The Las Piñas Boys Choir won the gold medal in the 5th World Choir Games, children’s category, held in Graz, Austria last week.
It also won the silver medal in the Musica Sacra Category.
The 20-member Las Piñas Boys Choir, based in St. Joseph Church in Las Piñas where the world famous bamboo organ is housed, bested 70 choirs from all over the world including those from the United States, Greece, Estonia, Great Britain, Russia, South Africa.
“This is a proud moment not only for the Las Piñas Boys Choir, not only for Las Piñas but for the Filipino People!Once again, we have shown the world that the Filipino talent is world class!,” exulted Fr. Benjmain “Didoy” Molina, who is part of the management team.
The choir members are George Angeles II, Bernard Paolo Caro, Alvin Joshua Cayetano, Josiah de los Santos, Justin Claude Fernandez;
Jadlae Aivan Fernandez, Joseph Vincent Gregorio, Carl Paolo Hernandez, Japheth Juanillo,Herman Manalang;
Jhansseen Martinez,. Dhonel Martinicio, Alwyn Dominique Panoso, Rupert Kim Pastrana, Ramon Paolo Quintero;
Chazz Reyes, Karlo Reyes, Francis David Salonga, Joshua Gabriel Samiley, and Joe Sengson.
Accompanying the boys are Professor Armando Salarza, conductor; Alejandro Consolacion II, accompanist; staff and consultants January Hernandez, Norie Salarza, Leo and Donna Renier and managers Msgr. Albert Venus and Fr. Benjamin “Didoy” Molina.
Held every two years in different countries, the World Choir Games is the largest international choir competition. Past competitions were held in Xiamen, China (2006), Bremen, Germany (2004), Busan , South Korea (2002) and Linz, Austria (2000).
In the LPBC blog, Molina described the emotion-filled announcement of the winners:
“All the members of the winning choir go up on stage and the national anthem is played while the national flag is hoisted up. Various emotions are displayed by the winning choirs, with loud cheering, jumping and unabashed crying.
“When the Musica Sacra category was announced, the LPBC got a silver medal!,” Molina related.
He said the excitement was raised to a high level in the announcement of the final category : the Children’s Choir
He said they became more excited when the name of the Las Piñas Boys Choir was not called for the bronze and silver medals. “And then the momentous music that signals the world champion will be announced was played. The Las Piñas Boys Choir was announced as the world champion in the Children’s Choir category.”
He said the whole Las Piñas Boys Choir team rushed to the stage, the Philippine National Anthem was played and the Philippine Flag was raised.
The LPBC is expected to arrive tomorrow (Wednesday).
Las Piñas Boys Choir was founded in 1969 by Reverend Father Leo Reinier, (CICM, who was assistant parish priest in St. Joseph Parish.
Fr. Leo believed that the Bamboo Organ could achieve the fullness of its being as an instrument to praise God only, when there is a good choir to put into words what the music conveys. With this in mind, he started recruiting young boys between 8 and 12 years with potentially good singing voices from the parochial as well as public schools in Las Piñas. Choir members are all enrolled in St. Joseph’s Academy where they enjoy scholarships earned through engagements and performances. They also perform regularly at the St. Joseph Parish Church.
More photos in these links:
http://lpbcsja.multiply.com/photos/album/21/World_Champion#
http://lpbcsja.multiply.com/photos/album/20/Childrens_Choir_Category#
http://lpbcsja.multiply.com/photos/album/19/Day_6_-_Musica_Sacra_Competition#
Congratulations! Hindi na pakyaw ni Pacquiao ang honor ng Phil. I wonder if GMA will honor them as well..
She sure will. She claims every honor that a Filipino wins abroad.
Wow, galing naman! Congratulations.
Ellen,
Pamangkin ko si Vincent Gregorio. Namatay ang lolo niya a few days bago sila umalis first week of July. Ayaw na sanang sumama nung bata, pero pinilit ng mga pinsan ko para raw sa Lolo niya. Yung mga pinsan ko sa Manuyo, original batch ng well-toured Pangkat Kawayan kaya namana siguro ng mga bata ang performing artists’ blood.
Congrats Vince and co-members, your Lolo Nanding will be proud of you.
Congratulations! These boys are really the country’s pride.
St. Joseph Academy should be commended for continuing to nurture the choir.
My nephew is now a college graduate. Together with other graduates of the Boys Choir, they formed a Men’s Choir. Nakakatuwa itong mga bata.
Ellen,
Doon sa 3rd photo mo sa itaas, nasa gitna si Vince ng flag.
Wow, galing! They look like they are having a great time. They deserve it.
Congrats to the members of this choir!
Sana hindi sila agawan ng glory ni Pandack Omama. Pag kinumbida sila sa Malacanang, Tongue, please pakisabi sa pamangkin mo, huwag nang sumama.
Pinasundo ni Nene Aguilar today yung mga bata sa airport at imo-motorcade yata papuntang City Hall o sa Bamboo Organ. Related si Vince kay Imelda Aguilar by affinity.
Tatlong grupo pala yang mga Pinoy na sumali sa about 400 choirs.
TonGuE wow! sino coach nya? Ikaw? hahaha! congratulations! sana dumami pa angkan mo! Yan ang kelangan nang bayan naten! 🙂
Reynz,
Lahi kami ng mga performers. Dati rin akong musikero, kaso ayaw ng parents ko, baka raw mag-adik lang ako. Sayang tuloy ang gandang lalaki ko. Heheh.