The Manila Sanitarium Foundation and the Manila Adventist Medical Center (MAMC) and School of Medical Arts presented lyric tenor and flutist Sal Malaki and pianist Jonathan Arevalo Coo in an evening of opera arias, broadway selections, international favorites, kundiman and Visayan folk tunes at the CCP Main Theater last March 5.
The event was spearheaded by Pastor Abdul Rajagukguk, marketing director of MAMC and Joel Habaradas, SSD Philantrophic director.
North Philippine Union Mission president Abner Roque led the invocation followed by MAMC president Dr. Bibly Macaya’s opening remarks.
A son of former MAMC surgeon Dr. Joselito Alora Coo, pianist Jonathan Arevalo Coo mentioned that "besides helping indigent patients, I am grateful that the hospital is also able to start a new health message by producing its first classical music concert thus providing medicine for the soul."
Among the guests present were Irene Marcos–Araneta (a soprano and conductor herself), bass–baritone and conductor Jonathan Velasco, soprano Fides Cuyugan–Asensio, Artists for the Environment founder Odette Alcantara and Atty. Mimi Sison.
Sal Malaki wowed the audience by playing flute as an interlude to the songs Non ti scordar ti me, O Danny Boy, and Core’ngrato.
He has been based for several years now as resident of the Los Angeles Master Chorale and Los Angeles Opera.
Jonathan Arevalo Coo is currently a tenured associate professor at the Adventist University of the Philippines College of Music and Institute of Sacred Music.
Last June, 2004, he gave concerts in Europe sponsored by STAC Sweden. He also won first prize in the Chautauqua Piano Duet Competition together with Australian pianist Kris Bezuidenhout.
With Maestra Rizalina Buenaventura as honorary founder, Jonathan spearheads the Adventist Philharmonic Orchestra Development Program.
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