MANILA, Philippines - In celebration of the 11th Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day this June 30, the Embassy of Spain–AECID and Instituto Cervantes, in cooperation with the office of Sen. Edgardo Angara, the CCP and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, present a concert by one of Spain’s most recognized flamenco guitarists of today, José Luis Montón. Barcelona-born guitarist José Luis Montón will perform at Sentro Baler in Aurora Province on June 29 at 7 p.m. He will also perform in Cebu, at Casino Español on July 2 at 8 p.m., and Marco Polo Hotel Plaza the following day, July 3, at 7 p.m.
José Luis Montón started playing the guitar at age six. He went on to continue further studies in music, specializing in flamenco guitar. “Solo Guitarra†is his first solo album featuring his own compositions. Driven by the energy, the spirit and the intensity of flamenco music, Montón draws from it the inspiration for his creations. Almost all the pieces, with the exception of a piece based on J.S. Bach’s “Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Majorâ€, are his own compositions.
Established in 2002, the Republic Act. No. 9187 brought about the establishment of the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day. It is normally celebrated on June 30, commemorating the day when General Emilio Aguinaldo, then president of the Malolos Republic, issued a decree requiring the last Spanish soldiers garrisoned for almost a year inside Baler’s church to be treated not as enemies, but as friends and that they receive the necessary permission to return to Spain without any harm. Today, this gesture by General Aguinaldo serves as the symbol of friendship between these two countries.