Individual recognitions

As part of the University’s Quadricentennial celebration in 2011, Calalang was feted with the “Gawad Lorenzo Ruiz Award for International Achievements.” He also received the “Benavides Medal for Outstanding Achievement to the University” for his conducting role in the España-based chorale group and was inducted to the 100 Outstanding Thomasian Alumni who brought honor and glory to the University.

Outside the University, the Thomasian conductor also received prestigious awards and recognitions.

In the 4th Florence International Choir Festival, held in Italy in 2015, Calalang reaped the Grand Prize, as well as two special awards, namely the “Best Interpretation of the Required Piece” and the “Best Contemporary Choral Arrangement Prize” for his arrangement of Ennio Morricone’s “My Heart and I”, which was from the film La Piovre.

Moreover, Calalang was also one of the prize winners in the “2007 Mga Awiting Bayan Para sa Korong Pilipino”, a national choral writing contest organized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

In 2002, he was awarded the “Best Conductor Prize” at the Tonen International Choral Competition in Netherlands and in 1999, he received the top award in the International Composition Competition in California for his 8-voiced work “Ama Namin” (Pater Noster). 

The UST Singers

Under his baton, Calalang has brought the UST Singers to over 30 international concert tours around the world. The group has also bagged more than 80 top prizes in different international choral competitions, including the Choir of the World Champion, the 2019 Choir of the World Champion of Champions, and 2017 Grand Prize at the Ave Verum International Choral Competition in Austria, among others.

During the pandemic, solidarity with the Covid-19 frontliners, the UST Singers alumni from around the globe performed Dodjie Simon’s “Isang Dugo, Isang Lahi, Isang Musika” (One bloodline, one race, one music) in a music video uploaded on April 23, 2020.

Calalang is the founder and conductor of the University of Santo Tomas Singers (UST Singers), a premiere mixed ensemble of the University.

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Regarded as one of the biggest and most popular competitions in Europe, it aims to continue the long traditions of singing and patronage of the habaneras, a unique musical tradition, as well as the performance of various high-caliber choral music from different genres. 

Calalang, who teaches at the UST , led the UST Singers in the same competition in 2010 winning the highest prize, the “Gran Premio de Habaneras,” as well as the “Premio Intercontinental,” for obtaining the highest scores in the habaneras and polyphony categories, and the special prize, “Premio del Publico.” The choir was again invited in the city of Torrevieja in 2012 for concerts and recently returned in July 2018 in the festival as guest artist formally opening the festival with their very own gala concert.

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Established in 1987, the annual Choir of the World competition has become one of the most respected accolades in the choral calendar with the winners receiving the prestigious Luciano Pavarotti trophy. Having been the only choir to win the coveted title twice, first in 1995 and second in 2010, the UST Singers has now bested 31 previous Choir of the World winners in the online voting campaign.

Among the competitors were: the New Zealand National Youth Choir, Akustika Chamber Singers from South Africa, Adelaide Chamber Choir from Australia, Estudio Coral Meridies from Argentina, the National University of Singapore Choir.

The online contest was held by Llangollen.tv, a subsidiary of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, to inaugurate the launch of their new on-demand streaming website for all the competitions and performances in the aforementioned global music festival. Aside from the renowned choral competition, other categories such as solo vocal performance and traditional dances are also included.

A statement on the UST Singers’ official Facebook page said, “We offer this victory to each and everyone of you who voted for and supported us! You made this achievement possible! Viva Santo Tomas! Mabuhay ang Korong Pilipino!”

The UST Singers is the premiere mixed choral ensemble of the University of Santo Tomas. It was founded in 1992 by Prof. Fidel Calalang, Jr., and is composed of students and alumni from the different faculties, colleges, and institutes of the University. In August 2018, the UST Singers became the first Filipino choir to perform at the historic Basilica de Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain. The choir has represented the Philippines in 23 international choral competitions, garnering a total of 82 top prizes.

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Through this year’s Taiwan Youth Ambassadors Program whose theme was
“New Taiwan Generation, New Southbound Vision,” the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines brought 26 youth Ambassadors to the University to participate in an international cultural
exchange with Asian Studies students from the UST Faculty of Arts and Letters.

TECO Executive Officer, Mr. Peter Pan coordinated with the Office of Public Affairs to bring the youth ambassadors to UST.

The interaction between the UST students and the Taiwanese Youth
Ambassadors took place at the St. Raymund Peñafort building. Faculty of Arts and Letters officials led by Dean Michael Taiwan Youth Ambassadors Leader pays courtesy call on Fr. Rector;Taiwan Youth Ambassadors perform in UST Pianist Darren Matias collaborates with Yasa Poleteava in ‘Contrast Duo’ Anthony C. Vasco, Ph.D., welcomed the students. Also present were Asst. Dean Nancy Tabirara, Asian Studies Department Chair Lino Baron, Ph.D., and Internationalization Program Coordinator Arlen Ancheta, Ph.D.
The delegates, composed of students from different universities in
Taiwan, treated the UST community to a night of performances such as traditional dances which they described as “a mix of folk dance, martial arts, and traditional instruments,” modern dances which incorporates baseball – their national sport, and their rendition of Freddie Aguilar’s
famous song “Anak.”

A sky lantern dance presentation signifying “forever friendship
between Taiwan and the Philippines” was the highlight of their cultural performance. The youth ambassadors’ performance was capped with a video presentation on Taiwan’s culture.

Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Cheryl R. Peralta,
DrPH, also attended the event. The youth ambassadors’ performance was capped with a video presentation on Taiwan’s culture. Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH, also attended the event.

A Chinese calligraphy banner which states “Good Luck and all the best” was
presented to Vice Rector for Research and Innovation, Prof. Maribel Nonato, Ph.D. for the University.

Meanwhile, UST students also showcased their talents with a musical
performance from the UST Wind Orchestra, under the baton of Prof. Herminigildo Ranera, Ph.D., and The UST Singers led by its conductor Prof. Fidel G. Calalang, Jr.

Prior to Taiwan Night, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines representative, Dr. Gary Song-Huann Lin, TECO Executive Officer Mr. Peter Pan, 2017 Taiwan Youth Ambassadors Leader ChiChia Chen, and Deputy Leader Shu-Chuan Chen paid a courtesy call upon UST Rector Very Rev. Fr. Herminio V. Dagohoy, O.P. at
the Office of the Rector .

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