english,
The Dawani Women’s Choir and the UP Cherubim and Seraphim (UPCS) held a concert entitled “Beauty and Light” last March 31 at the Church of the Risen Lord in UP Diliman.
The concert raised funds for the benefit of the Purple Center Foundation (PCF), an education-centered organization previously known as the Philippine Christian Foundation.
Behind the Scenes
UPCS, or more commonly known as Cherubim, is the official children’s choir of UP. It was founded and first directed by the late Flora Zarco-Rivera. She was succeeded by her daughter Elena Rivera-Mirano who we call Tita Lennette.
In the last five or so years, I’ve performed with Cherubim in at least five major concerts among many gigs and productions. Though much of the feelings and emotions haven’t changed, there were several new experiences that came our way this school year.
This year, we started recruiting a batch of potential new members, who are called apprentices, as we’ve lost several regular members after our production of Awit ni Pulau last July 2016. A selected few will be joining the regulars starting this summer. Other than that, we also have a new assistant conductor, Alyssa Liyana Dioquino or Ate Liya as we call her, who might assume Tita Lennette’s position once she fully retires. Our usual rehearsal agenda adjusted to accommodate Ate Liya and the apprentices.
The concert was our first time to meet Dawani and the PCF. In my book, it was also our first collaboration with other performers in an official major concert. We got to meet Dawani in our last rehearsal before the day of the concert and we only rehearsed our two songs together once. It was a blissful feeling to perform with new voices and to share our talents with one another. We only met PCF on the day of the concert itself and we got to chat with them over our afternoon snack before the concert proper.
The experience was nonetheless the same as usual – last minute rehearsals, making ourselves up, eating, reading through pieces, running around looking for other members, and fixing formations. I personally had to look after the younger members as part of the junior staff or senior members of our group. It was harder than usual as we weren’t used to the apprentices and their behavior in a concert.
The usual feelings of nervousness, excitement and thrill rushed over every single one of us performing that night. It had to be a night to remember as that was the moment our Cherubim batch was going to say goodbye and the moment the group will transition into another batch with a new roster of children.
CIRCLE GAME. Cherubims move their feet to a happy tune of a Joni Mitchell song. Photo credit: Raymund Creencia
Life as a performer is a never-ending tiring but fun experience. Even if this might be my last concert as an official member of the choir, I’ll always come back to where I found my voice. Besides, we always have reunion concerts with alumni and there’ll be one coming up sooner than expected.
From the Front Row
Another round of applause for the Cherubim! This is not the first time that I’ve seen one of their concerts, and I can tell you that this surely won’t be my last. There’s something indescribable about their performances, something that always leaves you wanting more. This time was no different, they came up on stage dressed in blue, then delivered a performance that was simple, yet amazing. It is also worth noting that the Cherubim Apprentices performed for the first time, and from what I saw, it bides good for the future of Cherubim.
Benefactors of PCF programs for child welfare, the Purple Choir, sang two numbers for us. Honestly, they seemed a bit uneasy at first, being faced with an unfamiliar crowd in addition to being long ways from home, however that didn’t stop them from giving a lively number that truly raised our spirits.
KABATAANG PINOY. Members of the PCF raise their voices as they send inspiring messages from their hearts through their rendition of Dan Forrest’s Always, Something Sings. Photo credit: Raymund Creencia
A little while later, a close friend of mine, Caitlin Noroña, performed a soprano solo with Dawani. While it was a bit of a challenge for my untrained ears to catch the lyrics, the way that their voices blended was enough for anyone to be captured in the emotions of the song.
AS HIGH AS THE CLOUDS. Cherubim Caitlin Noroña happily hits high notes in a solo with Dawani. Photo credit: Raymund Creencia
The finale, which was dubbed Tutti, a joint performance of Cherubim and Dawani, was simply spectacular. This ultimately brought the concert to an end, leaving the audience enthralled. “More! More!” the crowd cheered. Unfortunately, there was no encore. “If you want more, you’ll have to catch our next concert,” Tita Lennette said at the end.
Wrapping things up, I was more than satisfied with the set of performances. Not only was I able to enjoy the night by watching my friends, but I also ended the day with a good conscience, knowing that the funds raised by the event were going to help a lot of children sheltered by the PCF. Between being swayed by the performer’s voices and taking pictures for this article, I had a really great time, especially since I kind of had front row seats to get better camera angles. I may have seen Cherubim several times in the past, but they never fail to surprise me; together with Dawani and the Purple Choir, they brought into reality a night of beauty and light.// By
Trisa de Ocampo and Raymund Creencia
Feature: A Night of Beauty and Light
The Dawani Women’s Choir and the UP Cherubim and Seraphim (UPCS) held a concert entitled “Beauty and Light” last March 31 at the Church of the Risen Lord in UP Diliman.
