The Orchestra of the Filipino Youth Performs at the DFA Bulwagang Apolinario Mabini

MANILA 25 May 2018 —  Presented by the DFA’s OUIER Cultural Diplomacy Unit (CDU), the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth (OFY) performed a repertoire of classical pieces including Filipino compositions at a concert attended by the Diplomatic Corps, guests form the private sector and the DFA community at the Bulwagang Apolinario Mabini on 10 May 2018.

The Orchestra of the Filipino Youth is comprised of young scholars ranging from the age of 10 to 21 from poor communities in the Philippines. 

Under the Sistema for the Filipino Youth, these children, are scholars of Ang Misyon, Inc., an after school music program co-founded by Eugenio Lopez III, Federico Lopez and JE and Cruz, that give children from deprived communities the full opportunity to achieve their full musical potential through the Classical Music discipline. 

The narratives and stories of these young scholars are relevant to the Philippines’ social context and situation with some of them children of overseas Filipinos. The OUIER CDU believes that classical music is for all to enjoy and the unique background of the members of the orchestra tells the world that learning the discipline of classical music stimulates social change and social responsibility that help pave the way forward in inclusive growth.

The repertoire included Rossini’s Barber of Seville Overture; Tchaikovsky’s Marche Slave & “Finale” Symphony No. 2 “Little Russian”; Bizet’s Les Toreadors; Batuque by Oscar Lorenzo Fernandes; Danzon No. 2 by Arturo Marquez; Pinoy Ako by Orange and Lemons and Maalaala Mo Kaya by Constancio de Guzman. END