03 December 2019 - From 27 to 28 November 2019, Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Ambassador Hjayceelyn Quintana hosted a piano concert entitled, “Lantay na Perlas”, a musical tribute to martyrs and heroes of both the Philippines and the UAE, commemorating Bonifacio Day on 30 November and the UAE’s Martyrs Day on 1 December.  

Commemoration Day or Martyrs' Day is marked annually on December 01 in the United Arab Emirates, recognizing the sacrifices and dedication of Emirati martyrs who have given their lives in the UAE and abroad in the field of civil, military and humanitarian service.

Addressing the two-day concert series’ attendees comprising of diplomats, members of the business sector, members of the Filipino community, and partners of the Embassy, Amb. Quintana likened the heroes’ selfless sacrifice to pure pearls or “Lantay na Perlas” offered in the name of the country’s freedom which should never be forgotten. Amb. Quintana also cited that the project is in line with the establishment of the Office of the Defense and Armed Forces Attaché (ODAFA) next year. OUMWA Undersecretary Sarah Lou Arriola, in an official visit to Abu Dhabi to meet UAE Foreign Ministry officials, was the Guest of Honor at the concert on 27 November.

Renowned classical pianist Ms. Adolovni Acosta, trained at the University of the Philippines School of Music and at the Juilliard School (New York), and recipient of PH and international awards including the Pamana ng Pilipino Award (2005) from the Office of the President, flew in from New York, USA, where she is currently based, to give a masterful performance at the concert. 

The audience were treated to Ms. Acosta’s brilliant and colorful renderings of selected works by John Philip Sousa, George Gershwin, Claude Debussy, Frederick Chopin in the first part of the programme. On the second half, with works of Filipino composers, Ms. Acosta was joined by Abu Dhabi-based Filipino artists Messrs Patrick Stephen Digo and Zack Allen who sang Constancio de Guzman’s “Bayan Ko”. This was followed by “Jocelynang Baliwag” (circa 1896), known as the kundiman of the Philippine Revolution, and capped by a trifecta of compositions by Francisco Buencamino, namely, Maligayang Bati, Ang Larawan, and Mayon.

Not only were attendees treated to musical delights, they also partook of Filipino food prepared with a modern and sophisticated twist, courtesy of Filfood headed by Mr. Jovy Tuaño. END