Handog hails Makati, its leaders
By Vladimir Paat Villegas

TO SHOWCASE THE cultural renaissance of the City of Makati and to promote the preservation of its cultural and historical sites, the City of Makati Museum and Cultural Affairs Office (CMMCAO) produced the Handog 2007: A Celebration of Life, a cultural presentation in honor of the city and its leaders who made it into what it is today.

With Prof Romeo San Jose as the musical director and the Makati Festival Orchestra and the Philippine Madrigal Singers, the CMMCAO dedicated the cultural presentation to City Mayor Jejomar Cabauatan Binay of Makati, who is again serving his last term in government service. Hosted by Mr Ferdinand Estrella, the cultural presentation included a musical ensemble performed by the Makati Festival Orchestra under Professor San Jose and Bagong Tugtugin ng Buhay by the Philippine Madrigal Singers under Prof Mark Anthony Austria Carpio. Amazing the audience, the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group performed the Potongan and the Pastores Talisay in their Pagdiriwang dance number, while Ms Maritoni Rufino-Tordesillas performed a dance interpretation of Antonio Molina’s Hatinggabi played by violinist Eli Bautista.

Dulce, accompanied by the Makati Festival Orchestra, sang Sadyang Dakila Ka and The Power of Your Love in her Pag-aalay sa Diyos ensemble while tenor Nolyn Cabahug, baritone Lawrence Jatayna, and sopranos Ana Feleo and Jennifer Uy sang Sa Kabukiran, Ako ay Pilipino, and Sa Libis ng Nayon; and Sampaguita, Ako’y Kampupot, Mayo Na Naman, and Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak in their Sa Kabukiran medley and Mayo medley music repertoire, respectively (With reports from Mark Robert Benson Baldo and Jonathan Rod Sitchon De Guzman).