Kapayapaan ni Kristo! Kamusta po kayo? Sana po ay mabuti ang lahat sa inyo ngayon.

Ako po si Denise Melanie Du Lagrosa. Isang miyembro ng Miriam College Glee Club sa pamumuno po ni Mr. Jonathan Velasco.

Ma'm Taldo, nais ko po sana kayo makilala, marinig kumanta ang Loboc Choir. Punta po kaming Bohol ng Hulyo 13-16. Libre po kami buong araw ng linggo at uwi ng lunes ng hapon.

Kakatapos ko lang po ng pag aaral sa kurso na Batsilyer ng Agham sa Pagplaplano at pangangasiwa ng Kapaligiran.

Pupunta po kami ng aking ina na si Milagros Lagrosa, isang education champion mula sa Asian Institute of Management. Kasama po ang Tita ko, si Elena Corales Du, sa Bohol para sa isang Education Workshop/ Planning sa isang eskwelahan ng mga madre.(Pasensya na po, hindi ko pa po alam sa ngayon ang pangalan ng eskwelahan, o ang Madre pero sasama po ako).

Ma'm Taldo, gusto ko po sana makarinig ng misa ng Boholano na kumakanta po ang Loboc Children's Choir. O kaya po, kung papayagan niyo po kami, mag observe sa pag eensayo niyo kahit sa labas lang ng lugar niyo. Mapapakinggan na po yun.

Biyaya po sa atin yon. Bagay siya sa kurso ko, nakikinig sa magandang choir sa Bohol na maganda at maayos ang kapaligiran.

Binabati ko po ang Loboc Children's Choir, Angel's Voices kung tawagin sa mga nabasa ko at kwento ng mga kaibigan ko na Heswita na Boholano at naglingkod sa Bohol.

Maraming salamat po Mam Taldo sa inyong panahon para basahin ang liham ko. Umaasa po ako sa inyong pagtugon. Anuman, ang aking pong numero ay 0906 451 5196. Sana rin po bukas kayo sa pagtawag ko sa inyo.

Muli, maraming salamat.

sa panalangin mananatili,

Denise Melanie "Lanie" Du Lagrosa

I am a Lobocana and a music lover. I know i have the voice, it's just that i was being deprived from having this enhanced and developed especially during my childhood years. The reason behind is family - parents never allowed me to join Solfeggio or even to other kids' educational activities. They wanted me to earn not to learn - I used to be reprimanded everytime i'm caught scanning the books as studying must only be done during school hours on school days. In my elementary years at the Loboc central elementary sch., i dreamed of owning a ukelele for me to be able to be with other pupils who served as accompaniment on flag ceremonies but to no avail. I really envied watching them during rehearsals with ma'am Alma Taldo and ma'am Petring Bacquial in preparation for any upcoming competitions. My family never ever realized how much it caused pain to me.

After graduating high school from the PMI Loboc Academy, I had a boyfriend who was a member of the loboc band whom i thought could teach me the basics in music like note reading then to playing musical instruments he used to handle like the sax, trumphet, clarinet, etc. sad to say i was forced to leave the town in search for a better future. Our long distance relationship lasted for almost 9 years though - but was just ruined by several factors and one of which is still family. I've settled down to a fellow Lobocanon who also loves music...unlike my ex, he does not play any instrument but from a family of golden voices. Now that i am already a mother, too, never would i let those bad and sad experiences i had in the past be brought forward by my son as he grows. I truly see in him at his young age that he's got the potentials and i know he will be one of the Loboc children's choir someday. God bless and more power, Loboc!

Bohol ties with China signed

Bohol captures the limelight as the first RP province which has inked formal agreement with a progressive province in China, thus, gaining recognition from national governments of both countries.

Gov. Erico Aumentado who led a 40-man Bohol delegation held five high-level talks with top Chinese officials led by Jiangxi Gov. Huang Zhiquan who is Jiangxi’s No. 2 citizen.

No less than Chairman Meng Jian Zhu who is a member of the Central Congress signed the agreement of friendly exchange and cooperation which highlighted the six-day visit to China. (Full text of the agreement is printed elsewhere in this issue).

The significance of the sisterhood pact between Jiangxi and Bohol was recognized by Chairman Meng who has to fly home from Beijing just to attend the signing ceremony last Saturday.

The five-year agreement covers areas in tourism, agriculture, trade, science/technology, education, culture and public health.

