Cardinal Vidal serenaded by UV Chorale

CEBU, Philippines - As a belated birthday present, the internationally-awarded homegrown talents of the University of the Visayas Chorale serenaded His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal at the Cebu Archbishop’s residence last Tuesday.

The choir showcased some of its new, specially-arranged repertoire, which included standards, a Visayan number, as well as classic Spanish love songs which, according to the Cardinal himself, brought back memories of his childhood.

“I’m already 78 years old, and I’ve always enjoyed music,” said Cardinal Vidal, who unknown to many, is an avid pianist and used to be a vocal teacher.

Even if the birthday serenade already took place a couple of weeks after his birthday on Feb. 6 due to delays related to his health, the Cardinal profusely thanked the surprise gesture.

“I had guests, foreign bishops, during the Sinulog who congratulated me because they saw you perform during the World Youth Day encounter in Sydney, Australia last year. Can you imagine if you did not sing there, they would not have said anything to me? Now, I have experienced what they have experienced,” he told the visibly delighted choir of high school and college students.

Obviously relishing what he described as “the sound that I love,” he couldn’t help but make comments song after song. When the choir rendered a version of the 1965 Oscar-winning theme “Shadow of your Smile,” he said, “If a shadow can produce such beautiful music, what more if it’s daylight?” After hearing the more modern song—Gary Valenciano’s “Shout for Joy”—he said, “Now I can compete on Singing Bee,” referring to the karaoke singing type of game show, one of the very few programs he would occasionally watch on TV.

He noted that the UV Chorale’s songs are the kind of music that Cebuanos shouldn’t deprive themselves of listening to especially with the “terrible music that is pervading the air nowadays.” The music teacher that he is, he also advised the choir to consciously preserve their voices. 

“Being part of a choir when I was young, I know exactly what is required for a choir—one of them is no competition among the voices. There should be one voice and harmony—and you have it. Thank you very much for greeting me even if it is already past my birthday.”

To ease the concern of his young guests, the cardinal also joked and made light of his back pains, even calling the physical therapy that he is having in Manila as almost the same as the massages being given to boxer Manny Pacquiao.

The choir was accompanied by UV executive vice president and Freeman chairman Dr. Jose R. Gullas and his wife, Nena. The UV Chorale was founded by Dr. Gullas in 1999 as a tribute to his mother, Dona Josefina “Inday Pining” Gullas. This makes the serenade an all the more fitting gift to the Cardinal who was particularly close to Inday Pining, whom he fondly remembers as the very first person who welcomed and took care of him when he got assigned to Cebu in 1981 as Coadjutor Archbishop and eventually, as Archbishop. His first night in Cebu, he recalled, was spent at the University of the Visayas main campus.  

During the serenade, Mrs. Nena Gullas, who is also the choir’s manager, revealed that the UV Chorale is bound for a Canada tour mid of this year and an international competition in Manila this August. The group is also eyeing the European grand prix—touted as the mother of all international choral competitions—next year. The UV Chorale is trained by Anna Tabita Pequero of the Madrigal Singers. (NMT)