Congratulations to the Pasay City Symphony Band under the baton of Maestro Michael Jacinto and the Baguio City National High School Band under the baton of Maestra Carmencita Juquiana who played a back-to-back concert on Dec. 6 at the Baguio Museum grounds entitled “Handog sa Pasko-Lakbay Banda-Talikuran, Music Harmony in the Mountains.”
Music lovers, the old and young and the audience heartily applauded and had praises for their “talikuran” or back-to-back performances.
Music filled the air! Ah.. Christmas music heralded the night. What a gift.
“We all loved the band concert.! Ang galing nila!” commented Genie Abiad who came with her classmates Zeny Calpotura, Wye and Joey Tabanda, Virgie Degay and Adela Torceda of the Baguio City High School Batch 1960. Another alumna Peregrina Cacanindin of the SLU Girls High Batch 1968 also came.
Jonathan Moratillo of the Leaders in Fundamental English (LIFE) also came with his foreign students for an immersion program. I heard they enjoyed the show immensely.
The bands were formally welcomed by Peter Ng, president of the Baguio Museum and a leader of the Filipino-Chinese community in Baguio, as he expressed his appreciation for the band concert.
“As we immerse ourselves in the performance today, let us acknowledge the profound impact that the concert will have in our hearts and minds reminding us of the beauty that arises when individuals come together in harmony,” Ng said.
Ng was accompanied by his wife, Ivy, who is also an avid supporter of the arts and community projects. Likewise, vice president and Philippine Information Agency-CAR Director Helen Tibaldo, who is a keen supporter of Baguio Museum projects with artist better half, Art, were also in attendance.
The newly-established Pasay City Symphony Band was formally presented to the public by Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano on Aug. 15, 2022.
It is composed of 40 musicians under the meticulous guidance and administration of Professor Herminigildo G. Ranera, who is also the conductor of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, UST Symphony Orchestra, and San Juan Nepomuceno Band.
He is also the founder of the Philippine Band Association. According to Maestra Juquiana who invited them to mentor the BCNHS band, the musicians went through a tedious audition, extensive trainings, and vigorous rehearsals before becoming members of the group.
Meanwhile, the BCNHS Special Program in the Arts band has 56 members from 12 to 16 years old.
The band was organized in 2003 and prides itself with the following accomplishments: Marching Brass Band Champion from 2003 to 2007, Brass Band hall of fame in the marching band competition in Baguio City as Centennial Band of Baguio in 2007, 1st runner-up in the 2011 National Symphonic Competition at Musikahan sa Tagum Festival at Davao Del Norte, Mindanao.
It was the sole representative of Northern Luzon to the national event featured as top performing band in the Philippines representing the Cordillera at the Banda Rito and Banda Roon, National Symphonic Band Festival at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Panagbenga Street Dancing-hall of fame champions from 2017 to 2019, Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Baguio awardee for meritorious achievements and contribution to the city government civic parades in 2011 and many others.
Special appreciation to the Audio Enhance group of Michael Laurence Quirino, Legarda Burnham barangay under Punong Barangay Teodoro Castro for the parachutes, BCNHS Principal Whitney Dawayen for the chairs, Romy Macanas and Raul Frigillina for the physical arrangement support, Mokuha Café under Sherwin Faguingas, Omeng Fallarme and Chino Chow for the photos.
Also to the generous merienda donations of Soledad Go, Gladys Vergara de Vera of the Baguio Tourism Council, Ligaya Gomez of Happy Tummy, Hansel David Co of That Little Café and the BGH Advisory Board under OIC Joseph Rulla and our media friends.
Gemma Gardingan Estolas hosted the event.
Thank you all. You all made the concert truly special and a success. (Photos by Chino Chow) – Stella Maria L. de Guia
