Paskuhan 2010...

[Tom A. Saiyan]

Malapit na...







UST Hosts 8th Christmas Concert Gala



The University of Santo Tomas (UST) ushers in the Yuletide season with the grand staging of the 8th UST Christmas Concert Gala on December 2, 6:30 p.m., at the Santisimo Rosario Parish Chapel.

Heralding this year’s concert gala is a stellar cast of Thomasian musical gems led by 2010 Choir of the World recipient UST Singers, the UST Symphony Orchestra, the UST Brass Ensemble, soprano Rachelle Gerodias, and pianist Raul Sunico, president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and dean of the UST Conservatory of Music.

Coming off a dramatic victory in the 2010 Llangollen International Music Eistedfodd in North Wales last July, the UST Singers is set to perform four special numbers arranged by its conductor Prof. Fidel Calalang.

Gerodias on the other hand will sing Rejoice Greatly from “The Messiah” and Because of Who You Are shortly after Sunico plays Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite joined by a group of ballerinas in the background.

Another highlight will be UST Symphony Orchestra conductor Prof. Herminigildo Ranera’s O Night Divine Medley (I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, Silent Night, The First Noel, and It Came Upon the Midnight Clear) to be rendered by sopranos Nenen Alfornon, Thea Perez, and Naomi Sison and tenors Eugene delos Santos, Randy Gilongco and Coro Tomasino conductor Prof. Ronan Ferrer.

Other performers include Coro Tomasino (Tres Villacicos and Gising Na conducted by Ferrer), Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble and tenor Lemuel dela Cruz (Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee), and harpists Lourdes Gregorio and Christian Caragayan (Green sleeves – “What Child Is This”)

The UST Brass Ensemble opens the concert with Christmas Fanfare followed by the UST Symphony Orchestra’s Three Kings and Jingle Bells Around the World, with Ranera at the helm.

Pasko sa UST composed by Prof. Antonio Africa and Christmas Greetings reunite all performing choirs on stage with the UST Symphony Orchestra providing the musical accompaniment.

The musical festivity ends with the community singing of Adeste Fideles and Joy to the World.

Leading this year’s concert gala are chairpersons Fr. Isidro C. Abaño, O.P., executive director for Quadricentennial Activities and Highlights, and Ms. Maricris C. Zobel, art patroness.


CONTACT:
ASSOC. PROF. GIOVANNA V. FONTANILLA
Director
Office of Public Affairs
University of Santo Tomas
Tel no.: 731-3544, 406-1611 loc. 8315
Telefax no.: 740-9727


UST Christmas Concert Gala 2010







Photos by Christian de Leon




Credit goes to the owner of the photo


As posted by galileo in PEx...

UST Christmas Concert Gala 2010 (December 2)








The UST Singers


Dean Raul Sunico




Ms. Maricris Zobel



Photos by Justine Owera





Photos by Neil Chua


As posted by luibowee in PEx...

Merry Christmas!

[Tom A. Saiyan]

UST Christmas concert gala / Other Yuletide events
SUNDRY STROKES By Rosalinda L. Orosa (The Philippine Star) Updated December 08, 2010 12:00 AM

The UST Conservatory of Music, headed by dean Raul Sunico, presented its Christmas Concert Gala with its best faculty members as well as its best choral and instrumental ensembles performing in the festively decorated chapel. Soloists — e.g., pianist Sunico, soprano Rachelle Gerodias and tenor Lemuel dela Cruz understandably shone far more than those who sang as a group — sopranos Nenen Espina, Thea Perez and Naomi Sison, tenors Eugenio delos Santos, Ronan Ferrer and Randy Gilongo — because one was not quite able to discern their individual merits.

Sunico rendered Tchaikovsky’s ballet music from “The Nutcracker Suite”, displaying his usual masterful skill and nuanced expression, with the UST Symphony Orchestra assisting under Herminigildo Ranera. How Ballet Manila dancers would have wished him to accompany them in their current “Nutcracker” production!

In “Rejoice Greatly” from Handel’s oratorio “Messiah” and a pop number, Gerodias again demonstrated her beautiful timber, superb vocal control and remarkable expressiveness. In “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”, Dela Cruz’s powerful voice soared so rousingly that the audience clapped to the rhythm of the music. The Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble provided the choral background.

Harpists Lourdes de Leon Gregorio and her student Christian Caragayan interpreted “Greensleeves, What Child Is This?” so exquisitely, the very lyrical melodies lingered long in the memory. One was further moved by the fact that Christian is autistic.

The UST Brass Ensemble, energetic and, well, brassy, opened the concert with “Christmas Fanfare” under conductor Michael Jacinto. The internationally-awarded Coro Tomasino directed by Ronan Ferrer followed with Tres Villancicos and F. Santiago’s Gising Na. Earlier, the UST Symphony Orchestra, the evening’s instrumental mainstay, played Christmas songs with appropriately joyful spirit and cheer.

