BOYSIE
VILLAVICENCIO
May is National Heritage Month. It is also
the European Union month and the theme of the European Union
month in May is Heritage Conservation.
To this end, the European Commission, the
Embassy of the Czech Republic (its ambassador is the current
president of the European Union), and the president’s committee
on culture at Far Eastern University (headed by young and
brilliant Martin Lopez) held a series of events and activities
in the FEU campus.
These activities included a campus tour
(there are so many areas within the FEU campus that one will
appreciate – including two murals by Manansala inside the FEU
chapel); a talk by Architect Augusto "Toti" Villalon on
"Everyday Filipino Heritage"; and an exhibit opening of UNESCO
sites in the Czech Republic, with the ceremonial ribbon cut by
FEU president Dr. Lydia B. Echauz and Jaroslav Ludva,
Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Philippines.
There were so many things to see, hear, and
learn and every information shared with the guests that
afternoon was not only truly educational.
A reception prepared by Cora Garcia (she has
been with the university for 40 years) followed. This included
Czech beer, the national drink of the Czech Republic and all
the goodies and specialties from different cooks and suppliers
of food stuff. Ummmmmmm! B-U-R-P ! I feel bad for Martin Lopez
because he was so busy that day, he did not even get a bite of
anything.
The festivities continued with the 1st
European Union Choral Competition in the historic FEU
auditorium.
The choral competition was open to all
university choirs, whose members are bona fide and currently
enrolled students. Each choir sang one song composed by a
Filipino and another composed by a national of any of the 27
European Union countries.
The competitors were UST’s Coro Tomasino,
fourth Place; Coro San Benildo of the College of Saint Benilde,
third Place; UP Los Baños Choral Ensemble, second place; and
the grand prize winner, the Bagong Himig Serenata of PUP.
Judges were: Agripino "Nonoy" Diestro,
resident conductor of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra;
Dr. Macario Ofilada, author, music critic, choral and
conductor; Lester Delgado, composer, music arranger and choral
conductor; Anamaria Vlad from the Romanian Embassy; and Emilie
Flambeaux from the Embassy of France. While the judges
tabulated their scores, the FEU Dance Company performed "Go the
Distance" as the FEU Chorale sang in the background.
Cash prizes and trophies were given to the
all choirs. Another trophy was presented to the best director
(also from PUP) that afternoon. In addition, the Embassy of the
Czech Republic presented the winners with books about the Czech
Republic.
With wholesome and educational activities
like this, we can really appreciate the world we live in. The
songs, the sights, and the information we gathered that day
indeed, made us power packed and ready to contribute our own to
our service for the rest of our humankind.
Good Morning, everyone!