After more than a decade of carrying the torch for choral artistry at PUP, Bagong Himig Serenata is back with its annual festival, and this year’s edition feels like a sunrise breaking through. Pagliwayway: Ang Mga Himig ng Bukas is set to take over the Tanghalang PUP on April 22, 2026, and it has all the makings of a landmark celebration.
We’d expect nothing less from “The Country’s Pioneer Dancing Choral,” a group that has never been afraid to push boundaries and redefine what choral singing can be. This rings especially true now, as Bagong Himig Serenata returns fresh from its first-ever international competition, where they were announced as winners in three categories: Mixed, Folksong, and Pop and Jazz, which led them all the way to the Grand Prix round, and they were declared the Grand Prix Winner at the Yogyakarta International Choral Festival last February. That victory was proof that their voices could carry across borders, and it opened the door to their next journey at the Bali International Choral Festival this July.
This year’s theme, Pagliwayway: Ang Mga Himig ng Bukas, sets the tone for a festival that is both a homecoming and a forward-looking vision. Alumni conductors will lead guest choirs back to their beloved Sintang Paaralan, turning the stage into a living archive of growth, triumph, and community. It is a reminder that Bagong Himig Serenata thrives through its members, past and present, and that every voice contributes to the light of a new day.
Choirmaster Mark Gregory Isip captured this feeling best: “Pinakamasarap na feeling ay tuwing kinakanta na yung PUP Hymn. In that moment, every voice becomes one, and you feel the pride of being part of something bigger than yourself. That song reminds us of where we started, and why we always come back.”
Since 2019, the Choral Fest has embraced themes that go beyond performance. Each concept is carefully crafted to speak to audiences and reflect the times. These themes prove that choral singing is not a rigid genre but a vibrant medium for awareness and belonging. It is a safe space where voices can tackle issues, amplify stories, and remind us that music is also advocacy. For Bagong Himig Serenata, the festival is not only about harmony but about purpose, a place where iskolar at artista ng bayan can sing with meaning.
Pagliwayway: Ang Mga Himig ng Bukas is set for April 22, 2026, at 2:00 PM at the Tanghalang PUP in Sta. Mesa, Manila. Doors open at 1:30 PM. Admission is free and open to all, even non-PUPians, because the festival’s purpose is to share music, triumphs, and the light of new beginnings with the wider community.
This chapter begins with the sun, but it continues with you. Pagliwayway: Ang Mga Himig ng Bukas is a call to community, to belonging, and to hope. Stand with us as we welcome the dawn and sing of the future we will build together.
Register here to be part of the celebration: https://tinyurl.com/BHSCF26REGFORM
For more updates about Choral Fest 2026, follow PUP Bagong Himig Serenata on their social media platforms.
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