The best way to leave a legacy is to leave something of yourself behind for the next generation. And with Lemuel Cuento’s homecoming, this is one of the things he will be doing.
“It is not a bad idea to be a late starter in a career.” This is the major lesson being shared by renowned Filipino tenor performer Lemuel Cuento. The 48-year-old international opera singer thinks that he may have been born with musical talent, but it had not manifested at an early age, unlike most of the typical musical prodigies we know.
“As a kid, I did not have the ears to quickly pick up a melody and would often sing out of tune,” Cuento humbly recalls. However, he emphasizes that he has always loved music. It was during his junior year in highschool at the UP Rural High School (UPRHS) in Los Baños, Laguna when he finally realized his ‘calling.’
“My family would often go to the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) to watch performances. One day, we were at the performance of Filipino tenor Otoniel Gonzaga. The moment he opened his mouth, I immediately realized that it is what I want to do when I grow up. His voice was amazing and so beautiful that it filled the theatre,” he narrates.
After about 20 years, Cuento will return home for three reasons: first, to join the centennial anniversary celebration of his college organization; second to share his knowledge to younger performers through music classes at the UP College of Music and the Centro Escolar University; and third to mount a benefit concert organized by his beloved UPRHS.
‘Coming Home: Lemuel Cuento in Concert’ is a fund-raising performance for the benefit of the Youth Program on Agriculture, a program of the UPRHS to promote agriculture, nutrition, and related fields to Grade11 students with the aim of convincing them to pursue careers that would address issues on hunger and food production in the country.
The benefit concert will be held on 26 February 2020, 7:00 PM at the D.L. Umali Auditorium, University of the Philippines, Los Baños. The event is supported by SeedWorks Philippines, Inc., SEAMEO-SEARCA, BLAMPPAK & Co., Eurofins AgroSciene Services, IFVI – Ilag Family Ventures, Inc., Mario -Eva Labadan and Family, Gilda Fernandez, Pearl and Joe Madamba, JZs/ZJs. UPRHS Class 1984 and MR87.
For inquiries, reservations and tickets, please call Ms. Cristina ‘Babu’ Sison, head of the organizing committee at 0917.860.0234 or (049) 559- 3821 / 501 0389.
