Members

Bandurria: Faith Buenaventura, Roneil Cabalatungan, Lito David, Lena Gonzales, Amor McGuinness, Ameurfina Nazario, April Joy Ramirez, Jose Rojas, Diane Valencia

Guitarra: Vivienne Buenaventura, Demi Buscar, Lee Clemente, Gary Monteleone, Rudy Reyes, Patrick Simon, Cesar Valencia

Laud: Paula Buenaventura, Eric Garcia, Leon de Lara, Mirinisa Myers

Octavina: Teya David

Bajo: Emilio Nazario

Music Director: Maria Leonor Llorin Paliguin

Support Staff: Faith Reyes, Sonny Santos

Special thanks to the spouses, parents, siblings, kids, and friends for their support in helping us make beautiful music in appreciation of our Philippine culture.

Faith Buenaventura
Bandurria I
Faith is in the fourth grade at Battle Hill Elementary School. She likes to read books, sing, and dance. She also plays the violin.

Maria Paula Buenaventura
Laud
Paula is a sophomore at Union County Vocational Technical High School in Scotch Plains, NJ. She likes to play volleyball and also plays the piano.

Vivienne Buenaventura
Guitarra
Vivienne is in the eighth grade in Burnet Middle School in Union, NJ. She likes arts and crafts and plays the viola, too.

Demi Buscar
Guitarra
Demi sings in school musicals at Burnet Middle School in Union, NJ, where she is an eighth grader. She also plays the piano and does jazz and tap dancing. She loves field hockey, basketball, and tennis.

Roneil Cabalatungan
Bandurria I

JoseMari (Lee) Clemente
Guitarra
Lee’s first rondalla instrument was the bandurria which he played in grammar school. He is a (ASCP) board-certified histotechnologist.

Angelito (Lito) David
Bandurria I
Lito is a visual artist whose forte is watercolor. He was an Italian government scholar for painting and is a restorer of rare documents, manuscripts, and fine art works. He currently teaches advance watercolor techniques. Lito also plays the violin, octavina, and guitar. View his paintings at his website.

Estrella (Teya) David
Octavina
A former member of the Bayanihan dance troupe, Teya also plays the piano, electronic keyboard, and guitar. She is the Arts Programs Coordinator with the Union County Division of Cultural and Heritage Affairs.

Leoncito (Leon) A. de Lara
Laud
Leon is a graduate of the UP College of Law. He plays various instruments including the guitar, bass, bandurria, and alto sax. He performed with the famous Bert Buena PBS Rondalla and now works with the federal government.

Victor (Eric) Garcia
Laud
Eric is a student at Magnet High School in Scotch Plains, NJ, and an altar server at St. Michael's Church in Union, NJ. He loves to play tennis and also plays the piano and the saxophone.

Magdalena (Lena) Gonzales
Bandurria I
A lab technologist at Flushing Hospital and Medical Center, Lena also plays classical guitar and is an avid ballroom dancer.

Amor McGuinness
Bandurria I
A registered nurse, Amor is the owner-administrator of South Terrace Manor Rest Home. She has received much recognition for her cultural, civic, and humanitarian deeds. Amor is a soprano and made her debut at Carnegie Hall.

Gary Monteleone
Guitarra

Mirinisa Myers
Laud
A chemist and co-founder of the Alay Philippine Performing Arts, Mirinisa lectures on Philippine culture through stories, dance, and music under the auspices of Young Audiences of New Jersey.

Ameurfina (Amor) Nazario
Bandurria I
A computer specialist, Amor also plays the tongali (nose flute) and the kulintang. She is president and co-founder of Alay Philippines Performing Arts and lectures on Philippine art, culture, and tradition.

Emilio Nazario
Bajo
Emilio is an international credit specialist.

April Joy Ramirez
Bandurria II
April attends St. Rita School in Staten Island, NY. She keeps busy with dance, piano, and voice lessons.

Rudy Reyes
Guitarra
Rudy, a computer programmer, has been playing the guitar since his teens. He also partakes in Filipino folkdancing and ballroom.

Jose (Ve) Rojas
Bandurria II
Ve's long drive from Connecticut where he resides does not deter him from attending UPA&FR activities. He also plays the electric bass, cello, and keyboard.

Patrick Simon
Guitarra
Patrick attends Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School. He enjoys the outdoors, playing tennis, and is on his high school tennis team.

Cesar Valencia
Guitarra
Cesar is a quality control engineer for an industrial manufacturer. He loves to sing and to play chess.

