The Filipino String Teachers Association (FSTA), in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Metropolitan Theater, and with the assistance of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), will present “MAESTRO: Basilio Manalo’s Music and Legacy”, a tribute concert celebrating the life and artistry of Maestro Basilio “Sir Billy” Manalo. The concert will be held on October 21, 2025, at the Metropolitan Theater at 6p.m.
Admission is free, with registration required through http://tinyurl.com/fsta-bmt-reg.
This concert will feature performances by Maestro Billy’s students, colleagues, and fellow musicians whose lives were shaped by his influence. More than a concert, the gathering serves as a living testament to the discipline, generosity, and passion of a man whose legacy continues to inspire generations of Filipino artists.
Born in Baguio City in 1927, Basilio Cajucom Manalo displayed remarkable musical gifts from an early age, nurtured by a family deeply rooted in culture and public service. A child prodigy on the violin, he performed works by Kreisler and Paganini before the age of ten and pursued formal studies under Ernesto Vallejo. His precocious talent brought him to the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music at only twelve years old, and later to the Juilliard School in New York, where he trained under the legendary pedagogue Ivan Galamian. Returning to the Philippines despite international opportunities, Manalo became a central figure in the country’s musical life as a virtuoso violinist, conductor, and educator.
His career spanned leadership roles in the Manila Symphony Orchestra, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, and, most significantly, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, which he helped reorganize in the 1980s. His vision extended beyond performance. devotedly cultivating future generations of Filipino musicians. Through initiatives such as the Philippine Research for Developing Instrumental Soloists (PREDIS), the Philippine Youth Orchestra (PYO), and later the Manila Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO), he provided training and opportunities for countless young players. Many of his students would go on to lead and perform in the nation’s premier orchestras and conservatories, carrying forward his philosophy of rigorous rehearsal and uncompromising artistry. This feat was recognized in 1992 with the Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award from the City of Manila.
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The program consists of Bach’s Branderburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major; two works of Vivaldi, namely Concerto for 2 Violins in A Major, with Paul Gilbert J. Ramos, Violin 1 and Matias L. Mercurio, Violin 2, and “Concerto for Four Violins” with Kaya Alexa S. Pabico, Violin 1, Gavril Tiburcio, Violin 2, Gabrielle A. Abad, Violin 3, and Andrea L. Mercurio, Violin 4. Carmen Fantasie by F. Waxman and Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22 with Diomedes Saraza, violin and Inna Montesclaros, piano; Mozart’s Divertimento No. 2 in B flat Major, K. 137/125b; Antonino Buenaventura’s “Rondino” and Sibelius’ Andante festivo.
The ensemble is composed of former students of the late Maestro Manalo and their current students.
A short video documentary on the late Maestro’s life will be shown.
Organized by the FSTA, the concert reflects the association’s commitment to advancing string teaching and performance in the Philippines. A non-profit community of string teachers and performers, the FSTA promotes excellence in pedagogy and performance while fostering a network for Filipino string players both locally and abroad. Its programs aim to elevate teaching standards, nurture the talents of young musicians, and champion Filipino composers and their works.
The concert celebrates not only the achievements of a towering figure in Philippine music but also the values he embodied — discipline, artistry, and the unyielding belief in music as a force for growth and inspiration.
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