PAGDIRIWANG PHILIPPINE FESTIVAL 2025
FCS Senior Singers
The Filipino Community of Seattle Senior Singers, or FCS Senior Singers, is a lively ensemble of passionate amateur singers aged 60 and up.
It all started last Christmas when Nelia Diaz, Senior Program Manager organized more than 12 seniors to sing Christmas songs at FCS’ 4th Annual Tree Lighting & Night Market event to kick off the Christmas season. Maria Batayola attended the event as a guest of now FCS Board President Army Pangilinan. Touched by the seniors' heartfelt singing, she inquired about the group.
Surprised to learn that Nelia only rehearsed them one time for the performance, Maria volunteered with Bennyroyce Royon, FCS Program Director, to develop the program concept and shepherd the singers. Armed with a box of haranas and kundimans from her dear departed mother, with her UW theatre, vocal coaching and performance background, Maria engaged her dear and very busy friend Carmen Pelayre, founder/longtime music director of the Fil-Am Society Chorale to co-lead the Singers.
FCS Senior Singers are first generation immigrants. They include Art Arganda, Benjamin Chua, Ester Chua, Eloisa San Nicolas, Victor de Leon, Violet Navarro, Aida de la Fuente, Lucy Garcia, Norman David, with staff support from Michelle Cabrera, Narlyn Abenojar, and Kevin “KP” Peralta.
Each singer is a testimony to our Filipino cultural practice of embedding the deep love of music and the arts. This dedicated group came together to share their love of music and personal memories, performing a diverse range of Filipino traditional music such as haranas (love songs) and kundimans (woe-is-me songs) for the enjoyment of both singers and audiences. FCS and the Senior Singers are keenly aware that the Filipino songs must be shared as part of preserving our culture.
The Singers attend Music class for an hour and a half during FCS Arts & Culture Thursdays when Zumba, Dazzling Divas and Kalahi dance classes are also offered. Through collaboration and community, the FCS Senior Singers create a welcoming space for older adults to express their creativity, enrich their lives, and connect with others through the joy of singing.