The Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) of the Republic of China (Taiwan), in partnership with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines and the Taiwan Association, Inc. (TAI), collaborated with the University of Santo Tomas to organize cultural performances in celebration of the mid-Autumn Festival. Over 500 Thomasian and external guests attended the event on Aug. 26, 2023, at the UST Medicine Auditorium.
Virtually, the UST Rector Very Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P., Ph.D., warmly welcomed the performers and participants and expressed gratitude for the continued activities and sustained partnerships with TECO over the years.
TECO Representative Wallace Minn-Gan Chow likewise acknowledged the support of the OCAC, TAI, and their various sponsors. He also thanked UST for hosting the event.
The almost three-hour show began with the 55-year-old UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe, who presented various Filipino dances, including the Kalatong, Binasuan, and the Tinikling. Next on stage were the University's premiere mixed choral ensemble, the two-time winners of the highly-coveted Choir of the World Grand Prize-Luciano Pavarotti Trophy, the UST Singers, who had just returned from their 36th international concert tour. They performed the Ifugao rice cake-making song "Ahibakle," "Way Over in Beulah Lan," and the disco classic "September".
In response, Taiwan's OCAC Cultural Goodwill Mission troupe took the stage, featuring a dazzling lights and drums group, Huang Da-Yan's crystal mirage and phantom rings act, ballad diva Su Pei, master Diabolo (Chinese yoyo) performer Liao Yu-Han, Tu Wei-Cheng's acrobatics, world magic champion Jeff Lee, pop singer Yvonne Jeng Yi, who also performed a duet with TECO Representative Wallace Chow, and a recreation of the late Asian Pop Queen Teresa Teng's iconic performance of "The Moon Represents My Heart"—a famous love song popularized by Teng—using AI technology.
The 2023 PH-Taiwan Night is the 5th cultural experience jointly coordinated with TECO, the first having been in 2016 with the Taiwan Youth Ambassadors.