By Liamm Eridani | January 20, 2025
Two Bedans’ ‘pop rock’ take for this year’s Pista Theme Song
WHEN Mijesric James “MJ” Turla was tasked with creating a new theme song for Pista ng Sto. Niño 2025, he felt that simply revising last year’s song wouldn’t suffice.
"Nung una, they suggested that I revise the old song and just add some chants to it, but I knew for myself na hindi na siya possible as I wanted to retain yung uniqueness and sound na tumatak sa mga tao from the old song,” Turla said in an interview with The Bedan Herald.
“We didn’t actually revise the old song; we created a new one from scratch.”
Turla, a fourth-year Communication and Media Studies student and a member of the quartet rock band I.O.D., served as the composer for both last year’s and this year’s theme songs. This year’s edition was co-composed by Kylie Pasag (IV-BSP), Turla’s sole companion in this project.
A Sonical Shift
The Bedan duo aims to make this year’s theme song livelier, more upbeat, and, as Pasag defines it, with a “rock twist”—incorporating percussive elements into the instrumental.
Turla expresses, “This song is more of […] ‘pop rock’ […] with a hint of festive elements such as horns and layers of percussion sounds.”
“The instrumental arrangement was intentionally different to fit this year's theme, adding an energetic vibe while still maintaining the essence of the message,” Pasag adds.
According to Turla, last year’s theme song was designed to embody the "sound" of the Sto. Niño Festival at SBCA, capturing the festival’s spirit across campus. This year’s theme, however, shifts its focus to the Bedan community, aiming to inspire Bedans to actively engage in the Sto. Niño celebrations.
Red and White Ink
What sets this year’s theme song apart is its use of Bedan tropes and ingenious lyricism, referencing iconic Red Lion chants such as the Indian yell.
Pasag explains, “MJ and I worked to incorporate elements that reflect the Bedan tradition, such as parts inspired by [the] Indian yell, ‘Polly Wolly,’ and the chant ‘Ora et Labora.’”
Kylie Pasag performing at a school event. Pasag’s love for music spans his entire life—singing, performing, and joining competitions at every chance he gets. (Photo grabbed from Kylie’s Instagram account)
He also mentioned that, “I also introduced the word ‘byahe’ (journey) to align with the theme ‘gabay sa paglalakbay’ (guide in the journey), asking the question, ‘Sino ang kasama mo sa byahe?’ (Who is with you on this journey?).”
Turla also noted the importance of using "simple" and "easy-to-follow" lyrics, aiming for the theme song to resonate with everyone, from young children to professors.
The Woes of Production
From brainstorming and composition to pre- and post-production, the Bedan duo's creation of this project was no walk in the park.
“The production was very technical. Every beat and every note na nilagay sa song ay talagang pinag-isipan ang reasoning behind that. Attention to detail ika nga,” Turla emphasizes.
Despite this, Turla was grateful for his co-composer and regarded Pasag as his “one call away” partner, mainly regarding revisions or new ideas for the song.
The I.O.D. lead singer also mentioned James Cruz, his bandmate and a San Beda College Alabang alumnus who helped play guitar for the project, continuing his contribution from last year’s theme song.
Another challenge Turla faced was that, compared to last year, he had less creative freedom in creating this year’s song—noting that the heads of the event had the final say. He expressed, “Not in a negative way pero syempre we have to follow kung ano yung mga sinasabi ng mga heads ng event.”
At the heart of it all, Turla and Pasag’s ultimate goal is to foster a sense of community and instill core values that not only shape and mold us but truly define what it means to be a Bedan.
Pasag states, “Through this song, I hope to instill a deep appreciation for the teachings and traditions of SBCA. I want every lesson and value to be remembered and firmly planted in our hearts, serving as a guide for the Bedan community for years to come.”
Volume 30 | Issue 3
