KLASICAL Kundiman at Onstage Greenbelt Part 1

Posted on May 30, 2023

Standing from left: (Baritone) Onyl Torres, (Tenor) Terence Guillermo and (Tenor) Nazer Salcedo. Seated from left: (Lyric Soprano) Marga Roco, Musical Arranger Pipo Cifra and (Coloratura Soprano) Sweet Samaniego-Buchanan. Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM. Photo by Jude Bautista

Written by

Jude Bautista

During the pandemic, each of them found solace in the melancholy of Kundiman. Music has a profound way of expressing sadness and anxiety that words alone cannot. The sense of loss of a loved one, not having that physical presence and belonging we all felt in two long years is almost impossible to fully articulate for anyone.

Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM.

Kundiman classics in our own language bonded them together: (Coloratura Soprano) Sweet Samaniego-Buchanan, (Tenor) Terence Guillermo, (Baritone) Onyl Torres, (Lyric Soprano) Marga Roco, (Tenor) Nazer Salcedo. While under lockdown, they shared performances, comforted each other by being each other’s audience and support group. It just so happens they are established vocalists who have an illustrious resume of concerts and musicals.

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Now they have banded together to form TRIBU a vocal group who have a bent on classical music, tapping on the wide array of Filipino musical genres such as harana, kundiman, balitaw and danza.

Standing from left: (Coloratura Soprano) Sweet Samaniego-Buchanan and (Lyric Soprano) Marga Roco. Seated from left: (Tenor) Terence Guillermo and (Baritone) Onyl Torres. Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM.

KLASICAL Concert

TRIBU has a much anticipated concert entitled KLASICAL that will be held at ONSTAGE GREENBELT on June 10, 2023 (Saturday) at 7:30 PM. Produced by Ephesus Teatron Group Incorporated, the event coincides with the 125th celebration of Philippine independence. The concert is a rare opportunity to hear traditional Filipino musical genres live.

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Although for this edition they may add different segments, numbers from Broadway and the Opera. Guest performers include Pinky Marquez, Miguel Bragaza and Galaw.Co Dance & Theater group.

A press launch for the concert was held at Venice Luxury Residences, Venetian Drive St., McKinley Hill, Taguig City, early May.

Klasical TRIBU Album Cover; Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM.

2 Albums

The concert is also a part of 2 album launches, one entitled SWEET SAMANIEGO BUCHANAN, KLASICAL. And a separate album for TRIBU entitled KLASICAL TRIBU.

SWEET SAMANIEGO BUCHANAN, KLASICAL album track list. Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM.

Sweet’s album includes 13 tracks, among them are the classics: Bituing Marikit, Mutya Ng Pasig and Nasaan Ka Irog all by renowned Kundiman composer Nicanor Abelardo. For whom the main CCP theater is named after. Makikiliti Ka (a duet with Nazer Salcedo) is from the Zarzuela WALANG SUGAT, composed by Fulgencio Tolentino. WALANG SUGAT was successfully revived by PETA with lead stars KD Estrada and Alexa Ilacad this year. The lyrics and music are as funny as the title suggests.

(Coloratura Soprano) Sweet Samaniego-Buchanan; Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM. Photo by Jude Bautista

KLASICAL TRIBU has 10 tracks, including 3 originally composed by Santiago Suarez: Katakataka, Sa Libis Ng Nayon and Bakya Mo Neneng. Suarez is one of the most prolific composers such that his works span the genres of harana, balitaw, danza and kundiman.

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Santiago took up music in U.P. in the 1920s and came under the tutelage of Nicanor Abelardo. The nationalistic, Pag Ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa, gets a fresh arrangement from Pipo Cifra. The enchanting Folksong Medley is also a special arrangement by Cifra.

From left: (Tenor) Nazer Salcedo and Musical Arranger Pipo Cifra. Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM. Photo by Jude Bautista

Intro to True OPM

Both albums are a wonderful introduction to the musical hits that have stood the test of time. Some are heavy and melancholic Nasaan Ka Irog? to the lyrical and light Makikiliti Ka literally translated ‘you will be tickled’. Very Filipino not just in language but in melody and temperament in a home grown genre. With music by some of our greatest composers.

Klasical TRIBU Album Songs; Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM.

The two albums are a necessity for today’s youth bombarded by K Pop and hip hop. For those not so young they may recall some of the tunes by memory, a time when we were not so influenced by the Americans (and Koreans).

From left: (Lyric Soprano) Marga Roco and (Coloratura Soprano) Sweet Samaniego-Buchanan. Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM. Photo by Jude Bautista

TRIBU Member Profiles

Each of them have established themselves in the classical realm and countless musical productions. As a group they have won BEST VOCAL ENSEMBLE at the LEAF awards (2020) for their concert entitled REMINISENCE. And nominated for Outstanding Choral Group at the Aliw Awards also on 2020.

Klasical concert producer and director Sweet Samaniego Buchanan, herself was nominated as Best Classical Female Performer at the 2019 Aliw awards.

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Onyl Torres

Onyl is a very talented vocalist and actor with a long list of theater performances from the biggest productions. He played the skeptic in HIMALA The Musical by PETA. I photographed him in the 2013 run of the hit show.

(Baritone) Onyl Torres; Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM.

Repertory Philippines, however, was where he made his debut in the musical CINDERELLA (2001). He also worked as actor and musical supervisor for Singapura: The Musical Parody. It was from the 4^th Wall Theatre Company and was produced for SG’s 50^th Jubilee in 2015. Onyl is also co-founder of Philippine Chorale Director’s Association.

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Theater and music is more than a creative expression according to him, “Personally I feel blessed to be part of this community. I have been singing off and on since the pandemic. TRIBU actually helped me recover from what I was going through. We were always messaging each other. We would produce music. I’m very thankful. Akala ko during the pandemic lang.”

(Baritone) Onyl Torres; Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM. Photo by Jude Bautista

He goes on, “Now when we rehearse, when we sing a certain song nag iiba meaning niya for me. I was going through a lot. This concert is a celebration of life. A celebration of us surviving everything. On a personal level ganoon ang impact sa akin. This is also the first time for me to come back in the performing stage. So very blessed.” Onyl is currently based in Pampanga and is heavily involved in the Angeles City Anti-Drug Abuse Council. Where he works as Community Assistant Officer and Treatment Facilitator.

(Lyric Soprano) Marga Roco; Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM.

Marga Roco

Margarita Roco is a celebrated Filipino lyric soprano. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Voice, Magna cum laude at U.P’s College of Music. She was also a regular soloist in operas produced by the U. P. Presidential Commission on Culture and Arts. After graduating, she taught voice in the College of Music’s Extension Program and performed opera, operetta, and music theater roles around the country.

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More recently she has been teaching voice. And welcomes the opportunity to sing more, “I also teach, we kept going. We produced online shows. Online teaching takes so much of your energy and time. My singing was just set aside. Kami naman we encouraged each other. All we need is to say ‘Kanta tayo, lets go’ and we do it. I’m also thankful to Sweet and every Tribu member. We’ve been friends a long time.”

Terence Guillermo

Terence is an established tenor but has recently been working in the academe. He took up Theater Arts at the University of the Philippines. Where he received a Distinction (the highest mark) for Singing from the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music. Which, is the leading music examination board based in U.K. He is part of the Experts and Resource Persons Bureau Program of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and he travels nationwide to teach music and theater.

(Tenor) Terence Guillermo; Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM.

Terence talked about his experiences, “Like Marga I’m also a teacher. Right now I’m a teacher at Manila Waldorf School, Repertory Philippines, Trumpets, sabay sabay. Dahil nag tuturo ka ikaw yung na wawalan ng boses. Kasi nag preprare ng mga lessons. I’m very grateful kay Sweet because she gave us the opportunity na makaperform. Musical theater actors kaming lahat. Pero patay yung thater nung pandemic. So wala. Alangan naman unahan ko kumanta mga students ko.”

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“I’m also part of Pinoy Chamber Singers. Choir, balance balance yung boses. With Tribu may identity pa pala yung boses ko. So yon ang blessing to be a part ng group nato.”

