Holland's Pinoy community's artistic celebration of Independence Day

Holland's Pinoy community's artistic celebration of Independence Day

By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

For the commemoration of the Philippines's 110th Independence Day, RP Ambassador to the Netherlands Romeo Arguelles and Honorary Consul Eppo Horlings thought of something different but deep.

This year, Arguelles chose to deliver his message in remembrance of Philippine independence in a universal language that touches everyone's soul.

"Consul Horlings and I thought that the best way to celebrate the birth of a nation is through art and music. Because in art and music, there is harmony, there is unity and there is no need of different languages because everybody will understand music and understand art. So this is our way of showing to the people of the Netherlands especially the city of Amsterdam, the art and music from the Philippines," Arguelles said.

Thus on June 6, Filipinos, Dutch and other nationalities gathered at the De Duif Church in Amsterdam for an evening of art and music.

More than 350 guests attended the special offering from the Philippine Embassy which was held in one of the famous canals in Amsterdam, known as the Prinsengracht or Prince's Canal.

Since the Prinsengracht is the fourth largest of the main canals in Amsterdam and is famous for its interesting sights which include the Anne Frank House, the location became very ideal for a cultural evening that gathered people of different creed and culture to celebrate the anniversary of Philippine Independence.

Notably present were Chair of the House Labor Committee, Valenzuela 2nd district Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo II and also Bulacan 4th district Rep. Reylina Nicolas.

The two solons arrived from a summit at the International Labor Organization in Geneva and the cultural affair became a relaxing stop-over for them.

"I think this is one of the best way of showing the artist of our country, that we are not far behind. [To show] to our brothers and sisters in this part of the world that truly, Filipinos are artists by heart," Nicolas told ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau.

The artistic part of the evening featured an Al Perez gallery, which showcased his famous works, notably the paintings of old churches and saints.

The work of Perez, who is one of the realist painters of the Philippines, impressed both art enthusiasts and art amateurs, that he sold five paintings during the first hour of exhibition.

The second part of the cultural event was a two-hour musical special featuring a concert from renowned and multi-awarded Pinoy pianist Raul Sunico.Sunico was once described by his eminent mentor at the Julliard School in New York, the late Sascha Gorodnitzki, as possessing "unusual gifts of lyricism and poetry in his playing as well as great brilliance.

"His repertoire included good old classics by Chopin, Grieg, Respighi, Liszt, Debussy, Ravel, Kreisler and Rachmaninoff and he received a thundering round of applause from the audience each time he finished a piece.

But the audience was most touched by his well-chosen Filipino selections namely Ang Larawan by Buencamino, Bato sa Buhangin by Cuenco and Bayan Ko by de Guzman which gave him a standing ovation.

"Although this is my second time to celebrate Philippine independence, it has always been a special occasion and it gives us a chance to show to the Dutch community, other than the Filipino community, our Filipino artists not only myself but others like Al Perez and those other people that have come," Sunico said.

"It's also one way of promoting our country. And as the ambassador had said, promoting our country through art and music is one of the most effective ways of achieving unity of nations," Sunico added.

The embassy has certainly succeeded in promoting not only the artists and their work and music but also the Philippines as well.

"It is a very great event because as what the ambassador said in his speech, music and art is international that knows no nationality race or religion. People enjoy and understand music and art. So this is just a perfect celebration of Independence Day," Pinay dance diva Becky Garcia said.

Dutchman Johan de Bree could not help but be fascinated by the talent of Pinoys."They [Pinoys] are very artistic, I think more than the people here in Europe," de Bree said.

SOURCE: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/

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