Voices, so pure and angelic, burst through the gathering silence and darkness of the tropical evening as thirty children get together for their daily choir rehearsals…. Most evenings are like this in the center of the small town of Loboc, the ‘Music Town’ of the island province of Bohol—the home of the Loboc Children’s Choir.
Founded in 1980, the Loboc Children’s Choir is composed of thirty schoolchildren between nine and thirteen years old, who all attend the Loboc Central Elementary School. However, from an ordinary school choir established to give color to school and community events, this choir has blossomed into one of the most outstanding choirs in the Philippines today. The Loboc Children’s Choir became the National Champion in the category of Children’s Choirs during the National Music Competitions for Young Artists in 2001. These competitions are the most prestigious music competitions in the Philippines. And not for the first time: they garnered the same First Prize in 1993 and 1995.
In its 40 years of existence, the Choir has held concerts all over the country as well as in other parts of the world. In 2000, it represented the country during the International Children’s Culture and Arts Festival in Tianjin, China, and held concerts in Beijing and Hong Kong. In 1996, in a concert dubbed, “On Angels’ Wings: From Bohol to the World”, the choir toured key cities in the United States. It has performed with the World Youth Orchestra during its concerts in Bohol and Cebu in 1999, and with the University of Santo Tomas Symphony Orchestra. As a ‘cultural treasure’ of the Province, the group often sings for visiting dignitaries, and local and foreign tourists. Its concert repertoire is a combination of classical, folk, modern and children’s songs.
One of the memorable projects was its partnership with the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, the leading art museum in the Philippines, which launched an exhibit on the arts and culture of Bohol. The Choir, under the auspices of the Met and of its leaders led by Trustee Bea Zobel Jr. and Executive Director Ino Manalo, regaled the exhibit launch with a special concert which was followed by a Christmas Concert tour in major business establishments in Makati and Ayala Alabang. This climaxed with a command performance for the Her Majesty Queen Sofia of Spain in a cultural exchange visit to the Philippines. Another memorable recent project was the highly acclaimed back-to-back concert with the University of the Philippines Singing Ambassadors, winner of the prestigious Gran Premio Citta di Arezzo in 2001 during the 49th Concorso Polifonico Internazionale Guido d’Arezzo in Arezzo, Italy. The concert, aptly entitled “An Evening of Heaven’s Music”, was held in line with the Heritage Conservation Program in the Province of Bohol.
However, the Loboc Children’s Choir is not only heard in concert halls or auditoriums, but also in prisons, hospitals, orphanages, and homes for the aged, where its music of hope, love, and joy also find its meaning. It continues to take active part in school, town, and provincial activities.
This May 2010 comes another soon-to-be remarkable singing sensation to be brought to us by this legend. Catch Loboc Children’s Choir’s Voices of Hope in May 28 and May 29, 2010 at Cap Auditorium, 7 o’ clock in the evening. This is done for the benefit of Kythe Foundation and Lay Camillian Family. Tickets are available in the following outlets: Prices : Platinum P 1,000.00, Gold P 500, Silver P 300.
