Now, the MSO embarks on its momentous “Road to 100,” a journey few institutions can claim. Its unwavering commitment to musical excellence and education shines through not just in initiatives like the Gala Concert Series, Rush Hour Concerts, and provincial tours, but also in the development of a new generation of Filipino talents by way of the MSO Foundation, the MSO Music Academy, and the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra.

“We carry the torch with joy, pride, and dedication,” shares Maestro Marlon Chen, MSO’s musical director. “This isn’t just a celebration of longevity; it’s a commitment to a legacy that belongs to every Filipino—a Symphony for the People.”

The Road to 100 is more than a countdown; it’s a blueprint for the MSO’s future prosperity. Concerts leading up to the centennial aim to reflect its purpose—uniting people through music across time and generations.

In its inaugural year, 2024, the MSO commences the Road to 100 by paying homage to the timeless compositions of Giacomo Puccini in the first concert of the new season. Puccini, a composer whose works continue to stir emotions even a century after his death, becomes a testament that music is not just a bridge of time but also a unifying force across cultures.

As early as April this year, we will see the MSO embark on a nationwide tour, which will continue through 2025. From the hills of Batanes to the lush landscapes of Mindanao, the MSO’s mission is to breathe life into its thrust—a Symphony for the People. With patron cities like Cebu and Iloilo already on board, the MSO extends an invitation to more cities and provinces to join this historic musical journey.

The pinnacle arrives in 2026, the centennial year, filled with culminating concerts, projects, and the launch of the MSO’s commemorative book—a testament to its exceptional journey, having played with the world’s best and earning global recognition. From esteemed guest conductors to its own musicians performing in prestigious halls worldwide, the book documents the MSO’s remarkable history and impact.

Looking ahead, the MSO’s commitment to artistic excellence and community support remains steadfast. The MSO Foundation, which actively seeks backing for financial stability and a suitable venue for its diverse activities, the MSO Music Academy (currently serving over 300 students in three training centers), and the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra all play vital roles in shaping the landscape of classical music in the Philippines. They champion young talent through programs like the Basilio Manalo College Scholarships and international music scholarships. Furthermore, they actively collaborate with local governments to establish orchestras in public schools, ensuring that the influence of classical music extends well beyond the confines of traditional concert halls.

​​What lies ahead for a centenarian? How can it grow concert audiences in an era where people live and think in the moment? Anticipating how the MSO will tackle these challenges is something to look forward to as it continues to produce world-class annual concert series involving top-tier soloists and guests conductors, and to promote Filipino music and compositions not just locally, but on the world stage, as well.

“The inherent power of orchestral music ensures its endurance and relevance as an art form. However, our aim is not merely to secure its survival but to foster an existence that thrives well into the future. Music’s enduring role as a cultural bridge transcends diverse backgrounds and geographic boundaries, offering a glimmer of hope even in the bleakest of time,” adds Marianne Hontiveros, president of MSO Foundation, Inc.

The Manila Symphony Orchestra’s Road to 100 is more than a journey through time; it’s a Symphony for the People—a celebration of music, culture, and the unrelenting spirit of the Filipino. This isn’t just the MSO’s legacy; it’s ours to share, nurture, and keep alive for generations to come. Join us on this historic adventure—become an advocate, spread the word, introduce young minds to the power of music, and support initiatives that ensure the MSO’s symphony resonates and prosper in the next 100 years.

Manila Symphony Orchestra and its Rich Heritage

The Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is one of the oldest orchestras in Asia and the longest surviving artistic institution in the Philippines. Founded by Alexander Lippay in 1926, the orchestra played a major role in Philippine history, including acting as a symbol of resistance during the Second World War. Through the years, MSO has hosted artists such as Montserrat Caballé, Yehudi Menuhin, Igor Oistrakh, Eugene Istomin, Fou Ts’ong, Barry Tuckwell, Paul Badura-Skoda and Rony Rogoff, as well as conductors Andre Kostelanetz, Arthur Fiedler, Mendi Rodan, Robert Feist, Gareth Nair, Helen Quach, and Eduard Strauss II. Among those who have performed with the orchestra are several National Artists of the Philippines such Antonio Molina, Antonino Buenaventura, Lucio San Pedro, Ernani Cuenco Levi Celerio, and Ryan Cayabyab. 

Today, the Manila Symphony Orchestra is one of the country’s most active artistic institution, providing a variety of high-quality performances and actively supporting the development of young Filipino talents. Currently, the MSO’s artistic team is led by Marlon Chen as Music Director, Jeffrey Solares as Associate Conductor, and Diomedes Saraza Jr. as Concertmaster.

