My 2010 birthday motto:
Don’t ever underestimate yourself. You were sent into this world for a special reason. Focus on the bigger picture. Even if people demean you and you feel like you are nobody, you are a very important piece of the universal puzzle, and this puzzle would not be the same without you. – Shamim Sadiq. (via POSITIVE THOUGHTS)
It’s been a long while since I have posted a more personal note on this blog. So here is a new one:
As far as I am concerned, there’s nothing more gratifying than doing what you love most even if it would entail more effort, time and a lot more sacrifices. The past three months were spent mostly with the choir I’m in and were the busiest and arduous time for me, that is, besides the drudgery of work. Music has been part of my boring life since I was little and I find the most satisfaction in singing. Just as a song would say, “…I sing because I am happy…I sing because I’m free.”
Nevertheless, no regrets whatsoever.
(Repost from Manila Broadcasting Corp’s Blog)
Dec 19, ‘09 7:15 PM
UV Chorale and Hiyas ng Pilipinas top MBC National Choral CompetitionThe University of the Visayas Chorale and Hiyas ng Pilipinas Children’s Choir scored stunning victories at last night’s grand finals of the MBC National Choral Competition, held at the Aliw Theater in Pasay.
Audience favorite UV, conducted by Anna Abeleda Piquero edged out a powerful St Louis University Glee Club by a hairline, with De La Salle’s Coro Animo and Makati City’s Koro Ilustrado rounding up the top four finishers.
It was the third-straight victory for Hiyas ng Pilipinas, who reprised their debut win at Paskong Pinoy in 2007 by topping Vox Angeli anew. AUP Young Voices and Calasiao Children’s Chorus, both title-holders at the World Choir Games, came in third and fourth respectively.
Arriving by boat just the day before — with three of its members sadly falling prey to holduppers at the pier — the ensemble from Cebu showed Visayan spunk, rolling out humorous and vocally flawless performances that earned the admiration of audiences two nights in a row. It was also an amazing double-win by the flashy and talented conductor-arranger Anna Piquero, who likewise steered erstwhile top-seed Koro Ilustrado to fourth place, as she delivered the finest conducting chops seen on this side of the musical world.
Bittersweet would best describe Hiyas ng Pilipinas’ victory, whose title defense was wracked with a lot of indecision on the part of its handlers Manila Dance Foundation. Delivering what jury chair Jonathan Velasco termed as a “perfect moment” on the competition piece Payapang Daigdig, Hiyas conductor Nick Infante remained speechless backstage, as he struggled to comprehend all that happened. With a number of their choristers soon turning fifteen, Hiyas is going into a brief hiatus as a children’s choir to train new members, but is expected to become a regular fixture in special events of the corporate world, where they proudly proclaim their MBC Paskong Pinoy titles. Already, they are favorite performers within diplomatic circles and even scored a bronze against adult choirs in the sacred music category of the recent CCP International Choral Competition.
According to Velasco, president of the Philippine Choral Directors Association, the MBC event is now “the choral competition to aspire to in the Philippines” as manifested by the participation of the best choral conductors and arrangers in the country, most of whom come from the ranks of the Philippine Madrigal Singers. He foresees increased interest and participation of PCDA members in next year’s contest.
Velasco and his fellow jurors Fidel Calalang Jr of the UST Conservatory of Music, Arnel De Pano of the San Miguel Master Chorale, Sebastian Trinidad of the Mandaluyong Children’s Choir, and Moy Ortiz of The Company unanimously agreed that MBC’s programme delivery gives choirs a lot of self-worth, while helping to condition the minds of mass audiences that choral music makes for public entertainment.
So proud of our (Koro Ilustrado) little bros and sis from UV Chorale!
I would like to invite everyone to watch a FREE Christmas Concert “Paskong Anong Saya” featuring Koro Ilustrado, University of the East Chorale, University of the Visayas Chorale and the DSWD Choir on December 20, 2009, Sunday, 7pm 5pm at the Holy Trinity Church (48 McKinley Road, Forbes Park, Makati City). See you there!
I did not expect this today (hmnnn but I saw it coming hehe)…a ‘3-in-1′ gift – anniversary, Christmas and birthday – a brand new Nikon D3000. A new baby! Yay!
I am not really into photography but I know what is a good shot or not. Yes, a crash course in photography might be necessary. Nevertheless, a big thank you to the giver!
A few portrait studies I made after I unpacked and assembled the DSLR:
Some concert video clips:
Crucifixus (Lotti)
Pagbigyan Mo Ako (Boy Sullivan, arr by Anna Abeleda-Piquero)
Shhboom (Life Could Be A Dream)
Koro Ilustrado’s debut concert last night at the PhilAm Theatre in UN Avenue, Manila was a success! We know we have a lot to improve in terms of music but nevertheless a job well done for all of us after a 4-month fast-forward training under our very able conductors Anna Abeleda-Piquero and Jong Piquero Jr.
I would also like to thank friends who came and shared with us our music. See you again in our future gigs.
[Photo credits: Allan Cagayan & Cherie Ann Choa]
Lea Salonga will be Grizabella, the Glamour Cat, in the Philippine run of the Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical CATS, starting July 2010 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
The following is an amateur video taken during the press launch on Nov. 25, 2009 at the Dusit Hotel in Makati City. Lea sings Memory:
