Filipino soprano duo Nightingales serenades Morocco

MANILA – The Philippines brought Filipino soprano duo The Nightingales to Morocco for an Independence Day concert as part of its effort to bridge relations between the two nations through culture.

The concert, organized by the Philippine Embassy in Rabat, was held on June 14 at Bibliothèque Nationale du Royaume du Maroc (National Library of the Kingdom of Morocco).

It also featured an exhibit by Moroccan artist and photographer Mohamed Tazi.

The singing duo Katrina Marie Saga and Bernadette Mamaug serenaded the guests with their renditions of Salam (Peace), Philippine Folk Songs Medley, Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika, Flight of the Nightingales, Habanera, Yanni’s Aria, Hymn a l’Amour, As Time Goes By (theme song from the movie Casablanca), Runaway, and Paraiso.

“We are happy to visit Rabat, Morocco once again, this time as Nightingales! We were part of the batch of the Philippine Madrigal Singers that performed here for the first time in 2017, but nothing changed as Rabat is still magical as it was,” the duo said.

The concert was well-received by the nearly 300 guests, who were impressed by the vocal technique exuded by the artists, as well as the vibrant and distinct sound of Philippine folk songs.

This was the first major concert held by the embassy since it reopened in 2020.

Philippine Ambassador to Morocco Leslie Baja, during the opening, said Manila banks on cultural diplomacy as a soft power “to strengthen relations and foster mutual understanding with our friends and partners.”

In citing the importance of intercultural cooperation and interfaith dialogue, he also highlighted Morocco’s “tolerant yet traditional culture with strong values” and how it has become an “outstanding model of cultural coexistence and interaction