The FEU Dance Company takes center stage on March 28 and 29 for their major concert entitled “FRAMES: Elevating the Unseen.”

Following the recent success of the FEU Dance Company (FDC) in World of Dance Philippines 2025 where they placed 2nd and won both the Best Costume and Best Theme categories, the FDC stages their annual major concert in the historic FEU Auditorium on Friday and Saturday, March 28 & 29, 2025 at 6PM.

Using the backdrop of Philippine folk dances and an open style segment choreographed by the FDC’s members and artistic director, Michael Barry Que, FRAMES: Elevating the Unseen presents a collection of stories of FEU’s “unseen” community — the individuals who contribute to the University in one way or another yet remain in the background.

A frame highlights an image, draws attention to its details, and emphasizes its significance. In the concert, frames symbolize the windows through which we witness the narratives of the unseen — those whose efforts remain unrecognized yet are essential to our school’s smooth operations. Through frames, the audience is offered a structured yet intimate view into these stories. More than just a visual element, frames also highlight each performance as a captured moment, a snapshot of truth presented piece by piece, much like a moving gallery of untold experiences. Through this concert, the pieces do not just tell stories; they are curated and framed, allowing them to be seen in their full depth and humanity.

A key goal of the concert is to amplify these stories, enhancing recognition and shedding light on the invaluable social contributions of our school’s unsung heroes—to “elevate” their visibility as an expression of gratitude and empowerment. Through movement, the performance aims to bring life to their stories, honoring and celebrating their essential roles within the community. For this year’s concert, Artistic Director Michael Que highlights that “It’s not about creating perfect pieces, but making honest ones to authentically highlight the stories being told through the language of dance.”

Part I of the concert will feature an array of Philippine Folk Dances under the overall direction of Mr. Que and Zahreen Sadia, the FDC’s Folk Dance Coach. This segment features intricate dances from the Cordillera, Lumad, Muslim, Maria Clara, and Rural suites aiming to showcase, first and foremost, the unseen side of Philippine culture and rarely performed dances that need to be elevated. Part II will feature open style pieces that capture the unseen stories of the FEU Community with choreographies by Xyron Apostol (IAS, 2027), El Bautista (ITHM, 2026), Jaztin Correa (ITHM, 2028), Ronieth Dayao (IE, 2025), Alliana Dionisio (IAS, 2026), Arianne Dumol (IAS, 2027), Johann Jabrica (IAS, 2027), Eadward Lladoc (FIT, 2027), Jaina Noble (IAS, 2028), Tonnie Padayao (IAS, 2026), Akira Padilla (ITHM, 2027), Norberto Martin Pascual (IABF, 2026), Rose Adelaine Perez (IAS, 2026), Radiance Sta. Ana (IAS, 2027), Amadeus Sto. Domingo (IAS, 2026), Joseph Torres (IE, 2027), Caroline Vasquez (IAS, 2027), and Michael Barry Que.

The FDC Alumni are also set to participate with choreographies and staging by Jeffrey Inocencio (IE, 1998) and Julius Quitalig (IAS, 2001).

FRAMES: Elevating the Unseen graces the stage of the FEU Auditorium on the following dates:

- March 28, 2025 (Friday)
- March 29, 2025 (Saturday)

Tickets can be purchased through Ticket2Me and on the FEU Dance Company’s official Facebook page with prices at Php 100 for the FEU Community, Php 200 for those from outside FEU, and Php 300 for the Loge.

Cultural concert topbills Bayang Barrios and Russian singer Rumiya Niyazova

The spellbinding ethnic music of Russia and the Philippines will be showcased in an exciting concert this Sunday, January 22 at the Asia Pacific College Auditorium in Magallanes, Makati City.

Dubbed Beyond Borders: A Cultural Dialogue of Music, the concert is being presented by the Nadezhda Foundation and JB Music. It brings together Russian singer Rumiya Niyazova and various Filipino ethnic music performers led by Agusan del Sur-based singer Bayang Barrios and her band Naliyagan, guitarist Jerome Rico, String Fusion, and the Binan Folkloric Dance Troupe.

Ms. Rumiya Niyazova is flying in from Moscow upon the invitation of NADEZHDA Foundation and the support of the Russian Embassy in the Philippines. She’s an accomplished singer and theater actress and is a resident performer at the LDM Theatre in St Petersburg, Russia. For three years now she has been playing major roles in the theatre’s musical productions. 

She was also in the cast of The Sure Thing, a television series aired on RenTV. She currently anchors a travel show aired by the Russian Travel Guide channel. Rumiya was a three-time winner of the International Tatar Song Festival.

Rumiya completed her studies at the Moscow Institute of Culture and the Arts. For this concert, the sultry-looking singer will perform the music of Tatarstan, an autonomous republic situated within Russia where the largest ethnic groups are the Tatars. Their traditional music is a mixture of Turkic, Mongolic ad Finno-Ugric elements that bridge Mongolian and Hungarian music. Secular songs and sacred music are all part of Tatar music.

Award-winning singer/songwriter Bayang Barrios is a 35-year veteran and lead singer of the band Naliyagan. Named after the Manobo word, meaning “the chosen,” Naliyagan’s musicians include Bayang’s husband Andrew Barrios who plays the guitar and hegalong (an indigenous two-stringed lute), Yan Bagay Cruz on bass, Budeths Casinto on percussions, Jape Bongat on keyboards and kulintang (small tuned gongs played with mallets), and Matt Bravante on drums and bamboo percussions.

A proud Manobo from Agusan del Sur, Bayang Barrios early in her career joined Joey Ayala’s band, the iconic Ang Bagong Lumad. This band has been famous for using indigenous musical instruments and giving ethnic music a more contemporary sound. She stayed with Ang Bagong Lumad for almost 20 years performing in various countries around the world. Prior to being the lead vocal of Naliyagan, Bayang performed as a solo artist. She also became a social activist whose advocacy is championing the rights of the indigenous people.

It was in 1997 when Barrios became the recipient of the Lorenzo Ruiz Award given by the Catholic Mass Media Awards. Six years later she won the Metropop Music Festival for the song she composed, “Malayo Man, Malapit Din.”

