98.7 DZFE | The Master's Touch

The elegiac music of Nilo Alcala and a recent string transcription by the dynamic young composer are heard and discussed on this week’s MAESTRO FILIPINO. DZFE's Tiffany presents.  MAESTRO FILIPINO is DZFE's program on the Philippine classical music scene. All music on the program features with permission from the composer.

Q: Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression?  A: The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind, descending from him by natural birth, sinned in him, and fell with him, in his first transgression.  — Westminster Shorter Catechism 16  Journey with Pastor James Chu through the Westminster Shorter Catechism in HOLY & HAPPY. This weekly series...

Soprano and conductor Noemi Binag returns to MAESTRO FILIPINO. Joining DZFE’s Daniel, she shares how her studies at Eastman have enriched her performance at the IBOF; the Villancico Vocal Ensemble’s Romantic program for this year’s Festival; the origins of the Manila Baroque Ensemble, and more on the second of our two-part feature on the 47th International Bamboo Organ Festival. MAESTRO FILIPINO i...

Q: What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created?  A: The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created, was their eating the forbidden fruit.  — Westminster Shorter Catechism 15  Journey with Pastor James Chu through the Westminster Shorter Catechism in HOLY & HAPPY. This weekly series is presented by Pilgrim Community...

Onsite and online: the 47th International Bamboo Organ Festival makes the best use of both modes as it presents in-person recordings, and aspects of the Las Piñas Bamboo Organ usually unseen by the audience. On the first of two features on MAESTRO FILIPINO, we hear about this year’s featured instruments, and expanded repertoire from Dr. Beverly Shangkuan-Cheng—conductor of the Villancico Vocal and...

Q: What is sin?  A: Sin is any lack of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.  — Westminster Shorter Catechism 14  Journey with Pastor James Chu through the Westminster Shorter Catechism in HOLY & HAPPY. This weekly series is presented by Pilgrim Community Church and 98.7 DZFE.

Like any great pedagogue, guitarist Ruben Reyes pushed and led his students to greater mastery and artistry. But apart from that, he also brought them together, not only as an ensemble on the stage, but also as colleagues and friends around the dinner table. MAESTRO FILIPINO continues its tribute to Ruben Reyes with another former student, Leo Nebrija. With DZFE’s Daniel, he recounts how Maestro R...

Q: Did our first parents continue in the estate in which they were created?  A: Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate in which they were created, by sinning against God.  — Westminster Shorter Catechism 13  Journey with Pastor James Chu through the Westminster Shorter Catechism in HOLY & HAPPY. This weekly series is presented by Pilgrim Community...

It is not just the guitar circle, but indeed, the Philippine classical music community, that mourns the passing of Ruben Reyes last January. He left behind a palpable void, and a lasting legacy as a teacher, mentor, friend, and pillar of the country’s classical guitar circle. MAESTRO FILIPINO dedicates two weeks to his legacy and memory: on today’s program, DZFE’s Daniel spends time with guitarist...

Q: What special act of providence did God exercise towards man in the estate in which he was created?  A: When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience; forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon the pain of death.  — Westminster Shorter Catechism 12    Journey with Pastor James Chu through the Westminster...

The year 2021 gave the Manila Symphony Orchestra more than its usual share of ups and downs. Through it all, in the words of executive director Jeffrey Solares, “the MSO is here to stay.” In celebration of Filipino talent, and of its members’ indefatigable commitment to music, the orchestra presents seven soloists in eight works for the concert series, In Pursuit of Excellence. Ahead of its premie...

Q: What are God’s works of providence?  A: God’s works of providence are, his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.  — Westminster Shorter Catechism 11    Journey with Pastor James Chu through the Westminster Shorter Catechism in HOLY & HAPPY. This weekly series is presented by Pilgrim Community Church and 98.7 DZFE. 

