| Carmencita Pintoy Kenney Baltimore, Maryland Epitome of Music |
The idyll of Carmencita ‘Tita’ Pintoy-Kenney has its prologue
when Brig. Gen. Climaco Pintoy, a warrior from the south- in
Lanao, Mindanao got his first glimpse of Juanita Tangco, a
damsel from the north- in Ilocos Norte, and was immediately
smitten.
The love story blossomes and soon after, enters Carmencita,
who first saw the light of day bawling in lyrics, on a Dec. 28, in
Dagupan, Pangasinan, as the first-born of eight children.
Tita received her high school education from the Philippine
Women’s College, and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in
Piano from the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music
where she was involved (naturally) in extracurricular activities with
the UP Student Council, Delta Lambda Sorority and was the
Battalion Corps Sponsor in the university’s ROTC. With a strong
recommendation from Dr. Eliseo Pajaro, faculty of the UP
Conservatory of Music, she was granted a Fellowship at the
Northwestern University of Chicago, However, destiny intervened
and Tita first set foot on the USA, on the shores of the
Chesapeake Bay in October, 1961. She enrolled and eventually
earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Music Education
when Brig. Gen. Climaco Pintoy, a warrior from the south- in
Lanao, Mindanao got his first glimpse of Juanita Tangco, a
damsel from the north- in Ilocos Norte, and was immediately
smitten.
The love story blossomes and soon after, enters Carmencita,
who first saw the light of day bawling in lyrics, on a Dec. 28, in
Dagupan, Pangasinan, as the first-born of eight children.
Tita received her high school education from the Philippine
Women’s College, and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in
Piano from the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music
where she was involved (naturally) in extracurricular activities with
the UP Student Council, Delta Lambda Sorority and was the
Battalion Corps Sponsor in the university’s ROTC. With a strong
recommendation from Dr. Eliseo Pajaro, faculty of the UP
Conservatory of Music, she was granted a Fellowship at the
Northwestern University of Chicago, However, destiny intervened
and Tita first set foot on the USA, on the shores of the
Chesapeake Bay in October, 1961. She enrolled and eventually
earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Music Education
from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. Having started a branch of the Kenney family in
this great nation, Tita in 1972, took the oath and became an American citizen.
With music in her veins and melody flowing from the tips of her fingers to the ivory she tickles in the piano, Tita
was employed full-time as music teacher in Baltimore City Public Schools system, teaching in the middle and
high schools and special education.
Tita, full of energy and vitality and every sinew in her body strung like the strings of instrument in melodious
harmony of a lingering refrain of a sonata, was not all study and work. Utilizing her skill and talent in music,
like the Pied Piper of yore, she finds time to do volunteer work with neighborhood, school and church youth
groups, assisting in productions of choral programs, as well as musical plays, such a s”Annie Get Your Gun,”
“The Sound of Music” and HMS Pinafore.” She organized and directed the Katipunan (a Fil-Am association of
Maryland) children’s choir for several years, was a pianist for the Basilica of the National Shrine of the
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, Katipunan Choral Ensemble, Santo Nino Chorale, and currently Musical
Director of the Santo Nino Choir, performing in concerts, various functions and venues to raise fund for
Filipino charities, and at memorial services and special events. Together with Edna Dimaano Gan (2001
TOTA Awardee), she is co-founder and music director of the “Lolo-Lola Singing Group,” performing at Fil-Am
festivals and Katipunan Christmas parties. In 1994, Tita was the only Filipino-American to ever serve as
Deputy Marshall of the Baltimore St. Patrick’s Day Parade, representing the Emerald Isle Club. Despite work
and home demands, she cannot and will not sing “no” to involvement in any civic and humanitarian activities
which would benefit the Filipino, Filipino-American, Irish-American or any ethnic communities. With the ever-
present smile in a happy face, she extends a pleasant and willing helping hand to any soul in need.
Carmencita’s undying affection, breaking many a Pinoy’s heart to smithereens, was won by a Baltimorean
Irish-American, Esq. Michael P. Kenney, son of Agnes and Judge Thomas Kenney, also of Baltimore. Michael
is an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Maryland. This union is blessed with a daughter, Maggins, a
graduate of Nore Dame Prep School and Drexel University who now serves as a Senior Production Director
for the Tommy Hilfigger Company in New York. Maggins, as a teenager, excelled in competitive Irish Step
Dancing, winning the National Championship in 1984 in Toronto, Canada and traveling to Ireland three times
to compete in the World Championships where she reached the finals.
