Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HouSE BILLNO, 4487 _

Introduced by Honorable Michaelina M. Antonio

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Last year, unbeknownst to many Filipinos, while we were noisily cheering the
country’s sports representatives at the Southeast Asian Games in Singapore, another
important international competition was taking place in Europe - where the Philippine
representative was quietly reaping top awards against 34 entrants from the US and several
European countries, At the Poland International Choral Competition, the members of the
UP Concert Chorus - jetlagged, exhausted and surviving on meager funds, under the
inspired direction of Prof, Janet Sabas-Aracama, gave the most impressive performances
which gamered the Philippines the Grand Prix. Adjudged the Best Choir of the
international contest after receiving the highest score overall in the final tally by the jury
panel -- all respected authorities in choral music, with Prof. Romuald Twardowski (Poland)
as jury head, and jury members Ko Matsushita (Japan), Irina Roganova (Russia), Javier
Busto (Spain/Sweden) and Rihard Dubra (Latvia), -- the University of the Philippines
Concert Chorus received a statuette and the "Golden Polyhymnia (Muse of Choral Art)
Award", UPCC also carried the distinction of being the only Asian choir that participated
in the competition. Their costumes, evocative of the Pintados Kasadya-An Festival of
Leyte, by Edgar San Diego, awed not only the audience and judges but the other contestants
‘as well who had their photos taken with the Philippine choir,

‘The UPCC, the official choir of the University of the Philippines - has been honored
as an ALIW Entertainment Hall of Fame Awardee for Best Choral Group (after winning
Best Choral Group of the Year multiple and consecutive times), has received a CI
Award (the Philippine version of the Grammy Awards) for its recording of Ryan
Ca ib’s “Misa”, and has consistently won top prizes in international choral
competitions,



But what is very saddening about the winnings of the UP Concert Chorus and other
award-winning choirs such as the UP Singing Ambassadors, Novo Concertante Manila,
Kammerchor Manila, UST Singers, UP Madrigal Singers, Imusicappella, University of
Mindanao Chorale, Lost Cantates de Manila, and Ateneo Chamber Singers (the profiles of
which are hereto attached) is that their members always have to struggle and work very,
very hard to join such prestigious international competitions, In the case of the UP Concert
Chorus last year, the members had to perform in several exhausting concerts in the US to
eam funds that could allow them to join the 2015 International Competition in Poland.
Through sheer hard work and determination, they brought home the Championship and
gave pride and honor to the country. The members of the UP Concert Chorus proved to the
world that for talented Filipinos, no dream is impossible to reach. They exemplified the
resiliency and tenacity of Filipinos as they trudged on to achieve their goal. And win, hands
down, they did. It is unfortunate (and a big loss for our country) that this year , they could
not join any International Competition for the main reason that they do not have the funds
for their airfare and other expenses that are needed to bring them to International Festivals.

Itis in this light that the undersigned is proposing this measure that would give tax
incentives to persons (natural or juridical) who could give financial support or other kinds
of support to award-winning choirs and performers like the UPCC, UP Singing
Ambassadors, Novo Concertante Manila, Kammerchor Manila, UST Singers, UP Madrigal
Singers, Imusicappella, University of Mindanao Chorale, Lost Cantates de Manila, and
Ateneo Chamber Singers, Through such tax breaks, we will be supporting choirs and other
artists who are also our Ambassadors of Goodwill and promoters of Philippine music, art,
culture and tourism, Needless to say, supporting these artists will be valuable in developing
and molding future artists who can also give honor and glory to our country. It should also
be mentioned here that in the year 2013, the UP Concert Chorus held fundraising concerts
here and abroad to help Typhoon Haiyan victims. This goes to show that aside from the
honor that they give our country, these artists can be the partners of the government in
fundraising and socio-civic activities to help other Filipinos in need.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought

CN hee oi)
ICHELLE M. ANTONIO
ae



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

ae
HOUSE BILLNO, 4487

Introduced by Honorable Michaelina M. Antonio

AN ACT PROVIDING TAX INCE) TO INDIVIDUALS AND

CORPORATIONS GIVING DONATIONS, CONTRIBUTIONS, AND GRA|

TO FILIPINO PERFORMERS WHO HAVE WON INTERNATIONAL
COMPETITIONS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

assembled:

°. 1, Tax Exemptions and Deductions. - Any donation, contribution, gift and grant of

real and personal property to any Filipino international award-winning performers (choirs,
singers, dance groups, dancers, etc.) shall constitute an allowable deduction from the
income of the donor for income tax purposes and shall be exempt from donor's tax, in
accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended:
Provided, however, That the value of each donor's donations, contributions, gifis, or grants
eligible for the tax exemption and deduction shall only be up to an amount not exceeding
One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) for one taxable year. The value of the donation in

excess of One Million Pesos (PhP1,000,000,00) shall be subject to donor's tax and shall no

longer be allowed as tax deduction.