Many know Alejandro Consolacion II as a pianist, organist, and composer of sacred music. Apart from that, he is also a devotee of the kundiman, winning first prize at the second Timpalak Kudiman of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. On MAESTRO FILIPINO, he and DZFE’s Daniel talk about the work that went into writing his winning piece, Wagas Kitang Mahal, and the character if the qui...

Q: How did God create man?   A: God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.  — Westminster Shorter Catechism 10    Journey with Pastor James Chu through the Westminster Shorter Catechism in HOLY & HAPPY. This weekly series is presented by Pilgrim Community Church and 98.7 DZFE. 

The Filipino String Teachers Association is an endeavor decades in the making. Founded last year, it has already done much for the benefit of the country’s string teachers and players, including hosting its first masterclass, with violinist Igor Yuzefovich, last January. DZFE’s Daniel speaks with violinist Gina Medina-Perez, one of the founders of the FSTA, to talk about the group’s background and...

Q: What is the work of creation?  A: The work of creation is, God’s making all things out of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good.  — Westminster Shorter Catechism 9    Journey with Pastor James Chu through the Westminster Shorter Catechism in HOLY & HAPPY. This weekly series is presented by Pilgrim Community Church and 98.7 DZFE. 

Next on Manila Pianos Artist Series: the Rivera Woodwind Quintet. Assembled by clarinetist Jayson Rivera, flautist Crystal Rodis-Concepcion, oboist Renato Resurreccion, bassoonist Alvin Sison, and French hornist Irvin Rosacay come together to deliver Adolphe Deslandres’s Trois piece en quintette, and cast a new light on Maurice Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin and Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an...

Q: What are the decrees of God?  A: The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.  — Westminster Shorter Catechism 7    Q: How does God execute his decrees?  A: God executes his decrees in the works of creation and providence.  — Westminster Shorter Catechism 8    Journey with Pastor James...

MTNA Philippines celebrates one year of bringing together the country’s music pedagogues, and bringing music pedagogy to the entire country. Among its achievements is reaching even more people through language-specific sectors, some of whose coordinators we hear on MAESTRO FILIPINO: Geo Molina of the Ilocano Sector; Paul Gayanilo of the Bicolano Sector, Alfie Encina of Leyte Province, and Sherah E...

Q: Are there more Gods than one?  A: There is only one, the living and true God.’ The first part of the doctrine is an affirmation of the Bible’s teaching that there is only one, true, and living God. We can see this clearly in the Shema, which is recorded in Deuteronomy 6:4, and reads as follows: ‘Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.  — Westminster Shorter Catechism 5    Q: How many...

We go south to cap our three-part feature on the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) 2021. On MAESTRO FILIPINO, DZFE’s Daniel is joined by bandurria player Raysell Anne Manipol, 1st prize winner in the Junior Solo Rondalla category, and her teacher Ro-Ann Manipol Casimiro; Charles Dumdum, conductor of the South Cotabato Family Rondalla, 3rd prize winner in the Junior Rondalla ca...

Q: What is God?  A: God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.  — Westminster Shorter Catechism 4  Journey with Pastor James Chu through the Westminster Shorter Catechism in HOLY & HAPPY. This weekly series is presented by Pilgrim Community Church and 98.7 DZFE.  

MAESTRO FILIPINO continues its feature on the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) 2021. Giving centerstage to the strings, DZFE’s Daniel spends time with violinist Jose Marie Eserjose, 2nd prize winner in the senior violin category; violist Jann Minn Mendoza, 3rd prize winner in the senior lower strings category; and guitarist Agung Sicam, 1st prize winner in the junior guitar c...

Q: What rule has God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him?  A: The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.  — Westminster Shorter Catechism 2  Q: What do the Scriptures principally teach?  A: The Scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty G...

Pagbangon, Paghilom—the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) looks forward to better days, while continuing its mission of giving a stage to the country’s young musical talents. Much new ground has been broken, not only by the competition, but also by its participants. We hear about that from tenor Jomel Garcia, Senior Voice Second Prize winner; bassoonist Marvic Espino, Open Win...