
The University of the Philippines will once again host a free public concert by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) on December 8, 2018.
In a press conference on the PPO’s 45th anniversary, Cultural Center of the Philippines President Arsenio Lizaso and Vice-President Artistic Director Chris Millado revealed the line-up for PPO’s 36th concert season and outreach performances, which include the concert in UP Diliman.


On December 8, 2018, the PPO will play for the second time on the Diliman campus and for the third time in the University in a year. Its “Simulain at Pangarap: A Musical Celebration” concert last March in the UP Amphitheater filled the venue, drawing an appreciative audience from within and outside the University. It also held concerts in the UP Manila-Philippine General Hospital.
The PPO outreach concerts are free to the public.
PPO conductor Herminigildo Ranera, recalling a joint concert between the UP and the UST symphonic orchestras three years ago, expressed hopes of performing with the former once again. Ranera conducted the UST orchestra in the historic “No Match” back-to-back concert in February 2015.


UP’s hosting of the PPO was formalized in a ceremonial contract signing, along with other partners of the PPO, at the press conference in Manila Hotel on August 1, 2018. UP was represented by Vice President for Public Affairs Jose Dalisay Jr.
“CCP is bringing art to the people. We are the players, but the art belongs to you,” Lizaso told the public.
The PPO is the resident orchestra of the CCP and is regarded as one of the top musical ensembles in the Asia-Pacific region. It is able to bring live symphonic music to the masses for free with the help of hosts and sponsors. (Jo Lontoc, UP MPRO)