Born in Bataan, guitarist Jerome Rico has made a name for himself for performing romantic standards and the hit songs from the 1980s. His debut album Guitar Shop was released by Warner Music Philippines. The album’s lead track is a cover of Astrud Gilberto’s “Agua de Beber.” It features backup vocals by bossa nova singer Sitti.

Jerome Rico’s musical inspiration includes jazz instrumentalists Tuck Andres, George Benson, Lee Ritenour, and David Benoit. At age 16 he started playing the guitar and focused on the music he enjoys, particularly the standards and the recordings of his favorite jazz artists.

The String Fusion band is composed of six musicians; Maze Lim on the violin, Irish Glenn Portugal on cello, Marloe Maruyama on bass, Migs Raneses on guitar, Rafael del Rosario on piano, and Alan Abdula on drums. The band’s repertoire is diverse. They perform OPM hits, the standards, jazz, and popular movie and TV series themes.

Established in 2016, the Binan Folkloric Dance Troupe is composed of 39 dancers, all of whom were trained by the group’s resident choreographer Jordan B. Sarcia with the assistance of Arvin J. Bongon.

They’ve been a fixture in major cultural events and its own concerts in Laguna and in various cities around the country, including Metro Manila.

Beyond orders: A Cultural Dialogue of Music is produced by Sandra Lim Viray with Faye Miravite of Nadezhda Foundation, and Tony Alcasid. The show starts at 7 pm. Tickets are priced at P1, 500 (free seating with cocktails served at 6 pm). For ticket inquiries, visit www.ticketmax.ph or call or text 09154979909.

Fall into “Sweet Nothings: The Denise Julia Experience” Concert

Trending artist Denise Julia will be lighting up the stage with her very first concert “Sweet Nothings: The Denise Julia Experience” happening on December 14, 2024 at the New Frontier Theatre at Cubao, Quezon City. Her show will feature amazing artists, her catchy hit singles and the first live performance of her latest music drop ‘Sweet Nothings (Chapter 2)’.

The “Sweet Nothings: The Denise Julia Experience” concert offers affordable prices as the artist herself wanted to make sure it's accessible to all of her fans who have been supporting her from the beginning of her music career. Fan benefit add-ons are also available for an opportunity for fans to connect with her up close with available options of Sound Check and Hi-Bye.

TICKET PRICES:

• VIP (Standing) - PHP 2,935.00
• LOGE (Seated) - PHP 1,601.00
• BALCONY (Seated) - PHP 1,121.00

VIP ADD ONS:

• Soundcheck Only - PHP 2,435.00
• Soundcheck & Hi-Bye Session - PHP 2,935.00

Denise Julia is a Filipino R&B Artist, songwriter and producer born, raised and currently based in Manila. She began writing songs at 13 years old and started releasing original music at the age of 18. After a string of music releases and cover videos that garnered millions of views on Tik Tok, Denise caught the world’s attention with her viral song "NVMD".

“NVMD” is the fastest and only OPM song by a solo Filipina artist to reach 200M streams on Spotify and it reached the Top 20 of Spotify’s Global Viral chart. Since then she has released multiple hit singles, reached 1.5million followers on Tik Tok, was chosen as Spotify’s RADAR Artist of 2024, and released a streaming and critically acclaimed EP called ‘Sweet Nothings (Chapter 1)’. You may have heard of her music with titles such as the aforementioned “NVMD,” “Butterflies,” “Sugar N’ Spice,” and “B.A.D.”

Known for her classic R&B fused with a modern edge, her catchy music and its messages are a slam book of memories she’s experienced. Denise’s fans dubbed her as the Patron Saint of Situationships, usually citing her lyrics across their social media platforms, because of her music’s relatability. Apart from having a strong social media presence, she also has a strong fanbase, with popularity skyrocketing thanks to her recent 9-track EP release “Sweet Nothings (Chapter 2)” and single “better than he does.”

The 9-track EP immediately shot up into the Top 3 of the Apple Music Philippines Album chart, making it the only OPM album in the Top 10. Denise’s album, which was mostly written by her, captures the essence of 90s / 2000s R&B and paints the bittersweet moments that are difficult to put into words alone and better expressed through music.

Denise Julia is definitely one to watch as this homegrown Filipina is already taking the world by storm, not only through music but through her achievements as a rising R&B artist as well. Billboard US listed her single “twin flames” as an R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week back in July. Last November 2023, she topped the Spotify Top OPM Female Artists List and held the #1 spot for 3 consecutive months. Denise also surpassed 200 million streams on Spotify with a single song, making her the first female OPM artist with this feat.

She was also nominated for the MYX Music Awards 2024 for 4 categories: Breakout Solo Artist of the Year, Collaboration of the Year (B.A.D featuring P-Lo), R&B Video of the Year (B.A.D featuring P-Lo), and Music Video of the Year (B.A.D featuring P-Lo ). She was also nominated for the 2024 AWIT Awards for Best R&B Song (B.A.D featuring P-Lo).

Presented to you by One Entertainment, tickets are available in all Ticketnet Outlets and online at www.ticketnet.com.ph. There are fan benefit add-ons available only for the VIP ticket tier. Denise Julia will surely give a mesmerizing show to remember as One Entertainment, in partnership with KDR Music House and 2ndFloor Entertainment, sets the stage for the “Sweet Nothings: The Denise Julia Experience” Concert in Manila!

Best Of 3 - championing Filipino talent for a cause

It is not every day that we get to watch amazing live acts, and we're happy that our friends from Vega Entertainment invited us to see our champions Rhap Salazar, Mama Clay and Jex De Castro in the second Best of 3 concert held on September 14 at Amorato in Quezon City.

The sold out concert is for the benefit of CRIBS Foundation Inc., an institution committed to the care and development, healing and recovery of children in need of special protection. Proceeds of the concert goes to CRIBS for creating opportunities for its staff, donors and volunteers to become whole and empowered instruments of changing social realities. Rhap, Mama Clay and Jex organized their concert in support of CRIBS, especially for the aid of the abused children.