Jiangxi, which is one of the most progressive provinces in China, is known for its excellence in science and technology making parts of satellites with China being the third successful nation to send satellites in space. She has a population of 43 million.

The most significant outcome of the visit is the selection of Bohol to be the site of a massive TV advertising campaign all over China by Oishi, one of the products produced by Liwayay International Co. Ltd.

Scenic spots like the white sand beaches of Panglao, the Chocolate Hills, man-made forest, Loboc River and centuries-old churches will be highlighted in the TV commercials which will be aired in six major television channels in China, aside from the local channels in Jiangxi. The famous Loboc Children’s Choir will hum the Oishi jingle.

This advertising campaign which will identify Bohol, Philippines as the site of the footages will be viewed by some 1.2 billion Chinese.

With the good exposure of Bohol in China through television, Gov. Aumentado is looking forward for tourists from China on board direct chartered flights once the proposed Panglao International Airport will be completed within the term of Pres. Arroyo.

The China agreement was made possible through the influence of Carlos Chan, chairman of the Liwayway Group who sponsored the trip of the Bohol delegation. Chan who owns 12 plants in various parts of the world is a highly respected Chinese businessman who holds influence in the corridors of power in China. With his endorsement, the Chinese government gave due recognition to the agreement signed between the two provinces.

Chan assured to bring Chinese investors during the Bohol Investment Forum in July during the “Tigum Bol-anon sa Tibook Kalibutan” to be held in the city.

Other concerns:

The Chinese government likewise assured P2.5 million for the establishment of the Loboc Children’s Palace which will soon become the training ground for musicians in the province particularly the famous Loboc Children’s Chior.

Technical assistance on rice production, Jiangxi being China’s top rice producer

Support for geo-textiles from coconut fiber which they use for furniture upholstery

To buy mangoes grown in Bohol including the possible establishment of processing plants here

Showed interest upon learning on the manganese, limestone, silica and fossil oil deposits in the province

Interested on student/teacher exchange program in order to learn English while studying here and Mandarin for those who will study in China

Offered to open sisterhood pact between Tagbilaran City and Jiujiang City

Declaring the Chocolate Hills as a UNESCO Heritage site while seeing the need to replicate what is being developed in Mt. Lushan, Jingaxi’s summer capital where villas for Europeans, Australians and Russians abound on the peak of the 1,400 meters above sea level.

The five-year agreement took effect upon signing and will be renewed upon its expiration.

The agreement mainly aims to promote “understanding and friendship” between the Filipinos and the Chinese through friendly consultations in accordance with the principle of equality and mutual benefit.

The designated liaison offices will be the office of the Bohol governor and the Foreign Affairs and Overseas-Chinese Affairs office of Jiangxi Provincial People’s Government.

Gov. Aumentado immediately upon arrival yesterday afternoon brought the delegation to the Governor’s Mansion for a press conference which was aired live over dyRD.

1. The Loboc convent

2. and by March at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila.

Gardy Labad, LCC Tours manager

We've added a page on this project here.--Jeroen.

By MIKE ORTEGA LIGALIG

Bohol’s pride, the world-famous Loboc Children’s Choir has added feather to its cap as it becomes an ad model for an insurance company.

Pioneer, a leading insurance company in the country, has been impressed with the talent of the choir members and believes that the choir group has earned the company’s standard for excellence and discipline.

“Their Discipline Is The Silent Note In Every Song,” says an ad for Pioneer published in the Philippine Star.

The ad shows four members of the choir crooning, and the musical director playing a piano.

Pioneer took note of the group’s unforgettable feat being the gold medalist in the International Folksong Choir Festival held in Barcelona, Spain in 2003.

The full text of the ad says:competition.

Voices pure, angelic and pitch-perfect, they beat 12 adult choirs to become the judges’ unanimous choice.

So how does a choir become the best in the world?

“Discipline and interest,” according to Alma Fernando-Taldo, conductor and musical director. Rigorous practice five days a week. No sweets, no soda, no grade below 70. Period.

“Even the small things matter,” says Ma’am Alma, daughter and granddaughter of respected Loboc musicians.

In September 2003, 30 children from a tiny school in Bohol stunned themselves and the world by earning near-perfect marks in an elite choir.

No surprise then, that for their travels, to guard against costs incurred from missed performances and to reward future triumphs, the children of Loboc are entrusted to Pioneer: a company that shares their discipline to get even the smallest details right.

The ad concludes:

“When you’re thoroughly prepared, hitting the right note is simple. Ask the Loboc children – they get it.”

link.