'Tis the season for special events

The Christmas season is always a season for special events — fundraising auctions, fashion shows, benefit runs and tiangges, among other activities. A special event like a gala concert is a “marketing tool” and an integral part of an your annual campaign.  It usually has twin objectives: to gain or sustain awareness by introducing or re-introducing your organization to new people and existing supporters, respectively, and to raise funds to support an advocacy or a cause. It is also a platform where your organization can showcase exactly who you are, what you do and say “thank you” all at the same time.

Every event starts out as a first-time one.  You can make it work well if you take time, muster patience, do it with flair and creativity and get lots of organized help. Your event becomes even more meaningful if you are able to leave every invitee with added information about you and a load of inspiration as to why you and your project matter and thus, should be supported. Your guests come with expectations, and your responsibility is to meet such expectations. Don’t disappoint them! The whole idea of a special event is not necessarily to have a party.  But it’s well and good if there is one.  The more important thing to critically monitor is donor acquisition and donor retention.  First-time attendees must get the experience they deserve, as you retain the loyalty and patronage of existing supporters. You must not lose sight of the fact that special events are meant to make people enjoy being at your event as they get educated or informed.

After your successful event, ensure that you do the post-event activities like promptly sending individual thank-you notes to your donors, guests, celebrities, sponsors, media invitees, and whomever else you need to thank. Maybe after a week or two, get everyone back together to collectively assess the event — determine what could be improved and praise all the parts that went extremely well.  Congratulate everyone and immediately solicit support for the next one.

Author Bong Osorio, Prof. Giovanna Fontanila, and Fr. Isidro Abano, OP

UST Christmas Concert Gala

The newly installed carillon bells shrouding the façade of the UST Chapel struck the opening note in the quadri-centennial edition of the UST Christmas Concert Gala, which was held recently at the UST Chapel.  It was a sound that the guests listened for, and it did not disappoint, as Raul Sunico, Dean of the UST College of Music, carefully pressed the start button.

Originally intended to be a timely event staged to bring joy and express gratitude to the university’s friends and benefactors towards the year’s end, Rev. Fr. Rolando V. de la Rosa, OP, UST Rector joins UST Christmas Concert Gala chairpersons Fr. Isidro C. Abaño, OP, executive director for Quadricentennial Activities and Highlights, and Maricris C. Zobel, art patroness.  It is held under the auspices of sponsors that have loyally supported the concert gala through the years.  

Today, the UST Christmas Concert Gala, sponsored this year by the Belo Medical Group and San Miguel Corporation, has become an institutional event in the Thomasian community that resonates with the European tradition of mounting majestic concerts in magnificent churches and cathedrals. Consistent with its name, the annual event has been graced by invited guests who have turned patrons of the university’s Heritage Conservation efforts and the Conservatory of Music’s Scholarship Fund. There were numerous elements in the 2011 gala that brought oohs and “aahs” and loud applause from the audience, starting with Prof. Hermie Ranera’s arrangement of A Christmas Festive Overture, played by the UST Symphony Orchestra, seamlessly followed by the ringing of the carillon bell and Coro Tomasino and Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble’s rendition of Joy to the World and Angels, We Have Heard on High.

Fr. Rolando de le Rosa, OP, Maricris Zobel, Mayor Alfredo Lim and Dr. Vicki Belo

The concert offered an array of musical talents whose stars, without a doubt, will shine brighter. Soloist Harlene Magsino, with Coro Tomasino and the Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble, performed Rossini’s Air et Choer Inflammatus (from “Stabat Mater”). Korean soprano Sim Sung-Hye sang Caccini’s Ave Maria. Three powerful divas: Nenen Espina, Thea Perez-Prosia and Naomi Paz-Sison, rendered Fr. Manuel Maramba’s arrangement of Gesu Bambino. Rachelle Gerodias displayed her renowned vocal talents, gleefully carrying out a Rejoice medley, while Archimedes Lacorte did a passionate sax interpretation of a Munji-arranged Pasko Na, Sinta Ko and Payapang Daigdig. The tandem vocal routine of baritone Andrew Fernando and boy soprano Patrick Packay delivering O. de la Cruz’s arrangement of Little Drummer Boy was a faultless blend that brought out the distinctive eminence of their individual voices. Tenors Lemuel de la Cruz, Eugene de los Santos, and Ronan Ferrer also added prominence and glitter with their powerful voices.

The UST Singers brought the house down with their rendition of Nicholas White’s O Nata Lux and two other songs arranged by Ryan Cayabyab and Fidel Calalang, including the highly engaging Down by the Riverside. This ensemble definitely possesses vocal variety and their coming together brings total interactivity between them and their audience — precisely the reason why I believe they are the world’s best. Joining the illustrious performers towards the end of the concert, the audience would sing The First Noel, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, and Ang Pasko ay Sumapit.  

I was truly glad to have watched the ninth edition of the UST Christmas Gala and was amazed by the gigantic concert venue backdrop — a nativity scene with four angels on the side designed by Gino Gonzales, the colors of Christmas splashed in the performers’ outfits and the play of lights. Adding sparkle to the event was the illumination of the entire UST campus, which unmistakably spells Christmas. A sumptuous cocktail at the UST seminary gym followed right after the concert. Who’s who in metro society, the arts-and-culture scene and the diplomatic community were in attendance.

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Prof. Herminigildo Ranera and the UST Symphony Orchestra

E-mail bongosorio@yahoo.com or bong_osorio@abs-cbn.com for comments, questions or suggestions. Thank you for communicating.