Started with a lively medley of Blinding Lights (The Weeknd), Water (Tyla) and Levitating (Dua Lipa), the three perked up the venue with their lovely harmony and an early display of their amazing vocal power that we are expecting throughout the show. The fun jamming at the opening already had us applauding for more.

Then each of them had their own set. Starting with Jex, last night was just the only time I heard Love of My Life by South Border after a long. He delivered it with such excellence that it rivaled the original version. With impressive accolades like being the Grand Prix Champion at the 2023 Stars of the Albion in London, a nomination at the 2020 Awit Awards, and a 1st runner-up position at the 2019 Tawag Ng Tanghalan, Jex is far from an ordinary singer.

Mama Clay sang a calming duet of Someday from the West Side Story with Jex then she gave her amazing set. There are lots of things to appreciate to this woman. Her vocal powerhouse was backed up with a number of achievements and experiences like mentoring for international singing competitions, especially in Malta where she spent some time and she was generous to share her story with us. She also was an actor in the Sound of Music at Resorts World Manila. Not to mention that she was a backup singer for Lea Salonga and Regine Velasquez to include in her portfolio.

She started with Lizzo's About Damn Time and gave a wonderful set belting out the high notes and songs that put the house into a great party. We love her musical versatility as she can also rap and jive into pop singles.

Not but not the least is we had Rhap Salazar, who effortlessly played along with the songs on his set which is pure entertainment. A Sam Smith and Lady Gaga fan himself, he didn't mince his words to express the messages of the songs in his set. The former singing competition contender sang his original single Barely Breathing with deep emotions that he shed tears on stage that not putting his feelings on stage would be illegal.

Jex De Castro, Mama Clay, and Rhap Salazar are incredibly talented artists who have showcased Filipino talent on the global stage. Their achievements truly give us reason to be proud! If they happen to have mini concerts, please please support them.

Rhap Salazar, Jex De Castro, Mama Clay

Cellist Damodar das Castillo set send-off concert on Sept. 19

The MiraNila Heritage House & Library proudly presents “Strings of Gold: Send-off Concert of Cellist Damodar Das Castillo” on September 19, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at the Main Hall of MiraNila.
Virtuoso concert pianist and Julliard-trained Mariel Ilusorio will accompany the famed cello prodigy, Damodar Das Castillo. Ilusorio will be playing on MiraNila's newly restored Steinway 1904 grand piano, considered rare in the Steinway & Sons catalog.

At the onset of MiraNila's construction in 1929, owner Francisca Tirona Benitez and architect Gregorio Paredes, her cousin who trained alongside National Artist Juan Arellano in Philadelphia, conceived the idea of showcasing this instrument with its unusual rococo-style feet. They positioned the piano on an elevated platform at the bottom of an elegantly winding staircase, allowing the expanse of the living room to foreground the graceful setting.

The repertoire presents a blending of classical music for cello by Bach and Chopin with popular classical pieces by Nicanor Abelardo, Henry Mancini, and Richard Rogers.

The evening concludes with a cello concerto by Dvořák, one of the numbers that allowed Damodar to make his mark on the international competition circuit.

Damodar established his reputation at age seven. Guided and inspired by his cellist father, he joined the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra as its youngest member in 2015, rising to become its most frequently featured soloist.

Damodar das Castillo

Among his notable performances in 2017 was one before heads of state at the ASEAN Summit and as a featured solo artist making his debut with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.

A two-time Ani ng Dangal Awardee in Music, Damodar went on to garner top prizes in prestigious international competitions, including The Young Musician in Tallinn, Estonia, in 2019; the International Anton Rubinstein Competition Cello Junior in Dusseldorf in March 2020; the Young Ludwig Youth Music Competition Age Group 2 in Berlin in September 2020; and the Musica Goritiensis International Music Competition Category C in Gorizia, Italy, in July 2021.

Damodar is currently enrolled in pre-college at the Mozarteum University Salzburg under Prof. Barbara Lübke-Herzl. He was recently offered a scholarship to further his studies under Prof. Valentin Radutiu at the Carl Maria von Weber College of Music in Dresden.

Beyond this prodigy’s classical studies is a teenager who dabbles in basketball, football, and table tennis. He enjoys playing death metal music on his electric cello and jamming with a jazz band. He seeks out universal truths while making his mark in classical music.

The cellist father, Alvin, said that his stewardship mainly lies in filling up competition applications and finalizing hotel bookings. "I just remind him about the competition date and I leave it to him to practice or not. I am not really that concerned if he wins or not. I am only concerned about how he will handle results of his preparations" (ABS-CBN News.)

Standard Insurance Company, under its Chairman Ernesto T. Echauz, has been Damodar’s constant supporter, gifting him with a cello handcrafted by Master Luthier George Gerl, a winner of the 2012 German Musical Instrument Prize.

Mariel Ilusorio is a virtuoso concert pianist and a seasoned music educator. She studied at the Juilliard School of Music in New York, the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio, and the State Academy of Music and Theater in Hannover. Top prizes came her way in piano competitions under the tutelage of Stella Brimo, followed by studies and performances in the United States, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Indonesia. After twenty-six years, Ilusorio returned to the Philippines, tantalizing audiences with her virtuoso piano playing. She concurrently serves as an organizer of concerts and recitals and is in the faculty of the UST Conservatory of Music, St. Scholastica's College of Music, Philippine High School for the Arts, and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Manila.

Mariel Ilusorio

The House opens at 5:30 p.m. and the program promptly starts at 6:00 p.m.

For the general public: Tickets @ P1500, limited seating is available, do order now. Text 0927 277 6335 (Robeen Manalo) for tickets. Guests are requested to kindly wear soft-soled shoes as these are kinder to old floors.

Pre-concert snacks & post-concert dinners are available at Bizu MiraNila with a 5% discount for ticket holders on the day of the concert, call to reserve with Jenn or Kim +639273015129.

MiraNila Heritage House & Library is located at 26 Mariposa Street, Brgy. Bagong Lipunan, Crame, QC (find us on Facebook: MiraNila Heritage House and Library).