An indubitable highlight was the performance of the UST Singers under the incomparable choir master Fidel Calalang, Jr. In its various world tours, the choir has garnered countless awards but for the sake of brevity, it won the title “Choir of the World” twice in Wales, UK. For R. Cayabyab’s Kumukutitap and D. Foster’s “The Prayer”, Calalang provided the piano accompaniment, with Mylad Rubio and Jose Rubio singing the solo parts with profound feeling. The choir’s luminous voices, thoroughly cohesive and disciplined, registered varying dynamics to express the whole gamut of emotion or mood. Like a martinet, Calalang could draw any volume from the singers, change it abruptly or sustain it at astonishing length, as he did similarly in Alleluia and Kampana ng Simbahan which he himself arranged.

The choral ensembles, augmented by the UST Conservatory Chorus, climaxed the highly impressive concert with other Christmas songs, the audience joining the entire cast in Adeste Fideles and “Joy to the World”.

Rector Rolando V. de la Rosa and Fr. Isidro Abaño gave prefatory remarks, calling to mind the UST’s quadricentennial next year, making it older than Harvard U. Maricris C. Zobel, concert gala co-chair, spoke on how funds were raised for the restoration of the UST museum and for scholarship grants to Conservatory students.

Among eminent UST alumni present were the celebrated, international glass sculptor Ramon Orlina, and former National Museum director Corazon Alvina, now a UST faculty member.

I consider myself a UST alumna by osmosis. My great grandfather Benedicto de Luna was a UST alumnus who, according to my mother (Severina Luna Orosa), earned three doctorate degrees from the pontifical university. He served as the only Filipino jury member among the Spanish faculty examining UST candidates for doctorate degrees.

Philippine Star


As posted by galileo in PEx...

UST Christmas decors (2010)










Giant UST Christmas Tree



Photo by issan


Pasko na sa UST



Photo by Christian de Leon




Music floods UST
STAR BYTES By Butch Francisco (The Philippine Star) Updated December 07, 2010

That length of flood-prone España in Manila was never exactly known to be a cultural hub. A nearby street, Nicanor Reyes, which used to be Morayta, came closer to being called a cultural area in the ‘50s since a lot of operas and theater productions that featured Daisy Avellana and Naty Crame-Rogers were staged at the auditorium of the Far Eastern University in those days.

I spent a great part of my college years at the University of Santo Tomas, but I was obviously never aware of its cultural scene. College wasn’t exactly a breeze for me, but I just swooped through it since I was in such a hurry to get employed to the puzzlement of my parents, who never starved me (I was a favorite kid, in fact, since I am the youngest).

When I reached junior year, I spent less time in school and did more presswork in a magazine office that had absorbed me after my practicum. Maybe this was why I was one of the very few students from UST who never experienced wading through those notorious floods during the rainy season.

Looking back at the little campus life that I had, I recall that there was the dance troupe Salinggawi and the drama group Teatro Tomasino. I never joined those organizations. I never even tried out for the Varsitarian even if that was expected of a journ major.

For a while, I did independent plays only because Prof. Piedad Rosales heard me during recitation and she thought my voice would fill an entire auditorium even without a microphone. She was right. Even if I was a ham on stage, everyone looked up and listened, even the usually boisterous engineering students, because my voice boomed till the back row. I suspect now that as a kid I must have accidentally swallowed a megaphone.

The faculty also pushed me to get into Spanish declamation and I knew I was winning those prizes only because I was the only contestant who could hush down, yes, even the usually boisterous engineering students.

So there was culture, after all. Perhaps I just didn’t know what it was then. The architecture of the main building (the first earthquake proof structure in the country) is a wonder in itself. Built in 1927, that became a concentration camp for Americans and citizens of Allied countries who were trapped in the Philippines during the Japanese Occupation. It was mercifully spared during the liberation of Manila although film superstar Rosario Moreno died in her house in a street nearby after a stray bullet hit her at the end of the war.

Last March, the group of UST alumnus Teddy Perena gave this writer the Gawad Adhika and I had the chance to visit the campus after so many years (decades even). But since that was a busy Saturday for me, I never had the chance to appreciate the changes within the campus.

A week ago, however, I was back in the Dominican campus for the UST Christmas Concert Gala. Now on its eighth year, this is actually a benefit show for the university’s heritage conservation plus to pump in more funds to help UST Conservatory of Music scholars.

Dr. Vicki Belo, who donated once more a substantial amount (she doesn’t want the figures disclosed), was supposed to be my date, but she was considerate enough to have agreed for us to meet in UST since we were both coming from opposite directions.



