The Classics - a post Christmas Concert of Hajji Alejandro, Marco Sison, Rey Valera and Nonoy Zuniga

Hit makers - a description shared by 4 famous Filipino Singers, Hajji Alejandro, Marco Sison, Rey Valera and Nonoy Zuniga who had a concert entitled 'The Classics" at the Newport Performing Arts Theater last December 28.

Filipinos love music, most especially when it talks about love. The concert which lasted for about two hours is a lasting testament on how Pinoys developed their varied interests in music and entertainment.

The songs were all very familiar and if you are a Filipino is relatable as majority of the songs would usually land in your repertoire in karaoke nights may it be with your family or friends. This is why perhaps this concert had this nostalgic feeling from the start, it is not reserved only for the older audiences but also to the millennials who learned to love these kinds of songs watching soap operas, Filipino Movies and commercials all through their childhood up to the present day.


Meeting and watching Hajji, Marco, Rey and Nonoy sing their signature songs and perform onstage is like meeting old friends that has been part of your life for the longest time. It is as if their hits became your soundtrack in some point in time. It is truly a trip down a by gone era where your parents where all innocent and were considered love birds listening in their old transistor radios and LPs and to add - strolling penniless in parks like the Luneta, QC Circle and the Wildlife. As my parents would usually remark: "These kinds of Music is what makes the heart grow fonder".


Every song is a memory in itself and every artist a mirror of what "love" is to every person in the theater.


This concert is a tribute to the OPM thought Rico J. Puno wasn't there to share the fun and laughter, this event will have its special place in the hearts of star-crossed lovers who made their way to the aisles of the Church because of such songs as "Pangako sa'yo" (Rey Valera) and "Tag-araw sa Tag-ulan" (Hajji Alejandro).


Hope to see these 4 perform once more this time hopefully with Rico J. Puno. It is more than a musical treat, it is an experience travelling through time where everything else was fun, exciting and all too romantic.

Music for the Holidays - A Christmas Concert

Christmas Songs are one of the most endearing elements which makes the Yuletide season happier, more memorable and most importantly, more sentimental. That is why the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) organized The Music for the Holidays - Christmas Concert at The Theater Solaire on the second day of the "Simbang Gabi", December 16, 2015.

Their specials guests, the Viva Voce Singers and Ms. Gerphil Flores provided powerful voices to accompany such an enduring and beloved music pieces for this season.


The first part of the concert were selections from the "Messiah" - an Oratorio composed by George Friedrich Handel in 1741. The audiences  were given a chance and an opportunity to listen to an oratorio as beautiful and as famous as this one. Oratorios in this part of the world are not as famous as when you to Europe and the other western countries. With this kind of selection, the Filipino audience was given a taste of music that is considered the music of kings. To conclude the first part, the choir together with the orchestra performed the Hallelujah Chorus - the most important and the most famous piece of music in the oratorio.


The moment the first three notes of the Hallelujah Chorus was played, the majority of the audiences stood up to follow an old tradition which dates back during the oratorio's premier in London where King George II stood during the singing of the chorus. Royal protocol would dictate that when a monarch stands, everyone should follow, hence the birth of a tradition. Some alludes this to the fact that King George acknowledged that their is someone higher than him, the "King of Kings" whose kingdom is far beyond and greater than what he has.


The Second part opened with MSO performing familiar Christmas Carols followed by their guests Gerphil Flores and the Viva Voce Singers singing foreign and local holiday tunes.


It was truly a very warm and Christmassy night which filled the theater with the joy and spirit of the holidays. It was a very simple event but the memory would as the music lingers in every ear of the listeners. Indeed the finest gift is the gift of song, of music which praises and glorifies the birth of the savior.

Ballet Philippines' Peter Pan

When a favorite children's classic comes to life on theater, it would surely be a great treat most especially to all young at hearts who grew listening to these stories before bedtime or from their parents who like them also cherished these stories in their younger days. However, to have it onstage but this time choreographed in classical and contemporary ballet movements, this would be different a story.

Ballet Philippine's Peter Pan is one of the group's most treasured and beloved pieces. Based from JM Barrie's classic title, this production won the hearts not only of the children but all the older and more seasoned audiences who seem not to grow as they watch their favorite story come alive. The show brings back tales of Peter Pan's Neverland, The Darlings, and of course the antics of the pirates lead by Captain Hook.


For a ballet that is conceived to be appreciated by just a particular section of the populace, this production brings ballet closer to the people. The choreography in fact employed both the classical and popular movements therefore, ensuring that the viewers would have a firm grasp of the whole show. This is perhaps the most important element which made this performance popular, its simplicity and objective to bringing ballet -a classical art/dance closer to the understanding of the modern-day art enthusiasts and theater goers. The production was also Filipinized adding local flavors to pump and ensure the interest of the audiences. What made this performance stand out from the rest is that viewers would the performers flying thanks to the renowned aerialist, Flying by Foy.