“Strings of Gold” is presented by the Benitez-Tirona MiraNila Foundation in partnership with Leon Gallery, Erehwon Center for the Arts and Gallery of The Blue Leaf with support from the Bizu Groupe.

ALLES LIEBE - Dingdong Fiel's Pre-Valentine Concert

Manila Pianos Artist Series presents Dingdong Fiel in ALLES LIEBE. A pre-valentine concert featuring the most romantic piano pieces ever written. The recital will be on Sunday, February 4, 2024 at 6 pm at the Manila Pianos showroom, 4/F Ronac Lifestyle Center, Paseo de Magallanes, Makati City.

The concert will feature selected piano works by Pachelbel, Respighi, Bruckner, Scarlatti, Mozart, Chopin, Scriabin, Mahler, Franck, Kapustin, Piazolla, Gustav Mahler & Alma Schindler, Johann Sebastian Bach & Anna Magdalena Bach, Johannes Brahms & Clara Schumann are but some of the composers who have had interesting love lives and who have poured out music that express the matters of the heart.

Dingdong usually performs his own compositions in his concerts, the most recent was at a tour in Japan where he premiered his Preludes for solo piano- “Nuestro Mundo”. He has also composed music for foreign films that were entries to International Film Festivals - “THE GREEK MIRACLE" (2011), Three Spanish films - "PILAR GUERRA" (2011), “DON JUAN TENORIO” (2015), “LA REVOLTOSA” (2016) and the most recent - “JEAN D’ARC” the French film entry to the 2018 International Silent Film Festival Manila where he composed an hour and thirty-four minutes of music to accompany the famous film classic. This prompted silent film expert and critic - Teddy Co to exclaim that his scoring of the film was “the best version he has seen so far”.

Dingdong also attracted the attention of noted composers who were moved to write music specifically for him. These include music written by composer John Luke Jose for solo piano, a piano composition by Spanish pianist and composer Michael Davidov and "5 Pieces For Dingdong" which was composed specifically for him.

As Musical Director/Orchestra Conductor he was involved in various theater and opera productions such as Repertory Philippines' Manila staging of the musical "NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY", Ryan Cayabyab’s rock opera - "LORENZO”, the Manila run of the famous musical "INTO THE WOODS”, and Menotti’s thriller opera - THE MEDIUM, to name a few, as well as numerous classical, jazz, rock and pop concerts.

Dingdong is the songwriter and lead vocalist of the band - HARI. The band debuted at the biggest Original Pilipino Music gathering of 2018, The OPM pinoy playlist 2018. Their single - “Pa’no Umibig Muli” is already out on all digital platforms (i.e Spotify, Itunes, Amazon, Google music). New songs will be released this year by the band. He is currently the lead vocalist and songwriter of the group BLUE VIOLET BLUE.

In this pandemic, despite the quarantine protocols in place, it was still very eventful for Dingdong’s singing career. Through numerous videos posted on social media pages, people noticed and he was eventually invited by an association of singers based in the US to do an online singing fundraiser entitled- Quaran-Sing. The week after the said concert, a big producer based in New York also booked him an interviewed/live performance singing his original songs at WISH USA 107.5.

ALLES LIEBE sells at ticket prices of P 1500.00 (regular), and P1,000.00 (seniors & students).
To purchase your ticket(s), GCASH payment to 0917-415-8876 Richard S. On the MSG line, type "(name) (# of tickets) - FIEL".

Please send confirmation to either 0917-415-8876 or use the messenger on Manila Pianos Artist Series fb page. Ticket(s) will be ready at the gate on the day of the performance.

OF FOND REMEMBRANCES - a concert on how we miss our grandmothers

Manila Pianos Artist Series presents OF FOND REMEMBRANCES. Dingdong Fiel's 12th and last solo piano concert for the year featuring favorite piano works of his paternal grandmother.

Included are works by Adinsell, Brahms, Buencamino, Chopin, Rachmaninoff among others.

The recital will be on Sunday, December 10, 2023 at 6 pm.
Venue is at Manila Pianos showroom, 4/F Ronac Lifestyle Center, Paseo de Magallanes, Makati City.

Ticket price : P 1000.00 (regular), P500.00 (seniors & students).

To purchase your ticket(s), GCASH payment to 0917-415-8876 Richard S. On the MSG line, type "(name) (# of tickets) - FIEL".

Please send confirmation to either 0917-415-8876 or use the messenger on Manila Pianos Artist Series fb page. Ticket(s) will be ready at the gate on the day of the performance.

Lola Daidy, as she is fondly called, was instrumental in raising Dingdong not only physically but intellectually, emotionally and spiritually as well. He remembers her lola playing CDs of Van Cliburn, Horowitz, Argerich and other piano greats at home when he was small. Her love for classical music seeped into his subconscious at an early age and soon enough he started to play on the family's upright. The rest, they say, is history.

During the pandemic, Dingdong went back to his hometown in Ormoc to be with family. Every Sunday he would lug his electric piano and play for his lola in the afternoons - a mini recital lasting 4 hours.
He made it a point never to repeat works. Playing the complete sonatas by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven as well as piano works by Schumann, Chopin, Liszt. This became the catalyst for the twelve solo recitals this year.

Lola Daidy passed away this year. This concert is a tribute to the matriarch who exemplified strength with grace, perseverance and above all filial piety.

The artist:
DINGDONG FIEL is a concert pianist, composer, musical director/orchestra conductor, and vocalist.

He earned his Bachelor of Music Degree from the UST Conservatory of Music and was the recipient of the RECTOR'S AWARD FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE having obtained the HIGHEST ACADEMIC AVERAGE of the entire course, as well as the BENAVIDES AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT.

He finished his post graduate studies (Weiterbildendes Certificate) at the FRANZ LISZT Hochschule für Musik in Weimar, Germany Solo Piano and Chamber Music under the academy’s rector - Prof. Rolf-Dieter Arens as well as vocal accompaniment with Prof. Karl Peter Kammerlander.

He has garnered a total of 5 first prize wins from various piano competitions. Through sponsors like the Friends of The Philippines Society USA Inc., Deutsche Post, the UST Alumni Organization, Thueringer Aufbau Bank, Sparkasse Thueringen, The New Liszt Foundation, and various Philippine Embassies all over the globe, Dingdong was able to perform in a series of piano concerts around Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the USA - in Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Guam, China, Japan, and Bahrain, among other countries.

