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ARTICLES: THE IPU EVENT |
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Two hundred fifty delegates from at least 50 countries attended the last official social event of the 112th Inter-Parliamentary Union at the Las Pinas Bamboo Organ Church last April 8, 2005.
As part of the celebrations for the 98th Founding Anniversary of the Nacionalista Party, a concert was sponsored featuring the two hundred year old bamboo organ. Young Nacionalista volunteers acted as marshals and tour guides in bringing the delegates from the Philippine International Convention Center to nearby Las Pinas City.Upon debussing, they were greeted by the Las Pinas National High School Manunugtog Kawayan. The ensemble was composed of 39 students who respectively shook a frame of tuned bamboo tubes to hit their individual note. |
Petite Nacionalista women volunteers acted as usherettes for the evening, resplendent in their leaf inspired green “kimonas” . The interior of the historic St. Joseph Church was bedecked by long trails of sampaguita flowers which added to the sensory experience. Cocoy Laurel, scion of the late Nacionalista President Doy Laurel, opened the program by singing the national anthem heartfully. Senator Manny Villar warmly welcomed all the guests briefly before the show started. The Belgian-trained Las Pinas Boys Choir entered from the altar side bearing candles and singing the Latin song Parvulus Filius as Armando Salarza provided the accompaniment using the world famous bamboo organ. Opera excerpts would then be rendered by Tenor Nolyn Cabahug and Soprano Deeda Baretto with Harold Galang on piano .Singing in German, French and Italian languages elicited smiles and nodding approval from the European delegations.
The romantic Filipino kundimans “Maalaala Mo Kaya and Minamahal Kita were well appreciated and applauded proving that music transgresses all borders. In the spirit of international cooperation as well as a tribute to the Pope John Paul, the finale Let there be Peace on Earth was joined in by all the artists as a fitting end to the IPU Assembly. As the delegates and guests proceeded to the Courtyard for the reception, the recorded Nacionalista March penned by the late National Artist Levi Celerio served as the recessional. The Spanish inspired courtyard where the reception took place was like taking stepping into a time warp in the genteel period of the 19th century. Lilting music was provided by the BSJ Woodwind Quintet. The balconies were festooned with angel trumpets and white orchids. In keeping with the bamboo and native theme, some of the food was actually cooked in bamboo tubes like the “puto bumbong” which were a novelty even to the African delegations. Some were even amazed that the dress of Las Pinas Congresswoman Cynthia Villar was actually made from pineapple fiber. Nacionalista Party members drank with members of the Russian duma, exchanged trivia with South Korea delegates, and posed for cameras with the Romanians. There was an exchange of calling cards and promises to keep in touch. The time seemed too short when Congressman TG Guingona began thanking everyone for gracing the occasion and reminding the delegates of the bus departure schedule for their respective hotels. For some delegates, they mentioned that it was the most enjoyable evening of their brief stay in the Philippines due to the affair's mix of old world elegance and intimacy .
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