMOs, led by their ever-supportive Port Managers, proudly and happily posed for photos with their SiReyna candidate and Chorale group at the end of the program.—NR Balverde