The recent Silver Jubilee Concert held at the Santuario de San Antonio Parish, Forbes Park proved to be an absolutely sublime and moving experience.
The concert was organized by the San Antonio Parish to benefit such worthy recipients as the Street Children (Catholic Community of the Beatitudes), PGH Adopt-a-Child, PGH Brain Patients (Brain Foundation) and the JPIC Scholarship. The concert featured world-renowned maestro Piero Gamba.
This endeavor succeeded thanks to the commitment of the Forbes community’s Lita Ascalon (finance); Amelita Guevara (program); and solicitation chairman Pet Lim ably helped by Jun Tambunting, Rosita Lesaca, Carina Lebron and John Boyd.
Jun Alvendia, Peachy Maramba and Hector Quesada (publicity); Lulu Castañeda and Peachy Maramba (souvenir program); and Chloe Romulo and Evelyn Alcantara (posters/streamers and fliers) also contributed their valuable time and energy. Your columnist is honored to have been chosen to chair the Jubilee.
The parish reveled in the soaring, heavenly strains of Bach’s concerto for four pianos performed by the Ivory Mafia composed of pianists Nena del Rosario Villanueva, Amerita Dayrit Guevara, Carminda de Leon Regala and Bonny Bray Armacost.
Everyone’s favorite, Beethoven’s Ode to Joy from the Ninth’s fourth movement, highlighted the affair. It was ably performed by soprano Rachelle Gerodias; alto Janet Sabas Aracama; tenor Nolyn Cabahug; and bass Elmo Makil.
The Coro De San Antonio, Union Church Chancel Choir, Liturgicon, Philippine Chamber Choir, Coro Tomasino and UP Concert Chorus performed commendably.
My congratulations and gratitude to those who shared their time and effort to the successful Silver Jubilee. Bravo, everyone and take a bow!
Advanced birthday greetings to Marilou Soriano, architect Luijo Nakpil and US Embassy’s Robert Heafner, Aug. 13; couturier Ogie Cordero and Rep. Joe Zubiri, Aug. 14; Asunta Bilbao and actress Pinky de Leon, Aug. 15; Baby Almendras, dapper newscaster Rod Nepomuceno and BPI Family Bank president Aurelio "Gigi" Montinola III, Aug. 16; business tycoon Freddie Elizalde, Aug. 17; and Larry Amante, Larry Alcala, Marivic Vasquez and Marilen Tantoco, Aug. 18.
So, how was your week?