Lawyers a hit onstage / George Yang's scholars

Immediately after applauding the lawyers for their performance at the Philamlife Theater, I felt like rushing backstage and telling them, “You’ve missed your calling; you should be in show biz!”

The full, robust, resonant voice of former senator Joey Lina in The Impossible Dream and This Is the Moment should be heard in any of Manila’s top nightclubs. The highly sophisticated rendition of La Vie en Rosa by Victor Africa, who sang it in French, English and Tagalog as he did She/Siya, would be lustily applauded in a ritzy Paris night spot or in the Folies Bergere. Impresario Antonio Pastor should present himself in a concert at the Pastor ancestral home in Batangas where he could play Mozart’s Turkish March and Chopin’s Fantasie Impromptu in the same masterful manner.

Justice of Appeals Magdangal de Leon who sang Ako’y Pilipino (composed by his father Felipe), and later, as guitarist-singer, led his brothers-in-law Oscar Palayabyab, Ronaldo Reyes and Irineo Llorin, Jr., in a medley of breezy Filipino songs could, along with his companions, compete with any pop group. Who, among the lustily cheering audience, would have thought that the singing “brothers” were lawyers for hire?

Marcelino Libanan, Jr. was a brilliant guitarist in Molina’s Hatinggabi and in David Foster’s The Prayer which opened the program before Raul Goco’s welcome speech. Nick Nangit demonstrated his more-than-ample pianistic ability and creativity in May Bukas Pa, a piece composed by him and N. Pacis.

Accompanying himself on the guitar, Homer Mendoza offered a medley of Elvis Presley songs as a zestful pop icon. Mario Andres, Mike Toledo and Bernard Lopez vied for the same title. With verve and spirit, Dot Gancayco sang with Mike in Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You, and with Bernard in three Broadway hits. Catherine Manahan was charming in Loving Arms and Five Hundred Miles.

In varying degrees of vocal skill, expressivity and artistry, Zorayda Andam, Donna Marquinez, Kay Bajaladia and Marivic Benedicto sang, the former two rendering Broadway tunes; the latter two, Ang Maya and Mutya ng Pasig, respectively. Further, Kay and Marivic admirably interpreted arias: the former, Habanera from Carmen; the later, Una Voce Poco Fa from Rossini’s Il Barbieri de Siviglia.

Professional singer Elaine Lee, a graduate of Canada’s British Columbia U., gave a polished Quando Mo’en Vo, an aria from Puccini’s La Boheme. She and the rest of the women raised the performance level, having sung or taken voice lessons before pursuing law degrees. The refined, assured voices of Kay, Marivic and Elaine fascinated the audience in Sa Kabukiran and Ah, Je Vieux Vivre from Mozart’s Romeo and Juliet. The entire ensemble then sang You’ll Never Walk Alone from Carousel.

As the program ended, one of De Leon’s “brothers” gave an inspirational talk, pointing to the urgent need for change, reform and national unity in these times of great turmoil, divisiveness and widespread corruption. Then voices - including those in the audience — rose in a fervidly patriotic rendition of Filipinas Kong Minumutya.

Hearty congratulations to overall chairmen Raul Goco and Raoul Angangco for the big surprise the participants gave, proving for the very first time that there is life beyond lawyering. Producers were Dina Franco and Georgina Encanto. Alexander Cortez directed; Ave Uy, stage managed; Rita Lina Jimeno, emceed. Pianist Jude Areopagita and Ferdie Borja were assisting artists.

I was guest of eminent lawyer Araceli Herrera Reyes.

The assiduous benefactor and chairman of the Klassikal Music Foundation, George Yang, and its equally assiduous president Raul Sunico, announce that the following have been chosen scholars for 2009-2010 at auditions held by the board of trustees: Leo Angelo M. Lanuza, Mr. Kabaitan R. Bautista, Vidagrace K. Mirang, Cynthia L. Sy, Homer B. Cabansag, Beah Darda C. Gumarang and Shadai Amor L. Solidum.