The Orchestra of the Filipino Youth (OFY) held their first concert of 2019 last February 9 at the Sun Life Amphitheater in BGC Arts Center, Taguig. A Pre-Valentine’s performance, the repertoire included classic pieces by Wagner, Handel and Schumann and local songs such as Rey Valera’s Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko, which is one of the OFY’s crowd favorite. The concert began with the sunset as backdrop – a perfect setting for an early evening serenade for families, couples and children.
Ang Misyon, Inc. (AMI) is a nonprofit organization that supports the underprivileged children and youth who have passion and talent in music. AMI marked a few milestones that evening. Ang Misyon’s Children Orchestra (AMCO) was officially introduced to the public. This was also the first time the young musicians performed with the OFY. AMCO was conducted by Paolo Imperial, a scholar himself, and the joint performance was conducted by Joshua Dos Santos, the Orchestra’s Music Director. A couple of music pieces were also conducted by OFY scholar Carl Piñon, which concluded the show.
The concert “Musika at Misyon” brings to life the many aspirations of the organization, including the vision of excellence in music for a better Philippines. As a Pre-Valentine’s treat, it combined pieces that expressed the message of love in various ways, breaking the limit that this celebration is only for the romantic and that music indeed brings people together. In the audience were AMI’s key supporters Federico Lopez, President and Co-Founder, the event’s major sponsors Sun Life Foundation represented by Benedicto Sison, Trustee and CEO and Country Head of SLOCPI (Sun Life of Canada Philippines, Inc.), Alex Narciso, President, Sun Life Foundation and SLOCPI (Sun Life of Canada Philippines, Inc.) and Tin Millete, Executive Director of Sun Life Foundation, and Joaquina S. Jamias of WS Family Foundation. Also supporting the event were BGC Arts Center, BPI, BDO, Bonifacio Global City, Bonifacio High Street and San Miguel Corporation.