25/03/2026
๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐๐๐๐ค: ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ญ โจ๐ถ
A month ago, the ๐๐๐-๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ฒ shared the stage for ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ญ: ๐๐๐ -๐ฎ๐ง๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฆ, a fundraising concert for the victims of Bagyong Basyang. Looking back, that night was more than a celebration of ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ก, it became a moment where art and community came together with a shared purpose.
Guided by our conductor, Prof. Ernesto "Bajo" Zaldua Jr., Octava did not sing for music alone. Each piece carried meaning beyond the performance. From the solemnity of The Majesty and Glory of Your Name, to the environmental plea of Paraiso, and the call for unity in Isang Dugo, Isang Lahi, the program reflected the realities faced by many communities, especially those affected by Typhoon Basyang. What happened on stage became a small way of extending support to those who continue to recover from flooding and loss.
That night reminded us that the stage can be more than a place for performance. It can also be a space where stories are told, where people are remembered, and where awareness is quietly raised through art.
A month may have passed, but its echoes remain. Moments like Alima Alampat show that when art is connected to real experiences, it can leave a lasting impactโnot only in the music we sing, but in how we respond to the needs of the community and the challenges that continue to face it.
Photo from Julianne Patricia Balala and Ad Infinitum
