Filipino Talents in Barcelona Take Center Stage in Highly Anticipated Opera “The Lost Cat”
BARCELONA, 10 October 2022 – The Filipino community was well and ably represented in an opera about El Raval, a district where a majority of overseas Filipinos in Barcelona reside. The opera entitled “La Gata Perduda” (The Lost Cat) presented life in El Raval, from its history, people, culture, values and the large immigrant community that lives in it. The play was held on 07 October 2022 at the prestigious Grand Theater Liceu which is celebrating its 175th year.
As the title suggests, the storyline centers around a lost cat, played by Ms. Dianne Ico, an accomplished second-generation Filipina artist who was born in Barcelona to Filipino immigrant parents. She was a finalist in the Got Talent Espanya program and has been in musicals (Fame, The Lion King) in Spain as part of the main cast. A total of 42 members of the Koro Kudyapi, a Filipino Choir based in Barcelona, were also part of the opera portraying citizens of El Raval. The choir has performed extensively in Spain and other parts of Europe and is composed of 2nd and 3rdgeneration Filipinos with ages ranging from 6 to 21 years old.
The Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona represented by the Consul General Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro, Ms. Rosanna Sumala, and Mr. Bernardo Bagalay supported the Filipino performers by meeting them backstage before and after their performance.
The Filipino performers had mixed emotions of excitement and nervousness given that the Liceu was at full capacity numbering 2,200 audience members. Ms. Dianne Ico intimated, “The Filipino community was very supportive when they found out I was going to play the lost cat. Everyone was so proud of me representing the community and I’m very grateful for all the support they’ve given me throughout the whole process of rehearsals up to the end of the show”. Ms. Ico is confident that this role will definitely open more doors for her and other Filipinos to proudly represent the Filipino community in Barcelona. Ms. Camille Rose Tabuno Cabiles and Seira Gail Mercado of Coro Kudyapi shared. “It was a lot of hard work and commitment for us but we persevered because we know we are representing not just the Filipino community but our beloved Philippines”. END
Dianne Ico as The Lost Cat. (Photo courtesy of Dianne Ico)
Consul General Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro with Administrative Officer Rosanna Sumala, Cultural Officer Bernardo Bagalay, Coro Kudyapi members and Choir Director Dr. Arnel Germán.
Consul General Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro encouraging the youngest members of Coro Kudyapi.
Coro Kudyapi members Ms. Camille Rose Tabuno Cabiles and Seira Gail Mercado.
Coro Cudyapi Choir Director Dr. Arnel Germán posing beside a sweater with his photo worn by a cast member.
For more information, visit https://barcelonapcg.dfa.gov.ph/ or https://www.facebook.com/PHinBarcelona/.