The Varsitarian

The quadricentennial edition of the UST Christmas Concert Gala last Dec. 1 at the UST Chapel (Santissimo Rosario Church) was made more memorable by the playing of the UST Martyrs’ Carillon bells.

Formally opening the event was the lighting of a Christmas tree in front of the UST Chapel by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and the concert organizers Maricris Zobel and Rev. Fr. Isidro Abano, OP. As the Christmas tree was lit, Dean Raul Sunico of the Conservatory of Music accompanied the ringing of newly inaugurated Carillon with his piano-playing.

Father Rector Magnificus Rolando V. De la Rosa, OP welcomed the audience consisting of VIP’s and the who’s who in Philippine society. read more »

THE MANILA Cathedral launched four new wedding songs composed by a Thomasian last Nov. 29 along with the opening of its sixth Pipe Organ Festival.

“This time, we’re trying to go back again in the old ways of composing liturgical music, that is using ‘approved texts’ like psalms and proper antiphons,” cathedral music minister Ferdinand Bautista said, who composed the new wedding musical themes.

First in the list of new Catholic wedding songs is Ang Ngalan mo Poon, which is to be used for the grand wedding entrance. The piece was accompanied by music from the pipe organ, trumpet, violin, contrabass, and timpani. read more »

A CONFERENCE on “nation and culture” was convened by Sen. Edgardo Angara, National Artist for Literature and UST alumnus Francisco Sionil Jose and gathered artists, cultural leaders, politicians, and thinkers to chart the direction of the nation at the Cultural Center of the Philippines last Dec. 3.

The conference was convened in connection with the 150th birth anniversary of Jose Rizal.

“Have we grown in solidarity as a nation?” asked Angara in his opening address. “Or have we become more divided as a people?” read more »

AS PART of the Quadricentennial, UST unveiled 41 restored paintings from its most prized fine arts collection and opened them for public viewing last Nov. 18 at the restored UST Hall of Visual Arts, formerly the UST Museum’s Art Gallery.

It was not the first time that the University opened its art collection to the public. The UST Museum inaugurated its first art gallery in the 1940s upon the initiative of then rector Fr. Silvestre Sancho, O.P. Last year, the exhibit Visual Colors of Grace showcased rare pieces in the UST collection, a sneak peek of the forthcoming Hall of Visual Arts.  read more »

IMPARTING blessings through music was the aspiration of premier soprano Rachelle Gerodias who marked her 40th birthday with the concert Rachelle Gerodias on Years and Songs, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ (CCP) Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater) last October 8.

The concert was also a charitable endeavour since its proceeds would benefit the scholars of the Rachelle Gerodias Music Foundation.

“The concert would be a perfect avenue for the foundation,” she said. “This is my way of saying thank you to my church and acknowledging the music industry. This is my way of giving back.” read more »

WHILE big names in the performing arts made Resorts World Manila’s (RWM) production of the classic musical The Sound of Music a hit, prominent Thomasians in the field of music and fashion were the backbone of the production’s success.

Held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater (NPAT) from Oct. 15 to Dec. 1, the production made audiences reminisce the familiar melodies of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein played live by the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO).

Leading the orchestra was MSO’s principal conductor and musical director Rodel Colmenar, an alumnus of the UST Conservatory of Music, who majored in French Horn. read more »

ARCHITECTURE alumnus Roberto Chabet has made his first attempt at digital installation in the art exhibit,Tabo, which opened at the Lopez Memorial Museum in Pasig City last Nov. 10.

A tribute to the 150th birth anniversary of Jose Rizal, the exhibit was named after the first chapter of El Filibusterismo.

Footage of the Pasig River runs on several TV screens in the exhibit hall, providing the viewer a feel of being on board the steamship Tabo, on whose deck the colorful characters of Rizal’s novel are introduced.

The only human element in the hall is the voice of a man reciting the novel’s first chapter. Chabet’s installation art thereby combines video and audio, enhancing the realism of the experience. read more »

NATURE-INSPIRED scenes are showcased by UST Fine Arts alumna Lolita Valderrama-Savage in her first exhibit titled Savage Nature at the UST Museum Main Gallery from Nov. 9 to Dec. 10.

Savage Nature was the artist’s reaffirmation of her Thomasian roots and her way of celebrating the University’s Quadricentennial. The exhibit featured artworks depicting her travels abroad and her “communion with nature.”

“UST brought out in me a sense of discipline which made me into a strong and hard-working person ready to face the world,” Savage said.

A graduate of the former College of Architecture and Fine Arts (Cafa), Savage also obtained a diploma from the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence, Italy. read more »

UNLIKE its predecessor, Guitarra 2011 featured an all-Thomasian display of musical expertise as the Conservatory of Music’s students, faculty, and alumni took to the stage at the UST Museum from September 13 to 15.

Last year, the festival featured renowned guitarists from all over the globe. Aside from participating in the concerts, the foreign instrumentalists also held master classes at the Conservatory to impart their knowledge and expertise to students and faculty alike. They shared the stage with other Filipino guitar masters such as Joseph Mirandilla, Angelito Agcaoili and Manuel Cabrera.

Guitarra 2011 was led by Guitar Department coordinator Ruben Reyes. read more »

SOPRANO Rachelle Gerodias’ vocal performance was the cherry on top of in Ballet Philippine’s (BP) tribute to women, Inamorata, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater) from September 23 to 25.

“Inamorata is all about woman as the beloved, and as an advocate for women, I am proud to say that our show presents the many aspects of women,” wrote Ballet Philippines president and Miss Universe 1973 Margie Morgan-Floirendo in a message to audiences.

Inamorata was composed of nine segments per show. Each performance illustrated the many roles that the modern-day femme plays in society, making the various struggles she endures and obstacles she conquers known to audiences read more »