Internationally renowned Filipino‑American tenor Arthur Espiritu is set to deliver his first ever all-kundiman program with the one-night-only Mga Awit ng Pag‑ibig at Kundiman happening on May 14, 2026 at Gallery MiraNila in Quezon City.
Presented by the MiraNila Heritage House & Library in partnership with Gallery MiraNila by The Blue Leaf, with support from MiraNamin Nest and the Philippine‑Italian Association, this one-night-only performance sees Espiritu joined by award-winning soprano Stefanie Quintin‑Avila and celebrated pianist Najib Ismail. The concert honors the legacy of Ambassador Tomas C. Benitez, a lover of kundiman, and celebrates the richness of Filipino musical heritage.
A Spotlight on Filipino Classics
The program features selections from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ (NCCA) newly recorded 13‑track archive—its first major initiative with the Manila Chamber Orchestra Foundation to digitally preserve Filipino classics performed by the nation’s finest voices.
The repertoire traces the kundiman’s evolution from patriotic beginnings to zarzuela, love songs, and modern art songs. Composers include Nicanor Abelardo, Francisco Santiago, Constancio de Guzman, Ernani Cuenco, Levi Celerio, Augusto Espino, among other pillars of Filipino music who shaped the nation’s musical identity.
World-Class Artists on One Stage
 |
| Arthur Espiritu |
Arthur Espiritu, fresh from his title role in Borodin’s Prince Igor at the Munich Opera House, this rare spinto-tenor comes with his radiant tone and powerful artistry. He was recipient of the 2009 George London Award and the Scala award at the Belvedere Competition in Vienna. Having performed in prestigious opera productions and major venues across North America, Europe, and Asia, a critic once wrote, “When Arthur Espiritu sings, heaven opens up.”
 |
| Stefanie Quintin-Avila |
Stefanie Quintin‑Avila, praised for her stylistic range and expressive clarity, reunites with Espiritu after their acclaimed 2024 collaboration. A recipient of the Delphic Lyra Award and multiple international citations, she will appear at the Gleam International Early Music Festival with Belgium’s InAlto Ensemble in June 2026.
 |
| Najib Ismail |
Completing the trio is Najib Ismail, one of the Philippines’ most respected pianists, whose global performance career spans Europe, Asia, and Australia. A longtime champion of Filipino composers, his artistry anchors the evening’s musical journey.
A Fundraising Event for Heritage Conservation
All proceeds benefit the MiraNila Conservation Program, which has restored numerous at‑risk artworks and now prioritizes structural repairs following severe flooding in 2025 that endangered the 94‑year‑old house.
EVENT DETAILS
Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026
Venue: Gallery MiraNila, 26 Mariposa Street, Brgy. Bagong Lipunan Crame, Quezon City
Schedule
5:00 PM
Registration; gallery opens; refreshments (Bizu’s pizzas, pastas + Ralph’s Wine)
5:10-5:30 | 5:30-5:50 | 5:50-6:10
Heritage House Tours
6:30–8:10 PM
Concert (with intermission)
8:15 PM
Meet & Greet the artists
Until 9:30 PM
Food & refreshments remain open
Tickets — Free Seating
Limited Early Bird Promo (until March 29): ₱2,000 Adults; ₱1,500 Seniors, PWD, Students with IDs
Regular Rates: ₱2,500 Adults; ₱2,000 Seniors, PWD, Students with IDs
Special Sale: NCCA Recordings Vinyl LP – ₱2,000; Secure Digital Card (SDC) – ₱1,000
Tickets & Inquiries
For concert guidelines and tickets text Steve on Viber 09458530963
For best response, text between 3pm and 9pm
About the MiraNila Heritage House & Library
Built in 1929, MiraNila is a house of the prewar grand style with gardens and interiors presenting a rare reminder of genteel Filipino life during the Commonwealth period. Spanning nine decades, it stood witness to events and personalities that related to the writing of three Philippine constitutions, the occupation by the Japanese imperial forces, the takeover by the U.S. First Cavalry, the creation of a national folk-dance company, and the founding of a political party intent on good local governance. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines acknowledged MiraNila’s cultural and historic significance in 2011 with a plaque.
