Choir of Education Chief graces Choral Festivities in CDO

The Department of Education (DepEd) never fails to integrate music into almost all of its programs and activities, shared Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones during a choral concert in Cagayan De Oro.

The concert, dubbed as “Lahi: Kultura, Musika, Atbp.” featured the Manila Concert Choir (MCC), which Briones currently leads as part of the sopranos. It was held last August 22 at the Rodelsa Hall of Liceo de Cagayan University.

The MCC is a multi-awarded and internationally acclaimed choral group, consisting of professionals, housewives, and students. They serenaded the Kagay-anons under the baton of Glen Cantada and the accompaniment of pianist Agape Manigsaca Labuntog, with songs of praise and thanksgiving, and an all-Filipino repertoire.

“We would like to show that through our music, we can present our songs in various dialects whether in Cebuano, Tagalog, and Ilocano, among others,” said Briones.

“Our group is bound by our love of music,” adds Briones. She describes the MCC as a community choir because of its members who come from various communities.

“The Manila Concert Choir represents much of what music means to us as Filipinos.”

A day before the concert, Briones and the MCC also graced the 2018 Higalaay Choral Competition: A Thousand Voices concert. Part of the celebration of the city’s annual fiesta honoring their patron, St. Augustine, fourteen choral groups from the different school divisions of the Northern Mindanao Region competed for the championship at the Activity Center of Centrio Malls.

“I would like to congratulate DepEd Region 10 for leading the tradition of conducting the annual regional choral contest. It is, indeed, a pleasure for me and the MCC to be invited. Since we grew up with music, joining choral singing activities has been my and MCC’s habit,” said Briones.

The Education Chief also acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the Regional Office, led by Director Arturo Bayocot; the local government, led by City Mayor Oscar Moreno; as well as the participating provinces and academic institutions for the realization of the musical event.

“That is what music is all about, and this is why I say music is the soul of DepEd,” said Briones. “Even amid our differences in perspective, religion, or politics, we all come to understand each other when it comes to music.”