A night of classical music with SAMMAKAMI

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

Save this date--September 30—on your calendar for you are in for a treat, a night of classical music courtesy of SAMMAKAMI.

The concert entitled SAMMAKAMi Goes Classical will be held at the Stargate Vacation Resort at Upper Macasandig, Cagayan de Oro City.

The invite from Ophelia Moreno-Lacre, a neighbor at Melecia Homes, explained that the concert is set in a garden setting at Stargate Resort, a minute away from Melecia Homes and other subdivisions in Upper Macasandig. 

The garden would provide a beautiful backdrop to a romantic evening for music lovers and guests. Tickets will be available for sale to the public on September 1. 

Ophie is the concert organizer and she told me that the audience will be treated to an evening of definitive classical guitar courtesy of Ernesto “Ernie” Vasquez, who will perform band covers of artists like Sitti Navarro, Lani Misalucha, Karen Carpenter and Diana Krall.

Ernie P. Vasquez, a Filipino concert guitarist, was a three time national champion of classical guitar in 1979, 1980.1981 in the national competition for young artist (NAMCYA) held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. 

Vasquez is a graduate of Bachelor of Science Major in Management at Xavier University. His repertoire ranges from Bossa Nova, Flamenco, classical kundiman and any contemporary music. 

Ernie Vasquez performed with many singers and musicians including  Max Surban at Mactan Cebu. He accompanied Surban in his song entitled "Matud Nila"  which can be found at  YouTube. 

SAMMAKAMI or Samahang ng Mga Musikero at Mang-Aawit ng Kagayan de Oro sa Mindanao Inc. (SAMMAKAMI Inc.) was founded in 2005 by Manny June Peralta. 

Unknown to Ophie, I am familiar with the group and often invited them to my Sunday TV program at COC TV 39 and promoted their gigs before. 

Even before Ophie asked me to write about them, I knew that this group of local musicians bonded together to help fellow musicians and singers. 

Manny June Peralta and the other founding members must be happy and proud that SAMMAKAMI had grown through the years. 

Ophie Lacre is the first cousin of Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno and is originally from Balingasag whose husband and children are into music as well.

“There were 500 members then,” Ophie said, but through the years it has dwindled in membership. She explained that there is a renewed increase in  membership these days especially now that it's being clustered, 

Clustering the SAMMAKAMi  is aimed at increasing the affiliates. Francis Bax is the cluster consultant.  Now it has 300 members.  The incumbent chairman is Hipolito Gregorio while the vice chairman is Gilde Pakino. 

A brief history of  SAMMAKAMI Inc; It was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission in January 3, 2014.

Based on their mission/vision, SAMMAKAMI Inc. is an association of professional musicians and singers in Cagayan de Oro organized to give purpose and meaning and value to the morale and esteem of the singers and musicians of the city and Northern Mindanao.

The group wants to develop a sense of camaraderie and professional affinity among members through participation and cooperation in funding and implementation of its programs. 

Their mission is to make the group self-sustaining and empowered through income generation projects, healthcare and insurance for the members in order to improve their quality and standard of life. 

Their goal is to establish a music academy in the city. A portion of the proceeds of the Sept. 30 concert will go to their insurance project. On their behalf, I would like to invite everyone to watch the concert. 

I have enjoyed listening to them on TV before and I assure you you would enjoy listening to them now. A fireworks display will cap off the evening concert. Tickets will be on sale on leading outlets in Cagayan de Oro City on Sept.1. 

For more info, search: Sammakami Inc. Concerts or call @09264877132 and look for Ophie Moreno-Lacre.

(Susan Palmes-Dennis is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who worked as a nanny and is now employed as a sub-teacher and a part-time teacher assistant in one of the school systems in the Carolinas.

Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com and at http://www.blogher.com/myprofile/spdennis54. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis.
You can also connect with her through her email susanap.dennis@yahoo.com as well as her Pinterest account at http://www.pinterest.com/pin/41025046580074350/) and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Straight-from-the-Carolinas-/494156950678063)