As part of its 2013 Lakbay Sining (Touring) Program, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Cultural Exchange Department (CED) will present the MABUHAY PHILIPPINES for OFWs and the international communities in Singapore (November 2 to 5, 2013) and in Hong Kong (January 8 to 12, 2014).
Mabuhay Philippines is a cultural awareness and arts appreciation program for OFWs utilizing art as the primary tool in promoting positive values and transformation through socially relevant and high impact artistic productions. The program will initiate arts and cultural activities specially designed for the OFWs geared towards revitalizing dignity, respect and pride for their identity as Filipinos. Under the program, prominent Philippine performing artists and cultural groups will be presented in a touring production that will showcase the unique and outstanding artistry of the Filipinos.
For the program’s pilot run, the world renowned Philippine Madrigal Singers, popularly known as the MADz, led by its choirmaster, Mark Anthony Carpio, will serenade the OFWs and the international communities in Singapore and Hong Kong as part of their 50th Anniversary Celebration.
The Philippines Madrigal Singers (MADz) was organized in 1963 by National Artist Professor Andrea O. Veneracion. They hold the distinction of being the first choir in the world to win the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing twice (1997 and 2007). The group was recognized by the UNESCO as Artists for Peace (2009) and was the recipient of the Guidoneum Award from the Concorso Polifonico Guido d’ Arezzo Foundation (2010). In July 2012, the group became the first choir in the world to receive The BrandLaureate Premier Award (as the World’s Best Choral Ensemble) from the Asia Pacific Brands Foundation. In March-April 2013, the MADz performed during the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) National Convention in Dallas, Texas and during the America Cantat in Bogota, Columbia.
The MADz will conduct a workshop for Filipino choirs based in Singapore on November 3, 1:30-4:30pm at the St. Ignatius Annex Hall – 120 King’s Road followed by a Mass & Performance, 6:00pm at the St. Ignatius Church. The gala concert will be on November 4 – 7:30pm at the SOTA Concert Hall, 1 Zubir Said Drive. The Singapore tour is being organized the Kultura Performing Arts Pte Ltd. with the support of the Philippine Embassy. On January 10, 2014, the Philippine Consulate will present the MADz at the Hong Kong City Hall Theater.
Catherine Rose Torres, Second Secretary and Consul, Embassy of the Philippines in Singapore, said: “Both the Ambassador and I attended the Madz most recent performance here in Singapore at The Esplanade. It was truly a proud moment when they received several ovations from the international audience.”
The Hon. Ambassador Minda Calaguin-Cruz, Philippine Embassy in Singapore, also expressed: “The Philippine Embassy is supporting the project in line with our cultural diplomacy efforts and cognizant of the MADz impressive track record of putting the Philippines on the world map of choral music. We believe that this would be a good opportunity for Singapore-based Filipino choirs to benefit from interacting from the MADz.”
CCP department manager for Cultural Exchange Chinggay Jasareno-Bernardo stated: “ The CCP’s outreach program will turn 35 years old in 2014 and in the last 3 and a half decades, we have reached to more than 25 million audiences and about 5,000 communities nationwide. It is really high time we reach out to the Filipino communities abroad through the Mabuhay Phils. program. They too deserve to personally witness an exceptional cultural experience and at the same time appreciate the beauty and what art can do to our lives.”
For more information about the MADz concerts and other activities of Mabuhay Philippines, contact the CCP Cultural Exchange Department telefax (632) 832-3674 and email bravo69ph@yahoo.com.
In Singapore, contact the Philippine Embassy at (+65) 6737-3977. For tickets to the Singapore concert, contact any of the following:
- Kultura at Tanglin Shopping Center #05-24A, Tel. no. 65-9382-5016
- A Freight at Lucky Plaza #03-93 Tel. no. 65-6235-1011
- Gerry’s Grill at 51 Cuppage Tel. no. 8348-7431.
For the Hong Kong leg, contact the Philippine Consulate at Tel: +852.2823.8500 or Fax: +852.2866.9885.
