The PCCCF (Philippine Cultural & Civic Center Foundation) children's choir was conceptualized by Dr. Violeta Singson, a Pediatrician, and Founder & Medical Director of the Philippine Center Free Medical Clinic. The idea was presented to and was readily accepted by the PCCCF Executive Secretary & Programs & Activities Director, Jocelyn (Jojo) Agoncillo-Ramos.
The main goal of such a concept is to prepare the second and third generations to continue what the first generation PCCCF officers and community supporters have started in promoting our very rich and diverse Filipino culture through music.
Ms. Jojo Ramos found a very appropriate song for the group titled "Ako'y Munting Tinig" (meaning "I am a small voice"), hence the name of the group is PCCCF Munting Tinig Children's Choir. This song was originally sung and made popular by a famous Filipino singer and Grammy award winner, Lea Salonga, when she was a little girl.
Aside from the traditional regular choir practice sessions, parents and grandparents were requested to teach their children songs as shown on You Tube videos. Song sheets with phonetic interpretation of Tagalog words were provided as a teaching tool for parents who do not speak the language fluently.
Assisting Ms. Ramos are Manika Clemente as guitarist and sound manager; Amy Schemenauer as assistant to the choir director and most recently, Ferdinand Dijamco on the keyboard.
The group made its musical debut on June 16, 2012 at the open house of the Philippine Center. Since then, they had performed at the Holiday Folk Fair annually, at the picnics of the Filipino-American Association of WI (FAAWIS) and the Philippine Medical Association Auxiliary and at the University of the Philippines of WI (UPAA-W) Christmas parties.
Presently, the group is busily preparing for its first featured solo performance before an audience of about 250 at the War Memorial Center on Saturday, June 7, 2014 for the MacArthur Memorial Week Celebration's Breakfast honoring the memory of Mrs. Jean Faircloth MacArthur who enjoyed, loved and held the Filipino children deep in her heart.
Jojo Agoncillo-Ramos
PCCCF Activities Director
Choir Director