DAMMAM, 30 July 2006 — The Prime Note Ensemble (PNE), a singing group of Filipinos in the Eastern Province, is back with a bronze medal from the 4th World Choir Olympics held last week in Xiamen, China.

Leaders of the 23-member choir said the group bagged the medal in the Male Chamber Choirs category, with 13 teams participating.

In that same category, Bela Bartok Male Choir from Germany and Croatia’s Gradski Zbor Brodosplit both took gold medals, while Indonesia’s Consolatio Male Chamber Choir and Men in Blaque from the United States got silver medals.

PNE, which officially carried the banner of Saudi Arabia, won the gold diploma in the qualifying round in the category together with Men in Blaque, which earned them both tickets to the final round.

Jojo de Luna, PNE’s creative director, said the groups from Germany, Croatia and Indonesia were automatic finalists by virtue of their being gold medalists in the previous choir Olympics. More than 100 choirs from all over the world competed in more than 30 categories in this year’s contest, which ran from July 15 to 26.

In addition to the bronze medal, the Dammam-based choir was also asked to perform with other groups at Jingshang Community Square last Monday in a friendship concert, said PNE President Medard Obida.

According to de Luna, the PNE intends to participate in the 5th World Choir Olympics in Graz, Austria, in July 2008, where it will automatically qualify as a finalist by virtue of its gold diploma.

Congratulatory messages had flown across the Internet following news of PNE’s feat.

“Your victory in China is a victory for all OFWs in the world. We’re truly glad and proud of your success,” said Max Bringula, chair of the Pag-asa support group community.

Roilo D. Alojado, overall chairman of the All Filipino Community and Sports Commission (Afcscom), said PNE’s bronze win was remarkable considering that it had only six months to prepare and some members of the group even had to shoulder their own expenses.

“It is indeed a big achievement for the Prime Note Ensemble, a neophyte in this Choir Olympic Games, to get the Bronze,” Alojado said in an e-mail.

The Pusong Mamon Task Force (PMTF), a group of volunteers helping distressed Filipinos in the Kingdom, said PNE’s achievement is another feather in the cap for the entire Filipino community in Saudi Arabia.

The PNE team was led by Obida together with Fritz Marri Solar and Cris Prestoza, the choir’s conductors.

De Luna said the PNE’s win was made possible by the support and prayers they got, notably the Sheikh Khalid Al-Abdulkharim Group and Chris Dupaya who helped shoulder some of their expenses.

“PNE also wishes to thank the Philippine Embassy, particularly to Consul Germinia Aguilar-Usudan and Welfare Officer Danilo Flores for assisting the PNE members facilitate their leave from their respective employers,” de Luna said.

He also thanked Afcscom for supporting PNE throughout the six-month preparation period.