AKBAY: CHAPTER 3 - THE EXPANSION YEARS (1990-1996)
In 1989, the Parish Pastoral Council, under the administration of now
parish priest, Fr. Manuel Bongayan, SVD, decreed that all choirs should be under
one organization, the Sacred Heart Parish Choir. The long and short of the
story is that only AKBAY abided by the policy that meant giving up using our
choir name AKBAY. For the next 6 years, during the administration of Fr. John O’
Mahony, SVD, parish priest from 1990 to 1996, AKBAY carried the name SACRED HEART
PARISH CHOIR. Those who joined the organization during this period did not know and hear of the name AKBAY.
Being the official choir of the parish had many benefits that included facility in recruitment. During this period, SHPC/AKBAY experienced a very rapid and a very high increase in membership in all levels, children, youth and adults. Meanwhile, the Performing Group took on the name, Sacred Heart Singers.
The Sacred Heart Parish Choir/Sacred Heart Singers became the official representative of the parish in external music functions as recitals and concerts. This led to invitations to perform at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Philamlife Theater, the UP Abelardo Theater, Asian Institute for Liturgical Music, Concert at the Park, Luneta Park and Manila Peninsula Hotel. Performances included concerts with the Philippine Madrigal Singers, UP Concert Chorus, UP Singing Ambassadors and the Ateneo Glee Club. The group also sang with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and the Manila Chamber Orchestra. It has been conducted by various conductors like Anna Piquero (UP Madrigal Singers), Eudenice Palaruan (UP Madrigal Singers), Prof. Joel Navarro (UP College of Music/Ateneo Glee Club), Prof. Andrea Veneracion (UP College of Music/ Philippine Madrigal Singers), Prof. Sergio Esmilla (UP College of Music/MCO) and Rugerro Barbieri (PPO).
Being the official choir of the parish had many benefits that included facility in recruitment. During this period, SHPC/AKBAY experienced a very rapid and a very high increase in membership in all levels, children, youth and adults. Meanwhile, the Performing Group took on the name, Sacred Heart Singers.
The Sacred Heart Parish Choir/Sacred Heart Singers became the official representative of the parish in external music functions as recitals and concerts. This led to invitations to perform at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Philamlife Theater, the UP Abelardo Theater, Asian Institute for Liturgical Music, Concert at the Park, Luneta Park and Manila Peninsula Hotel. Performances included concerts with the Philippine Madrigal Singers, UP Concert Chorus, UP Singing Ambassadors and the Ateneo Glee Club. The group also sang with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and the Manila Chamber Orchestra. It has been conducted by various conductors like Anna Piquero (UP Madrigal Singers), Eudenice Palaruan (UP Madrigal Singers), Prof. Joel Navarro (UP College of Music/Ateneo Glee Club), Prof. Andrea Veneracion (UP College of Music/ Philippine Madrigal Singers), Prof. Sergio Esmilla (UP College of Music/MCO) and Rugerro Barbieri (PPO).
Performing Group, first public performance at the SHP Lobby with Fr. Bong 1989
Photo from Claribel T. Villarico
AKBAY PG and other choirs, Joel Navarro conducting PPO at CCP
Photo from Osie D. Fernandez
Sacred Heart Singers at Philamlife Auditorium
With Mike del Rosario's Strings Ensemble
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