With a pocketful of glitter,

The post Manila Symphony Orchestra to Celebrate 100 Years of Music appeared first on The Busy Queen P.

“I’m at a point in my career where I do things I like. I will not sing to please everybody… well, not totally.”

Lea Salonga 40th Anniversary Concert

“I’m at a point in my career, where I do things I like. I will not sing to please everybody… well, not totally.” That opening statement dictated the song choices for Lea’s 40^th Anniversary Concert. She gave a tribute to the late lead singer of Hotdogs (Manila Manila, Ikaw ang Miss Universe ng Buhay Ko with Mark Bautista), sang songs from her favorite Broadway shows (“Vanilla Ice Cream “from the musicale She Loves Me), and unexpectedly did a medley of Prince’s songs.

Lea Salonga with her special guests

The highlights of the evening, however, was when Simon Bowman joined her on stage. What a delight it was when we were regaled by the Broadway stars with songs from Miss Saigon. (Sun and Moon and Solo Saxophone). Simon also sang songs from George Michael and Sam Smith (theme form Spectre). Lea’s daughter Nicole Chen sang “Shy” from Once Upon a Mattress while child guest performer Esang De Torres gave an impressive rendition of “Quiet” from Once Upon a Mattress.

I also loved Lea’s special song for her mom Ligaya (Sa Ugoy ng Duyan) while my little one applauded when she sang Princess Jasmine’s song from Alladin (A Whole New World).

Lea Salonga’s little fan. My daughter with her signed programme.
Other memorable performances are “I Will Never Love Again” by Lady Gaga and a song from Himala the Musicale.
There is no stopping the force that is Lea. After 40 years, she is still so good and no one has emerged to take her throne. Congratulations Lea Salonga! Bravo!
With a pocketful of glitter,

The post Lea Salonga Still So Good at 40! appeared first on The Busy Queen P.

I told my date that Ed started his show exactly on time in his previous concert. No band, no back up singers and no dancers. Just good ol’Ed singing his heart out and changing his guitars after every song. Well, he was and hour late this time around but his performances were better than ever. He mostly sang songs from his Divide Album like Perfect, Shape of You, Gallway Girl and my all time favorite Dive. (So don’t call me baby, unless you mean it, Don’t tell me you need me, if you don’t believe it. So let me know the truth, before I dive right into you…) and also gave the shrieking fans memorable renditions of his older hit songs like “Thinking Out Loud” and “Photograph”. Ok, “Happier” gave the audience all kind of heartbreak feels. Aaarggghh!

With panels upon panels of gigantic LED screens on stage , Ed Sheeran was a force to be reckoned with. Singer, songwriter, rapper , percussionist (he used his guitar as a drum in a few numbers) and gifted guitarist, Manila fans sang and screamed as Ed belted out one number after another—non stop. Ed shared that he is quite over the moon because his Divide album has gone 8 times platinum in the Philippines. A fact that surprised him because his album’s sales in the Philippines are the same as in his home country , the UK.

Under the starlit sky, with wafts of the Manila Bay air making its way to the concert grounds, we all enjoyed the songs of Ed Sheeran. A Perfect night, indeed!

Congratulations Universal MCA Music for another successful concert!

The post Ed Sheeran – Dive and Divide appeared first on The Busy Queen P.

In 2016, more significant programs have been implemented to further the foundation’s cause. A digital livelihood partnership with 51Talk (a company listed in the NYSE) was recently launched. The goal of the program is to supplement the teachers’ income by teaching English to Chinese and Korean students online.  The tribute card has also been upgraded. Apart from the holder enjoying discounts at various retail partners, it can now be used as a beep card for LRT/MRT, buses and other public means of transport.

Last Sunday, an estimated 20,000 teachers from all over the country gathered at the Mall of Asia Arena to take part in the grandest Gabay Guro Teacherfest to date.  Raffle prizes included a house and lot, a van, four motorcycles,  laptops, cellphones , cash and more. The biggest names in local tinseltown performed to the delight of the audience. The event was hosted by Pops Fernandez, MJ Lastimosa and Andrew Wolff. Singers Vina Morales, Sam Concepcion, Michael Pangilinan and the Divas rendered numbers that were all warmly received. Maine Mendoza and the Eat Bulaga gang brought the house down with their medley of song and dance numbers. Industry giants Martin Nievera (who was still jetlagged and had just come from the airport), Jaya, Regine Velasquez and Ogie Olcasid each gave powerful performances. Gary Valeciano (with his son Gab and the Maneuvers) who was celebrating his birthday that same day shared his personal experience as a student and how his teachers inspired him to take a different direction in his life. At the middle of his number, the lights were turned off and the crowd lit up their smartphones. To cap the day’s festivities, broadway star and The Voice Coach Lea  Salonga read the Teacher’s oath together with reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach.