Edna Vida Froilan, the production's chief choreographer made this one a gem and for the holidays, a must-see for all families and budding fans of theater to experience once more the eternal youth and grace of a well-loved story.


Peter Pan will be staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines - Main Theater from Dec. 4-13, 2015

“Calidad Humana: Sharing the Filipino Spirit” a book launch

Culture so they say is the “soul of the nation”. It is something which makes a country unique from the rest. In fact, tourists and travelers are eager not only to see and know the histories of the civilization but also to marvel and experience the culture which made the country stand tall and proud.  Culture is a gift bestowed by the divine and to share it, opens doors for more understanding which brings about strength and pride.

Last December 2, a book entitled “Calidad Humana: Sharing the Filipino Spirit” was launched at the historic Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in Pasay City. With a book that yearns to share the identity of the Filipino people, CCP proved to be a good venue as the nation’s official cultural home.

But what is Calidad Humana? The founder of the project, former Chilean Ambassador to the Philippines Roberto L. Mayorga now a consultant of the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) states that Calidad Humana means Human Compassion or in our parlance, “Kabutihang Loob sa Kapwa”. After visiting more than 60 countries and experienced practically everything the world has to offer, he found the Philippines a nation plenty of Calidad Humana, plenty of Kabutihang Loob sa Kapwa. He even compared the Chile of 40 years ago with the Philippines of today and concluded that his country developed and matured fairly but forgot to nurture the Calidad Humana which for him is the most precious thing a country can ever have. With an abundance of Calidad Humana, the former Ambassador wants the Filipinos to keep and preserve this in spite of the rapid economic development the country is facing.

Amb. Mayorga hands over the first copy of the
 Calidad Humana: Sharing the Filipino Spirit
to Mercedes Lopez-Vargas,
President of the Lopez Group Foundation 

Back to the book launch, the ceremony was very simple but was well attended by several sectors, the academe, business, diplomatic communities, arts and culture. It is not an ordinary book launching as everyone supports the preservation of the Filipino Calidad Humana and committed to share it to the world. To add more to this, Undersecretary Laura Q. del Rosario of the Department of Foreign Affairs committed to distribute 400 copies of the book to all existing Philippine embassies and consulates so that everyone would know of this advocacy.

Mercedes Lopez-Vargas, President of the Lopez Group Foundation read the message of his father, Oscar M. Lopez, Chairman Emeritus of the Lopez Group, a staunch supporter of the Calidad Humana Project and good friend of Ambassador Mayorga. Mr. Lopez is very instrumental in making the Ambassador return to the Philippines to continue the project and even the publication of the Calidad Humana Book.

The Orchestra of the Filipino Youth (OFY) provided the music while Mr. Jovianney Emmanuel Cruz a renowned Filipino Concert Pianist, tickled the ivory keys for the audiences’ delight. Perhaps the most important part of the program is when Mark Solis was redeemed. Back in 2013, one of the projects of the Embassy of Chile was the “Smiles for the World” Photo-Essay Competition. Mark Solis was originally the winner of the contest but was proven to be a fraud when a Brazilian Photographer accused Mark of stealing the picture. It was truly a scandal since the winner that won a competition that promoted the authentic smiles of the Filipinos stole a picture. The Ambassador did not push for any legal actions but instructed Mark that in order to redeem himself he must participate in a local street football project and in this way, reform his character. At present Mark is already  a community organizer of a street football team at the Baclaran Church and have since been helping the kids in their soccer practices.

The book says a lot about the Filipino Spirit and how we Filipinos came to be. The authors of the book praised the strong Calidad Humana of the people and the importance of sharing, preserving and promoting this gift. All authors are respected social scientists and professors from different universities such the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University and the University of Santo Tomas.

The Calidad Humana: Sharing the Filipino Spirit is available at the Lopez Museum and Library, ground floor of the Benpres Building (Landmark: Tektite Towers) Ortigas Center, Pasig City. The book costs Php 650/copy.   

The Orchestra of the Filipino Youth performs Classic Filipino Songs.
Song which makes us proud to be Filipinos

Some of the members of the Diplomatic Corps

Ballet Philippines President and former Miss Universe Margarita Moran-Floirendo

The Authors (Dr. Abigail de Leon, Prof. Darren Dumaop, Prof Mark Joseph Callano,
Dr. Ernest Gonzales and Kidlat Tahimik representing his wife Dr. Katrin de Guia)
with Amb. Mayorga, Ms. Cedie Vargas and CCP Pres. Dr. Raul Sunico,

Ms. Lopez-Vargas with some of the guests
(far right: Mellie Ablaza, Honorary Consul to Guatemala)

from left: Dr. Ted Esguerra, Amb. Mayorga,
Dr. Katrin de Guia and Kidlat Tahimik

Dr. Antonio Torralba and Jovianney Emmanuel Cruz

The CCP Main Theater Lobby was filled with people from all walks of life who
find the Filipino Calidad Humana worthy of sharing, promoting and preserving.