The 35th edition of Sampung mga Daliri, a much anticipated annual concert event that the UST Conservatory of Music stages, featuring several pianos onstage, was held May 3, 2026 at Newport Performing Arts Center.
Presented in celebration of the 80th anniversary of the UST Conservatory of Music and Heritage Month, the concert saw 10 grand pianos onstage, mounted through the sponsorship of the Lyric Piano and Organ Corporation.
UST Conservatory of Music Dean Maria Alejandra I. Chua giving opening remarks
Dean Maria Alejandra I. Chua, PhD, in welcome remarks, described this concert as the “most ambitious edition yet,” as the production involved some 500 performers from the UST Conservatory of Music: faculty members, students, alumni. She said that more than a concert, the event is a “coming together of generations, where musicians share the stage in a spirit of collaboration and celebration.”
In collaboration were the conservatory’s performing ensembles that included a symphony orchestra, a string orchestra, a jazz band, a guitar ensemble, a rondalla, and a wind orchestra. There were vocal ensembles such as Coro Tomasino, Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble, Large Ensemble Chorus, and Voice Faculty Members.
A section of 10 grand pianos on stage, with Prof. Anthony Say
At the lobby, Prof. Anthony Yu Say, the project director, said the program would showcase the “richness and depth of our nation’s cultural and musical heritage.”
He said that the concert would highlight the remarkable talents of Thomasian composers, arrangers and performers in interpreting the country’s movie themes; love songs (kundiman); OPM; folk songs medley; Philippine Pop; Buencamino Medley; APO Medley; Ryan Cayabyab Suite; Cuenco Songs and patriotic medley.
Conductor Dr. Herminigildo Ranera
Redentor Romero’s Philippine Portraits was an auspicious opener. Here 10 alumni pianists sat on the piano and collaborated with the UST Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Herminigildo Ranera. It was refreshing to listen to the piano arrangements done by Gabriel Art Mendoza, as various folksongs were played to give a colorful and vivid Philippine panorama.
In the movie themes section, another set of 10 alumni pianists sat at the 10 grand pianos on the stage and collaborated with the UST String Orchestra performing a medley of movie themes, arranged by Glenn Aquias, with Arnold Josue conducting.
In the Buencamino Medley, two pianists sat at each piano, bringing the total to 20 pianists, playing his works: Mayon Fantasia; Harana; Inday; Maligayang Bati, and Ang Larawan! Here, a different sonority was heard purely shaped by the cohesive sound of the 10 grand pianos, being played together by 20 adept pair of hands! Kudos to Prof. Anthony Yu Say, who served as the ensemble’s trainer.
A Kundiman Medley was an engaging number, where the pianos were played by another set of 10 alumni pianists collaborating with voice alumni, singing Ayman Santos Linzag’s arrangement, conducted by a voice faculty, tenor, Dr. Ronan Ferrer.
It was the turn of Michael Jacinto to conduct OPM Stories, that included songs from Parokya ni Edgar; Ben&Ben, and Cup of Joe et al., as arranged by Ruscel Torres, followed by Handog sa Maynila that featured Rey Valera’s song; Hotdog, Florante et al. conducted by Ayman Santos Linzag. Both numbers had 10 alumni pianists from the Musical Theatre Students and Alumni, in collaboration with the UST Jazz Band.
Filipino traditional Folk Songs Medley, arranged by Alberto Mesa auspiciously opened the second part of the program. Here one savored a folksy ambiance that was truly refreshing and captivating. Daniel Bartolome conducted the UST Guitar Ensemble and Rondalla that collaborated with 10 alumni pianists who sat on the 10 grand pianos.
The next three numbers—Apo Medley, Ryan Cayabyab Suite and P-Pop—each performed by 10 alumni pianists, with an all Maramba piano students for the P-Pop section, drew heavy applause from the audience, who easily connected with the music.
In Apo Medley, Orlando de la Cruz did both the arrangement and orchestration, with Michael Jacinto as conductor of the UST Wind Orchestra.
The Ryan Cayabyab Suite, arranged by Peter Paul O. Zifra, with Daniel Bartolome as conductor, drew hearty applause. Naldy Rodriguez was the arranger and conductor of the P-Pop. The UST Symphony Orchestra collaborated in both numbers.
Nostalgia set in with the Cuenco songs. Performing the songs of National Artist Ernani Cuenco were 10 faculty pianists, 10 alumni pianists; 10 student pianists collaborating with Coro Tomasino; Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble; Large Ensemble Chorus and Voice Faculty and The UST Symphony and Wind Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Ranera. The immortal songs Gaano ko Ikaw Kamahal, Bato sa Buhangin, Kalesa, among others, were brilliantly sang.
From left, Anthony Say, Joy Cristobal of Lyric Piano and Dean Sandy Chua
Prof. Ernani Cuenco was a UST Conservatory of Music faculty member who, with the late Fr. Manuel Maramba, OSB, arranging the songs, were among the Conservatory’s mentors who “laid the foundation of this concert tradition,” said Professor Yu Say.
One experienced a big lump in the throat as the final number was performed: a patriotic medley that consisted of the works of Restie Umali, Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa; Julio Nakpil, Amor Patrio; Francisco Santiago, Pilipinas kong Mahal, and Constancio de Guzman’s Bayan Ko. Collaborating were 10 alumni pianists; 10 faculty pianists; Coro Tomasino; Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble, Large Ensemble Chorus; Voice Faculty, UST Jazz Band; UST Guitar Ensemble; UST Rondalla, and UST Symphony and Wind Orchestra, again under the baton of Dr. Ranera.
All told, the concert was a glorious performance of our very own Philippine music that brings a sense of patriotic pride! Congratulations to the UST Conservatory of music: its alumni, students, faculty and performing ensembles for this annual staging of Sampung Mga Daliri that has now generated a novel genre of musical performance, with many pianos taking center stage alongside different musical ensembles.
Mabuhay, Ang Sampung Mga Daliri!