Dingdong usually performs his own compositions in his concerts, the most recent was at a tour in Japan where he premiered his Preludes for solo piano- “Nuestro Mundo”. He has also composed music for foreign films that were entries to International Film Festivals - “THE GREEK MIRACLE" (2011), Three Spanish films - "PILAR GUERRA" (2011), “DON JUAN TENORIO” (2015), “LA REVOLTOSA” (2016) and the most recent - “JEAN D’ARC” the French film entry to the 2018 International Silent Film Festival Manila where he composed an hour and thirty-four minutes of music to accompany the famous film classic. This prompted silent film expert and critic - Teddy Co to exclaim that his scoring of the film was “the best version he has seen so far”.

Dingdong also attracted the attention of noted composers who were moved to write music specifically for him. These include music written by composer John Luke Jose for solo piano, a piano composition by Spanish pianist and composer Michael Davidov and "5 Pieces For Dingdong" which was composed specifically for his musical persona by Filipino composer Kabaitan Bautista.

As Musical Director/Orchestra Conductor he was involved in various theater and opera productions such as Verdi's LA TRAVIATA at the Aliw Theater, Repertory Philippines' Manila staging of the musical "NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY", Ryan Cayabyab’s rock opera - "LORENZO”, the Manila run of the famous musical "INTO THE WOODS”, and Menotti’s thriller opera - THE MEDIUM, to name a few, as well as numerous classical, jazz, rock and pop concerts.

Dingdong is the songwriter and lead vocalist of the band - HARI. The band debuted at the biggest Original Pilipino Music gathering of 2018, The OPM pinoy playlist 2018. Their single - “Pa’no Umibig Muli” is already out on all digital platforms (i.e Spotify, Itunes, Amazon, Google music). He is currently the lead vocalist and songwriter of the group BLUE VIOLET BLUE.

In this pandemic, despite the quarantine protocols in place, it was still very eventful for Dingdong’s singing career. Through numerous videos posted on social media pages, people noticed and he was eventually invited by an association of singers based in the US to do an online singing fundraiser entitled- Quaran-Sing. The week after the said concert, a big producer based in New York also booked him an interviewed/live performance singing his original songs at WISH USA 107.5.

As a mentor and collaborative artist, he has worked with hundreds of instrumentalists and singers from all over the world for more than two decades.

Dingdong is a winner of the prestigious Aliw Awards Best Instrumentalist of the Philippines award.

SM Cinema awakens the wildest dream of Filo Swifties with Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Film

Make the whole place shimmer!

Bejewel with your sparkling outfits and diamond eye looks because the storm is coming. SM Cinema is set to bring an immersive, breathtaking, and the ultimate cinematic experience to the Filo Swifties with the much-awaited film Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour. Witness the Music Industry herself make more marks in the history of music with her record- breaking concert, now on a film and is set to break even more records in the box office with Miss Americana’s fans all excited to sing their hearts out.

We know too well that a week is not enough.
Mark your calendars now because SM Cinema made sure that you won’t miss Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour. The film will be showing simultaneously worldwide in four schedules: October 13-15, October 19-22, October 26-29, and November 2-5. So get your Swiftie friends and prepare your friendship bracelets ahead!

Experience the concert with a wide-eyed gaze.
Immerse yourself and experience the once in a lifetime phenomenon on the biggest screen possible. Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour is also available at SM Cinema IMAX where you can enjoy the clearest view with its state-of-the art Laser Projector, paired with IMAX Precision Sound as she sing all her 44 songs for 2 hours and 48 minutes. Even the younger Swifties can enjoy because everyone’s invited!

Long live the moment!
Host an exclusive watch party for your family and friends and make this memorable experience hold on to you forever! Let all the kingdom lights shine as you sing and groove to her best hits from all her ten albums. Reserve and Book a cinema today and invite all your friends for the best concert film experience ever at SM Cinema.

Don't miss 𝐓𝐀𝐘𝐋𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐖𝐈𝐅𝐓 | 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑, showing starting October 13 at SM Cinema and in IMAX nationwide. BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW through https://bit.ly/TSTheErasTourFilmAtSMCinema, or via SM Cinema app or at the nearest SM Cinema ticket booths. Visit www.smcinema.com or @SMCinema on social media to to know more about great deals you can grab for the best movie experience.

KLASICAL concert set on June 10

Ephesus Teatron Group Inc., after an absence of more than three years, is proud to present its first major live musical concert “Klasical”, which will be performed on the 10th of June (Saturday), 2023, at the OnStage Theatre, Greenbelt 1, Makati at 7:30 pm.

"KLASICAL is a musical of Philippine history featuring “Tribu” and is produced to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of Philippine Independence.

Featured artists are Sweet Samaniego (also the director of show), Marga Roco, Terence Guillermo, Onyl Torres and Nazer Salcedo.

 

Special guests are Pinky Marquez, Miguel Braganza and Gala Dance Company.

KLASICAL is a repertoire of traditional classical Filipino music with improvements on instruments, symphony, melody, harmony, orchestra, and vocal that make up a combination of traditional local and Western music. The inspiration of this collection is to preserve national culture in these traditional Filipino songs and to achieve renewed vigor by means of upgrading sound to be appreciated across generations.

Filipino music has grown from its grassroots origin of a highly emotional and romantic love song into a highly developed piece of art with a universal appeal. Even if you don't understand a single word, you'll likely find classical Philippine music to be a great way to relax and enjoy this unique style of Filipino culture.

“Klasical” is a repertoire of unforgettable kundiman songs such as Ako’y Kampupot, Mutya ng Pasig, Nasaan Ka Irog, Bituing Marikit, Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal, Folksong Medley, Kalesa , Ay, Ay, Ay, O Pag ibig , Katakataka.

It is a musical show about love, heartbreak, Filipino culture of courtship and serenade, passion, and poetic expression of love for country and history. Included in this rich collection are a few arias and opera pieces like O Mio Babbino Caro, Canto Patriotico De Maria Clara, and others.

