Kids showcase musical talent at 51st ADB meet

MANILA, Philippines — Emerging young Filipino talents from the Trumpets Playshop Kids as well as the Mandaluyong Children’s Choir recently treated Asian Development Bank (ADB) delegates and guests to Filipino culture, music and theater after three days of discussing how to link people and economies for inclusive development during the 51st ADB Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors. The event was led by ADB president Takehiko Nakao and Philippines’ Finance Secretary and chairman of the ADB’s Board of Governors Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez III.

Fijians perform a meke dance

The Mandaluyong Children’s Choir (also known as Earth Angels), who won awards in the 11th International Choir Competition in Canada, in the second World Choir Olympics in South Korea and in the Asia Cantate in Thailand, had sang in state banquets hosted by Pres. Rodrigo Duterte for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and for the Heads of State at the ASEAN Summit in Manila led by US Pres. Donald Trump. The choir was featured in Libretto published by the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music in UK and cited for its innovative choral program that contributes to the development of the community towards nation-building.

During the ADB meet, the civil society organizations (CSOs) from the youth, women, disabled, academic, environmental, artistic and other disadvantaged, marginalized sectors were likewise given space to be heard during the dialogues and learning sessions conducted at ADB’s Civil Society Plasa (a Filipino public space used for ideas exchange and open discourse). The CSOs also showcased some cultural presentations.

ADB president Takehiko Nakao

As next year’s venue of ADB meeting, Fiji, a country in the Pacific, showed to participants its stunning beauty and unique culture with its friendly “bula” (welcome) spirit, traditional “meke” dance and a taste of Fijian delicacies.