What’s next for Gabay Guro? “The goal is to bring the program to all the regions of the country. Allow me to say that I’m truly proud of the core team and the more than 700 volunteers who tirelessly work to make this vision a reality. Gabay Guro has bonded all of us with our common love and deep appreciation for teachers,” ended Chaye.

Congratulations Gabay Guro on another successful event!
To the people who have helped us achieve our dreams and are now guiding our children in attaining theirs – Mabuhay kayo mga guro!
With a pocketful of glitter,

The post A Grand Salute to Teachers appeared first on The Busy Queen P.

Undoubtedly the most awaited concert  (Tickets were sold out since last year),  the fans could not contain their excitement as they entered the venue.   From her last concert in Macau,  three Boeing 747 planes carried lights,  sound equipment and props to our city.  The stage is really the  first thing to catch your attention.  An elongated cross with a heart attached to the tip and a rectangle stage with protruding balls at the end,  it was an early forboding  of what the show would be.    That show would start almost three hours late – at 11:42 to be exact.
When Madonna finally came out from a cage suspended in the air, the whole  Mall of Asia Arena exploded in shouts and cheers.   Madge mostly sang songs from her newest album.  I so loved when she did Rebel Heart.  “Why can’t you be like the other girls? I said oh no, that’s not me. And I don’t think that it’ll ever be.”   Flashes of  the music icon rendered pop art style flashed on the giant  screens showing her evolution through the years.  It was a visual feast as well as well as a hefty serving of lyrics to awaken the soul.  “So I took the road less travelled by. And I barely made it out alive.  Through the darkness somehow I survived. Tough love I knew it from the start  deep down in my rebel heart.”

 
Of course, she had to sing her old songs from the 80’s!  The people asked for  “Crazy for You” but  she denied that request and sang other favorites instead. Reworked to sound more appealing to millenials, I wished she sang the songs in their original versions.  Still Madonna’s performance of “Burning Up”  while playing the electric guitar,  literally set the stage on fire.  Audience were treated to  La Isla Bonita,  Just Like A Prayer, True Blue, Material Girl and Music.

The costumes were fabulous! Japanese warrior , Spanish Senorita, Sparkle-clad 20’s girl and Rocker Goddess—all showed her well-taut physique.  How in the world could this woman be pushing 60?!   She had plenty of Asian dancers, aerialists who wowed the crowd from twenty foot poles and a moving stage that kept everybody at the edge of their seats.  The audience lapped up the profanity and applauded all the perfectly choreographed numbers. She ended the first night singing  “Holiday” while straddling a dancer as he carried her on his shoulders.  And yes, she draped the Philippine flag around her body and waved it to the adoring fans.

The politics and religion I will leave to others to write about.  Was it a show for kids? No it was not .  “ Vogue” had the 12 disciples, Mother  Mary and Jesus both on screen and on stage “posing”.    Some will say that Madonna is  nothing short of crass —  irreverent and unapologetic.   No one , however ,can deny that she is one of the most gifted women performers of our time .   The concert was a brilliant two hour   spectacle — nothing more , nothing less.   Hail to her Madjesty, Madonna!

With a pocketful of glitter,

 

The post Her Madjesty, Madonna appeared first on The Busy Queen P.

The spiels were funny too. At one point,  Regine motioned to the bleachers and said, “Akala ko ba mayayaman ang audience ko, bakit jan kayo bumili ng ticket???”  Martin Nievera chided Erik Santos for stealing “his song” (referring to This is The Moment) prompting the latter to retort “Bakit? Ikaw kumanta ng original?” “Hindi.”  “Eh bakit mo inaangkin?”  These and many more exchanges drew laughter from the crowd.
There were emotional moments too.  After Angeline and Regine did a series of Whitney Houston songs (which made the hair on my arms stand), the younger singer hugged the latter for a good two minutes.   In tears, Angeline said that she could not believe that  she was performing with her idol.   Regine complimented her by saying “Pwede na ko mag-retire.  You are so good!”

Highlights of the night included songs of Basil Valdez sang by the men and Nat King Cole/Natalie Cole  sang by Martin and Angeline.  The four also rendered a medley from Eraserheads (“Huling El Bimbo”, “Pare Ko and “Magasin”).

