Monday, October 17, 2005

A Baleten–on Stars “Hugyaw Sa Kalipay”

“Hugyaw Sa Kalipay”, a classical concert will take place on Saturday, October 22 at 7:00 P.M. at St. Raphael the Archangel Parish Church, Balete, Aklan. The proceeds will go to the construction of the St. Raphael the Archangel Parochial Prep School as announced by its Regent, former Congresswoman Billie V. Calizo.
According to Calizo, the concert is jointly sponsored by the Daughters of the Mary Immaculate, Mother of Perpetual Help Circle, and other religious organizations of Balete, LGU Balete and DepEd Balete.
Guest performances are Nolyn Cabahug, Tenor, popularly known as the “Pavarotti” of the Philippines and Benilda Cuales Rasco, Soprano, a Baleten-on living in San Francisco, California, USA.
Neneng Cuales Rasco, soprano, is a native of Balete, Aklan. She studied voice with Miss Jovita Fuentes. She was a former member of the Opera Chorus of the Philippines and appeared in their opera productions of Madame Butterfly by Puccini, Paliacci by Leoncavallo, Cavalleria Rusticana by Macagni and Noli Me Tangere by Filepe de Leon at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. She has performed as soloist with different choirs in the Philippines and the United States, including Immaculate Conception choir, Corpus Christie, Saint Anthony Church, Allhollows Church, Saint Patrick’s Church and the Philippine Heritage Foundation, San Francisco Cultural Group, California. She performed with the Philippine Heritage Choir concert tours in London, England; Mexico City, Mexico; Oahu, Hawaii; and Monterey, Monterey California.
A former member of Government Choral Group in Manila, Ms. Rasco, has been appointed several times to entertain visiting dignitaries to the Philippines at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. A recipient of the Manuel L. Quezon University scholarship and First place award of the Songfest Singing Competition in Quezon City, Ms. Rasco has been seen performing in special events such as the opening of the National Artist Center at Los Baños, Laguna. Her significant teachers and mentors are Miss Jovita Fuentes, Mrs. Tessie Agana Santos, Miss Ina Chalis; Mrs. Mila Eduardo, and Mr. George Hernandez, who she coaches with currently. Last October 5, 2002, she held a Solo concert at Park Presidio United Methodist Church in San Francisco, California for the benefit of saint Rafael de Archangel. She likewise staged a Solo concert on October 24 of the same year at the Rodriguez Memorial Hall in Balete, Aklan.
Nolyn Cabahug is one of the country’s best tenors. His repertoire includes Broadway hits, classics, and enchanting Filipino Music that has made Cabahug the only opera singer ever given the “Classical Singer of the Year Award” by the National Press Club’s Tinig Awards. Cabahug’s musical training began at an early age with his mother, the former Lily Argamaso, involving him in choir music when he was only ten.
He started as member and soloist of the Manila Metropolitan Theater Chorus and the University of the Philippines Concert Chorus. He has sung lead roles in Filipino and Italian opera, Broadway Musicales, Zarzuellas, Oratorios, and Cantatas, and has given solo concerts in major cities here and abroad. His other professional involvements include product launches and providing talent for jingle productions. The “Filipino Victor” as art patron Jaime Zobel de Ayala calls him, presently directing the choir of Makati Gospel Church and other corporate choirs. He continues to be featured in the concert seasons of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, the Manila Symphony Orchestra, the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, and the National Philharmonic Society. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com


No comments: