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SSC Dean of Music, Sr. Mary Placid Abejo, OSB, TOFIL Awardee for 2008
By Prof. J. Greg Zuniega
Posted: Monday January 05, 2009 03:13 PM

SSC Dean of Music Sr. Mary Placid Lorna Abejo was presented as one of The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) awardees of 2008, in a formal awarding ceremony held last December 11 at the Insular Life Theater, Alabang, Muntinlupa City.  Conceived by the Insular Life Assurance Co. and the Philippine Jaycee Senate in 1988, TOFIL aims to give public recognition to outstanding Filipino men and women who have made significant contributions to the advancement of their profession, public welfare and national development.

The St. Scholastica’s Dean of Music for the past 32 years was given recognition, which many observers have commented as being long overdue, for her contribution in the field of Culture and the Arts (Music).

The self-effacing nun from Cagayan de Oro at first thought of concentrating on a career as a piano teacher.  After finishing her undergraduate degrees in Piano and Composition at St. Scholastica’s College, she was sent on scholarship to study at the University of Michigan where she pursued both Masters and a Ph.D. in Music Education.  Upon her arrival from the United States, she followed the call of that still, small voice which spoke to her heart to embark on a mission of sharing the gift of music, in the form of music rudiments, singing and playing on instruments, with Filipino children. Music then became the vehicle through which these young people would find friendship and learning, a sense of identity and pride as Filipinos and later on, a source of livelihood.

Beginning with the humble plan of scouring potential talents from Manila and nearby provinces, Sr. Placid’s dream blossomed into projects such as the Kabataang St. Scho Band, the Philippine Research for Developing Instrumental Soloists (PREDIS) and the Battig Music Foundation, which supports deserving young talented musicians from all over the archipelago in their education and preparation for artistic careers at St. Scholastica’s College.  Her campaign in making available second-hand instruments and books for the benefit of students who cannot afford to buy them has brought her to different parts of the world.

The Liturgy of the Hours, a compilation of her original compositions for the liturgy, manifests her love of music and dedication to the Christian faith and values she upholds dearly.  Through her attendance in international conferences, she has shared updated ideas with many music pedagogues, classroom teachers and organizations such as the Piano Teachers’ Guild, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Philippine Society for Music Education.

Instrumentalists occupying key positions in our country’s major orchestras and those who are either teaching or studying in schools or studios here and abroad will attest to Sr. Placid’s training regimen which blends discipline and excellence with fun.  Under her guidance, numerous graduates and prize-winners in the National Competition for Young Artists are now carving names in the music profession.

Sr. Placid affectionately shares her success with those who have supported her programs to uplift Philippine culture through the years - in particular the late Maestro Basilio Manalo, who, in the mid 1980s co-founded with her the PREDIS and subsequently the Manila Youth Orchestra, the School of Music faculty, and SSC Alumni.

To the delight of the audience at the TOFIL awards night, Sr. Placid’s acceptance speech was followed by the PREDIS Children’s Orchestra’s rendition of Seitz’ Concerto in G major and Solares’ Dugtong-dugtong, a medley-arrangement of Filipino folk songs, under the supervision of Jareena Inacay, a Switzerland-trained graduate of the SSC School of Music, with J. Greg Zuniega at the piano.  Leading the contingent of Benedictine Sisters, SSC administrators and faculty, who proudly cheered on, were Mother Prioress Sr. Mary John Mananzan, OSB, SSC President Sr. Angelica Leviste, OSB and Vice President for Academic Affairs Sr. Mary Thomas Prado, OSB.

Also recognized on the occasion were the other honorees for this year’s prestigious accolades:  Antonio Abacan for Banking and Finance, Dr. Rustica Carpio for Humanities, Dr. Rafael Guerrero for Science and Technology and Dr. Federico Macaranas for Community and Humanitarian Service.   Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno, echoing TOFIL’s challenge for dynamic leadership in various sectors of our society particularly in these trying times, delivered the keynote message.

Related Story:  Sr. Mary Placid Abejo, OSB (SSC Dean of Music), 2008 TOFIL Awardee

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