For the first time, the annual Christmas gala concert of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) will be top-billed by multi-awarded singer and theater actress Dulce, along with the school’s resident performing groups, tomorrow, 7:30 p.m., at the UST Santissimo Rosario Church.
Most importantly, palangga, proceeds of the Yuletide gala show, now on its 11th year, will go to survivors of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in eastern Visayas. Previous beneficiaries have been the scholarship program of the UST Conservatory of Music and the heritage conservation program of the UST Museum of Arts and Sciences.
Also performing are the world-renowned UST Singers, the UST Symphony Orchestra, UST Conservatory of Music faculty members, Coro Tomasino, Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble, Hail Mary the Queen Children’s Choir, among others.
UST Rector Magnificus Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, OP, is counting on the hardworking gala committee—led by art patroness Maricris Zobel and Fr. Isidro Abaño, OP, along with architect-interior designer Jonathan Matti and Beacon Holding Inc. managing director Andrew J. Gan—to ensure the success of the event.
The Belo Medical Group and San Miguel Corp. are the show’s presenters. Fifi L’Amour Bubbly is major sponsor, while Dedes Zobel is a sponsor. Hola Philippines, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Town and Country, and Metro Society are the media partners.
Following tradition, the gala performance will be preceded by the lighting of the UST Christmas tree at 7 p.m.
It’s a must-go concert, dahlings, especially since it ushers in the Christmas season of giving—an act more meaningful as the money to be raised will go to the thousands of families affected by Yolanda’s wrath.
And so, I ask you, palangga, be there to do your share. Give and donate!
A table has been set up at the venue entrance to accept your kind donations; credit cards are accepted, dahlings.
For more info, call associate professor Giovanna V. Fontanilla, director, UST Office of Public Affairs at tel. nos. 7313544 and 7861611 loc. 8315
Raymond Legaspi returns
Bacolod-based visual artist Raymond Legaspi will mount his 14th exhibit, which opens 6:30 p.m., tomorrow and will run until Jan. 15 at Ricco Renzo Gallery in Makati City.
Legaspi is fast gaining fame among art connoisseurs, the rich and famous, and even the-not-so-rich in the south and Manille. I find his work fascinating, and I am reminded of another popular Bacolod artist, Charlie Co, who has gone international.
When I asked Legaspi to explain the theme of his latest show, he explained: “The idea of the exhibition is the underwater experience of solitude and serenity; to relax and cast your worries aside; to stop overthinking, and suspend disbelief. Just go with the flow. In my ‘Aquarium’ series, I invite you to submerge your consciousness in the emotions and sensations of being underwater, an aquamarine world where everything is magnified and in slow motion, a place where beauty and tranquility can take your breath away.”
The Ricco Renzo Gallery is at Suite 206, LRI Design Plaza, Nicanor Garcia St., Bel-Air 2, Makati City. Call tel. no. 8982545.
Mango’s new surprises
The Philippine franchise of international fashion store Mango presented its Fall/Winter 2013 collection, dubbed “Rock It Up,” at the grand opening of its flagship store in SM Mall of Asia recently.
Aside from showcasing its trendy line for women, the shop also now carries pieces from H.E. by Mango, Mango Touch, Mango Kids and Mango Sport and Intimates, palangga.
The show consisted of 60 easy-to-wear and great-to-look-at outfits. There were rugged leather jackets, as well as slim-fit vintage-wash denims for men under the H.E. by Mango label.
The Mango Kids collection had 10 styles including the cool punk-rock look for boys and sweatshirts combined with tulle skirts for girls, dahlings.
The Mango Sport and Intimates line revealed neutral colors such as grayish and black hues, accentuated with pink and purple.
Program hosts Borgy Manotoc and Nicole Anderson kept the energy up as show director Robby Carmona ran the extravaganza in style.
The band Taken by Cars provided the soundscape for the rock-and-roll-inspired catwalk, while DJ Samir Ayeb spun the beats during the shopping party.
With lots of new surprises, Mango makes the search for the hottest fashion styles more refreshing than ever.