One of the things I soon discovered about the Philippines is that EVERYTHING happens in malls - shopping and eating, obviously, but also movies, theater, choral concerts and even church.

The choral highlight of my trip was a performance by Koro Ilustrado, a Manila men’s chorus run by Edmund Piquero Jr. and conducted by master conductor Anna Tabita Abeleda-Piquero, and took place at the Shangri-La Mall. One surprise of the show, which lasted over an hour, was the amazing sound system, with professional level miking, and the large and appreciative audience.

There is of course no such thing as a Gay Men’s Chorus in the Phillippines, but this group had all the welcome, the community and the love I knew so well from LGMC and NYCGMC. There was were a lot of hugs, a lot of high quality singing, considerable amounts of choreography and moments of high camp a-plenty. I saw binaries being challenged too, and more make-up offstage than I remember even from New York!

In the Phillippines right now, there are fine lines to be trodden. But for me, this was an extravaaaaganza as well as a holiday show. And the group has such amazing vocal blend and energy too. Bravo!