Around the World with the UPCC

Would you believe me if I told you that I travelled around the world for free? With barely twenty dollars in my pocket? For seven straight months? It’s true. Twenty and one years ago, I was a member of the University of the Philippines Concert Chorus Batch 1990 that toured Europe and the United States (Ooops, there goes my age again!).

'The UPCC or lovingly called Korus, is a major cultural group based in UP Diliman started in 1962 as the official choir of the University of the Philippines. In 1969, the late Rey T. Paguio took over the reins of UPCC. Now on its 50th year and under the baton of Prof. Janet-Sabas Arcama, it still tours around the world to promote Filipino culture and heritage through music. It holds the distinction of being chosen as "one of the world's best choirs" at the 4th Lincoln Center International Choral Festival in New York City. It also holds the singular honor of being invited 11 times to the prestigious Aberdeen International Youth Festival in Scotland, and four times for command performances for Queen Elizabeth II.'
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_the_Philippines_Concert_Chorus  http://www.upconcertchorus.org/history/)

Before there was Glee, there was the UPCC. The choir pioneered in singing with choreography.

I thank my lucky stars that my friend Edgar Labor and I saw a poster inviting non-Music Major students to join the UPCC. We dared enter the hallowed halls of the College of Music, and we auditioned. Fortunately, we were both accepted, and the rest was an experience of a lifetime that I can never forget.

Here are some of the places we toured on this same month 20+1 years ago. It's just a shame that we didn't have digital cameras and internet and what-have-you's during that time. So pardon the fuzzy pictures and my fuzzier recall of the events. Twenty years is not just yesterday! (Pictures courtesy of Edgar Labor and Lionel Guico-They were the few ones who had cameras and rolls and rolls of films back then!)

Sweden

Norway

Note that at the background, park revellers sunbathe topless on the grass. First culture shock of the tour!

Helmenkollen Ski Jump Tower in Oslo, Norway

Denmark  no pictures:-(

Germany

Our hosts here were all giants. Luz Tolentino and I had to stand on a platform just so we wouldn't look like pygmies that we were.

Wales

3rd Place Folksong Category, 3rd Place Polyphonic Adult Category (1990)
Contest: Eisteddfodd Choral Music Competition
Awarded at: Llangollen, Wales

Scotland

Practicing on stage before a performance in Aberdeen, Scotland

We even visited the northern part of Scotland, Orkney Islands.

Loch Ness Monster Tour
(The truth is, I just want to show off my then teeny waistline. Hahaha!)

Carbisdale Castle was built in 1907
but is now used as a youth hostel

Carbisdale Castle, Scotland.
In Europe, we sometimes lived in castles turned dormitories because lodging there was cheaper. One problem there was the shower. Aside from the t&b's being communal, one had to drop a coin in the shower to activate a heater. Because we were Pinays (and smart!), Mary Ann Uy, Cynthia Guico, and I often took a bath together to save on heated water. And the 'Bianangs' were born.

Bianangs forever! Mary Ann Uy, Me, Cynthia Guico

England

There was a touching experience we had in Wigan, England. We were billeted in this castle above, with no hosts. So we had to buy our own food. Some of us went out to look for a store. We saw this house, and we knocked. Out came this lovely old couple. When we asked them for the direction of the nearest store, the lady of the house went inside and brought us a loaf of bread instead. We thanked them by singing “Dahil Sa ‘Yo” and “Seven-fold Amen”. When we finished singing, tears were rolling from our eyes, as the lovely couple. I’d never forget that moment.

One of the wonderful perks of going on a concert tour was to see famous musicals. Here in Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London, we watched Miss Saigon featuring the then 17-year old Leah Salonga.

We also sang for the Queen! (I think the song was 'Dahil Sa 'Yo')

Austria

UNO City Vienna, Austria

Italy

Our host, Maurizzio (I still remember his name!) took us to a shoe factory and made Lowell Esguerra and I choose two pairs of shoes each. My first ever Italian shoes—straight from a factory!  So can you blame me if his name is forever etched in my memory? (That's him in red)

The great Milano Cathedral

1st Place Folksong Adult Category (1990)
Contest: Concorso Polifonico
Awarded at: Arezzo, Italy

Switzerland

Our host family in Lucerne

Spain
We had a great time there hoarding bottles and bottles of colognia and pairs of espadrilles in Vittoria, Spain. Major overweight problem at the airport!!!

More Bianang pictures

The US Leg of the Tour: From New York to LA to Hawaii

Watched Les Miserables on Broadway

                                                                               

In front of the White House 

 

We wouldn't miss Disneyland for the world!

 

And we watched Phantom of the Opera too.

 

A corny apple tree shot with Egay--luvett!






In Sea World, San Diego California                           

 

Washington aka Twilight country to the tweens. 

We sang everywhere!

Thank you UP, UPCC, and Sir Paguio (bless his soul!) for this amazing opportunity!

 

And now for some fine music:

(Videos from Youtube by Edgar Labor)

                                   Manggang Hilaw                                              Damgo Man Lang               

Les Miserables Medley 

                                    Tuwing Umuulan                                        Umiikot, Sumisirko 

                                           Bahay                                                                 Nais Ko

                            Paru-parong Bukid Medley                                       Exultate Deo

UP Concert Chorus Batch 1990

9th International Concert Tour

SOPRANOS

Bandylyn Calalang

Cynthia Culig

Noelle Riza De los Reyes

Melanie Dujunco

Lowell Esguerra

Alegria Ferrer

Imelda Solomon

Luz Tolentino

Mary Ann Uy

ALTOS

Madeleine Acosta

Maria Benilda Alvarez

Salome Castro

Eileen Neysa Custodio

Marie Josephine Madriñan

Jesusa Suzara Moreno

Agnes Reyes

Trisia Lenelle Rosete

Sonia Claire Velasco

TENORS

Jonathan Badon

Jerome Fernando Castro

Noel Driz

John Braundy Flores

Jose Amadeo Gimenez

Edgar Labor

Tomas Makiling

Nicolas Vincent Pacis

Jose Alberto Tamayo

BASSES

Leotheny Cabrera

Lionel Nestor Guico

Arnold Holgado

Jose Miguelito

Jemmer Pablo

Hilario Sean Palmiano

Adrian Reyes

Arvin Rustia

PIANIST

Paul Carlo Concepcion

TOUR MANAGER

Zoe Arroyo

CHAPERON

Eleanor Olsen

CONDUCTOR

Prof. Reynaldo T. Paguio

Thanks to Melanie Dujunco for the Batch 1990 list!

From http://ccafi.blogspot.com/