LOS ANGELES—One hundred children’s choir members, 60 adult choir performers, plus 60 personnel of the Filipino-American Symphony Orchestra (Faso), the first Pinoy symphony orchestra outside the Philippines.

Add singing sensation Charice and several other guest soloists—Joey Albert, Maria Christina “Kit” Navarro, Isabella “Bella” Ramos and Joanne Marie Villanueva. The result? Possibly the best holiday musical gift for Fil-Ams this Christmas season. And it’s taking place next Sunday, Dec. 6, 5 p.m. at the grand Pasadena Civic Auditorium, the former home of the Emmy Awards. “Handog ng Faso sa Pasko” is the second and much-awaited concert of Faso since it made its historic debut in May this year.

When we attended a rehearsal in the auditorium of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in LA last Tuesday evening, we got caught up in the magnitude of the event. The place was packed. After all, there are two adult and four children’s choirs involved. It was the first time that the choirs and the orchestra rehearsed together.

The orchestra sounded very good as Robert “Bob” Shroder, Faso’s musical director and conductor, went through several holiday pieces.

Onlookers, mostly parents of the children’s choir members, couldn’t help but applaud classical soprano Kit as she practiced her songs with the orchestra. We’re glad that the classical soprano is again in the show because she was quite a revelation in Faso’s debut concert. When the children stood up to practice their songs with the orchestra, the combination of beautiful, clear voices and instrumental sounds was instantly heartwarming.

Surprise treat

We were sorry to leave and miss hearing the adult choirs because we had to meet a column deadline. But we went away enthusiastic for the concert at the Pasadena Civic which, we’re told, will be decorated with colorful Christmas parols come Dec. 6. Add the Charice factor and the anticipation level for the show goes even higher. “I am so excited to be able to work with the very talented young Filipina singer,” Bob told us the following day via e-mail. “This is the first time that her fans will experience watching their idol sing her favorite songs with a full Filipino orchestra.”

Christopher “Pete” Avendaño, a UST-trained tenor who impressed the audience in Faso’s first show, agreed: “Charice will definitely bring excitement to the concert. I myself am a big fan of hers. A lot of us have not seen her perform live so it will be a great treat to have her in the concert. After Faso announced that Charice will be joining the show, everyone got very excited. It’s going to be a great night of talent and music.”

There is a number from Charice that the organizers would like to keep as a surprise treat. Bob said, “Definitely, Charice will sing ‘Note to God,’ her first single from her forthcoming international album. I am grateful to David Foster for lending us the musical arrangements.”

Pete, who has released an album, “Kundiman,” is the music director of the participating children’s choirs from three Catholic schools, Our Lady of Loretto, Immaculate Heart of Mary and Blessed Sacrament; and one church, Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Filipino adult choir from the same church is joining the concert. He trained them to learn the songs for “Handog…”

The other choir is the Philippine Chamber Singers-Los Angeles (PCS-LA) which Peter described as “a group of young, dynamic, and vibrant Filipino music lovers united by their passion for choral singing. The singers’ aim is to promote quintessential Filipino choral literature in and around Southern California. PCS-LA is a very active participant in community outreach appearances and various festivals. Last year, they made their fourth appearance in the World Festival of Sacred Music Los Angeles, which was spearheaded by UCLA. The chorus and its members played major roles in the US production of the Filipino musical opera, ‘Karim at Jasmin’ at the Long Beach Convention Center.”

Among the choir’s members are Gelo Francisco, Annie and Ed Nepomuceno, who comprise the vocal group 3 of a Kind. Ed and another member, Emam Miranda also belong to the acclaimed Los Angeles Master Chorale.

The Asian Journal Foundation, Inc., led by Fil-Am community leaders Roger and Cora Oriel, are pulling out all the stops to make the concert a special and memorable one. At 3 p.m., before the Pasadena Civic’s doors are opened, the Kultura Philippine Folk Arts and an all-male Filipino choir will perform.

Holiday music
“Christmas is a family celebration,” explained Bob who studied at UP Diliman and played for the Manila Symphony Orchestra and Manila Chamber Orchestra. “It’s all about Jesus and the Holy Family so this is a great opportunity for parents to introduce to their children to how we Filipinos celebrate Christmas, and get them exposed to symphonic music and the beauty of Filipino music. We encourage parents to bring their children.”

“The holiday music portion is one of the most exciting parts of this concert because we all know how special the Christmas season is to us,” Bob added. “I know that we’re the only country where the Christmas season starts on Sept. 1. We value the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ who is ‘the reason for the season.’ We will open the program with a Christmas March to set the mood and play a classical overture by Mozart. Why Mozart? He is from Salzburg, Austria, a small town that also celebrates Christmas in a very special traditional way. And also to commemorate the 218th death anniversary of our great classical composer.

“Then we will play excerpts from ‘The Messiah’ by J.F. Handel with a full choir. I am sure our kababayans will also be touched when they listen to ‘O Holy Night,’ ‘Silent Night’ and other familiar Western Christmas carols. The second half may bring the audience to tears when they see the parols while we play ‘Payapang Daigdig’ which will begin with a solo violin, then a festive ‘Simbang Gabi,’ and then segue to a Pinoy pop repertoire. We will end with the singing of the traditional ‘Hallelujah Chorus.’ ”

Among Joey’s numbers are “Pasko na Sinta Ko” and “Kumukutikutitap.” Of Kit and many of the Faso members, Bob said, “We want to expose to the mainstream Filipino audience our great talents who spent time studying and mastering their profession as artists. A lot of those in the orchestra may not be very popular but they are masters in the music field. We have an amazing group of very talented, educated and highly musical members. It feels like home when you play music with fellow Filipinos. We share not only music; we talk about and share our different experiences as musicians in the Philippines with our members who were born here in the US.”

One of the numbers we’re looking forward to is that of promising young singers, Bella and Joanne. Bella is a member of the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus and has performed in many LA Opera productions and concerts in the Music Center. Joan was Peter’s student at Our Lady of Loretto and he continues to be her voice teacher.

Bob explained this segment: “We would like to dedicate a portion of the program to the victims of the tragic typhoons that recently hit the country. I thought it would be nice to start that with a song from the youth so Bella and Joanne will duet on ‘Sa Ugoy ng Duyan and ‘Ili-Ili Tulog Anay.’ I met both of them at the church. Louie Ramos, Bella’s father, is also one of our musical arrangers.”

Pete said, “Bella and Joanne will be joined by the children’s choirs in this portion. It will be a treat to see all the kids, not just Filipino kids (we also have Hispanic and African-American members) sing Tagalog and Ilongo folk songs.”

Pinoy pride

“From excerpts of Handel’s ‘Messiah’ to the contemporary arrangements of Christmas carols and the traditional Filipino songs arranged by Ryan Cayabyab and others, I’m sure the audience will never forget this concert,” said Pete, who is grateful to Nove Deypalan, a big help behind the scenes in the choir rehearsals.

Seeing the orchestra at the rehearsal and how it is thriving, preparing for a second concert strikes a source of Pinoy pride in us. This is a big undertaking, an important, positive development in a community known for its projects that start grandly and then fizzle.

Bob himself is thankful for this miracle. He wrote, “Every time I look at the orchestra, it brings a smile and a feeling of great achievement. When I’m alone and meditating, I thank God for selecting me and the other founders of the group to bring this special gift of the arts to reality and most especially to the most dedicated members of the orchestra.”

E-mail the columnist at rvnepales_5585@yahoo.com and read his blog, “The Nepales Report,” on http://blogs.inquirer.net/nepalesreport.