Diane Valencia
Bandurria II
Diane is an analyst at a Fortune 500 property and casualty insurance company. She studied as a government scholar at The Hague. Diane also plays the piano.

Faith Reyes
Support Staff
Faith graduated from Rutgers University and works as an IT business analyst. She spends her free time laughing and reading.

J. Sonny Santos
Support Staff
Sonny is an electrical engineering consultant with a New York firm.

Home > UPA&FR Organization > Members

	Faith Buenaventura Bandurria I Faith is in the fourth grade at Battle Hill Elementary School. She likes to read books, sing, and dance. She also plays the violin.
	Maria Paula Buenaventura Laud Paula is a sophomore at Union County Vocational Technical High School in Scotch Plains, NJ. She likes to play volleyball and also plays the piano.
	Vivienne Buenaventura Guitarra Vivienne is in the eighth grade in Burnet Middle School in Union, NJ. She likes arts and crafts and plays the viola, too.
	Demi Buscar Guitarra Demi sings in school musicals at Burnet Middle School in Union, NJ, where she is an eighth grader. She also plays the piano and does jazz and tap dancing. She loves field hockey, basketball, and tennis.
	Roneil Cabalatungan Bandurria I
	JoseMari (Lee) Clemente Guitarra Lee’s first rondalla instrument was the bandurria which he played in grammar school. He is a (ASCP) board-certified histotechnologist.
	Angelito (Lito) David Bandurria I Lito is a visual artist whose forte is watercolor. He was an Italian government scholar for painting and is a restorer of rare documents, manuscripts, and fine art works. He currently teaches advance watercolor techniques. Lito also plays the violin, octavina, and guitar. View his paintings at his website.
	Estrella (Teya) David Octavina A former member of the Bayanihan dance troupe, Teya also plays the piano, electronic keyboard, and guitar. She is the Arts Programs Coordinator with the Union County Division of Cultural and Heritage Affairs.
	Leoncito (Leon) A. de Lara Laud Leon is a graduate of the UP College of Law. He plays various instruments including the guitar, bass, bandurria, and alto sax. He performed with the famous Bert Buena PBS Rondalla and now works with the federal government.
	Victor (Eric) Garcia Laud Eric is a student at Magnet High School in Scotch Plains, NJ, and an altar server at St. Michael's Church in Union, NJ. He loves to play tennis and also plays the piano and the saxophone.
	Magdalena (Lena) Gonzales Bandurria I A lab technologist at Flushing Hospital and Medical Center, Lena also plays classical guitar and is an avid ballroom dancer.
	Amor McGuinness Bandurria I A registered nurse, Amor is the owner-administrator of South Terrace Manor Rest Home. She has received much recognition for her cultural, civic, and humanitarian deeds. Amor is a soprano and made her debut at Carnegie Hall.
	Gary Monteleone Guitarra
	Mirinisa Myers Laud A chemist and co-founder of the Alay Philippine Performing Arts, Mirinisa lectures on Philippine culture through stories, dance, and music under the auspices of Young Audiences of New Jersey.
	Ameurfina (Amor) Nazario Bandurria I A computer specialist, Amor also plays the tongali (nose flute) and the kulintang. She is president and co-founder of Alay Philippines Performing Arts and lectures on Philippine art, culture, and tradition.
	Emilio Nazario Bajo Emilio is an international credit specialist.
	April Joy Ramirez Bandurria II April attends St. Rita School in Staten Island, NY. She keeps busy with dance, piano, and voice lessons.
	Rudy Reyes Guitarra Rudy, a computer programmer, has been playing the guitar since his teens. He also partakes in Filipino folkdancing and ballroom.
	Jose (Ve) Rojas Bandurria II Ve's long drive from Connecticut where he resides does not deter him from attending UPA&FR activities. He also plays the electric bass, cello, and keyboard.
	Patrick Simon Guitarra Patrick attends Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School. He enjoys the outdoors, playing tennis, and is on his high school tennis team.
	Cesar Valencia Guitarra Cesar is a quality control engineer for an industrial manufacturer. He loves to sing and to play chess.
	Diane Valencia Bandurria II Diane is an analyst at a Fortune 500 property and casualty insurance company. She studied as a government scholar at The Hague. Diane also plays the piano.
	Faith Reyes Support Staff Faith graduated from Rutgers University and works as an IT business analyst. She spends her free time laughing and reading.
	J. Sonny Santos Support Staff Sonny is an electrical engineering consultant with a New York firm.