Over a thousand spectators packed the auditorium of the American International School of Jeddah (AISJ) to watch a Filipino music ensemble's awe-inspiring back-to-back performances on Feb. 16. Serenata, which began serenading concertgoers in this coastal city by the Red Sea in 2005, has successfully staged a concert for the seventh year running — all for a good cause. This year, four more high school students in the Philippines will go to college courtesy of Serenata, which is donating SR40,000 in concert proceeds for the scholars' education. After a solemn curtain-raiser, the four-year-old Serenata String Chamber Orchestra gave the night a rousing start with popular music hall dance tune “Cancan” before performing a medley of the Spanish songs “Besame Mucho,” “Quando, Quando” and “Que Sera Sera.” Under the expert baton of Sylvia de los Santos, Serenata's co-founder and musical director, not a note was out of place as the 41-piece Orchestra smoothly transitioned to Philippine folks songs like “Dandansoy,” “Tong Tong Pakitongkitong,” “Paru-parong Bukid” and “Pen Pen de Sarapen,” among others. Powerful soprano Precy Ann Cua, the night's special guest who flew in all the way from Manila, lent her powerful soprano voice to move audiences with “Con te Partiro” (also released as “Time to Say Goodbye”), a bestselling single popularized by tenor Andrea Bocelli. “It was definitely worthwhile. Seeing the performers' passion and energy in every rehearsal reminded me of how much I loved music. This is what I want to do in life,” Cua, a voice major, said. The Knight Movers' teen dancers, meanwhile, broke away from their street-dance comfort zone to don spangled golden costumes complete with top hats for “One,” a number adapted from the Broadway musical “A Chorus Line.” Solid harmonies The Thursday night engagement's first half alone featured a satisfying lineup of glorious melodies, but Serenata was hardly done. The 39-member Serenata Children's Choir — the group that started it all — offered an earful of solid harmonies, including the Tagalog songs “Saranggola ni Pepe” and “Mamang Sorbetero” before moving on to a haunting rendition of “Ikaw, Ako, Tayo (Magkakapatid).” Among Serenata's many firsts this year was repertoire that featured pop chart-toppers such as Katy Perry's self-empowerment anthem “Firework” and a string of Justin Bieber hits. Theme song debut Serenata has just passed its early childhood stage, said the engaging and indefatigable host Ahjid Sayas, also the group's resident writer and two time-voice associate. The group also debuted a theme song, “United We Will Stand,” which Sayas wrote himself. He said, “I'm happy that Serenata now has a song to call its own.” The Orchestra and the Choir blended seamlessly for “Shine,” a fitting song for this season's theme. The full house exploded into applause after the grand finale “Bayan Ko” (My Nation). Dr. Mark English, AISJ superintendent, said that the performances get better and better every year. This is a particular point of pride for performers' parents. “We are very proud of children who are not only intelligent and talented but also charitable,” said Nora Flores, who was with her husband Richard to support their children, both part of the Orchestra. The multinational crowd included Consuls General and their respective wives: Uriel Norman Garibay and Dr. Omega Garibay of the Philippines, Dr. Rolf Theodor Shuster and Vanna Sok of Germany, Zakaria Ansar and Siti Hamidah of Indonesia, Jun Yoshida and Mariko Yoshida of Japan, Shin Yong Gi and Chan Young-Ae of Korea, Mohamad Khalid Abdulrazek and Aniza Khalid of Malaysia, Adambaba Uthumalebbe of Sri Lanka, and Chalee Sakolvari of Thailand. PrOFESSIONAL POLISH Under first-time Chairperson Emma Ruth Sanchez-Tolopia, Serenata's unstinting commitment to charity became manifest in the performances that bespoke professionalism and polish. With outstanding invitations to participate in choir olympics and competitions in China and Vienna, Austria, Serenata is bound to make waves in the international choir scene as well. “We never dreamed to be bigger,” de los Santos said. “We just set out to help send impoverished children to school and help uplift the image of Filipinos abroad.” She said she hoped the young performers imbibed the values of discipline, humility and team spirit to carry on Serenata's mission while staying pure to the cause. The group first adopted college scholars in 2009 through the child welfare program Bantay Bata 163, and has since sponsored 12 scholars. After this year's benefit concert, the scholars will number 16 in all. Major sponsors of “Serenata Shines at Seven” include Pinehill Arabia Food Limited, makers of Indomie and Toya noodles; Bader International School; and AISJ. NCB Quick Pay and Giordano were minor sponsors. Roster of performers Soprano 1: Chloe Mari Caceres (also on Violin 2), Sheena Loran Calvento, Bennie Mae Consolacion, Gianne Klaire Dubouzet, Julien Esquivias, Joy Mae Idica, Ara Isulat (also on Violin 1), Zaira Manila, Francesca Elise Rala, Nina Ramos, Abigail Rebosa, Hannah Sakay and Amirah Sakay. Soprano 2: Maria Angelica Sapno, Kirsten Asis, Jana Maitina Ysabelle Batoy (also on Violin 1), Fern Roshan Castro, Bennalou Andrea Consolacion, Mary Ann Duran, Chelsea Ibon, Danielle Jamilla, Elaija Rhey de Jesus, Melhanie Angely Mandap, Zarina Manila, Haiyah Perez, Geraldine Valle (also on Violin 1). Alto: Maria Charisma Buyco, Ronalaine Crisostomo (also on Violin 2), Dianne Grace David, Vanessa Decena, Winona Marie Flores (also on Viola), Ruth Anne Jamilla, Micah Abigail Jarina (also on Violin 2), Deema Lim, Kate Madarang, Stephanie Pagcu, Danico Rico and Donel Rico (also on Violin 1). Violin 1: Charo Hipos, Miguel Adrian de los Santos, Michaella Atienza, Elijah Kyle Chua, Elisah Kate Chua, David Savio de los Santos, Giovanni Paolo de los Santos. Violin 2: Dominic Flores, Raphael Louis Hipos, Dana Alhtailah, Cristine Dominic Cabalar, Angel Callada, Krizzia Celestino, Ruby Mae Dunque, Abigail Jarina, Dominique Miguel, Chrystal Mhae Narciso, Abigail Rebosa, Kenneth Bryan Roldan, Gillian Margot de los Santos, Khailah May Solis, Ma. Kristina La Treece Tabbu. Viola: Sacha Von Cyrano Riel, Sheena Loran Calvento, Nerissa Flores, Nathan Zoe Licyayo, Jedalee Malonzo, Paula Christine Reyes, Ariane Justine Roldan. Cello: Jojo Esquivias, Seth Riel, Donadel Rico, Ryan Lopez, Charles Tabbu. __
