Tribung Pinoy: Remembered with sadness and fondness
MIXED FEELINGS – Danny Dolor called to say he read our item on departed stars and celebrities. It was with mixed feelings, sadness and fondness, specially on Tribung Pinoy members who are no longer with us: Julie Mendoza, Rey Almira, Constancio Cadelina, and Erlinda Dacanay Azcuna. Danny added another name, Narding Torres, Tribung Pinoy coordinator who was always the life of the party.
Still around are Ed Borbon (choreographer) and Gloria Coronel and US-based Lulu Francisco and Vladimir Valera.
Danny founded Tribung Pinoy in 1978 to promote and preserve Filipino music: kundiman, balitaw, danza, including nationalistic and novelty songs.
PERFORMANCES – Tribung Pinoy performed all over the Philippines and Asian, Middle Eastern, European, and American cities. In Korea the group was hosted by then Ambassador Nick Jimenez. One time in California, the very first song of Tribu, an Ilocano number, merited, thunderous applause and standing ovation. It figured, the audience was predominantly Ilocano.
On the local front, Tribu went as far as Culion (leper colony) in Palawan. Nearer home, Danny and his group sang at the penitentiary for women and before sick patients in hospitals, nuns and priests in convents, and the campus crowd.
Tribung Pinoy disbanded in the ‘90s, but Danny continued mounting concerts and tributes to composers, poets, actors, and singers.
Those were days of sweet memories filled with the sound of music and laughter. At times tension when snags came along on their way to the concert halls. OTHER DEPARTED FRIENDS – Danny Dolor remembers other departed friends, including designers Aureo Alonzo and Ramon Valera.
Aureo made the fabulous costumes of Tribung Pinoy, which never failed to elicit oohs and aahs.
Valera was proclaimed National Artist with the help of Danny. He made many ternos for his late mother (Doña Soledad) and sister (Fe).
Another departed friend is Edgar Ramirez, whose pieces of furniture are in the Dolor homes in Makati and Lipa.
Two other friends in the fashion world, Ben Farrales and Pitoy Moreno, are sadly seriously ill. A year or so ago, Ben received the Gawad CCP... with Danny saying a good word or two for the sick friend, clinching the award for him.
By the way, when will Danny receive Gawad CCP, much deserved and long delayed? Being a member of the CCP board, Danny isn’t eligible. But surely he ought to get it when he’s no longer connected with CCP.