As the opening salvo of the 2013 Philippines-China Years of Friendly Exchanges, the much-acclaimed Loboc Children’s Choir performed in three major Chinese cities on 3-8 June 2013.   Their concert also coincided with the observance of International Children’s Day, generally celebrated on 01 June each year.  Entitled “Handog para sa Kaibigan”, their three-city concert played to general acclaim.    

They began their Chinese tour in Xiamen, proceeded to Shanghai, and capped their performance in Beijing at the landmark National Center for the Performing Arts, or what locals and expatriates fondly call “The Egg”, with a morning and evening concert.  

 

Asked why their concert was called “Handog para sa Kaibigan”, Ambassador Erlinda Basilio said, “Earlier on, when I listened to their rendition of the Florante classic “Handog” in a CD recording, I heard how their young and solemn voices expressed a deep yearning for friendship.  We all yearn for friendship, but this desire is more pronounced among children.  I thought that theirs were the voices of all children in the world who desired to make friends, and to live a peaceful and good life.  So we asked the Choir to perform this song in China, to convey our message of peace to the Chinese people, and to send our message of friendship to all Chinese children.”

 

The concert also marked the celebration of the 38th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China and Philippines-China Friendship Day on 09 June.