Bataan choir features teen Aetas

MANILA, Philippines - If Bohol has the Loboc Children’s Choir, Bataan takes pride in the Koro Bangkal Magbigkin, which is composed of 20 teenaged Aetas.

The group went to Manila for a mini-concert at the Senate last Thursday.

Nesty Enriquez, the group’s trainor, said the choir started in 2008 after some civic-minded individuals decided to train the children of the Aeta community in Bangkal, Abucay, Bataan.

“We had a biking club, which used to go to the Aeta community for outreach programs during Christmas season,” said Enriquez, who is also the choir’s voice coach.

He said the choir was organized in collaboration with Bataan Tourism Council Foundation Inc. chairperson Vicky Garcia, wife of Gov. Enrique Garcia.

Enriquez said the choir members, aged eight to 21, were given scholarships at the Bataan Peninsula State University.  Most are in high school, while two are getting their degrees in agriculture.

“They have great voices... we can showcase their talents in the same way as the Loboc Children’s Choir,” said Sen. Loren Legarda, who hosted a thanksgiving party, during which Koro Bangkal Magbigkin had a mini-concert.

Legarda said he first heard the children sing during a recent visit to Bataan, where she graced the launching of a project to conserve Philippine marine turtles or pawikan.