26 June 2015 – Philippine Consul General Anne Jalando-on Louis hosted a concert and reception at the Philippine official residence in Sydney on June 03 in commemoration of the 117th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence. Featured at the concert were Filipino artists, Ms. Joseleo Logdat, Baritone, and Dr. Raul Navarro, Pianist. Mr. Joel Davy, a cellist from Canberra, also joined the Filipino artists at the concert. Mr. Logdat is Professor of Voice and Culture at the Sta. Isabel College Conservatory of Music, while Dr. Navarro is Professor of Music and Chair of the Graduate Studies Program of the University of the Philippines College of Music.
The event was attended by members of the Consular Corps in Sydney, officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade New South Wales (NSW) State Office, representatives from the Australia-Philippines Business Council (APBC), and other distinguished Australian guests.
The evening of music was made possible through the efforts of the Philippine Embassy in Canberra, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and Ms. Gemma McKeown of the Filipino community in Canberra.
At the start of the concert, Consul General Louis welcomed the guests to a night of music. She noted the musical talent that Filipinos are known for and thanked the artists for bringing their gift of music to Sydney on the occasion of the celebration of the 117th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence.
Mr. Logdat’s repertoire for the evening included the kundiman, “Dahil sa Minamahal Kita” by Leopoldo Silos and “Aking Ina" by Ernani Cuenco. He also performed the arias Agnus Dei (G. Bizet), Ave Maria (F. Santiago), Chanson du pecheurs (G. Faure), Widmung (Schumann), Ich liebe dich (E. Grieg), Toreador (G. Bizet), Cruda Funesta Smania (G. Donizetti), Pieta, Rispetto, Amore (G. Verdi), and songs from musicals, If Ever I Would Leave You from Camelot (Rodgers and Hammerstein) and Stars from Les Miserables (M. Schoenberg), to the delight of the guests. Many of the guests later congratulated Consul General Louis on the concert and looked forward to more performances by Filipino artists in the future.
During the reception which followed the concert, the guests enjoyed San Miguel beer courtesy of Mr. Les Page, Managing Director of island2island Beverage company, exclusive distributor of the beer in Australia, and Filipino treats such as empanada, hopia and turon.
Earlier that day, Mr. Logdat and Dr. Navarro also gave a performance at the St. James Church as part of the church’s Wednesday Lunchtime Concerts. END