SEC. 2. Applicability to Both Corporate and Individual Donors. - The tax incentives

provided in Section | hereof shall be applicable to both corporate and individual donors.
Provisions in the National Intemal Revenue Code, as amended, to the contrary
notwithstanding, individual donors shall be entitled to deductions in their gross income for
donations covered by this Act.

SE

3. Valuation of Property Donations, - The amount of any donation of property other
than money shall be based on the acquisition cost of said property, However, such valuation
shall take into consideration the depreciation in the value of the donated property in case
such property has been used,

SEC. 4. Proof of Donation. - Donations,

deductions under this Act only if verified in accordance with existing rules and regulations

shall be allowable as

contributions, or gifts

of the Bureau of Internal Revenue for proving charitable donations, contributions, car gifts
for purposes of tax deduction, Any product or brand endorsement, personal service, or
other consideration of any nature given in exchange for the purported donation shall
automatically make such purported donation ineligible for the incentives under this Act.
SE

. Coverage. - Only donations, gifts, contributions, and grants made within two (2)

years from the date the international award was won shall be eligible for the.tax incentives
provided in Section 1 hereof.
SEC

6. Government Incentives, - Any award, incentive, or grant given by the

Government, its corporations, institutions, instrumentalities and agencies, to international
award-winning performers shall be exempt from taxes.
SEC,

7. Separability Clause- If any provision or section of this Act or the application
thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the other provisions or sections of
this Act shall remain valid, and the application of such remaining provisions or sections to
the other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.

SEC. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the date of its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,


UP Singing Ambassadors

Béla Bartok 25th International Choir Competition July 25-29, 2012, Debrecen, Hungary
+ Special Prize for Excellent Conducting Performance for ED MANGUIAT
+ 3rd Prize - Chamber Choirs Category

LX Concorso Polifonico Internazionale Guido d" Arezzo" August 23-26, 2012, /
+ Ist Prize - Romantic Period Music

+ Ist Prize - Folklore Music Festival / Prize of the Public

+ Ind Prize - Mixed Choirs Category

Ath Int'l, Choir Festival Mundus Cantat 2008 May 21-24, 2008, Sopot, POLAND
+ GRAND PRIZE

+ Ist Prize & Gold Diploma - Sacred Music Cat,

+ Ist Prize & Gold Diploma - Folklore Category

+ Ist Prize & Gold Diploma - Pop, Jazz, & Spirituals Category

37th Florilege Vooal de Yours May 29June 1, 2008, Tours, FRANCE
+ 3rd Prize - Mixed Choirs Category
+ 3rd Prize - Free Program Category
+ Finalist - Grand Prize Competition

Llangollen Int'l, Musical Kisteddfod 2008 July 8-13, 2008, Llangollen, Wales, UK
* Ist Prize - Chamber Choirs Category *

+ Ist Prize - Folklore Choirs Category +

+ Finalist - “Choir of the Work!” Competition +

Bela Bartok 23rd Intl. Choir Competition Judy 30-August 3, 2008, Debrecen, HUNGARY
+ Ist Prize - Mixed Choirs Categor
+ 3rd Prize - Chamber Choirs Categor
+ Finalist - Grand Prize Competition +

Festival Choral international de Neuchatel 2008 August 5-9, 2008, Neuchatel, SWITZERLAND
+ GRAND PRIZE +
+ Ist Prize - Mixed Choirs Category +


UP Concert Chorus

2012

2013

2014

UP Concert Chorus bags choral title in Spain

UP Concert Chorus 50th Anniversary Gala Concert

UP Concert Chorus performs in Helsinki, participates in 4th Harald Andersen Choir
Competition

U.P. Concert Chorus on U.S. Tour
KORcoKAPELA: KORUS, KORcografi & A KAPELA by UP Concert Chorus
U.P. Convert Chorus to Perform in Kota Kinabalu

The University of the Philippines Concert Chorus
UP Concert Chorus takes the plunge, does the ice bucket challenge

UP Concert Chorus champion at Poland International Choral til

UP Concert Chorus bags top prize in international competition

UP Concert Chorus wins the Grand Prix in Krakow International choir festival

UP Concert Chorus wins Grand Prize in Poland choral fest

UP Concert Chorus wins the Grand Prix in Krakow Int'l choir festival

UP Concert Chorus bags top prize in Krakow Fest

UP Concert Chorus Performs In New York For lts Goodwill International Concert ‘Tour
2015

UP Concert Chorus bags choral title in Spain

UP Concert Chorus in New York for its Goodwill International Concert Tour 2015
UP Concert Chorus charms Swiss audience with their choreographed music

UP Concert Chorus wins Grand Prix in Poland.

