PRESS RELEASE NO. 85-2023

Consul Pamela Durian-Bailon (center), joined by the officers and staff of the Philippine Consulate, welcomes the Samiweng Singers.

24 July 2023, Honolulu – The Philippine Consulate General welcomed the Ilocos Norte National High School (INNHS) choir Samiweng Singers, who arrived in Honolulu fresh from winning top prizes at the recently concluded 12th World Choir Games held in Gangneung-si, South Korea on 3-13 July 2023.

The Samiweng Singers won the “Musica Contemporanea for Mixed Choirs Category” and “Youth Choir of Mixed Voices Category” during the competition.  

With conductor Sherween Cabrales, the choir led the singing of the “Lupang Hinirang” during the Consulate’s flag ceremony, and sang “Pamulinawen” and “O Naraniag a Bulan.”  Consul Pamela Durian-Bailon, Acting Head of Post, congratulated the multi-awarded group on their recent victory, and commended them for their contribution in enhancing the Philippines’ image abroad with their talent.

Samiweng Singers perform “Pamulinawen” and “O Naraniag a Bulan” 

Conductor Sherween Cabrales shared that the word Samiweng is derived from the Ilocano words samit (sweet) and aweng (sound). Indeed, with their sweet voices, the choir has brought home awards and prizes from various choir festivals and competitions.  

With the support of several alumni of INNHS in Hawaii and kababayan from Ilocos, the Samiweng Singers are in Honolulu to perform on July 29 at the Waipahu Intermediate School. (END)