PH Embassy in Santiago Holds Back-To-Back UP Rondalla Concerts in Peru and Chile to Celebrate 126 Years of Philippine Independence and 50th Anniversary of PH-Peru Diplomatic Relations

Members of the University of the Philippines Rondalla perform at the PH Embassy’s celebration of the Philippine Independence in Peru and Chile

SANTIAGO 18 June 2024 – To celebrate the 126th year of the anniversary of the declaration of Philippine independence, the Philippine Embassy in Chile organized back-to-back concerts by the University of the Philippines (UP) Rondalla at Centro Cultural Inca Garcilaso in Lima, Peru and at Museo Histórico y Militar de Chile in Santiago, Chile.

The celebration in Peru also commemorated another milestone event: the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Peru. 

The back-to-back concerts were attended by the diplomatic corps, members of the Filipino Community, and the general public. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru Javier González-Olaechea and Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs John Peter Camino Cannock attended the Peruvian leg of the concert. In Chile, Christian Hodges-Nugent, Director-General of Ceremonials and Protocol and Marta Bonet Guericabeitia, Director General of Consular Affairs, Immigration and Chileans Abroad were among the key officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the event.

Philippine Ambassador to Peru and Chile, Ambassador Celeste-Vinzon Balatbat, underscored the deep historic and cultural ties that bind the Philippines with Peru and Chile despite the physical distance between the two countries. 

“While the vast waters of the Pacific Ocean separate us, these waters also unite us. Our two economies have a long maritime tradition and we have a collective stake in the sustainability of this Ocean. We value democracy, human rights, and respect for rule of law. Our colonial history, our struggle for independence, and our Hispanic heritage are shared experiences that bring us closer to each other.”

In Peru, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to advance relations, citing the upcoming first bilateral consultation mechanism between the Philippines and Peru in June and other avenues of cooperation such as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation being chaired by Peru in 2024.

Vice Minister Camino, in his key remarks, highlighted the strengthening of PH-PER relations in recent years such as the bilateral meeting between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and President Dina Boluarte in November 2023, as well as the commitment of both countries to address global challenges such as climate change, poverty and inequality, and disaster risk reduction and mitigation.

The UP Rondalla serenaded the audience with a captivating repertoire showcasing the beauty and diversity of Philippine music that featured a selection of Filipino folklore songs, Spanish music, and contemporary Filipino pieces. 

Established in 2009, the UP Rondalla is a musical ensemble known for its mastery of traditional Filipino string instruments. 

To introduce the music of the Philippine Rondalla to Latin America, the Philippine Embassy in Chile, in partnership with the University of the Philippines Rondalla, also organized brief workshops in selected educational institutions in Peru and Chile.

Rondalla workshops were held at St. George’s College in Lima on 3 June 2024 and Universidad de Santiago de Chile in Santiago on 6 June 2024. 

Student participants learned about the brief history of rondalla, the basics of rondalla performance, and the different stringed instruments that make up the rondalla, such as the bandurria, the octavina, the guitar, and the double bass.

To raise the profile of Philippine music, Ambassador Vinzon-Balatbat and Dr. Jocelyn Marfil, Artistic Director of the UP Rondalla, were likewise interviewed by Mr. Juan José Otayza of Radio Filarmonia, a classical music radio station in Lima, Peru.

The UP Rondalla concert in Lima forms part of the Embassy’s year-long activities to commemorate its milestone anniversary with Peru. These activities are in line with the Embassy’s continued efforts to raise awareness of the Philippines and to promote Filipino artists and their music in Latin America. END

UP Rondalla gives a workshop on Rondalla music at the Universidad de Santiago de Chile in Santiago

Filipino violinist Ms. Reineza Santos-Mendoza performs the national anthem of the Philippines in Lima

For more information, visit https://www.santiagope.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinChile.