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THEY’VE
been playing the music of the masters since Josh
Groban’s and Norah Jones’s parents were still strangers
to each other. They’ve enthralled presidents, prime
ministers, diplomats, archbishops, CEOs, COOs, CFOs,
internationally acclaimed fellow musicians and even the
Pope.
Still,
the 35-year-old Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO)
is in dire need of financial assistance. The main
reason? New instruments and the maintenance of the
existing old-but-still-functioning ones. Some irreverent
patrons actually call the group by other monikers,
including the Philippine Poor Orchestra or the Pauper
Philharmonic Orchestra. The bad, bad, bad usual suspects
call them, aw, the Pathetic Philharmonic Orchestra.
PPO’s
“handicap” actually made them famous. The group has been
known as the only philharmonic orchestra in the whole
world whose members can play defective musical
instruments. And they do it so well. Filipino ingenuity
has never been this exemplary. Something for the
Guinness?
For
example, PPO’s principal cellist, Renato Lucas, who is
considered one of the best in the Asia-Pacific region,
has difficulty using his bow. He said it has lost its
flexibility. Well, his fingers have since learned to
adjust with the hardness.
Bassonist Adolfo Mendoza had to use epoxy to glue
together rotten parts of his 35-year-old instrument. He
also mentioned how its keys had become so sharp they
feel like the edge of a knife. There are also holes that
can’t be patched up with epoxy, causing dissonant tones.
The same
complaints can be heard from principal trombone player
Cornelio Ramos, principal percussion player Leodivino
Roque, the oboe players and those from the flute and
piccolo section.
The
musicians told BusinessMirror that an oboe would cost
around $5,000. Locally, a trombone is priced at around
P300,000. And there are about 65 musicians in the PPO,
and all of them have same sad tales to tell.
It won’t
be surprising if some highly creative Filipino composer
would come up with something like “Symphony for the
Epoxy ” or “The Glue Sonata.”
“A
musical instrument’s life span—or the years it would be
in good shape—is about 15 to 20 years. More than 50
percent of the instruments used by the PPO were
purchased when the orchestra was formed—and that was in
1973, about 35 years ago. There’s no resale value for
the instruments. If we’re going to sell, no one will buy
because they’re museum pieces already,” said Nestor
Jardin, president of the Cultural Center of the
Philippines (CCP) in a recent meeting with the media.
When
fund-raising activities were started in 2003, the PPO
needed P45 million. According to Jardin, more than P5
million has since been raised. He added that the last
time they checked, they still need around P36 million
for new instruments and the maintenance of the existing
ones.
“But the
CCP, which has the sole responsibility in providing
funds for the PPO, spends P28 million a year to fund the
salaries and programs of the PPO. We can only do so
much,” Jardin added.
Support
continues to pour in from the private sector. Through
the leadership of Zenaida Tantoco, CCP board of trustee
member and director of the Rustan Group of Companies,
there have been fund-raising concerts for the group. In
2003, they started with the PPO playing with jazz
musician David Benoit. Tantoco continues to function as
chairperson of the PPO Instrument Fund Campaign.
“Over
the years, they were able to buy a new tuba, a French
horn, bass trombone, violin and three trumpets. Repairs
were made to a contrabass, harps, contrabassoon and a
clarinet. But as repairs were made and new purchases
were done, the old existing instruments continue to
wear-out,” Tantoco told BusinessMirror.
For this
year, she added, the fund-raising concert, dubbed La
Musica Española, has a tie-up with our Hispanic
brothers and sisters through the Instituto Cervantes,
Embajada Espana Manila, and Generalitat Valenciana of
Spain. Store Specialists Inc. and The Manila Peninsula
are also doing their share. The major sponsors are Zara,
Bvlgari and ING Bank Manila.
This
time, the PPO will play under the baton of guest
conductor, Maestro Bernardo Adam Ferrero, who is from
Valencia, Spain. He will be accompanied by his son,
Ruben Adam and wife Amparo.
Just
like saving the butanding in Sorsogon or the Rice
Terraces, let’s help the Philippine Philharmonic
Orchesta. La Musica Española will take place ahora mismo
at
8 pm, January 29, at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main
Theater). Tickets are available at the CCP Box Office
(832-3704, 832-1125, local 1409). |
