June 30, 2019
What a beautiful and perfect Sunday afternoon at the Clayton County Performing Arts Center, Tarpley Hall for the Filipino American Association of Greater Atlanta (Fil-Am) mid-year special cultural event, the DUO TEKLADO, “the epitome of celebrations: the 45th Anniversary of Fil-Am, the Commemoration of Filipino-American Friendship Day and honoring our leaders of tomorrow”, the next generation Filipino-Americans in Atlanta.
Ms. Marites Fernandez (our very own celebrity, and current president of the Filipino-American Association of Greater Atlanta and Dr. Rene Dalandan, both internationally known Filipino concert pianists, gave us all a taste of American and Filipino music we all remember from years past. Playing simultaneously on two shiny baby grands, they entranced throngs of Filipino-Americans and friends listening attentively with nostalgia.
A beautiful concert, it was also reminiscent of June 15, 1996, 23 years ago, when Ms. Marites was one of the Filipino artists of international fame featured alongside Maniya Barredo, prima ballerina for the Atlanta Ballet, and Lea Salonga (of Les Miserables Fame) at the 1996 Olympic Year Fil-Am Gala, “The Filipino Experience” held at the Niko in Atlanta, with about 500 guests in attendance. Most touching and memorable then and now was Ms. Marites’ playing the beautiful ever classic Mayon: Piano Concerto by Francisco Buencamino, Sr. whose greatest work musically describes the most famous perfectly shaped volcano depicting its peaceful idyllic mood and fiery eruptions, always bringing back memories of our beloved mother country, the Philippines.
So it was exciting to see the concert hall packed, to see familiar faces of friends old and new, Filipino-Americans, along with the next generation, who came to listen to a repertoire of well-known music from Gershwin, Piazzolla and Bernstein, and our own equally beautiful Filipino classical music by Buencamino and some newer Filipino music by Ryan Cayabyab.
A very nice Sunday afternoon of cultural entertainment right here in our neighborhood of Filipino-Americans in Greater Atlanta, Georgia.
Didi B. O’Connor
Fil-Am President
Olympic Year 1996
What a beautiful show with beautiful & handsome performers & guests! Sorry, I missed it due to health problem.
Gloria Macaraeg Sabiniano
GREAT SHOW!
Eligio Abellera
What a great performance & congrats to all the scholars!
Eden Fernandez
Wonderful concert! Two very talented pianists and a great selection of music!
Apanay Jr Manolo
Amazing Duo!!! As always .... Marithes !!!!! you're awesome !!!
Gloria Flores
Awesome..
Lolita Elliott
Congrats..regards to all
Elito Circa