LOS ANGELES—As the 60-member strong Filipino-American Symphony Orchestra (Faso) played pieces from Lucio San Pedro to Levi Celerio last Sunday evening at the historic Pasadena Civic Auditorium, the thought hit us—that something so beautiful, positive and Filipino continues to exist in the US.
When Faso made its historic debut as the first Filipino symphony orchestra outside the Philippines last May 17 at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, we frankly had doubts about its continued existence. We were proud of Faso, yes, but our enthusiasm was tempered by the ningas cogon mentality that is responsible for the flash-then-fizzle fate of many Fil-Am projects.
So, to see and listen to the orchestra, led by musical director, Robert “Bob” Shroder, playing in its second concert at a grander venue, the 77-year-old Pasadena Civic Auditorium, was almost like watching a miracle unfold. While many orchestras in the US and around the world are going bankrupt, downsizing or folding up, here’s a Filipino symphony orchestra that bowed during one of the worst economic downturns in history returning to the stage. We’re still reeling from the financial crisis, but last Dec. 6, in the concert titled “Handog ng Faso sa Pasko,” the orchestra was up there in a revered performance hall, bathed in bright lights and playing with brio.
Significance
We almost felt like nudging everyone and saying, do we all realize the significance of this evening; that a huge Fil-Am undertaking like this, is actually happening before our very eyes and ears? What was even more remarkable was that this was a community-based volunteer-member orchestra composed of Fil-Ams of various ages and backgrounds, from students to professionals, who rehearse for a few hours once a week. Most of them, including Bob, hold daytime jobs. Each orchestra member has an interesting story on how he juggles rehearsals and the demands of his daily existence in America. Everyone makes sacrifices to be able to play in the orchestra.
Also worth noting is that Faso is less than two years old, having begun as an idea from a back porch conversation between Asian Journal’s Roger Oriel and Lito Ocampo Cruz. When a question posed by Lito, “Is there a Filipino symphony orchestra in the US?” generated a “No” from Roger, the two, along with a core group composed of Bob, Cora Oriel, Andy Tecson and Angelito Molina, quickly went into action. That was just in May 2008.
The enthusiastic applause that greeted the end of each of Faso’s pieces at the concert was therefore well earned. Running parallel to the group’s growing success is that of soprano, Maria Christina “Kit” Navarro, who was heard by many people for the first time in the orchestra’s debut concert. The audience adored Kit and wondered who she was and where she had been hiding all this time. In her second outing with Faso, Bob generously let the spotlight shine on the supremely talented Kit. The move paid off excellently. Some of the evening’s best numbers came when the soprano and the orchestra performed together: “Queen of the Night,” “O Holy Night” and “Sa Kabukiran.”
We savored the thought that a classical soprano like Kit was vigorously applauded by an audience that went wild when Charice came onstage. But, first, Bob’s sense of humor prevailed. He launched the orchestra into the opening strains of “I Have Nothing,” the Whitney Houston hit that has also become an anthem of sorts for the teenage singing sensation. The crowd got excited. Then, Bob stopped the orchestra and mischievously asked, “Do you want me to sing the song?—Please, say no!” Then, he again launched into the familiar intro of “I Have Nothing”—and, this time, Charice strode onstage.
We have to admit that it was our first time to hear Charice in a live-concert setting. She was a powerful and confident singer. The concert whetted our interest to hear her in a show where she sings her own material.
“The Prayer” has been butchered and sung to death, but since Charice performed it with Christopher “Pete” Avendaño, a tenor who, like Kit, got a well-deserved break in Faso’s maiden concert, we opened our ears. Pete was a good match to Charice’s commanding pipes. The duo moved many in the house to tears.
We are glad that, in Faso’s concerts, talents like Pete and Kit get opportunities to shine. Two promising young singers, Isabella “Bella” Ramos and Joanne Marie Villanueva, also sang a medley of Filipino lullabies (“Sa Ugoy ng Duyan,” “Ili-Ili Tulog Anay”).
Harmony
Another special guest, Joey Albert, sang “Pasko Na, Sinta Ko” and “Kumukutikutitap.” A sentiment heard several times from the audience members was that the concert’s repertoire, especially Joey’s “Pasko Na…,” made them long to go home for the holidays. The music, from Mozart, Handel, Rutter, Felipe Padilla de Leon and Ryan Cayabyab, also inspired a spirit of harmony among the crowd.
