February 17—Former UP presidents, members of the Board of Regents (BOR), UP President-elect Alfredo E. Pascual, and the University officials, faculty and students from the Diliman to Mindanao campuses dressed in their best to attend the tribute music and dance concert for the first woman and centennial UP President, Dr. Emerlinda R. Romàn, held February 9 at the University Theater.
The invitational gala concert featured performing groups based in the Colleges of Arts and Letters, Human Kinetics and of Music, namely the Kontemporaryong Gamelang Pilipino (KontraGapi), UP Cherubim and Seraphim, UP Concert Chorus, UP Dance Company, UP Dance Sport Society, UP Filipiniana Dance Group, UP Jazz Ensemble, UP Madrigal Singers, UP Pep Squad, UP Perc Ensemble, UP Rondalla, UP Staff Chorale, UP Streetdance Club, UP Symphonic Band, UP Symphonic Orchestra and UP Vocal Ensemble.
Instead of having a designated host who introduces the performers for the entire program, former UP officials under Román’s term, colleagues and loyal staff served as presenters namely: Diosdado Cunanan, one of the loyal staff of the president; Dr. Nelia T. Gonzalez, former BOR member and president of the UP Alumni Association; Dr. Grace J. Alfonso, chancellor of the UP Open University and UP Film Institute professor; Dr. Randolf S. David, Professor Emeritus and former dean of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy; Dr. Alexander C. Cortez, College of Arts and Letters professor, University Artist and Dulaang UP director; Professor Ma. Theresa M. Jazmines of the College of Mass Communication and former Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs; Dr. Oscar M. Alfonso, former Regent; Dr. Edgardo D. Gomez, Professor Emeritus and first director of the Marine Science Institute; Professor Rubén D.F. Defeo, director of the UP Diliman Information Office (UPDIO) and Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts, UPD Chancellor Sergio S. Cao and Román’s son, PJ.
Aside from introducing the performers for the night, the presenters briefly reminisced about Román’s service to the University and the legacy of her administration as well as their own experiences as administrators.
Prior to the singing of the National Anthem, the University Library, headed by University Librarian and Professor Salvacion Arlante, launched Romàn’s Digital Resource which comprises publications about her chancellorship and presidency. These materials produced both on paper and in computer-readable forms such as newspapers and magazines, can now be viewed via the internet. Roman was a 3-time UPD Chancellor having been appointed from 1991 to 1993 and 1999 to 2002. She ran uncontested in 2002 and served until February 24, 2005.
The presentation was followed by the UP Orchestra’s musical rendition of the Manobo-inspired Mindanao Sketches, composed by Col. Antonio Buenaventura, a National Artist in Music.
After the UP Orchestra’s musical rendition, the UP Staff Chorale, together with their conductor and musical director Chris M. Reyes, serenaded the audience with their rendition of the Young at Heart by Johnny Richards and Amigos Para Siempre by Andrew Lloyd Weber. College of Music (CM) Professor Agusto Espino and Karmina Grace V. Santiago played the piano and percussions, respectively.
Kontra-Gapi performed the combination of Itawit-Ibanag’s Maskota and Batangueño’s Subli music, arranged and choreographed by College of Arts and Letters Professor Pedro “Edru” Abraham Jr.
A fusion of dance and music was showcased by the UP Vocal Ensemble and UP Streetdance Club, with their respective directors, CM professor Dr. Raul Navarro and CHK instructor Von Asilo.
With guidance from Gilbert Asuque, the UP Percussion Ensemble performed the Cymbalectomy by Chris Crokarell.
The UP Dance Sport Society headed by Marie Liezel Tianco, with musical accompaniment from the UP Jazz Ensemble headed by CM Professor Rayben Maigue, danced the Samba and Chacha to tune of jazz pieces Everything I Can’t Have and Oye Como Va.
The UP Cherubim and Seraphim’s version of the song You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban enthralled the audience with their angelic voices.
Dancing the popular folk dances curacha and tinikling, the UP Filipiniana Dance Group’s award-winning performance sent the audience to a trip down the memory lane. Curacha, also known as Kuradang,is a lively wedding dance popular in Bohol, where it is performed to the accompaniment of a rondalla, an ensemble of string instruments. Tinikling or the bamboo dance, on the other hand, is a Philippine national dance which imitates the movement of the tikling birds’ legendary grace and speed by maneuvering between large bamboo poles.
Under Professor Andrea May Tamayo’s zealous guidance, the UP Rondalla performed Antonio Molina’s Hatinggabi.
From rondalla music, modern ballet to the tune of Toes and Tone by Ney Rosauro and choreographed by Herbert Alvarez came next courtesy of the UP Dance Company headed by Angel Baguilat.
To the accompaniment of the UP Orchestra with CM Professor Michi Martinez as orchestra conductor, the UP Concert Chorus led by CM Professor Janet Sabas Aracama melodiously rendered their version of The Promise (music by David Shire and lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman), the theme song of the film The Promise which was shown in 1979. The song was orchestrated by Eman De Leon.
Pep Squad expressed their gratitude to the outgoing UP President through their energetic stunts and dance rendition of the song Salamat by the famous rock band the Dawn.
Spectators continued to be mesmerized upon hearing the UP Madrigal Singers’ version of Elton John’s Circle of Life, the theme song of Disney’s 1994 animated film, The Lion King.
For the finale, all the performers passionately rendered the special version of Annie Montano’s song Babae, from the musical arrangement of Cristina Maria P. Cayabyab, CM’s summa cum laude graduate and daughter of multi-awarded composer, arranger, musical director and conductor Ryan Cayabyab.
Towards the end of the program, a video was presented showing some UP administrators, faculty, staff, REPS, students and other members of the community expressing their gratitude to Roman.
Outgoing President Roman, who was overwhelmed by the tribute concert, said with sincere gratitude “I wish to thank the UP community for the support and cooperation you have given our administration during our 6-year term.” She also said after her term as the UP President she “will resume my duties as a regular faculty member of the College of Business Administration and look forward to a less stressful life, shorter work hours and more time in the family.”
In addition, she said “It has been my unique privilege to serve as UP’s first, and at this time, the only woman president and as its Centennial, and at this time, the only Centennial President. I hope, I have proven myself worthy of the honor and trust. Maraming-maraming salamat po!”
Román’s term officially ended on February 10 after the turnover ceremony held at the Amphitheater in Quezon Hall. She was the 19th President of the University.
The tribute was organized and produced by the Office of the Chancellor through the UPDIO with Dexter Martinez-Santos as the director.
-Haidee Pineda