Tita is in close touch with her siblings. Yvonne P. Wenzel, a sister in Texas, was a star dancer in the original
Filipinesca Dance Company. A brother, Roland, a movie actor in Australia, assuming the screen name,
“Roland Dantes,” is a former ‘Mr. Philippines,’ a fourth runner-up in the ‘Mr. Universe’ competition with Arnold
Schwarzenegger, and is also a martial arts guru. Another brother, Johnny is an airline pilot. This is an all-star
family, so that it is no wonder that the Filipino and Irish communities of Greater Baltimore, MD proudly
trumpets, with a symphony of cherubims and seraphims, Carmencita “Tita” Pintoy-Kenney as an Outstanding
Filipino-American for 2001. Music truly has its charm, and Tita is the epitome of music.#
this great nation, Tita in 1972, took the oath and became an American citizen.
With music in her veins and melody flowing from the tips of her fingers to the ivory she tickles in the piano, Tita
was employed full-time as music teacher in Baltimore City Public Schools system, teaching in the middle and
high schools and special education.
Tita, full of energy and vitality and every sinew in her body strung like the strings of instrument in melodious
harmony of a lingering refrain of a sonata, was not all study and work. Utilizing her skill and talent in music,
like the Pied Piper of yore, she finds time to do volunteer work with neighborhood, school and church youth
groups, assisting in productions of choral programs, as well as musical plays, such a s”Annie Get Your Gun,”
“The Sound of Music” and HMS Pinafore.” She organized and directed the Katipunan (a Fil-Am association of
Maryland) children’s choir for several years, was a pianist for the Basilica of the National Shrine of the
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, Katipunan Choral Ensemble, Santo Nino Chorale, and currently Musical
Director of the Santo Nino Choir, performing in concerts, various functions and venues to raise fund for
Filipino charities, and at memorial services and special events. Together with Edna Dimaano Gan (2001
TOTA Awardee), she is co-founder and music director of the “Lolo-Lola Singing Group,” performing at Fil-Am
festivals and Katipunan Christmas parties. In 1994, Tita was the only Filipino-American to ever serve as
Deputy Marshall of the Baltimore St. Patrick’s Day Parade, representing the Emerald Isle Club. Despite work
and home demands, she cannot and will not sing “no” to involvement in any civic and humanitarian activities
which would benefit the Filipino, Filipino-American, Irish-American or any ethnic communities. With the ever-
present smile in a happy face, she extends a pleasant and willing helping hand to any soul in need.
Carmencita’s undying affection, breaking many a Pinoy’s heart to smithereens, was won by a Baltimorean
Irish-American, Esq. Michael P. Kenney, son of Agnes and Judge Thomas Kenney, also of Baltimore. Michael
is an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Maryland. This union is blessed with a daughter, Maggins, a
graduate of Nore Dame Prep School and Drexel University who now serves as a Senior Production Director
for the Tommy Hilfigger Company in New York. Maggins, as a teenager, excelled in competitive Irish Step
Dancing, winning the National Championship in 1984 in Toronto, Canada and traveling to Ireland three times
to compete in the World Championships where she reached the finals.
Tita is in close touch with her siblings. Yvonne P. Wenzel, a sister in Texas, was a star dancer in the original
Filipinesca Dance Company. A brother, Roland, a movie actor in Australia, assuming the screen name,
“Roland Dantes,” is a former ‘Mr. Philippines,’ a fourth runner-up in the ‘Mr. Universe’ competition with Arnold
Schwarzenegger, and is also a martial arts guru. Another brother, Johnny is an airline pilot. This is an all-star
family, so that it is no wonder that the Filipino and Irish communities of Greater Baltimore, MD proudly
trumpets, with a symphony of cherubims and seraphims, Carmencita “Tita” Pintoy-Kenney as an Outstanding
Filipino-American for 2001. Music truly has its charm, and Tita is the epitome of music.#
Washington D.C. Since 1987
Washington D.C. Since 1987
| Copyright© 2006 Filipino Image. All rights Reserved. Advertise | Contract | Subscribe | Publisher | Contact Us |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |