SSC marks centenary, opens archives-museum / St. Paul U. presents jazz

In 1906, a group of Benedictine nuns from Tutzing, Germany, arrived in Manila to establish a school. The nuns began with a few rented rooms successively in Tondo, Moriones San Marcelino (in what was once a soldiers’ barracks), and finally, in 1914, in Singalong. Such were the modest beginnings of St. Scholastica’s College.

Other nuns headed by Sr. Baptista Battig arrived a little later. A concert pianist before she entered the nunnery, Sr. Battig graduated under Ludwig Deppe, Liszt’s last living pupil. Using borrowed and second-hand pianos, Sr. Battig gave lessons, thus pioneering in formal (Western) music education in the Philippines. Her school and her teaching method was to set the pattern for other music schools throughout the country.

Among Sr. Battig’s first graduates were Eugenia and Marcela Agoncillo, Blanca Castillo (Dinglasan), Pilar Blanco (Sala), Ingrid S. Santamaria’s mother; Barbara Cuaycong, Imelda Katigbak (Dayrit), mother of Menchu Padilla and Amelita Guevara; Lydia Larracas (Buñag), Conchita Virtucio and Estrella Yangco (Ackerman). Incidentally, Marcela Agoncillo, Barbara Cuaycong and Blanca Castillo were among my piano teachers. Cecil Donato, who entered the nunnery, became Sr. Battig’s principal assistant.

Sr. Mary Placid Abejo, now dean of the College of Music, recounts that Sr. Battig gave a benefit concert to raise funds for the school. Its resounding success quickly spread by word of mouth – there were no PROs then – and Sr. Battig, responding to the clamor, gave another concert, thus becoming SSC’s first fund-raiser.

It was her prestige and fame that lured Sr. Placid to study music at SSC, and later, to join the Benedictine Order herself! She recalls that students nicknamed Sr. Battig "Papa" – she being the fund-raiser – and Sr. Willibalda, "Mama" for her loving care.

That was all in "nineteen forgotten" as we now say. Since then, hewing to the Benedictine rule of Ora et Labora (Work and Pray), thousands of Scholasticans have graduated, either in high school or college, or both, and Filipino nuns have largely taken over, with Sr. Angelica Leviste heading SSC as president.

Time does fly indeed. On Sept. 14, SSC will be marking the centenary of the "Benedictine Sisters’ Presence" with the formal opening of the St. Scholastica’s Archives-Museum. Among items to be displayed will be memorabilia – awards, citations, medals and books authored by distinguished alumnae-achievers.

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St. Paul University Manila presented "A Tribute to Jazz Greats" at the F. Santiago Hall. In the printed message of Dean Sr. Anunciata Sta. Maria, she explained that the university’s College of Music and the Performing Arts was expanding its program to include jazz, the evening’s participants "having made a dent on the music world in their own way."

Saxophonist Michael Young, trumpet-player Rodel Rivera, guitarist Ruben F. Reyes, pianist Lyndon Aguilar and percussionist Joey Valenciano paid tribute to jazz great George Gershwin, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock and others by playing their compositions, and vocalists Mon David and Patrice Pacis by singing certain numbers.

In the fashion of jazz artists, the essence of their performance was improvisation. After playing the principal melody, each instrumentalist went far out to obliterate it, creating his own original piece while meandering, the melodic lines having become totally unrecognizable.

Young saxophonist Michael Young, who made his debut in Carnegie Hall at 18, was terrific, and his stage manner of delivering – alternately bending over and bowing low – heightened the appeal of his smooth, fluid, expressive performance which earned him thunderous applause.

Much-awarded vocalist Mon David exhibited a highly eclectic, distinctive style that elated and regaled the audience. Trumpet-player Rivera and percussionist Valenciano held their own with their marvelous stylings. Pianist Aguilar demonstrated nimble, dexterous fingers, however, he seemed a bit wanting in spirit and sparkle. The petite pert songstress Pacis won admirers with her flair and charm.

The jazz program had a totally different dimension from the traditional classic but was thoroughly enjoyed, nonetheless, by lovers of the latter, this writer included. We immediately appreciated the fact that classic interpreters religiously follow the printed note but jazz artists spontaneously stray away from it as much as their skill, imagination and audacity allow.

Sr. Anunciata should be commended for exposing classic votaries to the joys of jazz.

GLASS ILLUSIONS

The 17th annual Ikebana exhibit of the Sogetsu Manila Potential Branch will open on Sept. 22 and run until Sept. 24 at the ground floor, Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Makati. Titled "Glass Illusions", the exhibit will show modern arrangements using only crystal and glass vases of all shapes, sizes and colors. Sogetsu Ikebana is known for its avant garde flair.

Officers are Margot Perez, director; Vangie Cheng, deputy director; Emy Dimayuga, secretary; Nancy Uy, treasurer and Elsa Regala, honorary adviser.