UP Concert Chorus wins top prize in Poland

UP Concert Chorus performs at PLIL Independence Day celebration in Prague

UP Concert Chorus bags top prize in Krakow Fest



Novo Concertante Manila

26° Grand Prix Si
Gorizia, Italy
July 2014

4th Prize

33° Concorso Internationale di Canto Corale Seghizai Finals Competition
Gorizia, aly

July 2014

2nd Prize in Unified Category 1:
2nd Prize (Gold Medal) in "Categoria Periodo Storivo 1400-1640" (Renaissance Category)

2nd Prize (Gold Medal) in

legoria Periodo Storico 1821-1910" (Romantic Category)

1st Prize (Gold Medal) in "Ca
Category)

egoria Periodo Storico dal 1911 ad oggi" (20th Century Music

6th Prize in Unified Category 2:

2nd Prize (Gold Medal) in "Rassegna di Elaborazioli Coraldi di Canti di ‘Tradizione Orale e
Canti Tradizionali" (Folk Category)

3rd Prize (Silver Medal) in" Rassegna di Liaborazioli Coraldi di Musica Leagera e Jazz"
(Pop/Jazz Category)

Trovato,

49. Migdzynarodowy Festiwval Piesni Chéralngj im. Prof. Jana Szyrockiego w Migdzyzdrojach
Miedzyzdroje, Poland
June 2014

Nagrody Gléwng Festiwalu (Grand Prize of the

fival)

Zloty Dyplom (Gold Diploma) - Category A: "Mixed choirs, Female, Male, Youth"

Nagrode Glowng Konkursu Musica Sacri
Bursztynowa Aureole Swigtego Piotra Apostola

4 Sacra Competition Grand Priz



Ist Ninghai Prize International Choir Championships
Guangzhou, China

2012

Grand Prix Winner (Platinum Diploma) - Mixed Choir Category

Platinum Diploma - Folklore Category
Ist Asia Cantate International Choral Competition

Phuket, Thailand
2012

Category Winner (Gold A) - Chamber Choir Category

Category Winner (Gold B) « Folklore Category

National Commission for Culture and the Arts Philippines
Manila, Philippines
2010

Ani ng Sining Award
National Commission for Culture and the Arts Philippines

Manila, Philippines
2009

Ani ng Dangal Award
46, Internationaler Chorwettbewerb

Spittal an der Drau, Austria
2009

1° Preis — Kunstlied Category

2 Preis ~ Volkslied Category
35th Certamen Internacional de Habaneras y Polifonia


Torrevi
2009

. Spain

Primer Premio ~ Polifonia

Vivere Christmas Choral Competition
Alabang, Philippines
2008

Kammerchor Manila

2014

June:

“Kammerchor Manila won 4 golds in all 4 categories - Superior for Mixed Adult Choirs (98
points); Mixed Adult Choirs (100 points); Spiritual, Gospel, Pop for Youth and Adult Choirs
(100 points); Folklore A Capella for Youth and Adult Choirs (100 points) at the 42nd Festival of
Songs held in Olomouc, Czech Republic. The group was also declared as the Absolute Festival
Winner

N
*Kammerchor Manila’s 3rd European Competition/Concert Tour.
“4th Placer at the 2nd International Choral Competition - Ave Verum (ICC|AV) held in Baden,
Austria,

2013

August

3rd Placer under the Chamber Choir Category at the Ist Andrea O, Veneravion International
Choral Festival held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

2010
July

ticipant, 6th World Choir Games, Shiaoxing, China
Silver Medal, Mixed chamber choir category

Bronze Medal, Folklore category

2009

September:


“Linz, Austria
- Participant, 2nd International Anton Bruckner Choir Competition
Gold Diploma, Mixed Category
Silver Diploma, Sacred Music Category
- Special Prize, Outstanding interpretation of "Pamugun”
-Linz, was also one of the "Culturat Capitals of Europe in 2009"

Aleron

2013

August

© 1“ prize in the Vocal Ensemble Category. 1st Andrea ©. Veneracion International Choral
Festival

2014
October (Busan, South Korea)
© Gold prize in the Clasical Equal Voives Category
© Overall Grand Prix winner, 10" Busan Choral Festival & Competition

2015
July (Fakarazuka, Japan)
© Overall Winner, 31 Takarazuka International Chamber Chorus Contest
© Gold prize winner in Folklore and Contemporary categories
November (Macau)
© Chosen as the representative of the Philippines in the inaugural International Federation
for Choral Musie (IFCM) World Choral EXPO

UST Singers

2009
May (California, US.)
© 2009 California International Choral Festival and Competition
1 prize in required piece competition
First prize in folk competition
© People’s Choice Award

