HAU opens Diamond Jubilee Year

Holy Angel University, the biggest school in Central Luzon, marked the opening of its Diamond Jubilee year by inaugurating what is touted as one of the country’s best acoustically engineered theatre.

Guests led by business tycoon Afonso T. Yuchengco and Central Bank Governor Amando Tetangco, included Church, government and business leaders and practically the entire Who’s Who list of Angeles City.  

The oldest orchestra in Asia, the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO), was the featured performer at the new HAU Theatre, which is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and has a seating capacity of 1000.

In her welcome remarks, University President Dr. Arlyn S. Villanueva said that the theatre was meant “to provide both the HAU community and the Kapampangan people a venue for their artistic expressions.”  She promised to bring the best theatre acts from Manila and abroad “to serve as benchmark and inspiration for our local talents to upgrade their performances to global standards.” 

The Most. Rev. Paciano B. Aniceto, DD, Archbishop of San Fernando, and his auxiliary bishops, Most. Rev. Roberto Mallari, DD and Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio David, DD, blessed the new San Francisco de Javier Building, which houses the theatre as well as the new University Library.

Earlier in the day, the Archbishop led groundbreaking rites for the University’s proposed Chapel of the Guardian Angel.  Hundreds of HAU administrators, teaching and non-teaching personnel and students attended the Jubilee Mass along with the descendants of the school’s founder, Juan D. Nepomuceno. 

The day was capped by the strictly-formal affair in the theatre.  It was followed by an impressive fireworks display at the reception area. 

The MSO performance, conducted by Prof. Arturo Molina, was greeted by an enthusiastic ovation by the audience, which included Angeles City Mayor Francis Nepomuceno, Mapua University President Reynaldo Vea, former National Historical Institute Chairman Serafin Quiason, US State Senator Ray Haynes and officers of various government and non-government organizations.  The alumni association also came in full force, led by its current president, Nelson Koo.

The MSO came with its president, Carlyn T. Manning and co-founder Sister Mary Placid Abejo, OSB.  MSO lead flutist Rey Sison said they were overwhelmed by the reception given to them by the audience.