All these songs and themes that transcend time and place will be carried out by Tribu’s immense talent and their unwavering commitment to musical excellence. Listeners can expect an updated and well-arranged musical score by one of the most sought-after musical directors, Pifo Cifra.

Be inspired by this collection of classical Filipino music, which is reflective of our country’s rich history and culture.

Be entertained by the repertoire of unforgettable patriotic dances and songs of freedom, love and inspiration, to be performed by Tribu and a cast of world-class artists from the world of musical theatre.

Indeed, an evening to remember.

Tickets are available via Ticket2Me.

The FEU Center for the Arts presents the FEU Bamboo Band in "Let It Beatles" on May 24

The Far Eastern University (FEU) Center for the Arts proudly presents the FEU Bamboo Band (FBB) in a concert entitled “Let It Beatles” on Wednesday, May 24 at 6:00 PM in the historic FEU Auditorium. Known as the theater of all theaters and the cultural center of the country in the 1950’s, the FEU Auditorium will celebrate its 75th Anniversary in 2024.

After a 3 year delay, “Let It Beatles” is the long-awaited return to the stage of the FBB after the pandemic. This concert celebrates the music of one of the greatest bands in history, The Beatles, and will feature arrangements of some of the greatest hits of the group. A brand-new cast of very talented musicians from different institutes of FEU Manila will perform in this live, face to face concert. They learned the concert repertoire in the course of this school year. They were trained and nurtured by their Artistic Director, Mr. Norberto Cads, and assisted by the FBB's Student Officers.

The concert will reinforce to the audience that music is accessible to everyone, is truly enjoyable and can be performed masterfully using bamboo instruments. 

Artistic Director Norberto Cads, an artist who has extensive knowledge in Bamboo Music and has participated in numerous International Expositions and Festivals together with the Banda Kawayan Pilipinas, will lead the FBB in a concert that will be both highly entertaining and exciting.

Creating new twists to Beatles' hits, the FEU Bamboo Band’s virtuosity with bamboo instruments will surely create an unforgettable musical experience for its audience. 

“Let It Beatles” is a free concert that celebrates FEU's ninety fifth year. 

For more information about the concert, FEU’s Cultural Groups and other upcoming performances, please visit and like the FEU Center for the Arts Facebook Page: Far Eastern University Center for the Arts. You may also call the FCA Office from 8AM to 5PM, Monday to Friday at (02) 8849-4145 ext. 310.

Charity Dinner Concert to Fund Children Nutrition Program

To raise funds for a massive nationwide nutrition program for children, a charity dinner concert will be staged at The Manila Hotel on November 26, 2022 at 6:00pm.

This was announced by Joey Lina, The Manila Hotel President and Former Senator after the formation of an alliance of non-governmental organizations called “Alliance for a Healthy Philippines” (AHP) last October 6, 2022 also at The Manila Hotel. The alliance aims to increase awareness on the serious children malnutrition problem in the country and to implement barangay-based nutrition intervention program especially during the child’s first 1,000 days. The organizations include Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Jaycees, Midwives and the World Vision and others. The AHP will work in tandem with government, particularly with the National Nutrition Council (NNC).

The performers in the concert include the country’s premier music artists Isay Alvarez, Lara Maigue, Rachelle Gerodias, former press secretary Atty, Mike Toledo, former executive secretary Atty. Salvador Medialdea and Joey Lina.

Malusog na Bata, Malakas na Bansa is the battle cry of the organization. The theme of the concert is “Yes, I Believe”.

In a letter to various business organization and individuals asking for support to the nutrition program and the charity dinner concert, Lina explained the grim statistics surrounding the country’s children’s health and nutrition:

1. "The underlying cause of 95 child deaths daily in the Philippines is child undernutrition.”, according to the 2015 Unite For Children report from United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF). This makes children undernutrition in our country much worse than the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. The 2016 Global Nutrition Report said the Philippines is among those with the highest wasting and stunting prevalence. Of a total of 130 countries ranked lowest to highest on wasting prevalence, the Philippines is ranked 93rd. On stunting, the Philippines has 30.3% prevalence and is at 88th spot out of 132 countries also ranked lowest to highest.
3. Health experts have warned that “chronic undernutrition leads to stunted growth, which is irreversible and is associated with impaired cognitive ability and reduced school performance, as well as poor work capacity and productivity.”
4. When it comes to Intelligence Quotient (IQ) in Southeast Asian nations, the Philippines ranked lowest according to a study released last year by the World Population Review.
5. The Philippines ranked lowest in reading literacy among 79 countries, and second to lowest in mathematics and science, based on the evaluation last 2019 by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

Unless the country is able to solve the children malnutrition problem particularly in the child’s first 1,000 days, the most critical period in the child’s brain growth, the Philippines’ human resource will be not productive and school performance will be poor, Lina added.

Musica FEUROPA: Going Strong On Its 13th Year

Far Eastern University's MUSICA FEUROPA, returns on its 13th year with the European Union (EU) in the Philippines as its partner, to make its mark in the choral scene.

Each participating choir will perform two songs: one in any Filipino language, and one song written in an official EU language by someone from an EU member nation.

Starting with four choirs in 2009, the participants of the choral festival rose to an all-time high of thirty-one choirs from all over the Philippines, with some of them going on to win in competitions outside the country.

Musica FEUROPA became one of the definitive choral competitions in the country.

Musica FEUROPA has moved to an online setup since last year due to the pandemic. Utilizing the power of technology to stage the choral festival and present the participating choirs’ music, allowing audiences from around the country and the world to hear their harmony, and letting the choirs build their legacy.

The participating choirs will perform virtually, proving that beautiful music can still be made amidst the distance and restrictions in place.

