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"Hundreds enjoy Internationally acclaimed Saringhimig Singers"
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By Rose Albano Risso
Staff Reporter
Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2003
The internationally acclaimed Sainghimig Singers did not disappoint the hundreds of music lovers who attended their special appearance Saturday at the St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Manteca.
The varied musical numbers they performed, ranging from nostalgic and lively Philippine “ kundimans” to perennial favorites such as the Spanish song “Granada”, the immortal aria “ Nessun Dorma” from the Puccini opera, “Turandot”, and uplifting spiritual songs such as Malotte’s “ The Lord’s Prayer,” earned standing ovations several times from an appreciative audience during the hour-and-a-half evening performance.
Joining the BayArea-based choral group was the St. Anthony’s Children’s Choir directed by Emilie Diaz. The young singers provided the opening number and the intermission numbers, then joined the Saringhimig Singers in the finale number, “ I am But a Small Voice”.
This was a special goodwill tour by the Saringhimig Singers who agreed to make the special appearance in Manteca free of charge. Admission to the concert fund-raiser, which was promoted by the St. Anthony’s Knights of Columbus, was $15 each. All proceeds will go to the church building fund and St. Anthony School.
The genesis of Saringhimig goes back to 1974 when a young choral conductor named George Hernandez founded a chamber choir of the same name at the University of the Philippines. The choir gained international fame in the 1970’s and 1980’s when they brought home coveted top honors from international concert tours and choral competitions in Italy, Spain, and Wales which earned them special invitations to perform in prestigious avenues such as the Lincoln Center in New York City.
In 1984, Hernandez moved to San Francisco. Seven years later, he formed another Saringhimig made up of dentists, engineers, teachers and other professionals who share a common love of music and singing. In 1994 and 1996, the choir went on concert tours in Europe. In July of this year, Saringhimig participated in the IV World Choir Festival in Puebla, Mexicao and was voted best choir.
Saringhimig continues to spread its mission of promoting goodwill and understanding through music and sharing the rich Filipino culture and heritage. Among the current members of the choral group are three Mantecans- Gilbert Diaz, Ague Rivera, and Isagani Bautista.
The concert was also sponsored in part by various local businesses including Bob’s Pharmacy, Straw Hat Pizza, Manteca dentisst Ricardo Cuevas, Perez Cabinets, Inc., La Mexicana Market and Printing, and MaryLou Pontes, owner of Quicki-Kleen Car Wash who gave donations for printing of the evening program and flyers promoting the event.
