Zenas Reyes-Lozada at 85—‘Parang Pacquaio si Mommy’

To live to be 85 is a God-given gift, to live to be 85 and still be playing concert pieces on the piano is human passion serving a divine gift.

That exactly was how concert pianist and culture leader Zenas Reyes-Lozada came across to us, her friends and family, as we gathered on a Sunday afternoon, January 7, at St. Cecilia’s Hall, St. Scholastica’s College, Manila.

To celebrate a milestone, her 85^th birthday, Zenas performed a mini concert with the St. Scholastica College’s School of Music Chamber Orchestra. Her family led by her three children, Anthony, Angelo and Suzie, called it a “symphony of love and gratitude for God’s gift.”

Indeed the moment we watched her enter the stage in a flowing ash grey gown, her walk steady and rather fast for her age, and settle herself confidently before the piano, we realized what gift the moment was.

The blessing was the music she played for an hour or so with a chamber orchestra of people young enough to be her grandchildren, under the baton of Juan Luis Munoz.

She began with love songs and themes from classic Filipino movies, arranged by Jonathan Gutierrez: Dahil Sa Iyo, Hindi Kita Malimot, Maalaala Mo Kaya, Saan Ka Man Naroroon. The audience at St. Cecilia Hall was cocooned in a mood of romance and nostalgia for a time long gone, and remembered the great Filipino composers Mike Velarde, Jr., Constancio de Guzman, Leopoldo Silos Sr., Restie Umali.

Then with energy not typical of her age, and a musicality undiminished through the years, she performed National Artist Lucrecia R. Kasilag’s Divertissement, a masterpiece showcasing the country’s indigenous rhythms and instruments, no doubt Zenas’ tribute to her beloved mentor and friend, whom the culture industry fondly called “tita King” (Kasilag).

Asked to give remarks, Zenas’ longtime friend and former boss when he was the pioneering head of Intramuros Administration, Dr. Jaime C. Laya, now chairman of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and chairman of Philtrust, recalled the many years Zenas performed not only onstage, but also behind the scenes, as one of the movers in Philippine arts and culture. In the ‘70s and ‘80s, Dr. Laya recalled, the culture scene was vibrant in the metropolis and beyond, with performances happening in and around Metro Manila every week or even many times a week—from Evenings at Puerta Real to Paco Park Presents and Rizal Park Concerts. Zenas was at the helm of Evenings at Puerta Real, organizing the country’s artists, from pianists, violinists to dancers, poets, for weekly mini performances. She wore various hats, those of an artist or musician, and also those of a marketing person and PR of Puerta Real. She linked up with different sectors of society, and Evenings at Puerta Real became a sustainable habit of concert audiences.

Intramuros was where the action was, and under the direction of then IA head, Dr. Laya, even Casa Manila, the living museum that opened in the ‘70s, had regular events, including informal sing-alongs at its Los Hidalgos, where Intramuros denizens like Bulletin Society editor Ethel Timbol and Bulletin columnist Deedee Siytangco would sing, sometimes to the accompaniment of the great composer himself, Ernani Cuenco.

Behind many of these was the indefatigable Zenas.

In her welcome remarks, Sr. Christine Pinto, OSB, of St. Scholastica College lauded the volunteer work in the College of Music by Zenas, one of St. Scholastica’s leading alumnae. Sr. Lydia Villegas, OSB, delivered the invocation.

In the audience were the family of tita King Kasilag and also National Artist Fides Cuyugan Asensio.

Zenas sons Anthony, Angelo and daughter Suzie organized the 85^th birthday thanksgiving celebration and concert. Anthony and Angelo continue the legacy of their late father, Bert Lozada, who founded the pioneering and biggest swim school in the country, where generations of Filipinos, including champion athletes, trained and continue to train. Anthony himself was head of delegation of the national triathlon team in the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. The Bert Lozada Swim School, now on its 68^th year, is rolling out its 2024 summer program.

Zenas, we learned, plays the piano regularly, indulging her passion for music even in her advanced years. Asked if his mother follows a practice regimen, or if she plays every day, son Anthony replied in a funny, conspiratorial way: “Not really every day. Parang Pacquaio si Mommy, humahataw pag malapit na concert (Mommy is like Pacquaio, she goes at it as the concert nears).”

Never thought an 85-year-old could be comparable to Pacquaio.—Thelma Sioson