Tanauan City gov’t to honor shadow play group “El Gamma Penumbra”

Asia’s Got Talent champions El Gamma Penumbra receives a grand welcome from their hometown of Tanauan, Batangas (EGP Facebook page)

MANILA — Tanauan City government in Batangas province will honor local shadow play group El Gamma Penumbra, the first Asia’s Got Talent (AGT) grand champion which wowed international audiences with its performances during this competition, including a finalsextravaganza advocating care for Mother Nature.

“We’ll recognize the group for its achievement in thatcompetition,” said Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili.

He said such recognition was apt as Penumbra’s achievement brought honor to the country and Tanauan City where this group’s members are from.

“I hope all Filipinos can be like them and use their talent to bring glory to our country,” he said.

According to AXN Asia, which broadcast AGT, this competition is the world’s first pan-regional edition of the global hit ‘Got Talent’ format.

AGT is also billed as the world’s biggest talent competition featuring Asia’s “most jaw-dropping, mind-blowing and breathtaking” performances, noted AXN.

Halili said Tanauan City’s Sangguniang Panlungsod passed a resolution to recognize El Gamma Penumbra.

The recognition will be on Monday (May 18) during Tanauan City Hall’s flag ceremony, he noted.

In its ‘Mother Nature’ performance during the competition, El Gamma Penumbra highlighted urgency for saving the environment from pollution, hunting, deforestation, climate change and other threats.

Such performance drew standing ovation from all the competition’s judges – Grammy-winning musician David Foster, UK pop sensation and former Spice Girl Melanie C, Indonesian rock icon Anggun and Taiwanese-American pop idol Van Ness Wu.

They were awed by Penumbra’s ability to use shadow play as means for communicating urgency to conserve and protect the environment.

Foster described Penumbra’s performance as “profound.”

Halili said he and other Tanauan authorities will meet as soon as possible to see how the city can further express its appreciation for what El Gamma Penumbra achieved.

“We’ll look into other ways of conveying such appreciation,” he assured.

He cited granting tax incentives to Penumbra as one possible way.

Aside from the opportunity to perform at Marina Bay Sands, which is reportedly the world’s most expensive stand-alone casino property, Penumbra won USD100,000 for emerging as AGT’s first grand champion.

AGT debuted in Singapore this year.

Halili noted Tanauan authorities organized for El Gamma Penumbra a motorcade around the city upon learning of this group’s victory.

They came up with such activity so people in Tanauan can see, welcome back and congratulate Penumbra’s members – the city’s latest home-grown heroes, he continued.

“Penumbra’s victory has a big positive impact on us so everyone in Tanauan is celebrating,” he said.