The Bayugan City Educators Chorale emerged as the grand champion of the 2018 Government Choral Competition held September 18, 2018 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).
The choir bested seven (7) finalists, earning them a cash prize of PHP200,000 and a plaque from the Civil Service Commission (CSC). They also won the Best Conductor (Prim Ross L. Eng) and Best Arrangement of Competition Song (Saunder Choi).
Other finalists were the City Government of Makati Employees Chorale who placed 1st runner-up; Dasmariñas City Teachers' Chorale, 2nd runner-up; DepEd Catanduanes Division Choral, 3rd runner-up; NSU Chorale, Best regional entry from Visayas; COA CO/NCR Choir; National Power Chorale; and DepEd Division of Agusan Del Sur Teacher's Chorale.
Each choir performed three (3) Filipino choral works—one (1) accompanied or a cappella song extolling one or more values promoted by the CSC (Love of God and Country, Excellence, and Integrity); one (1) freely chosen a cappella choral work; and one (1) original a cappella arrangement of the competition song, “Kawani ng Gobyerno, Dekalidad ang Serbisyo” composed by Richard Bugho of PHIC Region VIII. Before the announcement of winners, all choirs joined together to sing, “Kaya Ko Ang Pagbabago”, conducted by Arwin Tan.
The performances were critiqued by National Artist Dr. Ramon P. Santos, Imusicapella Chamber Choir Conductor Tristan Ignacio, renowned writer Dr. Raul Navarro, composer and arranger Ralph Hoffman, and NCCA Committee on Music board member Jude Edgard Balsamo.
Bayang Barrios and the UP Dance Company rendered intermission numbers. Sta. Rosa City, Laguna Mayor Danilo Ramon S. Fernandez and Calatagan, Batangas Vice Mayor Andrea Anne V. Del Rosario served as Masters of Ceremonies.
The musical event was organized by CSC Regional Office IV in partnership with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, CCP, and Philippine Choral Directors Association.
The Government Choral Competition is one of the major events of the 118th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary (PCSA) in September. It aims to showcase musical creativity of talented government employees, promote Filipino culture and arts through choral singing, and inculcate in the minds of public servants a culture of excellence in public service. # # #
