Tag: December 15, 2015

THE PARTICIPATION of a Russian violinist and a Korean classical singer who happens to be the spouse of UST’s pride, soprano Rachelle Gerodias, provided an international flavor to the annual UST Christmas Concert, whose gala last December 3 again provided a highly classical—and tasteful—kick-off to this month’s holiday season.

With the UST Symphony Orchestra under Prof. Hermenegildo Ranera, Yaroslava Poletaeva, a Russian violinist who was trained at the Conservatory of Music at Lynn University in Florida, gave an astounding violin performance of “Zigeunerwersein” by Pablo Sarasate and “Carol of the Bells” by Mykola Leontovych.

Although more known for its classical repertoire that has made it the toast of choral festivals in Old Europe, the acclaimed UST Singers is also noted for its Philippine repertoire, which it showed to full effect in a pre-Christmas Original Pilipino Music (OPM) concert, “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika,” organized by the Bel-Air Makati village.

It was the fourth time for the UST Singers to be invited to the Bel-Air concert, proof that residents of the tony Makati village are appreciative of UST Singers’ brand of musical excellence.

Staple classical music and contemporary popular tunes like American band Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger” were performed by the UST Conservatory of Music and highlighted the 31st “Sampung Mga Daliri” concert at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo at the Cultural Center of the Philippines last November 22.

The annual concert showcased its trademark of 10 grand pianos on stage and performances by ensembles like: the UST Symphony Orchestra, Wind Orchestra, Coro Tomasino, Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble, Chrous Class, USTe Mundo, Jazz, Guitar, Rondalla, Percussion and Musical Theater Ensembles, and Extension Program. Aside from classical and contemporary hits, the concert performed “It’s Always A Good Time,” by band Owl City. It likewise featured the “Zumba Medley.”

UNCONVENTIONAL but tasteful Christmas decor by Interior Design students enlivened the holiday spirit at the UST Museum of Arts and Sciences last Dec. 3-18.

Third-year students from the College of Fine Arts and Design recreated Christmas accessories in “Objects: Re-imagined Christmas Accessories,” into a visual art application of new techniques and innovation from simple materials.

“We came up with an all-white avant-garde theme, which is very in right now and complements our concept of making the exhibit (a showcase of simplicity,” said Justin Co, student head of the exhibit in an interview with the Varsitarian. “The materials we used are simple and light and we transformed it into something minimalistic but still beautiful and elegant.”

THOMASIAN danseur and former Salinggawi Dance Troupe member Osias Barroso choreographed the classic children’s tale “Pinocchio” for Ballet Manila (BM) into a fitting Christmas ballet story. It was staged early this month at the Aliw Theater in Pasay City.

The ballet show, the third installation of BM’s “From Page to Stage” repertoire for its 20th season, enchanted young people and adults as a two-act holiday production derived from the 1940 animated film by Walt Disney Productions. Originally, the story was based on the 1883 children’s novel by Italian writer Carlo Collodi, The Adventures of Pinocchio.

CELEBRATED journalist, poet, and screenplay writer Jose “Pete” Lacaba expressed pessimism about the future of Philippine democracy, saying that next year’s elections would not exactly improve the prospects of Philippine democracy. Lacaba urged the people to look back carefully at the lessons of the country’s traumatic past in order to ameliorate the present.

“[Ang bayan natin] ay nasadlak sa dusa at naging pugad ng luha at dalita,” he echoed.

OUR EMERALD tower of prickly pines,

crystal spheres dangling

from its sturdy wooden arm

our neighbors fuddled with drink

singing carols

with jumbled lyrics

pouring drinks in your name, saying,

“O, kay Kuya Leo naman.”

You used to wipe the dust off the figurine angels

revealing faded smiles

paint chipping off from handheld harps and trumpets

left, right, left, right went the washcloth

and the golden star for the finish

that you wouldn’t let anyone touch nor clean

(Remember when I used metal polish

and you didn’t speak to me for a week?)

HE CAUGHT himself tiptoeing the line

between reality and fiction,

lost in daydreams of sumptuous dishes

and new clothes.

The December breeze blew

and tugged at both the roof and his thoughts as

he was greeted by the cold—

nothing spelled seasons better than

gifts cradled in boxes,

draped with patches of red and green,

aroma of cured meats wafting through the air,

a sea of lights flooding the town by nightfall.

He snapped out of wishful thinking

and embraced raw truth, reality bared

as it truly were—

cheap bulbs,

Mother’s bland spaghetti,

and Father’s hand-me-downs,

everyone cramped in a little hut

far-flung from the heart of the celebration —

images he was willing to forgo

even for a little while

for the love of Yuletide magic.

HALOS taon-taon nagbubukas kami ng balikbayan box tuwing sasapit ang kapaskuhan.

Naging tradisiyon na ito mula nang maging overseas Filipino workers (OFW) sina Papa at Mama noong 2008.

Laman ng malalaking kahon ang sandamukal na tsokolateng nabibili nila ng bagsak presyo kumpara sa Pilipinas, mga bagong kamiseta na branded at ginto kung tingalain sa Pinas, at mga rekadong panghanda sa noche buena—gatas na delata, spaghetti noodles, ketchup at maraming pa iba.

BAGO pa man maitatag ang taunang parangal pampanitikan ng Varsitarian na Gawad Ustetika, mayroon nang patimpalak-pampanitikan sa Unibersidad.

Taong 1769 nang dumating sa bansa si Fr. Salvador Llosent na naatasang panghawakan ang posisyong professorial chair of humanities ng Unibersidad. Tungkulin niyang payabungin ang mga klase ng humanidades sa UST.

Sa ilalim ng kaniyang panunungkulan, yumabong sa 220 ang mag-aaral sa humanities—ang pinakamalaking klase sa Unibersidad noon.

Anim na taon makaraan nang kaniyang pagdating, itinatag niya ang Certamen Literario (patimpalak pampanitikan) noong ika-7 ng Marso 1775 sa pista ni Santo Tomas de Aquino.