Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

One of the core members of the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO) is cello player, Arthur Ocdamia. Better known as Art by his friends, he has over thirty years experience as a cello player and has been a member of five different orchestras in LA: the Cypress Pops Orchestra (since 1992), Bell Flower Symphony Orchestra (since 1993), La Mirada Symphony Orchestra (from 2000 to 2005), the South East Symphony Orchestra (since 2005) and the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO).

Art shares how he got started in this career as a cello player. "My father, Gelacio, became totally blind when he was 13 years old but he could play the piano, ouido lang. So, I guess there’s some musical genes in our family. My mother, Angelita Lagonera, had a good voice and sang in church. When I was in high school, I told my parents I wanted to learn how to play the cello. We had a neighbor who was a good cello player, Amador Tamayo. I practically begged him to teach me. He did but after just a month, he left for Germany. He referred me to Herminia Ilano who was a cellist with the Philippine Philharmonics. I studied under her and she helped me get a scholarship in UP Diliman. Afer two years in UP, the department head of the Strings section, Sergio Esmilla, asked me if I wanted to join the Manila Symphony Orchestra. There, I was with Bob Shroder and Bochok Molina, who also played with me at the Philippine Youth Orchestra in UP Diliman. That was in 1980 and now, almost 30 years later, the three of us are together again, this time in LA..and forming FASO. Unbelievable!" relates Ocdamia.

After working five years with the Manila Symphony Orchestra, Art went to work for the Shangri-la Hotel in Singapore before he joined Holland American Lines. "I was one of the musicians on board. It was hard work, since we played three times a day, everyday, as the cruise ship went around the world. But that’s where I met my first wife, Kathy, an American who was one of the passengers in 1988. We decided to get married in Las Vegas soon after that and lived in Anaheim," recalled Art.

Admitting that he could not support a family by just playing the cello, Art worked in a medical company for almost twenty years, the Pentax Medical Instruments. When the company closed down in 2007, Art studied medical back office work. He is also studying how to make a violin.

In 2001, his wife Kathy died of complications from diabetes. He has re-married; this time to a Bicolana, Margie Benitez.

Some years ago, Art saw a flyer of a Joey Albert concert, featuring his friend Bob Shroder as the conductor. He attended the concert and was happy to re-unite with Bob and also, Bochok Molina, who was likewise playing in the concert. Since then, they have been in touch.

"When Bob and Bochok told me about FASO, I was proud to join them. Even if the weekly rehearsals are done in LA which is quite far from OC where I live, I really make it a point to be here, coming as early as 5pm (for the 6:30pm practice). I don’t mind waiting for quite a while for the practice to begin rather than be caught in traffic. It is an honor to be a part of FASO and I expect that the orchestra will be big someday," said Art. " I believe music is very important to life that’s why I give it importance and value," he added.

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( Published on April 1, 2009 in MDWK Magazine p. 10 )