WELLNESS IN ARTS & CULTURE: Classical music became an effective agent for social change... Not all of the kids became professional musicians, but they all became productive members of society.’ MANILA, Philippines - Music, Madonna famously sang, makes the people come together. Harnessing this transformative power is Sistema for the Filipino Youth (SFY), an after-school music education program that was inspired by El Sistema, a program in Venezuela that provides social uplift through classical music. SFY offers underprivileged children the opportunity to achieve their full musical potential through classical music, with the ultimate hope of creating a positive impact on their communities. As its initial undertaking, SFY established the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth, a 40-piece ensemble comprised of young musicians, between nine and 19 years old, from underprivileged families in Manila, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Quezon City, Malabon, Cainta, Angono, Antipolo, Morong, Taytay, Bulacan, Cardona, Cavite, Batangas and provinces such as Aurora and Cebu.

Bittersweet symphony | Young Star, Lifestyle Features, The Philippine Star | philstar.com: "“We saw how classical music became an effective agent for social change in Venezuela, how El Sistema was able to save the youth from illiteracy, violence and other negative effects of war and poverty. Not all of the kids became professional musicians, but they all became productive members of society,” said Tinky Cruz, OFY managing director. “Here in the Philippines, our goal is to help alleviate poverty through music education, while creating career paths in classical music and strengthening our arts and culture scene.”" CLICK LINK TO READ FULL ARTICLE

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