The concert raised funds for the benefit of the Purple Center Foundation (PCF), an education-centered organization previously known as the Philippine Christian Foundation.
Behind the Scenes
UPCS, or more commonly known as Cherubim, is the official children’s choir of UP. It was founded and first directed by the late Flora Zarco-Rivera. She was succeeded by her daughter Elena Rivera-Mirano who we call Tita Lennette.
In the last five or so years, I’ve performed with Cherubim in at least five major concerts among many gigs and productions. Though much of the feelings and emotions haven’t changed, there were several new experiences that came our way this school year.
This year, we started recruiting a batch of potential new members, who are called apprentices, as we’ve lost several regular members after our production of Awit ni Pulau last July 2016. A selected few will be joining the regulars starting this summer. Other than that, we also have a new assistant conductor, Alyssa Liyana Dioquino or Ate Liya as we call her, who might assume Tita Lennette’s position once she fully retires. Our usual rehearsal agenda adjusted to accommodate Ate Liya and the apprentices.
The concert was our first time to meet Dawani and the PCF. In my book, it was also our first collaboration with other performers in an official major concert. We got to meet Dawani in our last rehearsal before the day of the concert and we only rehearsed our two songs together once. It was a blissful feeling to perform with new voices and to share our talents with one another. We only met PCF on the day of the concert itself and we got to chat with them over our afternoon snack before the concert proper.
The experience was nonetheless the same as usual – last minute rehearsals, making ourselves up, eating, reading through pieces, running around looking for other members, and fixing formations. I personally had to look after the younger members as part of the junior staff or senior members of our group. It was harder than usual as we weren’t used to the apprentices and their behavior in a concert.
The usual feelings of nervousness, excitement and thrill rushed over every single one of us performing that night. It had to be a night to remember as that was the moment our Cherubim batch was going to say goodbye and the moment the group will transition into another batch with a new roster of children.
CIRCLE GAME. Cherubims move their feet to a happy tune of a Joni Mitchell song. Photo credit: Raymund Creencia
Life as a performer is a never-ending tiring but fun experience. Even if this might be my last concert as an official member of the choir, I’ll always come back to where I found my voice. Besides, we always have reunion concerts with alumni and there’ll be one coming up sooner than expected.
From the Front Row
Another round of applause for the Cherubim! This is not the first time that I’ve seen one of their concerts, and I can tell you that this surely won’t be my last. There’s something indescribable about their performances, something that always leaves you wanting more. This time was no different, they came up on stage dressed in blue, then delivered a performance that was simple, yet amazing. It is also worth noting that the Cherubim Apprentices performed for the first time, and from what I saw, it bides good for the future of Cherubim.
Benefactors of PCF programs for child welfare, the Purple Choir, sang two numbers for us. Honestly, they seemed a bit uneasy at first, being faced with an unfamiliar crowd in addition to being long ways from home, however that didn’t stop them from giving a lively number that truly raised our spirits.
KABATAANG PINOY. Members of the PCF raise their voices as they send inspiring messages from their hearts through their rendition of Dan Forrest’s Always, Something Sings. Photo credit: Raymund Creencia
A little while later, a close friend of mine, Caitlin Noroña, performed a soprano solo with Dawani. While it was a bit of a challenge for my untrained ears to catch the lyrics, the way that their voices blended was enough for anyone to be captured in the emotions of the song.
AS HIGH AS THE CLOUDS. Cherubim Caitlin Noroña happily hits high notes in a solo with Dawani. Photo credit: Raymund Creencia
The finale, which was dubbed Tutti, a joint performance of Cherubim and Dawani, was simply spectacular. This ultimately brought the concert to an end, leaving the audience enthralled. “More! More!” the crowd cheered. Unfortunately, there was no encore. “If you want more, you’ll have to catch our next concert,” Tita Lennette said at the end.
Wrapping things up, I was more than satisfied with the set of performances. Not only was I able to enjoy the night by watching my friends, but I also ended the day with a good conscience, knowing that the funds raised by the event were going to help a lot of children sheltered by the PCF. Between being swayed by the performer’s voices and taking pictures for this article, I had a really great time, especially since I kind of had front row seats to get better camera angles. I may have seen Cherubim several times in the past, but they never fail to surprise me; together with Dawani and the Purple Choir, they brought into reality a night of beauty and light.// By
Trisa de Ocampo and Raymund Creencia
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