Las Piñas Boys Choir

The Las Piñas Boys Choir is a Filipino boys' choir that performs regularly around the Parish of St. Joseph, just south of Manila,[1] and around the world. The choir performs annually at the International Bamboo Organ Festival, the parish church being home to the world's oldest and largest bamboo organ built in 1816.[2] Each Christmas, thousands travel to watch the choir perform at midnight mass.

History

The choir was founded in 1969 by Belgian priest,[1] Father Leo Renier.[3][4] Reiner, who was the assistant parish priest of Las Piñas Parish at the time,[5] proposed a boys' choir to play during midnight Christmas mass.[6]

The choir was originally known as the Himig Kawayan Boys Choir of Las Piñas[4] but began to be called the Las Piñas Boys Choir during the 1970s.[6]

In 1972, the choir entered the First Children’s Choir Competition at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), where they won third place. In 1974, they won the Third Children’s Choir Competition.[1] After this showing, the choir began to receive invitations to perform outside Las Piñas.[1]

Activities

The choir performs annually at the International Bamboo Organ Festival,[3] while thousands travel each Christmas to see the choir perform at St. Joseph's Church.[7] The choir has also performed at Cultural Center of the Philippines and numerous times at Malacañang Palace,[1][3] the official residence of the President of the Philippines.

In 2007, the choir was featured on the song I'll be Home for Christmas by Philippine Idol winner, Sitti, on her album Ngayong Pasko,[8] and accompanied her on stage at the I'll be Home for Christmas concert.[9] The Christmas album went gold after one month and later platinum.

In 2008, the choir participated in the 5th World Choir Games, winning gold and silver medals.[4][10] The 20 boys won gold in the children’s category and silver in the sacred music category.[11][12]

Following their win, a resolution was moved in the Phillipine Senate recognising the group.[13] The same year, the group also sang the national anthem at a Senate session.[13]

In 2012, the choir was ranked the 124th best choir in the world by Interkultur.[14]

Works

  • Bamboo Organ Inaugural Concerts. Las Piñas Boys Choir. LP, 1975. Wolfgang Oehms, organ.[15][16]
  • Christmas Carols on the Las Piñas Bamboo Organ. Las Piñas Boys Choir. LP, 1975. Engracio Tempongko, Zenas Reyes Lozada, accompanist.[15]
  • A Philippine Christmas At The Las Piñas Bamboo Organ. The Las Piñas Boys Choir, Vince Gomez, Manuel Maramba – Pasko Sa Las Piñas. Cassette. 1982.[15]
  • Missa Mysterium. 1997. Francisco Feliciano, Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Rachelle Gerodias, Jai Sabas Aracama, Lemuel de la Cruz, Jonathan Velasco, The Philippines Madrigal Singers, AILM Chorale, Las Piñas Mixed Choir. CD, 1997.[15]

Choir directors

Members

The members of the choir consists of scholarship students at St. Joseph's Academy of Las Piñas[1][20] and other schools within Las Piñas City.

A number of the boys have gone onto become renowned musicians, including:

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "LPBC: A Legacy of Musical Achievement". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 7 Oct 2007. pp. B2.
  2. ^ "The Bamboo Organ in its Biggest Festival". The Manila Times. 16 Jan 2005. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d Santos, Tomas U. (2015-03-07). "CFAD professor pays tribute to Las Piñas Bamboo Organ". Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  4. ^ a b c "Two Philippines Boys' Choirs Win Medals at Vienna". The Manila Times. 16 July 2008. pp. A2. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  5. ^ "Musical Journey of Las Piñas Boys Choir". The Manila Times. 2 Jul 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  6. ^ a b "50 years of Las Piñas Boys Choir". BusinessMirror. 2019-02-24. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  7. ^ "Bamboo Organ". Amazing But True. The Tampa Times. Tampa, Florida. 29 August 1970. pp. 5–A. Retrieved 15 August 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Vega, Jen F. "Sitti exploring new grounds in". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  9. ^ Gallardo, Ricky T. (12 Dec 2007). "Feliz Sitti". The Manila Times. pp. C1. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  10. ^ "5th World Choir Games results" (PDF). www.interkultur.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  11. ^ Villanueva, Rhodina. "Las Piñas choir tops Austria tilt". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2025-08-17.
  12. ^ "Las Piñas Boys Choir world champion". Filipino Reporter. New York, N.Y. 18 July 2008. p. 65. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  13. ^ a b Journal of the Senate. Philippines Congress. July 2008. pp. 47, 57, 77.
  14. ^ "19 PHL choirs make it to list of 1,000 best choirs in the world". GMA News Online. 2012-10-17. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  15. ^ a b c d "Profile - The Las Piñas Boys Choir". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
  16. ^ Samson, Helen F. (2006). The Bamboo Organ of Las Piñas. Bamboo Organ Foundation. p. 140. ISBN 978-971-93356-0-3.
  17. ^ a b Cerojano, Teresa (1 Mar 2015). "Waning Funds May End Philippines' 40-Year Organ Festival". Entertainment. Valley News. West Lebanon, New Hampshire. Associated Press. pp. E3. Retrieved 15 August 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Music from Las Piñas". Manila Standard. 26 Jun 1997. pp. B7. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  19. ^ Music Clubs Magazine. Vol. 65. National Federation of Music Clubs. 1985. p. 8.
  20. ^ "Pioneer Bridal Fair is Back". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 8 Aug 2004. pp. G2. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
  21. ^ besguerra (2016-12-11). "Choir master Eugene de los Santos: From Tiple to teacher". Lifestyle.INQ. Retrieved 2025-08-14.
  22. ^ "Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra: Online Concert Programme | Tue 13 May 2025". Bristol Beacon. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
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