Cayabyab, Alcasid, Escalante sing for UP’s biz school
The University of The Philippines Diliman—specifically the UP College of Business Administration Alumni Association (UPCBAAA)—was swinging one recent night, so to speak, due to a benefit concert which showcased A-list performers from the world’s classical and choral music, musical theater, jazz, OPM (Original Pilipino Music, and bossa nova.
The stars of the show were National Artist Ryan Cayabyab, singer/songwriter Ogie Alcasid, jazz singer-actress Bituin Escalante, bossa nova artist Sitti and the UP Singing Ambassadors headed by Edgardo Manguiat.
The concert was held to support the scholarship program of UPCBAAA and to upgrade facilities of the Virata School of Business.
Cayabyab, who became a National Artist in 2018, had already won awards for choral works and film scores when he was young. He is, for me, the George Gershwin of the Philippines due to his ability to balance popular songs with serious music. As Google puts it, “he spans popular and classical genre and is considered one of the leading Filipino composers today.”
For the benefit concert, the National Artist played to the gallery, something he can do with ease considering his folksy, easygoing style. He engaged the crowd in a delightful sing-along which featured some of his favorite composers.
Alcasid, who has displayed staying power in the often turbulent world of show biz, is known for his songs like “Ikaw Sana” and “Nandito Ako.” He is an alumnus of La Salle Greenhills’ Kundirana, which also produced talents like Gary Valenciano and Dingdong Avanzado.
In an unexpected twist, Alcasid prepared rock arrangements of his songs, which are usually ballads, which went well with the audience and again had them singing along.
Stage presence
When she appears in a solo concert or performs in a musical play, Escalante always shakes up the audience because of her powerful voice (she doesn’t need a mic), stage presence and ability to communicate.
Escalante is considered to be one of the country’s best female vocalists. During the concert, one admirer observed, “The energy in the room was palpable as she hit every note with precision and emotion.”
Sitti brought a Latin flavor to the event, with her signature bossa nova songs and smooth, soothing voice. To her online followers, she has this message: “I am Sitti, a feeler, a singer. This is me sharing the light that I have with the world, dreaming it might become a little better through my words and music.”
The UP Singing Ambassadors has always been one of the major choirs in the country, not just in the UP community, and they performed a medley of songs ranging from timeless classics to contemporary hits. They were front act, actually, and the evening ended with Cayabyab’s “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika.”
A super senior like me remembers that in 1978, during the first Metropop Music Festival, “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika” won over Freddie Agular’s “Anak,” but it was the latter that became an international hit. “Anak” is still around, of course. A pop classic is a pop classic. But you don’t hear it as often as “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika,” which is usually a good way to cap a concert devoted to Philippine music.
“The evening was a beautiful blend of music, camaraderie, and philanthropy, leaving everyone with a sense of fulfillment and pride in contributing to a worthy cause,” said UPCBAAA president Marivic Añonuevo.
