“We must balance our interests with those of Asian countries. We hope to have more relations with the Philippines. We have to learn from each other. We have many things in common, not just religion.”
The words are from the French Ambassador to the Philippines Gilles Garachon, who spoke at a recent press briefing at the French Embassy in Makati City.
The charismatic envoy, who has a Ph.D in Asian Studies, added: “We have to get a new momentum in the relationship [between the Philippines and France]. We are now in the process, and I’m very happy with the process.”
The press conference was called to announce the Philippine tour of the renowned Gregorian Chant of Paris, a group created in 1974 with a mandate to preserve and disseminate the sacred Gregorian chant. It is an international choir, although based in Paris. The singers come from France, Germany, Czech Republic, Russia, Slovak Republic, Colombia, Madagascar and South Korea. (Hmmm, no Filipino chorister?)
The ensemble is divided into a male choir and a female choir, the latter created in 1994. For the Philippine tour, 26 choristers, both male and female, will be corning, and they will be accompanied by acclaimed French organist Pascal Marsault.
The choir will be performing from Feb. 18 to 27, 2015, in the cities of Manila, Makati, Muntinlupa, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Davao. The opening concert is on Feb. 18, 7 p.m. at Alabang Town Center. This will be followed by performances at the historic San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila (Feb. 19, 7 p.m.); Greenbelt 5, Makati (Feb. 20, 7 p.m.); Ayala Center Cebu (Feb. 22, 7 p.m.); Centrio Mall, Cagayan de Oro (Feb. 25, 7 p.m.); and Abreeza Mall Davao (Feb. 27, 7 p.m.).
Augustinian anniversary
The choir will be participating in the celebration of the 450th year of the Augustinians in the Philippines, the oldest Catholic missionary order in the country. In the San Agustin concert, Marsault will be playing on the 18th-century Spanish Baroque organ, the oldest organ in the Philippines.
The concerts are free, on a first-come, first-served basis.
The music of the Gregorian Chant of Paris “is very special, pure,” said Garachon. “It may be the oldest in Europe. We kept this tradition alive not only in France but all over Europe. They sing the liturgy of the Mass. There is no modulation. Everyone is saying the same thing all the time, soul to soul, heart to heart.”
During the open forum, the ambassador was asked if it was true that the French were focused only on their own culture.
“We are very much involved in culture,” he said. “Culture is an important fact of life. We love French culture of course, but we also love all other cultures.”