On the occasion of the visit to China of the Loboc Children’s Choir, China’s national radio, China Radio International, aired a one-hour program on the Loboc Children’s Choir and Philippine music on June 7, as part of their program “World Culture Circle”.  Two members of the Loboc Children’s Choir, Carmelle and Vea, were invited to participate in the program, and they were assisted by a fluent mandarin-speaking Filipino student doing his master’s degree at Peking University, Bojer Capati.  Professor Zhu Zhuojian of the China Central Conservatory of Music also spoke of Philippine music and his memories of the Philippines when he pursued his masters in Philippine music at the UP Conservatory of Music from 1986 to 1988.  A fluent Filipino-speaking Chinese broadcaster, Jade Xian, also pitched in to converse with the children.

 

The program highlighted the warm, cheerful and musical nature of Filipinos, and the talent of the members of the Loboc Children’s Choir.  “They are very warm and cheerful”, stressed Professor Zhu.  When asked to sing a favorite childhood song, Carmelle and Vea sang “Leron Leron Sinta” in perfect harmony; when queried on what the song was saying, Carmelle shyly said “it is about climbing a papaya tree and falling down”, whereupon the anchor laughed and said, “You fall down and still, you sound so joyful!”

 

Professor Zhu recounted his memories of his mentor at the UP Conservatory of Music, Dr. Jose Maceda, revealing his deep respect for his teacher.  Professor Zhu also recounted his trips to northern Luzon to immerse in traditional Philippine music, where he was most warmly welcomed by all the Filipinos he met.

 

He praised the Choir, saying “they are excellent and very accurate.  When they sing, one has the impression of listening to only one voice”. 

 

Filipino student Boj Capati was asked about his favorite Philippine songs, and was requested by the anchor to let the audience sample “Philippine rock and roll”.  Boj gamely sang an excerpt from his favorite Eraserheads song on the air.  Also aired were “Tara na – biyahe tayo”, an old Department of Tourism jingle, eliciting the anchor’s comment, “this makes me want to travel to the Philippines!”

 

Several times during the program, Carmelle and Vea were asked to sing on the air for the audience.  They sang an internationally-loved Chinese song, “Molihua” (Jasmine, or sampaguita), drawing sighs from the anchors.  The program closed with the recorded song “Handog”, a Florante classic from the 1980s, as sung by the Loboc Children’s Choir, and the reading of the Chinese translation of the lyrics.  “Handog” is the banner song of the Loboc Children’s Choir concert in China, entitled “Handog para sa kaibigan”, to celebrate the 38th anniversary of the establishment of Philippines-China diplomatic relations, the 2012-2013 Years of Friendly Exchanges between the two countries, and to observe International Children’s Day.