2010
April 9
© 17th Bangor International Competition
First prize in required piece competition
> Grand Prize « Open Choral Competition
First Prize - Mixed Choir Category
) First Prize - Madrigal Category
© First Prize - Sacred Music Category
© Second Prize - Light Entertainment Category
» Best Visiting Choir



2013

2015

6th Mundus Cantat International Choral Festival
© Kirst Prize - Sacred Category (96.3%)
First Prize - Folk/Secular Category (99.0%)
© First Prize - Spiritual/Tazz/Gospel (98.0%)
© Grand Prix 2010
56th Cork International Choral Festival
Lady Dorothy Mayer Memorial Trophy
) Best Interpretation of a Piece "GAPAS" by Eudenice Palaruan
Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod 2010
First Prize - Mixed Choir Category
inst Prize - Youth Choir Category
Third Prize - Folk Song Category
Grand Prize - Choir of the World and ‘The Pavarotti ‘Trophy
28th Festival Intemational de Musica de Cantonigros
1 Prize - Mixed Choir Category
inst Prize - Folk Song Category
Festival Internacional de Polifonia y Ha
© First Prize « Habaneras Category
Public Prize
Grand International Prize

baneras

Yeost International Choral Competition
Finalist - Grand Pris, :
Second Prize - Mixed Choir Category
© Third Prize -
Third Prize - Folk, Negro Spiritual and Gospel Category
© Third Prize - Pop and Jazz Category

acted Cate;

ory

Ath Florence International Choir Festival
Golden David Trophy 2015 - Grand Prix
First Prize, Mixed Choirs Adult Category
First Prize, Pop, Folk, Gospel and Barbershop Ensembles Category
First Prize, Sacred Music Category
First Prize, Modern and Contemporary Music Category
Best Male Soloist, Roberto “Robie” Tagalog (for “Gabag-an" by Ruben
Federizon)
» Best Contemporary Work’s Arrangement ("My Heart and I" by Ennio
Morvicone/arr, Fidel Calalang Ir.)



© Best Interpretation of the Required Piece ("Vergine, © Natura Sacra” by Gaetano
Lorandi)

University of the Philippines Madrigal Singers
2006
July
*  Plorilege de Tours choral competition, France
Grand prize winner
© First prize for Category Il (mixed vocal ensemble)
> First prize for Category TV (free program)
© Winner of the Prix University Francois Rabelais for best interpretation of a
Renaissance number

2007
August (Arezzo, Italy)
© European Grand Prix for Choral Singing
Grand prize winner
The first choir to win the grand prize twice
2009
© Designated as the UNESCO Arist for Peace

2010 (Arezzo, aly)
* Conferred the Guidoneum Award by the Fondazione Guide d° Arezzo.

2012 ‘
© Recipient of the Brand Laureate Pren
the Asia Pacific

Award as World's Best Choral Ensemble from

2016 (Arezzo, ltaly)
#64" Intemational Choral Competition
» Grand Prix winner

Imusicappella

+ 2012 Busan International Choral Festival and Competition, Busan South Koreat’!
Grand Prize Winner
+ 9th International Choirdays Mainhausen 2011, Germany
First prize, Mixed Choir Category
Third prize, Jazz Category!
+ 6th Harmonie Festival 2011 Lindenholzhausen, Germany
First prize, Vocal Ensemble Category
Second Prize, Mixed Chamber Choir Category!*ll
+ 40th Florilege Vocal de ‘Tours 2011 France



First prize, Free Expr
‘Third prize, Mixed Voe: e Category)
«1st California International Choral Festival & Competition 2007 San Luis Obispo,
California, USA
© First prize, Required Pieces Category
© First prize, Volk Music Category
Second prize, Choir’s Choice Category (Free Programme Category)
Public prize,{!!!
* 43rd Montreux International Choral Festival 2007, Switzerland
First prize / Jury prize
Prize for Best Programming & Interpretation
Public prize {!2)
+ 10th Marktoberdorf International Chamber Choir Competition 2007, Germany
Fourth place, Mixed Chamber Choir Category
Public Prize

University of Mindanao Chorale
© 2016 Orientale Concentus IX (Singapore) grand prix champion
Lost Cantates de Manila
© 2016 Busan International Choral Festival and Competition (Busan, South Korea)
Grand prize winner

Gold prize in classical’ mixed choir category
Silver prize in pop/a capella category

Ateneo Chamber Singers
2014
July

© World Choir Games (Riga, Latvia)
Champion ~ Musica Sacra Acapella category
Gold medal ~ Mixed Chamber Choirs category

© Certamen Internacional de Habaneras y Polifonia (Yorrevieja, Spain), first prize winner

2006

* Tolosa International Competition (Tolosa, Spain) first prize winner