The singers also delighted the crowd by dong songs from the 80’s.  At one point Vice Ganda and Ogie Olcasid joined them on stage.  What an enjoyable concert!  Was not aware that three hours had passed by.  I must say though that Angeline Quinto made a fan out of me.

Up next — MADONNA!!!
With a pocketful of glitter,

The post Royals – A Blended Valentine Concert appeared first on The Busy Queen P.

Soon it was time to enter the narrow hallway that led to the meet-and-greet area.  Long-haired, beard-faced “Sean” gathered the  four groups who were scheduled to have  photos taken with MAROON 5.  “Hello,’ he said enthusiastically.  “Everything will go very , very fast.  As explained earlier, we have an official photographer.  That’s why we asked all of you to leave your personal stuff outside.  The guys in the band know that the girls want to get near Adam – so they will make space for you,” he smiles knowingly.  “Please be reminded though that Adam does not like hugging or kissing.  So unless he makes the first move, just take your positions, give your best smile and we will send you the photos.”
I looked around and saw that everyone was unconsciously fixing themselves, practicing their smiles and had expressions much like toddlers on Christmas morning,  A few more moments passed by and then MAROON 5 entered the room … only they were not 5 but 6. Never mind.  It was so surreal!

Adam Levine was wearing a red t-shirt (which had   LOS ANGELES  FOX HOLE printed on it) and grey and red New Balance rubber shoes.   Up close, he wasn’t as tall as I imagined.   I took a mental snapshot of the tattoos on his forearms.  On the left, he had wings and a guitar  On the right, he had the words “I love you”  inked inside a heart. He was also wearing his wedding band.
The band stood in a straight line and soon the photo session was on its way.  Two of the girls in my group immediately made their way to  where Adam was standing.  I took my time and said hello and shook the hands of the other band members.  “Hi,” Adam said.  My heartbeat raised to 120 , my pulse rate double that. I gave him the best smile I could muster and mouthed an almost inaudible “hi” in return.  Somewhere in the background I could hear “Sean” saying  “Get ready guys…”  Three clicks from the photographer’s camera and my two minutes with Adam was over.  Happy sigh.

The V-Tour gathered fans of all ages.  Maroon 5 sang 17 songs all in all.  They opened the show with “Animals” which had the raving crowd singing and howling. The band followed this with One More Night, Stereo Hearts, Harder To Breathe, Lucky Strike and Wake Up Call.  Familiar tunes like Payphone, This Love,  She Will Be Loved, Sunday Morning and Daylight elicited more singing from the receptive audience.  Of course, the people refused to leave until Adam sang Moves Like Jagger and the band’s latest anthem Sugar.

By the way, my husband was with me all the time this was happening.  He just looked amused as he watched me get all googly-eyed and excited.  It was one of those rare moments we had gone out without the kids.  Meeting Adam Levine was definitely a treat for a girl such as myself!   Having a date with my bestfriend  while we listened to music we both liked, however, turned out to be the best thing about the whole night.
With a pocketful of glitter,

The post Meeting Adam appeared first on The Busy Queen P.

       Last August 27, 2015, Imagine Dragons held its first ever concert in the Philippines. Lead singer Dan Reynolds and his band-mates, guitarist Wayne “Wing” Sermon, bassist Ben McKee, and drummer Daniel Platzman, brought their Las Vegas rock music all the way to our shores.

I first learned about Imagine Dragons through video games. I was playing an IOS game, Infinity Blade 3, when I heard “Monster”. I really liked it! My curiosity led me to discover that they also sang a lot of my favorite songs such as “It’s Time”, “On Top of the World”, and “Radioactive”. I apparently hadn’t been giving them due credit. They are such a laidback, “unpretty” band with great songs.
The concert started at around 8:45 PM. They casually entered the stage looking like they had just woken up from a late night’s sleep. However, once the show started, it was clear that they were prepared to jam like crazy. “Shots” was first on their playlist.  Although the Mall Of Asia Arena was only half full, the place was filled with a multitude of voices as the crowd sang, “I shot, shot, shot everything that I loved!”  The band’s next song “Trouble” was received as warmly.
Dan lost no time making a connection to the fans.  “Mahal ko kayo! (I love you) This morning my bandmate told me “Bobo ka ba? (Are you dumb?) – a phrase he must’ve picked up somewhere.”  As the crowd laughed at his attempts to speak the language, the singer said, “Ikaw ay gundumgundum.” (You are pretty.) Acknowledging that they must sound like crazy Americans, Dan then shared that his two brothers lived in the Philippines and that his best friend is a Filipino.
“It’s Time” was sung next. Dan said he heard that Filipinos were good at karaoke. He put our singing skills to the test as we sang along with him – something that fans would do for the rest of the night. “Forever Young”, “Smoke and Mirrors”, “Polaroid” and “I’m So Sorry” rounded the first half of the concert.
Although the concert was called Smoke + Mirrors Tour, there was no trickery involved. Great singing and a fantastic light show made the whole thing spectacular! Everyone happily sung along as the band played their second half playlist-“Gold”, “Amsterdam”, “Demons”, “Hopeless Opus”, “On Top of the World”, “Friction”, and “I Bet My Life”. It got so incredibly loud that I could feel my whole body vibrating.
The second to the last song “Radioactive” sent the people into an excited frenzy! I saw people jumping up and down as they bobbed their hands and waved their hands. The show ended with the band playing “The Fall”. Dan got a Philippine flag from a fan and waved it as he sang.

