Sen. Loren Legarda and CCP president Kaye Tinga lead the standing ovation. (Photos courtesy of Senate office)
The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) performed before the people of Antique in a concert that was a collaboration between Sen. Loren Legarda, who traces her roots to the province, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). The special concert, a much-awaited experience in the province, was staged at the University of Antique Sibalom campus last Friday, Aug. 15, 2025.
Sen. Loren Legarda addressing concert audience: ‘Antique is an important and colorful part of the Philippines.’
“As the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra fills this space with world-class music, we celebrate something far deeper than notes and rhythms. It is an invitation for our people to celebrate, to dream, to remember that Antique is an important and colorful part of the Philippines,” Legarda said.
This was the seventh performance of the PPO in Antique. The six previous concerts were:in Anini-y in 1993; a return to Anini-y in March 2018; Tibiao on Nov. 30, 2018; San Jose on Dec. 1, 2018; another San Jose performance on June 30, 2019; and Pandan on July 1, 2019.
“Ang muling pagtatanghal ng PPO ay isang paanyaya para sa ating mga kasimanwa na magdiwang, mangarap, alalahanin na ang ating lalawigan ay isang makulay at mahalagang bahagi ng bansang Pilipino (This PPO performance is an invitation for the Antique folk to celebrate, to dream and to remember that this province is a colorful and important part of the nation),” Legarda paraphrased her keynote speech in Pilipino.
“Naging huli man ang ating pag-usbong, taas noo nating ipagmalaki na hindi tayo mapag-iiwanan pagdating sa kagandahan at kaayusan ng kapaligaran, sa talento, at sa mayaman nating kultura at diwa bilang Antiqueño (Though seeming late bloomers, we Antiqueños prove with pride that Antique does not fall behind when it comes to the beauty and order of its surrounding, the talent of its people, and the richness of its culture),” she added.
Ati community performing tribal dance before the concert
The Ati community from the municipality of Tobias Fornier opened the evening with its performance of Tatay Miroy Karinyosa, a tribal song and dance rooted in Ati history and tradition.
Maestro Herminigildo Ranera conducting the PPO before Antique audience
Under the baton of Maestro Herminigildo Ranera, the PPO performed a two-hour repertoire in two parts. The first part opened with the lively orchestral pieces, including Dvorak’s Carnival Overture, Anderson’s Serenata, and Jenkins’ Palladio. Cellist Giancarlo Gonzales played Ennio Morricone’s Sergio Leone Suite.
PPO violinist
The concert presented a medley of Tagalog classics arranged by Ryan Cayabyab, then moved on to powerful hits from Miss Saigon, featuring acclaimed tenor Arman Ferrer and multi-awarded singer-theater actress Shiela Valderrama in Sun and Moon/Last Night of the World.
After the intermission came the solo performances of Shiela Valderrama (Ikaw) and Arman Ferrer (Corner of the Sky).
In the second part, PPO performed film and musical hits, including theme songs from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Superman, Miss Saigon, Pirates of the Caribbean, Mission: Impossible, and a medley of Filipino rock classics.
“Music is much like the stories of our kasimanwa, patiently shaped and nurtured through moments of hope and hardship, until it fully blooms into something precious that we can share with the world,” said Legarda.
“Tonight is a celebration of our heritage, our hopes, and the belief that every musical score played and every heart touched brings us closer together.”
CCP president Kaye Tinga, Sen. Loren Legarda, NCCA chair Ino Manalo at the Antique concert
At curtain call, from left, tenor Arman Ferrer, Sen. Loren Legarda, actress-singer Shiela Valderrama, Maestro Herminigildo Ranera, CCP president Kaye Tinga, and University of Antique president Dr. Pablo Crespo, Jr.
