Music to brighten up our moment-to-moment

I have always seen life as an experience that takes place moment to moment. There is a moment for everything – a moment to be born, a moment to die; a moment to cry, a moment to laugh. Whenever I talk to UV personnel, both faculty members and non-teaching staff, I often remind them that every moment must be treasured as it is a gift from the Lord, a few seconds from now would be a memory, tomorrow only a dream. 

Like the gathering of Visayanians during the Grand Alumni Homecoming (GAHOM) last July 29, the Madszaulog – “Magsaulog sa Awit ug Panaghigalaay,” a back-to-back concert of the University of the Visayas Chorale and the Philippine Madrigal Singers with choirmaster Mark Anthony A. Carpio, happening tonight at the Centerstage of SM Seaside, a grand event that most likely will not happen again.

This rare concert of the UV Chorale and the Philippine Mardigal Singers makes me look back to my yesterdays, those Saturday afternoons listening to Lola Ande’s workers play beautiful Cebuano music. Those were some of the best times I could remember. To the young boy that I was, those merry performances brought so much joy. And there was music in our own home, too. Mama Pining was a musical person herself, a fine pianist. She often played my favorite “Handurawan” (Imagination) and played it so well. My aunt, Tia Lording, was another pianist in the family whom I admired. I think these ladies, my mother especially, were my most significant musical influences. My brother, Sir Eddie also played the violin, and I myself had a training in piano.

My wife Nena and I welcomed choirmaster Mr. Mark Anthony Carpio, manager Ms. Claudette Margarita Galua, and some members of the Philippine Madrigal Singers’ last Friday in my office. We expressed our gratitude to them in making this concert possible. Again, this is a rare one.

And so once again we would like to invite all Visayanians, all music-loving Cebuanos to witness this musical collaboration tonight, 7:30 p.m. at the Centerstage of SM Seaside. This great musical experience is part of the UV Centennial celebrations this year.

This very special one-night only concert is also one for the books, and will feature the 38-piece JRG Visayanian Halad Orchestra led by Cebu’s Maestro Reynaldo Abellana. 

Our constant prayer is for Visayanians and all Cebuanos to treasure this once in a lifetime gathering of world-class performers, truly the country’s pride.