UP Concert Chorus dazzles Malaysia

MANILA, Philippines – The University of the Philippines Concert Chorus (UPCC) bridged borders when they performed in Sabah, Malaysia on June 4 at the Dewan Recital in The Universiti Malaya Sabah.

In celebration of the “Enduring Friendship Between Malaysians and Filipinos,” the UPCC performed for some 600 Malaysians and Filipinos, among them the Sabah Head of State consort Toh Puan Norlidah Datuk Jasni.

Filipino pride beamed through the Chorus’ repertoire of OPM, folk and pop music, adding to a Broadway lineup and a “Glee” medley, tailored by Prof Janet Sabas Aracama for the Malaysian-Filipino crowd.

UPCC also performed in “A Celebration for Peace” in Kuala Lumpur in October 2012, following the signing of the peace agreement.

“Our role as singers goes beyond singing and entertaining. In fact, it really has more significance now, culturally.

“Music is now used as a venue for peace and goodwill and understanding because it really touches the heart, the soul of people and even to (sic) our brothers and sisters here in Malaysia and our own kababayans here,” Aracama explained.

J. Eduardo Malaya, Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia, moved to bring the UPCC to Malaysia a second time around for Dewan Recital.

“Deep in my heart, I knew that there was no one, no other group better than the UPCC,” he said.

Malaysian newspaper Daily Express described UPCC’s performance as “mesmerizing.”

Jose Danilo Silvestre, Director of the Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts, University of the Philippines, said UPCC’s performance was a product of pure hard work.

“All looked effortless but you should have seen the way they practised and trained for this…It’s one percent inspiration, 99% perspiration,” he said.

Watch a snippet of UPPC’s performance here:

The UPPC will be performing the same concert in the Philippines on July 12 at the UP College of Music. – Rappler.com