The concert venue the UST chapel is no strange territory to me. In my last year in college, I had classes in another school, but would commute to UST for one subject every Saturday afternoon. At 6 p.m. I would walk to the chapel to attend the anticipated Mass.

It’s still the same lovely structure, except that it is air-conditioned now (maybe it was during my time, but they never turned it on for me). Prof. Giovanna Fontanilla met me at the entrance. I was later ushered to a front row seat – in time for me to listen to the opening remarks of UST rector, Fr. Rolando dela Rosa, followed by Fr. Isidro Abano, concert co-chair. Another speaker was Ms. Ma. Cristina Zobel, who was also a moving force behind the very successful affair.

Before the concert proper, Vicki finally walked in with daughter Cristalle Henares and Jojie Dingcong (Belo officials Leah Salterio and Madz Alegado had arrived earlier) and we enjoyed what would turn out to be a great musical evening.

In quick succession came the performances of the UST Brass Ensemble, the UST Symphony Orchestra with Herminigildo Ranera conducting, the Coro Tomasino with conductor Ronan Ferrer, harpists Lourdes Gregorio and Christian Caragayan, Lemuel dela Cruz with the Liturgikon Voice Ensemble, Mylah Ann Rubio, Rachel Gerodias, the UST Singers under conductor Fidel Calalang and Jose Maria Rubio.

There was also the wonderful blending of the fine voices of Nenen Espina, Eugene de los Santos, Thea Perez, Ronan Ferrer, Naomi Sison and Randy Gilongo. However, I’d like to single out the Nutcracker Suite rendition on the piano by Raul Sunico. Listening to him play was an orgasmic experience, although orgasmic is one word I probably shouldn’t use because the Dominican priests could be reading this piece right this moment.

Antonio Africa’s Pasko sa UST song was new to me, but I’m glad I discovered it even long after I’ve left school.

After the show, I had the chance to look around me and saw for myself the well-heeled crowd in attendance. It was like Makati had moved to España that night. Behind me sat Marissa Araneta, who said that Tats Manahan was also there somewhere. Margie Moran came over to say hello to Vicki and from another side I saw Flawless lady boss Rubby Sy, escorted by new endorser Edward Mendez. Then there was also stage actor Marco Mañalac with manager John Carlo Espino.



In one area of the seminary was the reception, except that it was packed with so many people Makati’s elite who all gushed over the remarkable show that was directed by Alex Cortez and written by Floy Quintos.

The UST Christmas Concert Gala may only be a few years old, but it is a great tradition worth continuing. UST turns 400 in 2011 and its heritage should be preserved (already lost was the Intramuros campus that was destroyed during the liberation of Manila). Turning the España campus into a cultural arena isn’t at all a bad idea. Give them a good show (like this last one) and even the Makati crowd will come.

Let España flood not with the waters of the monsoon season but with the best musical talents of this generation.


www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=636867&publicationSubCategoryId=70


DFA to Host UST Exhibit and Christmas Concert
Public Information Service Unit


06 December 2010 - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will play host to the University of Santo Tomas' (UST) Quadricentennial Exhibit on December 9 to 10.

The exhibit and the concert highlights the joint history shared by the two institutions-the DFA as one of the first government agencies organized under the revolutionary First Philippine Republic and the UST as Asia's first and oldest Catholic university.

It also aims to promote the UST's programs and achievements as it celebrates its historic 400th founding anniversary in 2011, as well as to showcase the university's musical excellence to DFA officials and staff, as well as to the members of the diplomatic corps.

Expected to attend the events are Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo, Madame Rosie Lovely T. Romulo, UST Rector Rev. Father Rolando V. de la Rosa, UST and DFA officials and guests from the diplomatic corps.

Entitled "UST: Building the Church, the Nation and the Family...Our Birthright, Our Destiny," the Quadricentennial Exhibit will highlight the university's ardent pursuit of its mission to provide quality Catholic education responsive to the dynamic challenges of the times, which has consistenty produced professionals who make significant contributions to their respective fields of specialization.

It will be followed by a Christmas concert by the UST Conservatory of Music on December 9.

Dubbed "Gift to the World," the concert will feature the 2010 Choir of the World titlist UST Singers, the UST Symphony Orchestra, the UST Brass Ensemble, soprano Rachelle Gerodias and Cultural Center of the Philippines president and UST Conservatory of Music dean Raul Sunico.

UST's Quadricentennial Celebration has "Simbahayan 400: Tomasino para sa Simbahan, Tahanan at Bayan" as its centerpiece project, which is a holistic community development program of the Thomasian community.

