Philippine Christmas Concert 2024 Brings Joyful Harmonies to Tokyo
The Mandaluyong Children’s Choir, under the baton of conductor Sebastian Trinidad, was among the 4 choral groups that serenaded the audience during the Philippine Christmas Concert held on 11 December 2024 at the Akasaka Civic Center, Tokyo.
TOKYO, 12 December 2024 – The festive spirit of Filipino Christmas reverberated through the Akasaka Civic Center on 11 December 2024, as the Philippine Embassy in Japan presented the annual Philippine Christmas Concert, in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Sentro Rizal-Tokyo, and Minato City.
The event showcased the musical artistry and harmonious melodies of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Singers, Mandaluyong Children’s Choir, Himig Koenji, and Koristas.
A diverse audience of Filipino and Japanese guests, together with members of the international community, were treated to a repertoire of Filipino and international Christmas classics. The performers, celebrated for their vocal excellence, delivered a moving musical journey that captured the essence of Christmas.
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano, in her opening remarks, expressed her gratitude to the performers, partners, and attendees for making the evening a resounding success. “With Christmas so close to the Filipinos’ hearts, we thought it fitting to bring the same spirit of the season here in Japan, especially for our kababayans who are unable to go home this December,” she said.
The program included timeless Filipino Christmas songs such as “Pasko Na Naman,” “Christmas in Our Hearts,” and “Kumukutikutitap,” alongside universally beloved carols like “O Come, All Ye Faithful” and “Joy to the World.”
The UST Singers and Mandaluyong Children’s Choir are groups based in the Philippines, while Himig Koenji and Koristas are Filipino choirs formed in Japan.
The Philippine Christmas Concert served as a platform to share the Philippines’ rich tradition of choral music. The partnership with Minato City underscores the shared commitment of the Embassy and its host city to foster cross-cultural understanding through artistic expression.
The internationally acclaimed UST Singers, the first Asian Grand Prix winner at the prestigious Grieg International Choir Festival, with founder and conductor Fidel Calalang Jr., delivered a masterful performance of choral music during the Philippine Christmas Concert in Tokyo on 11 December 2024.
The UST Singers, Mandaluyong Children’s Choir, Himig Koenji, and Koristas headlined the Philippine Christmas Concert organized by the Philippine Embassy in Japan, in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Sentro Rizal-Tokyo, and Minato City, on 11 December 2024 at the Akasaka Civic Center in Tokyo.
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garica-Albano welcomed the audience to the Philippine Christmas Concert held on 11 December 2024 at the Akasaka Civic Center, Tokyo.
