Phnom Penh, 23 July 2024 – In line with its cultural diplomacy program, the Philippine Embassy organized a workshop for members of choral groups in Cambodia on 20 July 2024.

With the Male Ensemble Philippines (MEn Philippines) as their coach, the workshop participants included members of the Phnom Penh Chorale Ensemble (PPCE), Cantamus Dio Coro (Catholic Church Choir), 9th Harmonics, and the international Musica Felice Chorale.

At the masterclass, MEn Philippines shared basic exercises to improve the participants’ vocal techniques such as posture, volume, warming up, relaxation, breathing and harmonization.  The workshop culminated in the participants’ choral rendition of the beloved Filipino folk song Bahay Kubo and a tender performance of the Filipino pop song Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin by MEn Philippines. 

The participating choral members appreciated the Embassy’s initiative to support Filipino culture bearers and artists and to preserve the cultural heritage of Filipinos overseas.  “This was a worthwhile, technically enriching experience for us,” workshop participant Manolita Borja said.

The award-winning MEn Philippines of the Philippine Madrigal Singers Company of Artists have made it their mission to promote Philippine culture and arts through music. Organized in 2018, they have performed in numerous concerts in the Philippines and several European countries.   MEn Philippines members Ily Matthew Maniano, Tomas Umberto Virtucio, Jr., Dexter John Madera, John Philip Bautista, and Amiel Job Liwanagan conducted the choral workshop upon the invitation of the Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh and with the support of the DFA Office of Cultural Diplomacy.  END