(Tenor) Nazer Salcedo; Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM. Photo by Jude Bautista

Nazer Salcedo

Nazer is an Aliw Awards nominee for Best Classical performer. He is a stage actor, director and classical singer. A faculty of De La Salle University Dasmariñas. He also teaches acting and musical theater. Trainer and Artistic Director of Teatro Lasalliana of DLSU-D. He was part of the Actors Company of Tanghalang Pilipino of The Cultural Center of the Philippines from 1999 to 2004.

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He is a Grand National winner of the 1994 Kundiman Fiesta. One of the first Filipino to perform in Avignon theater festival in France. He earned Inquirer’s Bravo best of theater – Best Featured actor in a Musical – 2006, 2007 and 2010. From: Phil Opera Company Young Artists Series

(Tenor) Nazer Salcedo; Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM.

Singing was Nazer’s emotional outlet, “Yes I am the latest addition sa Tribu. During the pandemic I found comfort in singing and music. When the world was panicking. Di nila alam kung ano mangyayari. I kept on singing kahit sa kwarto ko lang kahit madaling araw. Di ako pumigil kumanta. Naging comfort ko yon. I also teach. Kaya marami kaming na buo na Kundiman program.”

From left: (Tenor) Terence Guillermo and (Tenor) Nazer Salcedo. Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM. Photo by Jude Bautista

“Social media was a good way for us to promote Kundiman, our folk songs. It’s a matter of how you use the tools like social media, even Tik Tok. I was added three months ago.”

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Arranger and Musical Director Peter Paul Cifra

Pipo to family and friends, he graduated from the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music, Major in Piano and Composition. He is the CEO of PPO Cifra Music Arrangement.

Musical Arranger Pipo Cifra; Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM. Photo by Jude Bautista

Pipo is known as the Musical Director and Composer/Arranger of the award-winning and longest-running drama anthology “Maalaala Mo Kaya” for 20 years. Pipo recently won FAMAS AWARDS 2022 for Best Musical Score and Best Original Song for the movie KATIPS.

His theater work (as composer) includes Repertory Philippines’ Broadway musicals like “The Secret Garden”, “Scrooge”, “Fame” and “Pinocchio”. Pipo also won the GRAND PRIX National Winner for Junior and Senior Categories for his compositions “Floodgates” and “Firebird” respectively. The compositions became the Philippine’s entry to the Asia-Oceania YAMAHA Electone Festival (1995) held in Sydney, Australia. From: Philstar Music In his heart by Joscephine Gomez

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Lockdowns for Pipo wasn’t a huge adjustment, “I do all of my film scoring inside my studio. When the pandemic came, music is a very therapeutic tool for all of us. Pag medyo malungkot nga kakanta. During the time I was making a musical for a school. Then CCP came in, we had a jazz session at home where we could play. We found out CCP maglalabas online.”

From left: (Tenor) Terence Guillermo, (Tenor) Nazer Salcedo and Musical Arranger Pipo Cifra. Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM. Photo by Jude Bautista

“Parang pandemic na rin buhay ko e. Parating pandemic because I worked from home for many years. Nung nag pandemic mas masaya nga e. Nag level off, tumahimik. Nakahinga tayo. Fortunately Sweet is my neighbor. Pareho kaming mahilig sa plants. if I want arugula. Sweet pengeng arugula.”

(Coloratura Soprano) Sweet Samaniego-Buchanan; Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM. Photo by Jude Bautista

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SWEET SAMANIEGO BUCHANAN, KLASICAL album cover. Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM. (32)

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(Lyric Soprano) Marga Roco; Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM. Photo by Jude Bautista

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From left: (Coloratura Soprano) Sweet Samaniego-Buchanan and (Tenor) Terence Guillermo. Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM. Photo by Jude Bautista

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SWEET SAMANIEGO BUCHANAN, KLASICAL album lyrics. Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM

From left: (Tenor) Terence Guillermo and Writer Amadis Maria Guerero. Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM. Photo by Jude Bautista (37)

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From left: (Coloratura Soprano) Sweet Samaniego-Buchanan, (Tenor) Terence Guillermo and (Tenor) Nazer Salcedo. Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM. Photo by Jude Bautista

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(Coloratura Soprano) Sweet Samaniego-Buchanan; Catch Kundiman & Harana music in KLASICAL Concert by TRIBU at Onstage Greenbelt1, June 10, 2023 (Saturday) 730PM.

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