The Sixth Noel: An Evening of Holiday Harmony

As their year-end gift to the community, Areté brought together some of the most outstanding local choirs onstage at the Hyundai Hall last 12 December 2023.  

Celebrating the theme of “Unity amidst Diversity”, the pre-concert festivities began early in the afternoon with three separate pocket stages located at Ubuntu, the Doreen Black Box Theater, and the Loft. A Christmas market was built around these areas while they also served as platforms for exciting student performances by our organizational partners - the Loyola Film Circle, AMP, Entablado, Tanghalang Ateneo, Ateneo Blue Repertory, and Backstage Pamantasan Lungsod ng Valenzuela. 

Special guests including Former Philippine Vice-President, Atty Leni Robredo, and Former Senator, Atty Leila de Lima, also graced the venue to generously share messages of inspiration in honor of “Ang Pinakamahabang Pasko”, a newly launched children’s book by Noel Ferrer. Philippine National Artist Gemino Abad and Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ were also in attendance to support the release.

With such incredible activities as a buildup for the main event, the doors to Hyundai Hall opened to a surging crowd of eager attendees who packed the theater to a standing-room-only situation. The Sixth Noel concert was then kicked off by witty and charismatic hosts, Victor Anastacio and Red Ollero, who set the joyful mood for the evening. 

The program began with the angelic voices of the Ateneo Boys Choir composed of students from levels 4-6 of the Ateneo Grade School. From local OPM classic “Ang Aming Bati ay Magandang Pasko” to their heartwarming delivery of “I Do Believe in Christmas”, it was a pure and jubilant performance to start the show. They were soon followed by their Ates and Kuyas from the Ateneo College Glee Club who brought a more mature tenor to the stage as they opened their set with Dan Forrest’s magical arrangement of “The Work of Christmas”.

Bringing their passion for liturgical music to the forefront of the evening, the Pansol Choir took the spotlight to share an incredibly moving ballad of worship and faith through their version of “Sing Again the Christmas Story”. Youthful harmonization once again enchanted the audience as Kilyawan Consortium of Voices serenaded concert-goers with “A Christmas Wish”.

It was the trio of powerhouses that followed which symbolized the true meaning of beauty in diversity as the theme of the night. The journey began with Hangad Music Ministry’s skillful delivery of familiar Filipino Christmas songs such as “Ang Pasko ay Sumapit” and “Pasko Na Naman” before Aleron took us across borders with the Gregorian hymn “Rorate Caeli” and the traditional French carol “Noël Nouvelet”. It was the vocal prowess of Bukas Palad Music Ministry that brought us back home, blessing us with a touching performance of “Pasko ng Pag-Ibig” and more.

The Katipunan community of ensembles wrapped up the evening with the Ateneo Chamber Singers closing their set with Ryan Cayabyab’s “Munting Sanggol” and the UP Singing Ambassadors opening theirs with a strong rendition of “Jingle Bells Calypso”. Finally, Tutti Pieces gave a fitting closure to the Sixth Noel with “Kumukutikutitap” under the masterful hands of renowned conductor, Jonathan Velasco.

In an initiative to make the performing arts programs of the institute more inclusive and accessible to a broader audience, it was the first time that Areté projected an entire concert onto the exterior building facade facing Katipunan.

There was no shortage of talent or holiday spirit on a day that celebrated a culmination of Areté’s progress in 2023 as the central hub for artistic innovation in the Philippines. It certainly set a standard of excellence that the Areté team will strive to raise in 2024 as they prepare for the 7th Noel.