UP Manila Chorale sings in Belgium for CamSur school, mission house

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday said the University of the Philippines Manila Chorale (UPMC) performed in Belgium in April to help raise funds for a soon-to-be built “Mission House Virgin of the Poor” and the Irayang Solong Elementary School, both in Minalabac, Camarines Sur. Citing a repot of the Philippine Embassy in Brussels, the DFA said UPMC, led by its conductor, Emmanuel De Leon, performed in Brugge, Oostende and Harelbeke in Belgium from April 26 to 30. The 17-member UPMC is the official performing group for choral music of the University of the Philippines Manila. As part of their Paglalayag 2013 European Tour Concerts, the UPMC performed at:

• the St. Michiels Church in Brugge on April 26,
• St. Willibrord Church on April 27,
• the Dominican Church in Oostende on April 27 and
• at a Filipijns Avond Feest (Filipino Evening Festival) at the Cultural Center of Het Spoor, Harelbeke on April 30.

The UPMC performed songs such as “Rosas Pandan,” “Someone Like You,” “Eres Tu,” “I Believe,” William Tell’s “Overture” and “Kredo” or “Apostle’s Creed,”  a composition of  Josefino Toledo for the 13th International Chamber Choir Competition in MarktOberdorf,  Germany.   The group also sang the “Het Kleine Café Aan de Haven,” a popular Dutch song. The “Mission House Virgin of the Poor” is a project for handicapped children in the Philippines of the World Mission for Peace and Development, a non-governmental organization based in Belgium. The organization, headed by Consorcia Scholtz-De Leon, is undertaking the project with Rev. Mother Espie Orejola of the Franciscans Our Lady of the Poor congregation. - VVP, GMA News