The Overseas Community Affairs Council of the Republic of China (Taiwan), through the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines and Taiwan Association, Inc., 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 participated in the event held last 26 August at the UST Medicine Auditorium.
UST Rector Very Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P., Ph.D., virtually welcomed the performers and participants. He expressed gratitude for the continued activities and sustained partnerships of the university with TECO over the years.
TECO Representative Wallace Minn-Gan Chow likewise acknowledged the support of the OCAC, TAI, and various sponsors.
The almost three-hour show began with the 55-year old UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe presenting Filipino dances including Kalatong, Binasuan and Tinikling. This was followed by 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. The group 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 the stage a dazzling lights and drums group, Huang Da-Yan 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 Wallace Chow, and a recreation of the late Asian Pop Queen Teresa Teng's performance of "The Moon Represent My Heart," a famous love song popularized by Teng– 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.