08 August 2013 - On behalf of Philippine Ambassador to France Cristina G. Ortega, Third Secretary and Vice Consul André Peter C. Estanislao and Mr. Frankson Ong, cultural affairs assistant, attended a mini-concert performed by the Filipiniana Alumni Group at the Church of Chartainvilliers, 50 kilometers north of Paris.

The group was led by University of the Philippines (UP) Director for Initiatives for Culture and the Arts Professor Ruben Defeo and UP Professor of Dance Corazon G. Iñigo. The group is comprised of current and former UP performing arts students.

In this mini-concert, the group sang an assortment of French and English songs. Ms. Luz Morete, Professor of Music and soprano who performed with the group gave a heartfelt performance of the Ave Maria and C’est la rose qui est importante or more popularly known in the Philippines as Bulaklak which was popularized by Filipina singer Kuh Ledesma in the Philippines. The audience, composed of mostly French nationals, was also very impressed by the group’s rendition of Edith Piaf’s classic La Vie en Rose. 

Other songs performed were Minamahal Kita, Ay ay ay, o pag-ibig!, Dahil Sayo, Katakataka, Ikaw ang Mahal ko, Alouette and Kalesa. The group also brought a Rondalla band that played a collection of traditional Filipino Rondalla and folk songs such as Bahay Kubo and Atikupong singsing. At the end of the performance, the audience asked for an encore to which the group happily obliged with a repeat performance of Ay ay ay, o pag-ibig!

Chartainvilliers Mayor Alain Boutin who was in the audience and joined by other city officials, expressed gratitude to the group and to the visiting Embassy officials. END