RIYADH, 4 June — Tired of canned or junk music? Try the Prime Note Ensemble.
Fresh from a well-received performance in Alkhobar on May 23, the 17-member all-male Filipino choir will sing once again at the Philippine Embassy on June 14 as part of the Independence Day festivities.
PNE president Medardo Obida said the choir will serenade the community with a repertoire of pop ballad, Original Pilipino Music (OPM), Pilipino folk songs, and kundiman.
And for those who to bring out into the open their hidden natural singing voice, the choir is accepting new members.
To know more about the criteria to qualify, interested ones may contact Peter Aquino at 847-3333 ext. 511 or 053887963, Medardo Obida at 833-7110 or 053807250, or Roni Ona at 85709955.
Obida said PNE members will have the benefit of further developing their talents while rendering community service.
“A stirring rendition of a song inspires. And singing for a noble cause gives the song a deeper meaning,” he said.
In the PNE’s concert entitled “One More Night” at the Park Hotel in Al-Khobar on May 23, not only Filipino but also other nationalities came to listen.
Two of the 17 songs the choir interpreted in the concert were Anak and Isang Kundiman.
Anak is an award-winning song by Philippine singing sensation, Freddie Aguilar. The song is regarded both as popular and classic. Isang Kundiman is a Gerry de Leon ditty.
Taken on a more profound meaning in the context of the Filipinos abroad, the songs the PNE sing convey not only romantic love, but also of one’s undying love of his native land.
A few solo numbers were also performed by chosen members of the ensemble.
The proceeds of the concert will again be donated for Bantay-Bata 163, an institution founded by ABS-CBN, caring for the abused, abandoned, and exploited Filipino children.
Early last month, the PNE handed over to the Foundation’s head office in Quezon City the proceeds of their first concert held in February. The hand-over ceremony was featured in Bantay Bata’s TV program over The Filipino Channel.
The group intends to stage at least three concerts each year.
Immediately following the formation of the group in October 2001, the ensemble was adjudged grand champion in the first-ever choral competition held in Alkhobar in November last year.
The choir members are:
Tenor 1 — Marcelo Cepe Jr., Medard Obida, Jun Urbano, Gregg Nuñez, Sammy de la Cerna, Eric Mesa;
Tenor 2 — Dennis Quiambao, Rodel Dayto, Galahad Entereso, Mario Manalo;
Baritone 1 — Clovemin Campos (choirmaster and conductor), Rizal Esquivel, Ruben Geronimo, Dindo Madarang;
Baritone 2 — Roni Ona, Peter Aquino, and Aga Landingin.