Every week, Filipino master violinist Angelito "Botchok" Molina goes around several nursing and retirement homes in LA County, playing soothing classical music as part of the facilities’ music therapy.
Music has always been a great healer. In the Bible, we learn about how David played the harp to help ease the severe depression of King Saul. In recent years, medical experts have adopted music into the therapy of patients. They discovered that listening to music does wonders to alleviate stress. Many experts suggest that it is the rhythm of the music or the beat that has the calming effect on us although we may not be very conscious about it. Among the first stress-fighting changes that take place when we hear a tune is an increase in deep breathing. The body’s production of serotonin also accelerates. Music was found to reduce heart rates and to promote higher body temperature - an indication of the onset of relaxation.
"I play the violin for those senior people, going from room to room," Botchok said. "I like to play and they like to listen. It’s good therapy," he added.
When not busy giving music therapy, Botchok can be seen entertaining patrons with his violin at the Barrio Fiesta restaurant in Eagle Rock from Thursday to Sunday nights (including Sunday lunchtime).
One of the key players of the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO), Molina will play the viola during the group’s gala concert on May 16 at the prestigious Wilshire Theatre in Beverly Hills. He is one of the core group members of FASO and was in fact, the first musician Andy Tecson called when Asian Journal publisher Roger Oriel and Editor-at-Large Lito Cruz first thought of forming FASO.
"When Tito Andy Tecson called me and asked if I would be interested in joining a Filipino American orchestra, of course I said yes," Botchok related. "But I had some doubts if it was really going to push through. I called up my good friend, Bob Shroder, who is a conductor and was my classmate back in the Philippines. We both took up Music at UP Diliman. We were both excited at the idea so we attended the first meeting at Barrio Fiesta. There, we met the people from Asian Journal, Mr. Roger Oriel and Lito Cruz, who were sincerely willing to form the orchestra for the FilAm community here in Southern California."
Molina is an accomplished musician in the Philippines and other countries before he immigrated to the US several years ago. He took up Music at UP Diliman and was a member of the ROTC Marching Band. He then joined the Manila Symphony Orchestra and played in local and international hotels as well as in cruise ships which traveled around the world.
When he immigrated to the States, Botchok first settled in Texas where some members of his family lived. He quickly got a chance to play with an orchestra in Texas. Then, he moved to Los Angeles where he began to establish his profession as a skilled musician.
Along with the other members of FASO, Botchok is very much dedicated to his craft and faithfully attends practices every week for their upcoming inaugural concert. "We are now currently investing our time and talents here because we believe that FASO will be big someday. Dapat lang maumpisahan ito. I know basta nakilala na ang FASO, many Filipino musicians will benefit as there are a lot of Filipino musicians here in the US.
This is good training ground for the young artists too. It’s their opportunity to gain experience with the masters," Molina stated. "This is the first time we are going to have our very own Filipino American Symphony orchestra in America. So, I encourage everyone to attend the gala concert on May 16. The audience will get a unique treat of Broadway and Filipino classic and pop songs. I believe na makakabot ito sa iba’t ibang states. With the FilAm community’s support, magiging maganda ang future ng FASO," he added.
( Published on March 18, 2009 in MDWK Magazine p. 6 )
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