Five choirs are participating in Musica FEUROPA 13, namely:

• Salinlahi Serenata Singers (Bulihan National High School, Silang, Cavite) – Aristeo Butial, Conductor.
• CapSU Main Chorale (Capiz State University – Main, Roxas City, Capiz) – Vivian Apuang, Conductor.
• FCU Chorale (Filamer Christian University, Roxas City, Capiz) – Agnes June Limac, Conductor.
• DLSMHSI SaringHimig and Himig Scientia (De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute, Dasmariñas, Cavite) – Steve Collado, Conductor.
• RTU Himig Rizalia (Rizal Technological University, Boni Ave., Mandaluyong City) – Renier Aguilar, Conductor

The participants will be critiqued by the following esteemed Filipino choral conductors and clinicians, namely Mr. Mark Anthony Carpio, Dr. Ed Manguiat, Mr. Ramon Lijauco, Jr., Ms. Anna Tabita Abelda-Piquero, and Mr. Jonathan Velasco.

Musica FEUROPA 13 will stream starting at 2:30 PM on May 28, 2022 on its official Facebook page: Musica F E U R O P A | Facebook.

Follow Musica FEUROPA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For inquiries, email info@musicfeuropa.com

Dingdong Avanzado and Jessa Zaragoza's Revelation

Philippine entertainment couple, Dingdong Avanzado and Jessa Zaragoza, are up to unleash something for everyone especially for fans in the US. TFC (The Filipino Channel) presents "Revelation" - a US concert tour happening this March.

Dingdong Avanzado, the country's Original Prince of Pinoy Pop, with his wife, the Phenomenal Diva, Jessa Zaragoza, will serenade Los Angeles (March 12) and San Francisco (March 26) with their chart-topping songs for the 1st-gen Fil-Ams to give a night of nostalgia and music. Also showing to the world their revelation of love, their daughter Jayda will join the concert to show her musicality and bring pride to her family as the newest artist to watch out for.

The family are currently in the US wherein they feel so blessed and grateful for making this possible after two years when everyone is on lockdown during the pandemic. They are very much excited to meet our kababayans who are familiar with their songs and share this special moment of music.

This family affair will tell us the stories behind their greatest hits and their inspirations by pursuing their careers in the music industry. 

Revelation: The Concert Tour holds two schedules, first will be on March 12 at the Alex Theater, 216 N Brand Boulevard, Glendale, CA 91203. Ticket prices for the Glendale leg are: $158.00; $128.00; $98.00; $78.00; $70.00; $65.00; $50.00.

And then it goes to Northern California on March 26 at the Fox Theater, 2215 Broadway, Redwood City, CA 94063. Ticket prices for this venue are: $55, $45,$35.

Go to myTFC.com/revelation to get your tickets and for more information.

MUSICA FEUROPA 12 and Concert of Champions set virtually this May

Musica FEUROPA, Far Eastern University’s annual choral festival with the European Union Delegation in the Philippines as its principal partner proudly presents Musica FEUropa 12, a virtual series of concerts for the first time on May 15, 22, 29 and 30, 2021.

Musica FEUROPA 12 will celebrate the power of music with choral groups sharing their virtual performances to showcase both Philippine and European pieces for the public to see, hear and enjoy.
Musica FEUROPA aims to elevate the standards of participating choirs by using the European guidelines for competitions. It prepares Filipino choirs to participate in European choral competitions and fosters an openness to cultural exchange.

 

pna.gov.ph

The main purpose of Musica FEUROPA is to make it one of the definitive festivals in the choral circuit, first in the Philippines, then in the world:

• To promote the European Union in the Philippines, particularly through its music during the European Union Month of May;
• To expose Filipino choirs to the works of European composers; and
• To give equal importance to the works of Filipino composers.

As in previous years, highly respected Adjudicators from the Philippine choral circuit will be present in the first three concerts to provide constructive feedback to each of the selected choirs.

The adjudicators are as follows: Anna Abeleda-Piquero, Mark Anthony Carpio, Dr. Ed Manguiat, Ramon Lijauco, Jr., Jonathan Velasco, and Dr. Maria Theresa Vizconde-Roldan.

Some of these adjudicators will return for the finale on May 30 to conduct their choir in the Concert of Champions.

The latter will feature various Filipino choirs who have won not just in Musica FEUROPA but bigger competitions in the Philippines and abroad.

Invited choirs will submit videos of past or virtual performances of one piece in an official EU language by a composer from the EU, one in any Filipino language or dialect by someone of Filipino descent and the Ode to Joy in German.

The deadline for submission of entries is May 18.

Musica FEUROPA 12 will happen via Zoom.

All Musica FEUropa 12 concerts will also be posted on its YouTube Channel and that of the FEU Center for the Arts.

Musica FEUROPA 12 is also brought to you by 98.7 DZFE, official media partner.

 

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Jam packed TUNES AT THE TOP: Amiya Raya's first music fest

A thousand of music lovers and spectators gathered at Amiya Raya's first music fest - Tunes at the Top held last 25 May within the grounds of the real estate development in San Mateo, Rizal. Attendees were thrilled to sing their lungs out to the songs of Parokya ni Edgar, Rod Mijares,
Princess Virtudazo, Geca Moralers, Rhap Salazar, LS Band, YouTube sensations Albuerto sisters, and other surprise guests.

Parokya Ni Edgar

The event started at 6pm and ended with a blast at 10pm. Present at the milestone was Ms. Ma. Charina S. Garcia, Community Creators, Inc. (CCI) President, who gave a brief message to the crowd saying that the event was just the first of the series of music fests they were planning to organize.

Tunes at the Top aims not only to give music lovers the enjoyment and satisfaction they were looking for but also to showcase what Amiya Raya has to offer. The development boasts of panoramic view of the city, mountain ranges, and Laguna de Bay. Residents and visitors can freely enjoy the spacious open parks. Aside from the view, Amiya Raya is located 240 meters above sea level at its highest point and offers cooler climate than the city and nearby towns.

Amiya Raya offers two types of house and lot models for sale in this emerging landscape and real estate development. The Layla and Asha models have features that can work to your advantage. Like the Asha unit which has a huge garden and parking area, you can add an outdoor jacuzzi, great balcony view, kitchen and bar. The Layla unit is great for big families which this 3-floor model has 5 rooms, another storage area at the top floor adjacent to the common area where you can also entertain guests. Watch here for the model walkthroughs.