Simbahayan aims to celebrate, renew and intensify the university's commitment to (1) make a distinct Thomasian contribution in building the family and the nation in general, and (2) serve the marginalized groups in society in particular by harnessing the potentials of its alumni and encouraging their active participation. END

dfa.gov.ph/main/index.php/newsroom/dfa-releases/2214-dfa-to-host-ust-exhibit-and-christmas-concert




“It is important to remember that one of the things we should continue to be proud of as a people is the University of Santo Tomas. As we approach its 400th year, it always amazes me to see how UST’s history is completely intertwined with our history – and our future. For me, UST is truly the University of the Filipino people.”
UST Christmas Concert Gala co-chair Maricris Zobel


Marciris Zobel with Pitoy Moreno


Dr. Vickie Belo




Reception at the Central Seminary

Photos by UST qah


UST Christmas 2010 Photos...







Photos by Jaime Casalme

[Tom A. Saiyan]

Asposted by galileo in PEx...

UST Paskuhan 2010 photos...





Photos culled from UST qah album


















Photos by Christian de Leon



As posted by danella in PEx...

[teddysura]

sino po may alam ng lyrics ng "pasko sa UST" paki post naman po.

[boyjakz]

saan mlalaman kng sino2 ung nanalo sa raffle nung paskuhan?
reply kayo pinatatanong lng skin.
tnx

[kiko]

UST throws early Christmas musical treat
By FRANCIS T. WAKEFIELD
December 12, 2010, 1:31pm

MANILA, Philippines – Glitz and glamor reigned over the University of Santo Tomas (UST) campus last Dec. 2, as the society’s rich and famous joined university officials to usher in the holidays with the staging of the UST Christmas Concert Gala.

Now on its eighth year, the UST Christmas Concert Gala gathered an exceptional pool of Thomasian musicians and artists who rendered wonderful performances for the audience.

UST Rector Fr. Rolando Dela Rosa, OP, said that aside from the excellent artists, what makes the yearly get-together more special and significant through the years is the undying spirit of charity among the University’s patrons and friends who have supported the University’s cause to beef up heritage conservation efforts and fund the scholarship program of the UST Conservatory of Music.

Dela Rosa also commended Fr. Isidro C. Abaño, O.P. , executive director for quadricentennial activities and highlights, Maricris C. Zobel, art patroness, for spearheading the festival, as chair and co-chair, respectively, of the UST Christmas Concert Gala.

BIGGER DREAMS

Abaño acknowledged the generous sponsors who have helped in the conservation of some of the most important artworks, particularly paintings, which have been under the safekeeping of the university for decades now.

Among them are the much celebrated portrait of a Young Balinese Girl by Locatelli; The Foundation of the University of Santo Tomas by Archbishop Benavidez by D.A. Celis; portrait of Fr. Juan Antonio Zulaybar, O.P., and portrait of San Vicente Ferrer by Juan Arzeo; portrait of Dr. Jose Rizal by Victorio Edades; portrait of Fr. Silvestre Sancho, O.P. - Rector, 1936-44; and portrait of President Diosdado Macapagal by Fernando Amorsolo; Under The Mango Tree by Carlos Botong Francisco, Nuestra Senora de la Paloma (Our Lady of the Dove); Fruit Vendor by Pablo Amorsolo; and just recently, the murals at the lobby of the UST main building.

“From these restoration efforts we have built the foundation of a larger dream — to establish an Art Conservation Laboratory Center which will further push our dreams to serve our fellowmen by restoring and conserving more artworks for their cultural and artistic employment and upliftment,” Abaño said.

For her part, Zobel said that even though the year 2010 has been a year of change, what with the country having a new President, it’s comforting to know that some things remain constant, among them, the University of Santo Tomas and the Christmas Concert Gala.

“It is important to remember that one of the things we should continue to be proud of as a people is the University of Santo Tomas. As we approach its 400th year, it always amazes me to see how UST’s history is completely intertwined with our history – and our future. For me, UST is truly the University of the Filipino people,” Zobel said.

Among the outstanding talents who participated are the UST Brass Ensemble and the UST Symphony Orchestra, Coro Tomasino with conductor Prof. Ronan Ferrer; Lourdes Gregorio and Christian Caragayan, sopranos Nenen Alfornon, Naomi Sison and Thea Perez.

One of the highlights of the evening was the performance of Conservatory of Music dean and Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) president, Raul Sunico of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite.

Meanwhile, soprano Rachel Gerodias serenaded the crowd with The Messiah and Because of Who You Are, while the UST Jazz Ensemble with Tots Tolentino played the Christmas Song. Tenor Lemuel dela Cruz with the Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble also joined the act with his interpretation of Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.

The UST Singers, 2010 Choir of the World, with conductor Prof. Fidel Calalang, performed three special numbers before the finale number of Pasko sa UST composed by Tonton Africa and Christmas Greetings by all the performing choirs with the UST Symphony Orchestra.