We, Filipinos, are known in the worldwide music industry. Most of the famous singers throughout the world are Filipinos! And it’s nice to know that foreign record companies are now taking notice of the singing prowess of Filipinos.
Did you know that in Bohol, there is a school-based choir composed of thirty schoolchildren holding concerts all over the Philippines and abroad? Well, you should be proud of being a Filipino as I introduce this famous children’s choir – The Loboc Children's Choir or LCC of Bohol.
The Hymn of the Angels
As I've said, Loboc Children's Choir or LCC is a school-based choir composed of thirty schoolchildren of the Loboc Central Elementary School, in Loboc, Bohol. The children are between the ages of nine and thirteen years old. The Choir has held concerts all over the Philippines and abroad. It plays an active part in school, town, and provincial activities.
The Choir was founded in 1980 and established to give color to school and community events. In 1993, it won first prize at the National Music Competitions for Young Artists. It was awarded first prize again in the same competition in 1995.
Some of Notable Awards
In 1996, in a concert dubbed “On Angels' Wings: From Bohol to the World”, the choir toured key cities in the United States. It has performed with the World Youth Orchestra during the latter's concerts in Bohol and Cebu in 1999, and with the University of Santo Tomas Symphony Orchestra. As a 'cultural treasure' of the Province, the group often sings for visiting dignitaries, and local and foreign tourists. Its concert repertoire is a combination of classical, folk, modern and children's songs.
In 2000, it represented the country during the International Children's Culture and Arts Festival in Tianjin, China, and held concerts in Beijing and Hong Kong.
It became the National Champion in the category of Children's Choirs during the National Music Competitions for Young Artists in 2001. These competitions are the most prestigious music competitions in the Philippines.
A notable project was its partnership with the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, the leading art museum in the Philippines, which launched an exhibit on the arts and culture of Bohol. The Choir, under the auspices of the Met and of its leaders led by Trustee Bea Zobel, Jr. and Executive Director Ino Manalo, regaled the exhibit launch with a special concert which was followed by a Christmas Concert tour in major business establishments in Makati City and Ayala Alabang. This climaxed with a command performance for the Her Majesty Queen Sofia of Spain in a cultural exchange visit to the Philippines.
The group also performed in a back-to-back concert with the University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors, winner of the prestigious Gran Premio Citta di Arezzo in 2001 during the 49th Concorso Polifonico Internazionale Guido d'Arezzo in Arezzo, Italy. The concert, entitled An Evening of Heaven's Music, was held in line with the Heritage Conservation Program in the Province of Bohol.
The Choir also figured in a series of activities in collaboration with the Diocese of Tagbilaran and the Metropolitan Museum of Manila which has selected Bohol as a model partner in developing its art and development programs. On September 2, 2003, the children performed at the Studio at the Riverbank, Marikina City, under the sponsorship of the Pinatubo sa Pagkakaisa Foundation.
Parts of the proceeds of the September 2, 2003 performance went to the salaries of teachers at the Wenceslao Village Elementary School at the Wenceslao Village resettlement project in Dau, Lubao, Pampanga.
European Concert Tour
In 2003, the choir was presented by the Metropolitan Museum of Manila in a series of concert tours in Europe dubbed "TUBO: A Musical Journey for Heritage and Peace."
The Choir garnered two major awards at the Europe and its Songs 6th International Folksong Choir Festival, held in Barcelona, Spain, from September 17 to 21, 2003. The LCC rated 97.5 points which earned it the First prize with a Gold Medal in the Children's Choir category. The international jury likewise awarded the Loboc Children's Choir the Europe and its Songs 2003 Cup for having achieved the overall highest mark in all categories, surpassing the marks of twelve other international choirs.
The tour was financed by a consortium of grants facilitated under the auspices of the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, including Philippine embassies and consulates in the countries involved.
Musical Director and Conductor
The choir's current conductor, Alma Fernando-Taldo or "Ma'am Taldo", teaches at the Loboc Elementary School, handling English and Character Education for fifth-grade students. Her first musical education was provided by her paternal grandfather; she later took solfeggio classes.
To prepare herself as a choral conductor, she attended workshops and master classes from known Filipino conductors such as Edgardo Manguiat of the University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors (UPSA), Ramon Santos, Chino Toledo, Andrea Veneracion of the Philippine Madrigal Singers or MADZ and Francisco Feliciano. Edgardo Manguiat also acts as a consultant to the choir.
Albums
During its European Tour, the Loboc Children's Choir is selling its latest CD, Loboc Children's Choir...And A Child's Heart Sings. This CD, recorded in the St. Peter the Apostle Church in Loboc contains a selection of the music performed by the choir. On the CD are classical, religious, and traditional as well as contemporary music and children's music.