PHL children's choir wins grand prize in Spain tilt

A Filipino children's choir brought honor to the country by winning the grand prize at the 18th Certamen Internacional de Juvenil de Habaneras 2012 in Spain.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Sunday said the Baao Children's Choir bested seven other finalists at the contest from April 27 to 29 in Torrevieja, Spain.

"Baao Children´s Choir is the first Asian choir to join the said competition. For 2012 alone, more than 40 choirs from around the world auditioned but only eight made it to the finals," it said.

During the competition, the choir, directed by Virgilio Briones, received a standing ovation for singing several songs, including:

- El Negro (obligatory Habanera competition song interpretation)
- Qué bonita es Cuba
- Dicen que se muere el mar (arranged by J. Madurga Oteiza)
- Scenes from the North (arranged by Fidel Calalang Jr.).

The Baao Children's Choir, established in 2003, is a community and church-based choir composed of children aged 11 to 18.

It holds annual auditions and training programs in different public and private schools in Baao town in Camarines Sur province. — LBG, GMA News