This concert was definitely one of the best I’ve been to.  Not once did I sit down! Days later, I found myself listening to their songs on YouTube. Their lyrics are relevant, relatable and appealing to the young audience. I think that’s why the band is so popular among the youth. I can’t wait until the next time Imagine Dragons rocks the Philippines again!

The post “IMAGINE DRAGONS” GOES READIOACTIVE IN MANILA! appeared first on The Busy Queen P.

DJ Tom Taus played his mixes at exactly 8 pm.  Half an hour or so later, Ariana Grande took the stage amidst deafening shouts and screams.  The singer opened the show with her hit “Bang Bang” (a song she recorded with Jessie J and rapper Nicki Minaj) which she followed with a string of hits  like “Hands On Me”,  “Right There” and “Be My Baby”.   “I’ve always wanted to visit the Philippines and now I’m here,”  Ariana said to the adoring Manila  crowd.   To endear herself even more to the fans, the cherub –faced performer shouted,  “I see your messages!  You guys are always on Twitter!”

There’s nothing dimunitive about Ariana Grande.   If at all, she’s quite  a dynamite. Proving that she has the vocal power to back her international superstar status,  Ari gave an amazing rendition of Whitney Houstons’s  “I Have Nothing .”   She described the song as “one of her favorite songs of all time.”   Shortly after,  everyone was up on their feet dancing and singing along as she belted   “I’m Every Woman” and Madonna’s  cult  hit “Vogue.”

The two hour show ended with Ariana singing “Love Me Harder”, “Honeymoon Avenue” and  “Problem”.    With minimal costume changes ( I counted two cat ear headbands and  one lopsided  black mesh bunny ears),  a big screen background, and a handful of backup dancers,  the show really anchored its totality in Ariana’s powerful voice and  performances.   She hit her high notes with ease , danced with 6 inch stilettos on  and on more than one occasion put  a hand in one lobe  to elicit more  adulation from her die-hard Arianators.  Manila certainly wasn’t disappointed!

We want you back soon Ariana!
With a pocketful of glitter,

The post The Honeymoon Tour – Ariana Grande Goes Bang Bang in Manila! appeared first on The Busy Queen P.

Wearing a deep sea green dress with a black mesh overlay, Idina had a wonderful time interacting with her audience.  At one point, she playfully took out her net skirt and asked , “Did that get you excited?”.   She also asked for help in saying “I love you” in Tagalog.   The songstress likewise attempted to sing her signature song “Let It Go” in Tagalog but had a difficult time pronouncing some of the words.  She repeated her Frozen sequence (this time singing it with more ease) but finally said “Ok guys, I’m sure you all know this song in English too!”

 Proving that the country has an infinite pool of talented singers, three lucky  members of the audience,  who were selected by Idina herself, belted out “Take Me or Leave Me” from RENT.  Ms. Menzel could only say in admiration , “You are such a cultured people – you know your Broadway!”

In one touching number, Idina sang “For Good” in acapella.  A sea of lights (from cellphones) started to glow from all sides of the arena.  An almost teary-eyed Idina extended her microphone to the crowd and we ended the song with her.   Undoubtedly, this was the most memorable moment of the night!

As the show went on, Idina regaled with more songs from Broadway.  “I was the first Wicked Witch of the West , you know,” she proudly announced.  Ms. Menzel also gave a slow and touching performance of  “Tomorrow” and sang a beautiful ballad that she wrote for her son.   Her splendid show was powered by PLDT HOME Fibr.

See you soon Idina!  Manila will be waiting to hear more of your enchanting music!

Follow me on Twitter, IG and Facebook.   Visit https://www.facebook.com/thebusyqueenp for more interesting reads!

The post Idina Menzel Enchants in Manila Concert! appeared first on The Busy Queen P.