Nineteen chairs arranged in a semi-circle await The Philippine Madrigal Singers on a darkened stage at the Centennial Secondary School Auditorium in Belleville, Ont. on Saturday, June 1, 2024.
As 18 members of the award-winning choir file in, with choirmaster Mark Anthony A. Carpio leading the way, the audience of about 200 clap in anticipation.
After all, this isn’t just another Filipino choir. The Philippine Madrigal Singers, organized in 1963 by National Artist Professor Andrea O. Veneracion, is one of the world’s most awarded choirs.
Their prizes include winning first prize in the Habanera and Polyphony categories in the Certámen Internacional de Habaneras y Polifonia in Torrevieja, Spain in 2004.
They won the Grand Prix in the 35th Florilege Vocal de Tours, France in 2006 and the Grand Prize in the 19th European Grand Prix for Choral Singing held in Arrezo, Italy in 2007.
In 2016, they won the Grand Prix in the 64th Concorso Polifonico Guido d’Arezzo in Arezzo, Italy.
Affectionately called the Madz, the choir performed the majority of their songs seated on their chairs, sometimes incorporating sign language, other times with the accompaniment of a small drum and a tambourine.
Their repertoire included a mix of religious songs such as “Prayer of St. Francis”, “Jubilate Deo (Shout unto God)” and Tagalog songs “Magdiwang, Magpuri (Celebrate, Praise)” and fast, challenging songs like the Indian medley of “Ghoomar”, “Ekla Cholo Re” and “Navrai Majhi”.
With the majority of the audience composed of Filipinos, the songs that drew the most exhilerated responses were “Only You” and Filipino songs “Hadto nga Panahon (In years gone by)”, “Bituing Walang Ningning (A Star without shine)”, and “The Coconut Nut”.
The vocal range of the 18 singers was incredible, as they effortlessly soared through high, sustained notes, or chanted, whistled, clapped, stomped, hummed, and yelped—they even mimicked animal sounds in The Lion King’s “Circle of Life”.
During their three month tour of Canada, members of the unpaid, volunteer choir visited various provinces such as Alberta, Ontario, and will end their concerts in Newfoundland in July.
Choir member Mark Estrera has been singing with the choir for 11 years.
“Hanggang kaya ko (as long as I still can)”, Estrera said he’ll remain in the choir.
“Pagdating sa Philippines busy din kami. (When we go back to the Philippines, we’re still busy.) People leave (the choir) if they want to have a career, if they want to start a family, if they want to focus on (their) studies. The Madz needs your full commitment,” Estrera said.
The one perk of the choir is free air fare, accommodations and food as they perform at different countries each year.
Member Jen Tolentino said that during their tour in Canada, she realized how beautiful the country was.
“We got to experience winter and spring. We got to experience snow sa Edmonton. We got to see animals na sa zoo lang namin nakikita (that we used to only see in a zoo).”
“Ang ganda ng bansa (the country is beautiful),” Tolentino said.
Asked how they support themselves at home, some choir members answered that they teach music, work part-time, or sing for weddings.
“It’s my passion to sing,” Estrera said.
Members pay only for personal expenses while touring overseas. “Most of our hosts are so gracious, wala kaming iisipin, hinahatid kami (we don’t have to think of anything, they bring us everywhere).
“Nakaka-addict…kaya tumagal ako. (It’s addictive, that’s why I stay). With the salary that I have in the Philippines, I couldn’t (afford to) travel,” Estrera said.
The most touching song of the night is Ryan Cayabyab’s “Paraiso (Paradise)”.
The song’s lyrics take us back to our homeland, helping us remember our countrymen, stirring long-forgotten memories in our hearts:
“Paraiso, help me make a stand.
Paraiso, take me by the hand
Paraiso, make the world understand
That if i could see a single bird, what a joy.
This tired and hungry land could expect
Some truth and hope and respect
From the rest of the world.”
Through the Madz’s music, we can only hope to have our truth told and respect gained from the rest of the world.
We are Filipinos, and we tell our truth in one of the best ways we know how—through the magic of our voices, the most direct way to people’s hearts.
Upcoming concerts in Canada:
June 8 | 4:00 pm & 7:30 pm
2240 Kipling Ave.
Etobicoke ON
For tickets, please email: eventcreator2024@gmail.com
June 15 | 7:00 PM
The Gospel Trend Church
94 Kenhar Drive Unit 40
North York Ontario M9L 1N2
For tickets, please contact: Pastor Ed Villarosa 647 767 2720
June 21 | 7:00 PM
Eden United Church
3051 Battleford Road
Mississauga ON L5N 5Z9
Buy tickets here
June 26 | 4:00 PM
Music Niagara Music Festival
Click here for more details
June 29 | 8:00 PM
Harbour Voices Festival
Arts and Culture Centre
St. John’s, NL
Click here for more details
June 30 | 6:00 PM
Harbour Voices Festival
Bethesda Pentecostal Church
1 Escasoni Pl., St. John’s NL
Click here for more details
July 4 | 4:00 PM
Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
St. John’s, NL
Click here for more details
