Pagpalawod

“Magpalawod kitang Iyang mga tinun-an

Salig sa patulun-an nga gitudlo sa Amahan

Dili mahadlok sa mga kalisdanan

Kay ang Diyos  kanunay nakig-uban. . . “

-Elsa Apus-

St. Paul Parish, Malitbog, Bukidnon

            The words were culled from the title of this article and an apt description of how the Diocese of Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon and Camiguin Iglesia Filipina Independiente (MOBUCA) celebrated lately their Diocesan and Silver Anniversary Celebration  and Music Festival or twenty five long  years at Cathedral of Jesus the Nazarene, Cagayan de Oro City surviving through thick and thin spreading God’s word unhindered as enunciated by Jesus’ injunction: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost!” (Mt. 28:19)

            This writer was deeply honored of the celebration having arranged the Pagpalawod composition of Elsa Apus through the request of Fr. Allan Apus, IFI parish priest of  Malitbog, Bukidnon into Soprano Alto Tenor and Base of SATB four voices arrangement. Arrangement is actually quiet tough job compare to composition specially if you have no formal Music lesson on the craft. All you need is timeless lyrics and appropriate music and bingo you already a composition. The problem is how to make them better appreciated transforming it into a plausible music piece.  That requires   professional arranger to handle the job. But why not, music after all has been there for the past many years and you’re doing the arrangement for the Lord.  Not really that impossible having done similar works and in fact producing my Himig Mindanao CD now in market composed of 13 original compositions satisfaction guaranteed and one hour and three minutes musical journey.

Training the choir for Cluster I  of Agusan, Malitbog and Libona finally capped my contribution. Though I have my three tooth extracted and suffered excruciating pain morning and evening thereafter ensuing from infection, the joy and psychological satisfaction derived out from the final presentation simply far outweigh it. I’m just looking forward of the inclusion of the song for my second CD project this time composed of praising songs.  Given motivation, support and participation, nothing today is afterall impossible with Digital Technology which replaces the live band recording because of the system which is user-friendly and could be edited and enhanced.  You have actually more than 100 instruments at your disposal from string, piano, percussions to indigenous instruments.  All you need is your expertise to write your music into notes. It’s what all the system needs because unless you do it, noteworthy composer for instance  could not read and play it.  The magic is when you have encoded all your music into the system as many tracks you’d like depending on your creative juice and separate the singing of vocals in a commercial music studio.  And there you have it, the result is  magic.

Thankfully too my unsolicited participation was short of traveling down the memory lane most specially returning back to the Church which actually honed my voice and music talent  back then in the past before my conversion to Catholicism in 1980. I maybe Roman Catholic by religious affiliation since then having found religious peace within but claiming that  I’m not  an IFI by heart is mere platitude.  But what’s the difference from that   changed of  my religious gear according to my good friend and colleague in media Joe Felicilda. Negligible. The most important think is becoming better practicing Christian wherever you are and what institution you belong. Living gospel if you wish becoming salt, bread and light to the world. The heavier the cross the better you become  Christ’ like. Seasons come and go but the essential remains. What is important is invisible to the eye, the Prince clarified.

Secondly, the celebration open my appreciation to the initiative of  Bp. Bert Calang for his inspiration of coming up with original Filipino religious  songs.  As we all know music as the patrimony of the nation is the rallying battle cry of  an institution.  It is its soul in fact expressing its deepest appreciation for His great mercy, graces and blessings for having survived this far as cohesive Christian Congregation.  As the fruit of 1898 Revolution, IFI has never lost its steam in its avowed mission saving the soul of  its parishioners. Surviving this far needs music to keep the church spiritually cohesive.  That’s how important music is to the Church.  The fifteen relevant original religious compositions are indeed another breakthrough for the Church and it is hoped that it would go long, long way. Cheers to you Alden Yanez for keeping he faith alive.  Indeed, the most fitting tribute for an IFI Silver Anniversary.  May the fruits of  national and patriotic struggle by our heroes the likes of Rizal, Bonifacio, Aglipay, Isabelo de los Reyes and the rest would continue surging on. This column  Pagpahalipay therefore sa inyong 25 anyos nga Pagpalawod! As the fitting concluding  message of the song says it: “Gitawag kitang tanan Piniling katawhan aron ipadayon ang  kaluwasan.”