Angie Bansil: Championing A Cause Her Way

Angie Bansil: Championing A Cause Her Way

Tawag ng Tanghalan champion. Tuklas ng Talino champion. Wife. Mother. Medical technologist. A dozen words almost completely describing Angie Bansil.

Angie is born of Guagua, Pampanga’s Lumanog clan. Many a Filipino would know about the Lumanog guitar. Filipino music greats such as Ramon ‘RJ’ Jacinto started their careers singing Paul Anka’s “Diana” with this musical instrument. Bansil remembers her father starting the guitar business with her mother who would go to Clark Air Base to the Amerikanos, boldly offering her ware on consignment. “We didn’t have a car then so pasan- pasan ni Inang yung bass guitar sa likod niya para magdeliver,” Angie pictures her mother during those pioneering Lumanog days. Her father founded a marching band (musiko) which was the family’s contribution to fiestas in their town. Born to a musically, theatrically inclined family, Angie was exposed to the sarsuela. A grand uncle, who would later be her talent scout, used to write original sarsuelas in which her siblings were also actors. She remembers being scared when “bloody” scenes were being rehearsed because they “seemed so real.”

Bansil comes back facing the lights again, if you will, three decades after winning the Tawag ng Tanghalan that put her in the company of Nora Aunor, Diomedes Maturan among others. Highlights of those days are vivid in her memory. Amado Pascual was at the helm of the orchestra during the grand finale. Angie recalls going through a rigid elimination process—weekly, monthly, quarterly, until she got to the grand finale in 1972—at that time, martial law was declared which changed the way things were run. She remembers that a Minica car was supposed to have been a part of the winner’s package apart from a recording contract, and regular shows in Manila’s night club scene. She never got the Minica although remembers singing at the short-lived Inner Circle Restaurant which was raided by the Metrocom after they got tip that it was really a casino. She felt so traumatized after that unfortunate experience.

The Tawag ng Tanghalan win may not have gotten her the fame nor the stardom that Nora Aunor enjoyed but it has certainly left her believing that there is something she can do with her talent. She and husband Nick make a solid happy home together. They have three children, one of whom, Neil, is a stand up comedian now based in Atlanta, Georgia. Angie, through the years has been singing at countless Filipino gatherings, big or small for free. She serves at St. Patrick Church in Markham.

Believing that her singing talent is a gift, she has made it her cause to look after the youth choir from her small town in Guagua. She went home for her father’s death recently and it was then that her eyes and heart were opened to the great musical gifts children from her barangay are endowed with.
Unfortunately, they lack most everything to pursue greater heights or even learn new songs because they don’t have songbooks. Comparing to what she has been blessed with in terms of training, experience and exposure, these children have nothing. Thus she has promised to support the choir from her old hometown. Angie envisions a professional training program, substantial material for them to learn, and uniforms as well.

“I am now ready to do what I am passionate about and now have a reason to do it, too,” Angie enthuses. I will keep it an ongoing endeavour and hope to create generations of cherubims and seraphims from my hometown.”

Angie will be performing on December 9 at 7 pm, Royal Canadian Legion in a show dubbed A Christmas Moment with Jules and Angie. Sharing the stage and microphone is Jules Tinsay, another fundraiser favourite, equally talented and charismatic performer.
(M. PALANCA)