JZA, FHL team up for Harana and Tea
2/25/2010 | Ayala Foundation
To celebrate the beauty and artistry of Philippine love songs, Jaime Zobel de Ayala, chairman emeritus of Ayala Corporation, hosted a special musical event entitled Harana and Tea at the newly opened Ayala Triangle Gardens. Held in January, this unique concert was organized in cooperation with the Filipinas Heritage Library (FHL).
Showcasing some of the most memorable Filipino love songs from FHL's Himig Collection of over a thousand vintage vinyl records, Harana and Tea featured the voices of Harana ng Kasarinlan, a musical group committed to the promotion of traditional and contemporary Philippine music all over the country and the world.
In his opening remarks, JZA said that music is an important feature of Filipino identity and heritage. Meanwhile, Dr. Felipe de Leon Jr., art studies professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman, delivered a brief lecture on Filipino music, and what it says about Philippine culture and history.
Guests and passersby relived the glory days of the art of the harana, when a man expressed his love for a woman through song. Among the songs performed during the event were such classics as "Maalaala Mo Kaya" and "Dahil Sa "˜Yo," as well as such contemporary love songs as Louie Ocampo's "Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin" and Gary Granada's "Mabuti Pa Sila."
Harana and Tea was the first of a series of cultural events called Bravo!: Celebrating the Filipino, which aims to recognize the achievements of Filipinos in art, culture, and history. A collaborative effort of the members of the Ayala group of companies, Bravo will also feature pocket concert, traveling exhibits, public art, and other activities that aim to make Filipinos that art is an essential part of their daily lives.
Visit http://www.ayalafoundation.org for more information.
