HIGH SCHOOL SHOELANDERS Celebrate First Grand Alumni Homecoming

Marikina City witnessed a momentous occasion on November 18, 2023, as graduates from Marikina High School (MHS), Leodegario Victorino Memorial High School (LVMHS), Marikina School of Arts and Trade (MSAT), Marikina Institute of Science and Technology (MIST), and Marikina Science High School (MariSci) came together for the inaugural High School Shoelanders Grand Alumni Homecoming. The event, held at the Marikina Sports Center, was a testament to the power of unity and loyalty to their cherished alma mater.

The festivities kicked off with a grand parade led by the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of MariSci. Alumni were thrilled to see their former teachers performing on stage to music spanning the decades, creating a nostalgic atmosphere that set the tone for the evening.

Members of the BSP

The night unfolded with a dazzling array of performances, featuring songs and dances that celebrated iconic moments and highlights from different eras.

Mayor Marcy Teodoro, a member of Batch 1986, welcomed the attendees and expressed gratitude to the organizers and committees for the success of the homecoming. He assured attendees that this was just the beginning, promising that the Shoelander spirit would endure for years to come.

Marikina Mayor Marcelino "Marcy" Teodoro, MIST Batch 86

Marikina Representative Maan Teodoro praised the Shoelanders, hailing them as a constant partner in the city's pursuit of progress. She emphasized the core values of discipline, good taste, and excellence that continue to resonate within each alumnus, contributing positively to the wider community.

Marikina City Representative Maan Teodoro

Mr. Joseph Santos, acting OIC Principal of Marikina Science High School and a proud graduate from Batch 1993, provided a glimpse of the school history and reported its current situation. He emphasized the importance of alumni support in restoring the school to its original home. He noted that the grand homecoming was a poignant opportunity to make this vision a reality.

Mr. Joseph Santos, from Batch 93, and acting OIC Principal of Marikina Science High School

The event also recognized distinguished alumni for their outstanding contributions in various fields. Notable awardees include:

• Roheil Caimol (MIST Batch 1988) - Business and Industry
• Kenneth Kibanoff (MIST Batch 1980) - Corporate Social Responsibility
• Ligaya Fernando - Amilbangsa (MSAT Batch 1959) - Culture & Arts
• Dr. Doryl Sequena Cabiao (MIST 1998) - Education & Research
• Celeste Reyes (MIST Batch 1995) - Entrepreneurship
• Antonio Andres, Sr. (MSAT Batch 1960) - Entrepreneurship
• Dr. Riza Araceli Salinas (MIST Batch 1989) - Environment & Ecology
• (Ret) Col. Ray Claudio Abaya (MIST Batch 1984) - Justice & Peace
• P B/Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr. (MIST Batch 1988) - Justice & Peace
• Gerald Ariel Grande (MIST Batch 1983) - Media & Entertainment
• Allan Hernandez (MIST Batch 1992) - Media & Entertainment
• Bayani Fernando [Posthumous] (MSAT Batch 1962) - Public Service
• Marcelino Teodoro (MIST Batch 1986) - Public Service
• Roberto De Guzman (MIST Batch 1983) - Science and Medicine
• Dr. Ronnie Royo (MIST Batch 1987) - Science and Medicine
• Dr. Noel Tiburcio (MSAT Batch 1978) - Science and Medicine
• Crisanto Bautista (MIST Batch 1983) - Sports and Athletics

High School Shoelanders Distinguished Alumni with Mayor Marcy Teodoro, Marikina City Mayor

The night was even made exciting with the culmination of the Win Your Dream Raffle where tickets were drawn to win a trip package to Hong Kong and Palawan, 2023 Honda PCX and a brand new Toyota Vios. The proceeds of the fund raising activity will be awarded to the school.

The success of the High School Shoelanders Grand Alumni Homecoming was made possible through the support of Mayor Marcy Teodoro, Cong. Maan Teodoro, generous sponsors such as Filteam Shipmanagement Inc, Pepsi, Goya, and Mr. Manolo Cruz. Special thanks were extended to Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina, Bespoke Logistics, Gibson Shoes Factory, The Bar and Mountain Snow, and Caper Group.

For the latest updates on the High School Shoelanders, follow them on Facebook (@hs.shoelanders) and join the conversation at #ShoelandersUnite. The event stands as a vibrant testament to the enduring spirit and commitment of Marikina's high school alumni.

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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.

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Anya Taylor-Joy stars in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, set on 2024

This is her Odyssey. “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” starring Anya Taylor-Joy in the title role, opens only in cinemas May 22, 2024.

The much-anticipated return to award-winning director George Miller’s iconic dystopian world also stars Chris Hemsworth, Alyla Browne and Tom Burke. Watch the trailer below:

As the world fell, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.

This all-new original, standalone action adventure was directed by George Miller, script by Miller and “Mad Max: Fury Road” co-writer Nico Lathouris. The film was produced by Miller and his longtime partner, Oscar-nominated producer Doug Mitchell (“Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Babe”), under their Australian-based Kennedy Miller Mitchell banner.

Starring Anya Taylor-Joy in the title role, Chris Hemsworth, Alyla Browne and Tom Burke.

In cinemas 2024, “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” is distributed in the Philippines by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Discovery company.

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