THE LongTan Philharmonic Orchestra (LTPO) from Taoyuan, Taiwan and the University of the Philippines Concert Chorus (UPCC) came together through music to celebrate the enduring friendship between two republics in East Asia.
The ‘Taiwanihan: An Encore’ cultural concert was held at the UP Diliman Music Hall on October 10. Supported by honorary representatives of the Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) of Taiwan in the Philippines, the event featured a captivating blend of Taiwanese and Filipino compositions: from the Filipino classic Anak, to Teresa Teng’s timeless songs and Hakka Variations. The UP Concert Chorus enriched the program with Filipino folk medleys while the finale, The Moon Represents My Heart, united both groups and the 250-member audience in a heartfelt sing-along.
Representative Wallace M. G. Chow of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines praised the collaboration as ‘a meaningful expression of harmony and shared values.’ He noted that the concert coincided with R.O.C. (Taiwan)’s National Day, symbolizing a celebration of friendship and cultural connection.
The orchestra, led by Ambassador Vanessa Yea-Ping Shih as advisor and Conductor Hung-Yu Chang, performed alongside the UPCC under the guidance of Professor Janet Sabas-Aracama and Dean Ma. Patricia Brillantes-Silvestre, with strong support from visiting professor Eing Ming-Wu and the local Taiwanese community.
The evening concluded with an exchange of tokens of appreciation between UP and the organizers, reaffirming a shared commitment to strengthening cultural and educational ties between Taiwan and the Philippines.