Himig-Living Trophy of the Filipino People

Himig-Living Trophy of the Filipino People

The Himig choir’s spellbinding performance at St Catharines had been an indelible experience. Many believed that the Himig’s ingenuous talent aptly complemented the breathtaking sceneries of Niagara region.

During the Himig’s first performance at the Lutheran Church in St Catharines, some members of the audience were brought to tears. “They were simply awesome,” said Esther Lavinge of Niagara Falls, who admitted that she and her husband had to make considerable efforts in preparing their trip to attend an early service.

“They made our service more sacred,” added Pastor Gary Kuenzel, who was surprised to see more than 150 members and churchgoers an unlikely attendance for an early service at 8:00 in the morning.
“They made us feel like we were close to heaven,” said another Lutheran member who never hesitated to buy two of the Himig’s popular CD’s.

At the Catholic Parish Church where they performed twice, father Manuel Seranilla could not helped but smile in between prayers. “I am very proud of them,” claimed father Seranilla. As the group sang during the service, a serene atmosphere coupled with the sound of their angelic voices moved some people to tears. There were others who seemed to be soul-searching as can be gleaned from the expression in their faces.

On October 30, the public finally witnessed the electrifying performance of this choral group from Davao City and captivated the audience with their repertoire of classical pieces, popular favorites, OPM hits, and Christmas carols. Held amidst the extravagant surroundings of the Quality Hotel Parkway Convention Centre in St Catharines, the concert enhanced their credibility as musical performers.
Sponsored by B&B Productions of Toronto and Tiro Marketing and Communications of St Catharines, the concert also became a gathering of musical enthusiasts. Ping Dipa who came all way from Connecticut, USA said, “The trip was really worthwhile. I have heard about the Himig’s incredible talent but I never thought they are this great!”

The Himig choir can be considered a living trophy of the Philippines. Their recent success in Veszprem, Hungary where they bagged the top prize in the Vivace 2004 Choir Festival and Competition finally sealed their reputation as one of the country’s musical performers of all time.

At the competition, the Himig singers were the smallest group to vie in the international competition where the other groups had 40 to 50 singers. The dynamic group was composed of Michael Gomiega, Dandy Vicentino, Fritz Aluben, Berny Ilarde, Arlon Vicentino, Alma Orosio, Christine Pantaleon, Rowena Flores, Maria Lynn Mendoza, Juvy Laput, Bong Aviola, Fryntz Flores, Maria Lourdes Aviles, and Beverly Caluag. Although the group claims to have 25 singers, only fourteen were able to attend the competition due to financial constraints.

During the finals, the 50 choir groups were reduced to eight finalists, one from Taiwan and the other from the Philippines.

The Himig’s winning piece included “Pamugun,” a Maguindanao war song; “Tuksuhan,” a courtship folk song from Luzon; and “Paraiso,” a pop song composed by Ryan Cayabyab and popularized by the Smokey Mountain group.

According to media accounts, the judges were visibly moved while listening to the group’s performance.
Himig was formed by a group of teens who started by singing at parties, school events and ‘fiestas.’ Calling themselves the ‘Singing Teens,’ they became popular and later adapted “Himig” as the choir’s new name.

In 1990, barely a year after the choir was formed, they joined the prestigious National Music Competitions for Young Artists, and won first prize. They repeated this feat in 1993. Thus began a stream of awards and recognition, the most memorable of which came during their second international tour in 1997. They joined the 26th International Youth and Music Festival in Vienna, and the XV International Music Festival in Cantonigros, Spain, and won first prize in both competitions.
The Himig will continue to perform in Canada until March 2005.