Asha Model (house and lot for sale)

Layla Model (house and lot for sale)

For more information and inquiries, go to Amiya Raya’s Facebook Page – AmiyaRayaOfficialPage or call 938 6288 / 09299514169 and look for Ms. Rowena Ignacio.

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PEABO BRYSON headlines Love Rocks! concert at Resorts World Manila

Don't miss an incredible night with international balladeer Peabo Bryson as he performs his greatest hits and ushers in Valentine's Day at the Love Rocks concert on February 13, 2018, 8pm at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila. A fantastic evening of love and songs also featuring Philippines' very own Jenine Desiderio and hosted by J Michaels with a special tribute to Burt Bacharach's music by J Michael's band, directed by Maestro Danny Favis.

Hear once again LIVE our long-time time favorites, Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You, If Ever You're in My Arms Again and more as popularized during the 70s and 80s with duets with Roberta Flack, Natalie Cole, Melissa Manchester and Lea Salonga. A Grammy-award winner for two of the well-loved songs from Disney classics Beauty and the Beast with Celine Dion and A Whole New World with Regina Belle, gaining him worldwide popularity and strong fanbase.

The one-night only concert LOVE ROCKS! is a trademarked concept show that has had great international acclaim and success. Each show is hosted by J Michaels and features one or more Multi-Platinum and Grammy® headline artists. The J Michaels Band has served as backup band for the Love Rocks! concert series pairing world-class concert and touring musicians with incredible guest headliners. 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of Love Rocks! concerts, fans can look forward to multiple shows an more great artists in the coming months.

The Love Rocks! Concert is presented in cooperation with Grand Leisure Corporation and Events by WEG Inc.

Tickets are available now at all TicketWorld outlets, Resorts World Manila Box Office, and online at www.ticketworld.com.ph

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Hearts full with Al Gatmaitan's In My Heart concert

Make time to listen to classical and modernized operatic music genre in Al Gatmaitan's In My Heart concert happening until tonight at Arts Above (Artists' Playground) in West Avenue in Quezon City. This limited concert is guaranteed a must-see.

Al Gatmaitan delivers a love story through songs which are close to his heart and sending the love to you, his audience. Arts Above has the perfect space to deliver his story. The acoustics and the intimacy of the place played a vital role in helping us feel and understand the story as we appreciate Al's great vocal talent.

Singing a variety of songs in English, Italian, Filipino and even Latino felt like Al is talking to you as close as a friend. As this concert is entitled "In My Heart", the repertoire is purely heartfelt. It started with the emotions coming from a child, as he grows up, having fun with friends, being a lover, a child, and more. Special mention to his duets with Banaue Miclat-Janssen Dulce Estranjera and Sheila Francisco. Al's operatic singing added more depth especially my favorite part, Sound of Silence, which has the best arrangement and delivery I've seen and heard so far. For that, he deserves a standing ovation. I would very much agree if he/she thinks that Al Gatmaitan may be our own Josh Groban or Luciano Pavarotti. He can sing from classical to modern songs giving it a twist of operatic arrangement. In fact, Sound of Silence is kind of rock. I look forward to the day that Al is making it big in the music scene, all of us filling arenas that cheer for him. Congratulations as well to Musical Director Jesse Lucas and Director Roeder Camanag for making this possible even at a limited time.


For tickets, you may contact: ticketworld.com.ph / 891-9999 or call KIM at 09759193179.

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EDDIE MESA is back in first major concert

Fans of the era of Eddie Mesa should all be watching the Elvis Presley of the Philippines in his first major concert in over 28 years! Eddie Mesa himself together with our loved OPM artists and of course, the whole Eigenmann clan of artists will be in one stage for "SING US YOUR SONG AGAIN: THE MUSIC AND LEGACY OF EDDIE MESA" on September 23 at the Meralco Theater.

EDDIE MESA headlines a show that will keep us rockin' and rollin' all night long as he takes us through the journey of his career spanning 4 decades. Joining him are Pilita Corrales, Christopher De Leon, Edgar Mortiz, Tirso Cruz III, Ramon "RJ" Jacinto, Ciara Sotto, The Hotlegs, and of course, the actors of the entire Eigenmann clan namely: Michael De Mesa, Ryan, Geoff, Max, Gabby, Andi Eigenmann, Sid Lucero and Cherie Gil.

The concert, which is directed by Bert de Leon with musical direction of Mel Villena, will take you back in time as the star-studded line-up perform classic songs from the 50s all the way to the current hit songs. Produced by MYOWNMANN PRODUCTIONS, INC

Get your tickets now at Ticketworld. VIP (Php 5000), Zone A (Php 4500), Zone B (Php 3000), Zone C (Php 1500).

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Ogie Alcasid partners with World Vision Philippines for birthday concert

It's advanced happy birthday to the man, Ogie da Pogi aka Ogie Alcasid, as he celebrates his 50th year of existence. And to give back to the blessings he received from being a successful singer, songwriter and father of 3, he, together with World Vision Philippines, holds a special benefit concert on August 25, 7:30pm at the Kia Theater in Araneta Center, Quezon City.

The concert dubbed #NakakaLOKAL includes an all-OPM repertoire together with the country's best singers including Jaya, Erik Santos, Angeline Quinto, Basti Artadi, Lara Maigue, Inigo Pascual, Kyla, Yeng Constantino, Solenn Heussaff, Men and Music, Davey Langit and more.

Richard Supat, Ogie Alcasid and June Godornes (World Vision PH)

His daughter Leila Alcasid will also be part of the event as she was also a World Vision volunteer in Australia and will be singing songs composed by her father. A first in more upcoming engagements with the father and daughter tandem giving the world great music.

The program is for the benefit of World Vision Philippines and collected funds will be used for the rescue of children from exploitation and violence. A cause that is very important to us to save the future and next generations. A former World Vision beneficiary, Richard Supat, will also be performing with the OPM artists in a special number. See a sample duet from Ogie and Richard below:

Tickets are selling at Ticket prices are at P3,000 (VIP,) P1,500 (Orchestra A,) P1,000 (Orchestra B,) P800 (Loge,) and P500 (Balcony).
This event is presented by World Vision and A-Team in cooperation with PLDT Home.

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