The live concert of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) in UP Diliman on March 23, 2018 saw one of few instances the spacious and iconic UP Amphitheater was filled with people for an evening of symphonic orchestral music under the moon and stars.
Under the baton of Maestro Herminigildo Ranera, PPO’s associate conductor, and with UP hosting, the PPO played to a crowd not limited to the UP community of faculty, students, staff, alumni, and residents.
“Seeing people here is heartening,” UP Diliman Chancellor Tan said in his welcome remarks.. “The turnout tells us people will come. . . and we are hoping the PPO will go to all our CUs (UP constituent universities) and campuses,” he added.
“Your presence is most important,” Tan told PPO, the resident orchestra of the (Cultural Center of the Philippines) CCP and the country’s premier orchestra. “It is bringing music to the communities and not keeping it within the Cultural Center.”
The concert, brought to the public for free by UP and CCP, began with PPO’s versions of “Lupang Hinirang” just after sunset, and ended with “UP Naming Mahal” with Professor Ramon Acoymo, the program coordinator for UP, singing.
All numbers in the program were well applauded: from the popular classics “Overture to Gillaume Tell” and “Waves of the Danube Waltz” to selections from modern-day musicals, “Les Miserables” and “Phantom of the Opera”; with themes from “Indiana Jones” and “Star Wars” to medleys of Aegis, Itchyworms, and APO Hiking Society tunes; and, from Pop classic, “Three Coins in the Fountain”, to “Despacito” and “Baby Shark”.
The concert, titled “Simulain at Pangarap: A Musical Celebration”, commemorated 106 years of the first UP commencement exercises held on March 31, 1911 at Padre Faura, Manila.
National Artist for Music Ramon Santos and Cultural Center of the Philippines President Arsenio Lizaso; Department of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña and Commission on Higher Education Officer in Charge J. Prospero de Vera III; Former UP Presidents Emmanuel Soriano and Francisco Nemenzo; Former UP Regents Nelia Gonzalez and Judy Taguiwalo; UP President Danilo Concepcion and Regents Angelo Jimenez, Frederick Mikhail Farolan and Patricia Arinto were among those in the audience. (Jo. Lontoc, UP MPRO)
For more photos of the event, please click here.
