PH Embassy in Canada Launches Kalayaan 2018 Celebration with Raul Sunico Concert
Ambassador to Canada Petronila P. Garcia addresses a fully packed concert hall on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. (Ottawa PE photo)
OTTAWA 22 June 2018 – The Philippine Embassy in Ottawa, Canada, in partnership with the Ottawa Chamber Orchestra, organized a “Concert on the Hill,” an event top-billed by international concert pianist Dr. Raul Sunico, on Parliament Hill. The concert is part of a series of events to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the proclamation of the Philippine independence.
An audience of more than 450 people packed the concert hall in rapt silence, as the building’s marble walls reverberated with Dr. Sunico’s performance of classical pieces as well as Felipe De Leon’s “Kundiman” and his own arrangement of George Canseco’s “Hanggang sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan.”
The Ottawa Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Donnie Deacon, opened the concert with Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture. He later joined Dr. Sunico for a rousing rendition of Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, eliciting a standing ovation from the audience. Due to insistent public demand, Dr. Sunico closed the concert with an encore performance of Debussy’s Claire de Lune.
Member of Parliament Kevin Lamoureux, who also chairs the Canada–Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Group, spoke of the growth of Filipino migrants in Canada and their contributions to Canadian society. He particularly cited the Philippine presence in his riding located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where the largest concentration of Filipinos per capita may be found.
Ambassador to Canada Petronila P. Garcia hailed the event as a first in Philippines–Canada cultural cooperation.
“We hope to share with you the universal language of music and a shining example of Philippines–Canada cultural cooperation,” Ambassador Garcia said during her welcome remarks.
“We are certain this will not be the last as we continue to build avenues towards deeper cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between our two countries,” the Ambassador added.
The concert, which took place in the city’s historic Sir John A. Macdonald Building, was preceded by a reception attended by members of the diplomatic corps, federal and local officials, business people, and members of the local community. END
For more information, visit www.ottawape.dfa.gov.ph / www.philembassy.ca or https://www.facebook.com/PHinCanada/
(From left): Philippine Deputy Chief of Mission Francisco Noel Fernandez III and Ambassador Garcia together with MP Kevin Lamoureux, Dr. Raul Sunico, ADM Donald Bobiash, and Madam Teresa Rozkiewicz. (Ottawa PE photo)
(From left): Kimihiro Ishikane, Ambassador of Japan, Madam Kaoru Ishikane, Ambassador Garcia, Maestro Donnie Deacon, and Dr. Raul Sunico; MP Lamoureux congratulates Dr. Sunico after the concert; and Ambassador Garcia and ADM Bobiash raise a toast to Philippines–Canada relations. (Photos courtesy of Mr. Alvin Conchas III and Mr. Danilo Arriola)