An afternoon of good music and tea
MANILA, Philippines - As part of its thrust to develop and nurture artistically talented young people, the Friends for Cultural Concerns of the Philippines (FCCP) presented 15 outstanding students of the University of the Philippines College of Music majoring in guitar in concert at the FCCP Hall, second floor, National Art Gallery of the National Museum.
The students were presented to a select audience to give them proper exposure and incentive to pursue their profession in the field of music.
The UP Guitar Orchestra was conducted by Prof. Lester Demetillo, one of the country’s leading classical guitar performers and teachers in the country. FCCP scholars Jeffrey Malazo and Aaron Aguila each played one solo.
The FCCP scholars played a duet titled Jongo by P. Belinatti. “Its beat kept the audience in rapt attention. Their finale number Visayan Caprice by N. Abelardo elicited shouts of bravo and encoure,” enthuses Demetillo. And so the group obligingly played Leron, Leron, Sinta.
The induction of new members served as the intermission of the two-part program. The new members — inducted by past president Mellie Ablaza, donor of the adjoining Ablaza Room — are Letty Calma, Sol Dizon, Gay Jamias, Menchu Pascual, Baby Perez-Sison, and Joy Tabajonda.
Nonie Basilio with Yan Donko, wife of Austrian Ambassador Wilhelm Donko, Auhild Solem, wife of Norwegian Ambassador Knut Solem, Sol Dizon, (standing) Menchu Pascual, Gay Jamias, Baby Perez Sison, and Bert Basilio A merienda hosted by director Grace Tiongco followed. Judging from the remarks and comments from the guests — wives of the ambassadors to the Philippines, the diplomatic corps, chiefs of mission and their ladies or representatives, FCCP members and friends — the tea musicale was definitely a success.
