The Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) of the Republic of China (Taiwan), through the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) and Taiwan Association, Inc. (TAI), has partnered with the University of Santo Tomas to hold cultural performances in celebration of the mid-Autumn Festival. Over 500 Thomasian and external guests joined the event on August 26, 2023 at the UST Medicine Auditorium.
UST Rector Very Rev. Fr. Richard Ang, O.P., Ph.D., through a recorded message, warmly welcomed the performers and participants and expressed gratitude for the continued activities and sustained partnership with TECO over the years.
TECO Representative Mr. Wallace Minn-Gan Chow likewise acknowledged the support of the OCAC, TAI, and their various sponsors. He also thanked UST for hosting the event.
The almost three-hour show began with the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe who presented various Filipino dances including the Kalatong, Binasuan, and the Tinikling. Next was the University’s premiere mixed choral ensemble, the two-time winner of the highly-coveted Choir of the World Grand Prize-Luciano Pavarotti Trophy, the UST Singers, fresh from their 36th international concert tour. They sang Ifugao rice cake-making song Ahibakle, Way Over in Beulah Lan’, and disco classic September.
In turn, the Cultural Goodwill Mission troupe of Taiwan’s OCAC sent on stage a dazzling lights and drums group, Huang Da-Yan’s crystal mirage and phantom rings, ballad diva Su Pei, master Diabolo (Chinese yoyo) performer Liao Yu-Han, Tu Wei-Cheng’s acrobatics, world magic champion Jeff Lee, pop singer Yvonne Jeng Yi who also sang a duet with TECO Representative Mr. Wallace Chow, and a recreation of the late Asian Pop Queen Teresa Teng’s performance through AI technology.
The 2023 PH-Taiwan Night is the fifth cultural experience jointly coordinated with TECO, the first having been in 2016 with the Taiwan Youth Ambassadors.
