THE UST alumni that started it all are back again in what they promise to be a “magical” night of pyromusical display, the highlight of this year’s Paskuhan.
The company of advertising graduates Don Miguel Villarosa and John Oliver Zeng was the first from Southeast Asia to bring home Gold Jupiter Award and Best in Soundtrack at the L’International des Faux Loto-Québec in Montreal, Canada this year.
They have come a long way since introducing this creative blend of fireworks display and musical at the Paskuhan in 2011.
“Preparation ‘yung madugo [dahil] dito dine-design ‘yang mga fireworks na ‘yan. Design at imbento [namin] ‘yan [at] walang ganiyan sa ibang bansa,” Villarosa told the Varsitarian in an interview.
“I think we are the best in the country to synchronize fireworks and music with emotions [and our] competitors don’t do that.”
This year’s pyromusical will be Disney-themed, he said, promising “a night where your magical dreams come true.”
Such shows began following certain themes in 2014, among them, Frozen, Rock of Ages, and Coldplay, and last year’s Game of Thrones.
“Every show, bago ‘yung theme, maraming bagong effects [at] bagong design. Sa ibang tao, ‘pag pumutok, fireworks ‘yan, pero kami hindi kami ganoon, kailangan may bago parati, may pakulo [na] kakaiba,” Villarosa said.
As the lead designers and technicians of the fireworks company, Villarosa and Zeng has represented the country and won in various international competitions.
They clinched the top spot in the 2013 Pyronale World Fireworks Championships in Berlin, Germany.
They also brought home the gold in the 2015 Flammende Sterne International Fireworks Competition in Stuttgart, Germany and the 2017 Jury Award at the Cannes International Fireworks Competition in Cannes, France. J. C. W. UY with reports from N. R. M. GOLE
