UPAA-W Choir Strikes a Patriotic Chord at Fiesta Filipiniana

(Jaime “Beaver” Flores)

Following their warmly received debut at last year’s UPAA-W Christmas Party, the UPAA-W Choir reunited for an encore—this time taking the stage at the recently concluded Fiesta Filipiniana celebration held June 14, 2025 at the Brookfield Conference Center. The event marked the 25th anniversary of the Philippine Cultural and Civic Center Foundation (PCCCF), which brought together members of the Filipino American community from across Wisconsin.

To commemorate the 127th anniversary of Philippine independence, the choir delivered a moving rendition of the patriotic classic “Bayan Ko”. Often referred to as the Philippines’ unofficial second national anthem, the song has long served as a powerful symbol of resistance and national identity throughout Philippine history.

Originally written in Spanish, “Bayan Ko” was later translated into Filipino by esteemed poet José Corazón de Jesús, with its iconic melody composed by Constancio de Guzmán. The UPAA-W Choir’s performance featured a choral arrangement by Darren Bancod, brought to life under the passionate direction of its conductor Nellie Ann Garcia.

Weeks of rehearsals paid off, with the performance leaving a strong impression on both the audience and the singers themselves. In recognition of their efforts, Fiesta Filipiniana organizers presented the group with a special “Diwa ng Kalayaan” Award for their unique contribution to the evening’s patriotic theme.

Future planned performances include a rendition of “UP Naming Mahal” and a new repertoire of Christmas carols for the upcoming holiday season.

Performing at the event were sopranos Dr. Maye Berroya, Lot de la Cruz, Marianne Enriquez, and Lyn Hamilton; altos Elsa Clemente, Deanna Cruz, Christine Hey, and Dr. Fe Quevedo-Visaya; tenors Dr. Rene Azcueta and Norie de la Cruz; and basses Dr. Eugene Enriquez and Jaime “Beaver” Flores.