Army sarge entertains folks with magic

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE, PIA Samar
January 17, 2006

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  Why are the people cheering and jeering in a serious activity like the three-day peace and development forum conducted by the 34th IB in remote San Jose de Buan?

Magic, just plain magic!

To ease the seriousness in the peace and development forum, Sgt. Henry Noynay performs magic. His magic spiels have always been a 'hit' as a front act in all the fora done.

Noynay entertains the crowd while waiting for lecturers to arrive. He never ceases to mesmerize the young and old alike. Aside from his magic, he also dances "Totoy Bibo' with gusto and sings ala professional. He even has a puppet he said, ala 'Arn-Arn' of the Unang Hirit fame. His favorite magic number is calling on an unsuspecting volunteer from the audience who is almost shocked to see him producing items out of nowhere. The latest ploy witnessed by PIA involved a white hanky turn to an underwear to the delight of his adulating fans.

In a short informal talk with the 'magician' at a lull in remote San Jose de Buan, Henry bared that his craft became his ticket in entering the military service. His father, he beamed proudly was a magician while he was the assistant. After his father's untimely demise, his passion for magic drove him to try new tricks. His industry paid off. Like a true artist with a rare privilege he was admitted to the army just for his performance merit.

He however, said that he also underwent the usual military training attended by all soldiers. He is trained for combat and won't hesitate to if the situation beckons. Just like in the most recent ambuscade staged by the CPP/NPA, while his group returned from San Jose de Buan. Four of his co-soldiers perished. He could not say whether he survived because of magic.

Aside from his office stint at the Civil Affairs Unit at Camp Lukban, Catbalogan, Noynay gets endless invitation to perform. He could be invited to children's birthday parties, where he dons his clown costume and wows them all. The fulfillment he gets in knowing he has made people happy more than compensates the little bills he gets from his sponsors.

Noynay may not have the superstar stature of the "starstruck" survivors, but he has inadvertently created a following, making him a celebrity in his own right.