Two adult choirs, the Philippine Chamber Singers-Los Angeles (under the artistic direction of Gelo Francisco, who joined Charice in one song and the other vocalists in the finale) and the Immaculate Heart of Mary Choir (with Pete as music director), plus three children’s choirs from Catholic schools, Our Lady of Loretto, Immaculate Heart of Mary and Blessed Sacrament, and one church, Immaculate Heart of Mary, added vocal grandeur to the holiday tunes. The arrangements of those Christmas classics, by Ryan Cayabyab, Louie Ramos and Restie de la Cruz, were acknowledged by Bob.
Talks are now underway for a third concert. For an orchestra that began as a simple idea hatched in a back porch conversation, Faso is doing spectacularly well, indeed.
(L-R) Onstage are Bishop Oscar Solis, ConGen MaryJo Bernardo Aragon, Carol Yam, Joey Albert, Mom Raquel, Charice, Roger Oriel, Kit Navarro, Cora Oriel, Joanne Villanueva, Connie Henry, and Lito Ocampo Cruz. (AJPress Photos by Joe Cobilla and Benny Uy)
By Ruben V. Nepales, Philippine Daily Inquirer
E-mail rvnepales_5585@yahoo.com, and read his blog, “The Nepales Report,” on http://blogs.inquirer.net/nepalesreport.
You May Also Like to Read
FASO: A symphony for love of country, Asian Journal, published Dec 8, 2009
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I just made those up. I thought of those when im in the middle of chatting with chaster here in Charicemania.
At first, the title was the 10 COMMANDMENT OF Charice but then I realized it so corny so i changed it to 10 rules to become a Chaster.
The rules applies to some chaster that sometimes they did something out of hand. I was thinking who going to stop them?
who am i to tell them that posting the complete new song on youtube will not help Charice to get more sales.
who will stop them not to say bad comment to other artist just to build up Charice.
Do you want this to keep on going? Do you want all new song of Charice’s to be posted on youtube? The Pyramid song will coming soon so I have to step forward and wrote those rules and I felt that its a right thing to do. So if i saw the complete song of Charice posted on youtube then I will tell the owner to remove it and remind them about the CHASTER rules in Charicemania.
Yes, nobody going to stop them because this is internet like everything goes but at least there one place on this website that to remind them about the guideliness.
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I was on that show. and i can see its almost sold out. which we can say its a success for the FASO. most of the attendie are matured pilipino, most of them say they just went,to see charice. which also reflect my opinion. im not an avid fan of big band or clasical orchestra.after seing the show i kinda like it. sound is amazing and very pleasant to listen at.since the show is a success.i wish they do it again with CHARICE , and im sure will uplift faso financially. we have 51 states in america. and lots of pilipino is wanting to hear charice with full orchestral accompaniment…just like what happen ,when she was invited in italy.id rather see her with faso than wowowee, ive seen her 3 times in LA. but i want to see her again and again .sound crazy. you better believe it.
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To Jessica86s, xpac, Admin, Canadian_lolo etc,
I agree with you Jessica86s, that we should not make up rules to become a Chaster (Charice fan). By all means anyone who loves Charice and loves her music can become her fan. I do not think that this is what xpac meant. When you think about it, maybe we can all discuss this some more and make up a guideline for conduct so as to help promote Charice and not pull her down by our misconduct. Maybe the title should be simply read GUIDELINES FOR CONDUCT AS A CHASTER. Not “RULES TO BECOME A CHASTER” because this is misleading.
Note #7 and #10 and maybe re-word it as per suggestion from other people? (This is addressed to you xpac)
On another note, I am really tired of reading comments on the Youtube postings comparing Charice with other artists.. I know I may sound like a broken record but let us please stop the comparison business. People are not stupid, they listen to singers who are good! We already know that Charice is very good and special and unique. It is also true that people have their own preferences of artists etc. “huwag n’yo na lang patulan sila.” Let’s move on to more productive and positive things…
That is all. I am signing off for awhile.. I have a family crisis that I should be attending to.
Roger and out:)
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BTW, admin or whoever postest this article, thank you. This article on the “Orchestra is a Fil Wm Miracle” was a nice post and reflects my sentiments. I’m glad to see the Filipino spirit rising above these hard times when others have all but given up. I pray that they succeed too and that more supporters not only Filipinos shall come and support the FASO. I agree it is quite an accomplishment and I feel so good noting that so many such Filipino successes are being noticed by the world inspite of the terrible things now happening in the Philippines.
When you think about it, without doing anything really, except to reach out for her dreams, Charice started calling the attention of the world to the achievements of the Filipino. I wonder what is in store for the Philippines that these marvelous things and achievements are happening.
