Homegrown talents from the University and its partner communities starred in “Sayawit: Saya, Sayaw, at Awit ng Pilipino,” a benefit concert last Feb. 13 at the Grand Ballroom of the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building.
The UST Brass Quintet opened the event with a soothing rendition of Brownman Revival’s “Ikaw Lang Ang Aking Mahal” and Celine Dion’s “Beauty and the Beast.”
It was followed by a piano performance of Clementi’s “Sonatina in C major, Op. 36.” Klowie Florendo, a beneficiary of the Parent Advocates for Visually Impaired Children (PAVIC), played the piece.
UST’s Sinag Ballroom Dance Company brought the show alive with Latin, waltz, tango and chacha performances.
Accompanied by a guitar duo, Aeta children from Sitio Buok and Sitio Santa Rosa, Tarlac sang the hymn “Power Of Your Love” and Moonstar 88’s “Torete.”
The UST Guitar Octet then gave a four-tiered performance with Miguel Velarde’s “Minamahal Kita,” and “Aragonaise,” “Habañera,” and “Gypsy Dance” from the opera “Carmen.”
Students from the Conservatory of Music continued to dominate the scene with the Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble performing the Broadway hit “Seasons of Love” and Yoyoy Villame’s “Butse Kik.”
Coro Tomasino likewise gave a spectacular number with Bamboo’s “Tatsulok” and Yeng Constantino’s “Ikaw.”
The concert ended with an adaptation of the musical “Legally Blonde.”
“This day is all about celebration and showing their talents and what they can contribute to each other,” Mark Anthony Abenir, director of the UST Simbahayan Community Development Office, said in his closing remarks.
“Sayawit” is part of the annual Pistang Tomas celebration, a week-long fair organized by Simbahayan in partnership with the colleges of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Commerce and Business Administration, Fine Arts and Design, Architecture, the UST-Alfredo M. Velayo College of Accountancy, Conservatory of Music and the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics.
Proceeds of the concert will go to the partner communities of the University.
Themed “Kultura’t Kabuhayan ng Pamayanan, Pagyamanin at Pangalagaan,” Pistang Tomas ran until Feb. 15.