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Hmmm! What was that all about xpac? What prompted you, to all of a sudden,find it necessary to post up rules? Has there been some discord or disturbance so threatening to warrant such an action? Well, I hope hope guys straighten it out soon. We don’t need that kind of attention nor publicity. Imagine a new comer to this site seeing such a notice. There is a time and place for everything I believe and the site moderators may direct all interested to the page of the site rules and regulations.
But anyway, I’d like to make a comment on the the things you mentioned because I believe it is a reflection of your priorities and goals in relation to Charice. I admire your miticuluos attention to details which did not occur to me such as the # 8 rule you posted. It never crossed my mind that this could be one of the reasons for poor sales like for Charice’s Note to God, since it’s available, complete with video even, why bother some would ask? Maybe, maybe not. When Charice’s next single Pyramid and her album come out, I believe that’s when Chasters should be vigilant in “Reminding” people that downloading the free materials from the internet or whereever, is not going to be helping Charice any in hitting the top of the charts and getting those AMA and Grammy awards. Please note I said “Reminding” and not chastising or balling out people who’d do that. It can always be done in a more positive and motivating manner and will definitely get the desired results much easier.
Then there’s the # 9. I agree with you totally. Chasters need to reach out to people who have not heard of or heard Charice. Charicce’s international (outside the PI) fanbase is the biggest of any Filipino entertainer now and in the past, I believe. But Charice, DF, Marc J, Lisa of Ms.O and whoever is marketing Charice can do only so much. I know it’s not my or our responsibility to market Charice, but should you want to take a more Pro-active position in this regard, Chasters need to grow, expand, multiply and increase in number.
When I realized that Charice had missed out on the AMA awards and the nominations for this year’s Grammies, I felt disheartened. I was hoping Charice would make it in one of those at least, this year. But a little bird told me that Charice does not have the “big league” numbers for this year, due to a number of reasons. But cutting the chase, it all boiled down to that. Her fanbase needs to grow beyond the existing chaster and Filipino community to be able to hit those nubers which get those awards. The first time I heard that, I felt like objecting but realized it is a bitter pill of life.
I believe I’ve said more than I intended to. I just wanted to say, from what I gather your prioroties are, I’m glad you are a Chaster, xpac. Peace and God bless.
Jessica86s
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Thanks for the write-up for FASO. I have actually enjoyed the HANDEL HALLELUJAH. It makes me so proud that they sung it very well. I hope they will post the entire show on youtube.
With regards to RULES TO FOLLOW TO BECOME A CHASTER… as for me,i dont need rules to follow to be one. If you are a hard fan you will always think and do positive things for Charice. If we put rules on every chaster’s head, will one chaster be less fan if we miss one of your rules? Chasters, lets make our site more welcoming to others and let’s do our very best to make it user friendly instead.. PEACE TO ALL.
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To mrsharbort
I love Charice too but Charice also need our support in any ways.
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should there be rules? just my opinion, i think the word “RULES” is too broad.
For me, as long as you love Charice, you are a Chaster.
What if you cannot afford to do any of the above, simply because you have no means, does that disqualify you?
Isn’t loving Charice enough? Can those “rules” be only options?
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Hi xpac,
Can you edit rule #7 to read:
Do not compare CHARICE with other singers or artists. There is only one Charice. (or one Whitney, one Celine, one xpac, one you.. you get me?)
peace:)
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Thanks for the very enlightening write-up about FASO. It is very difficult to even organize and put together an orchestra but you did it! Congratulations! I hope you will stay long. Yes, Filipinos have a special gift of music and we should celebrate it.
To xpac. I like your rules but #10 should read :”Do not say unto others what you do not want others say unto you”. Or a short cut :” If you have nothing good to say, don’t say it.”.
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10 RULES TO BECOME A CHASTER. I made it up. I hope Admin will post this in separate page.
1. Support Charice 110%
2. Buy Charice’s Album and MP3.
3. Visit Charice’;s website (charicemania), or twitter or blog.
4. Vote Charice to any voting poll on the internet or elsewhere.
5. Attend to Charice’s concert or any event that she appearing to.
Please bring videocam if you can.
6. Watch Charice’s video on youtube or elsewhere to get more view
counts or exposure.
7. Do not contradict other singers or artist just to build up
Charice.
8. Do not post the complete Charice’s song on youtube or any
websites to eliminate pirating.
9. Tell your brothers, sisters or friends about Charice.
10. Attack and Destroy Crabs but make sure to follow rule no. 7.
Thanks all Chaster.
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Me First me First me.
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I think that there is a mistake in the last rule (#10)…
It should read “10. Attack and Destroy Crabs but make sure to follow rule no. 7.”
Canadian_lolo
_____________________________________
Hello Canadaian lolo and xpac,,
hehe,, okay, I edited number 10..
Lynn
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