Voices in Praise of God and in Defense of His Creation

“Voices in Praise.” The Parish Choir from Malimono emerged as the Champion for the 4^th Diocesan Choral Festival held last August 6, 2012 at Provincial Capitol Area, Surigao City. 

 Not too long, the IFI faithful all over the country felt the pride as the revolutionary and Filipino-made church celebrated its 110^th year of existence. I also felt the same when I was able to view the 110^th Proclamation Anniversary Mass via live stream.

My feel of pride was heightened when I got the privilege to witness the live performances of the parish choirs in the Diocese of Surigao as they held the 4^th Diocesan Choral Festival. It was also timely as the Mindanao Committee on Liturgy and Music was to hold a meeting also in Surigao City and I was tasked to represent the Diocese of Davao.

Earlier that day, the Holy Eucharist in celebration of the Lord's Transfiguration was presided by the Diocesan Bishop of Surigao together with the bishops of Libertad and Oroquieta. Before the Eucharistic celebration, the blessing of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration’s new altar, pulpit, and stained glass walls took place.

"Glass Walls depicting Glory of Christ" The Cathedral of the Transfiguration's new altar and stained glass walls. In the morning of August 6, 2012 before the Eucharistic Celebration, the Bishop of Surigao presided over the blessing and the Holy Mass followed in celebration of the Lord's Transfiguration, one of the main activities for the Diocesan Thanksgiving Day and 110th IFI Proclamation Anniversary Diocesan Celebration. 

Meet, Greet and Discuss

As a volunteer worker for the Committee on Liturgy and Music in the Diocese of Davao, I was honored to represent in his behalf, our head, Fr. Ariston Raymundo at the Mindanao Committee on Liturgy and Music Meeting last August 6, 2012 held at Golden Mile Pension House, Surigao City.

“When Musical Minds Meet.” Rt. Rev. Rudy Juliada of Libertad Diocese presides over the meeting of the Mindanao Committee on Liturgy and Music held at Golden Mile Pension House, Surigao City. 

The committee was headed by the Rt. Rev. Rudy Juliada of the Diocese of Libertad. Members present were Rev. Fr. Michael Quidilla of Libertad Diocese, Rev. Deacon Jerson Nazareno of Pagadian Diocese, Rev. Fr. Elgen Escobal of Dinagat Diocese and Rev. Fr. Manuel Marasigan of Oroquieta Diocese.

As the appointed secretary for that meeting, I took note of the proceedings. Part of their discussions was how to popularize the songs which came from the previous Mindanao Music Festival held at Cagayan de Oro City in 2010.

In line with that notion, the members proposed on holding song workshops in the different dioceses and will be conducted by the Mindanao Committee on Liturgy and Music. Regarding this, the 11 Dioceses of Mindanao will be divided into four clusters thus, there will be four workshops to be done before the end of this year.

Watch, Judge and Decide

After the meeting, we hurriedly went to the Surigao Provincial Capitol Area as one of the highlights of the Thanksgiving Day of IFI-Surigao Diocese was to unfold at 6 in the evening. The reason for the rush: the committee members will also to sit as the jurors for the choir competition.

"Jurors on a Table" The board of Judges for the 4th Diocesan Choral Festival held last August 6, 2012 at the Provincial Capitol Area, Surigao City. Chair of the Board of Judges was Mindanao CLM Head, Bishop Juliada. 

Holding such kind of event is a remarkable move for the Diocese of Surigao led by its ever energetic diocesan bishop, Rt. Rev. Rhee Timbang. As stated during the program, before the very event last August 6, the deanery level eliminations were first conducted. The competition was not aimed at mainly to develop competition among parishes but on the other side, it encourages the establishment of a permanent choir in the parishes to serve the needs of liturgical celebrations.

The nine parish choirs were the “cream of the crop” as these groups have gone through the qualifying rounds. The original song compositions dwelt on the diocesan theme: “Called to Worship, Commissioned to Serve: "Pursue God's Peace! Uphold the Integrity of God's Creation!"(1 Peter 3:11/Genesis 1:31).

Here is a list of the Surigao Diocese parish choirs who made it to the final competition:

1.   Timamana Parish Choir

2.   Dapa Parish Choir

3.   Cathedral Parish Choir

4.   Rizal Parish Choir

5.   Alegria Parish Choir

6.   Malimono Parish Choir

7.   Placer Parish Choir

8.   Sison Parish Choir

9.   Socorro Parish Choir

"Voices from the Nearby Island" The Socorro Parish Choir, directed by fellow Sillimanian Mr. Florano, got the bronze (third place) as with the recently concluded 4th Diocesan Choral Festival of the Diocese of Surigao held last August 6, 2012 at the Provincial Capitol Area, Surigao City. 

The performances were worth the long hours of travel from Davao to Surigao City. The music coming from the nine choirs competing seemed to become a massage to my whole system as it helped take away the stress from the long travel.

"Harmonic Singers Dressed in Dominant Pink and Violet" The Parish Choir from Placer bagged the Silver (Second Place)  for the 4th Diocesan Choral Festival of the Diocese of Surigao held last August 6, 2012 at the Provincial Capitol Area, Surigao City. 

“All of you are winners,” said Rt. Rev. Rudy Juliada of Libertad Diocese, before announcing the results. The groups which emerged victorious were Malimono Parish Choir won the first place and parish choirs from Placer and Socorro grabbed the second and third place, respectively.

"Belting out to the Gold" The Parish Choir of Malimono grabbed the gold for the 4th Diocesan Choral Festival of the Diocese of Surigao held last August 6, 2012 at the Provincial Capitol Area, Surigao City. 

The choral competition was a showcase of grandeur attained by the Diocese of Surigao. The voices in harmony conveyed the variety of people who worked in the local churches and may seem  to be different from each other but are united in Christ and in service to men. 

Food, Accommodation and Hospitality at its Best

My stay in Surigao City was made more enjoying and comfortable due to the warm accommodation given by the bishop of Surigao himself, and the pension house owner and attendants of Golden Mile.

Sumptuous foods were served with a smile and a high dose of hospitality by the host. The mouth-watering taste of seafood dishes like squids made into “kinilaw and adobo”, fresh fish cooked into the favorite “tinola and prito” in the table were never a miss in every meal we have had.

"Bon Appetit" The guests never hesitated to give in a smile after a sumptuous meal. 

The welcoming arms of the IFI-Diocese of Surigao would make its visitors to come back to its abodes once in a while.

The Glory of IFI Displayed in Surigao Diocese

For years, I have heard of Surigao Diocese and how it has put into great motion its ministry to God and His people, aside from being a model diocese for the church’s centralization program.

But being an eyewitness for two days gave me a nostalgic feel that the whole of IFI could have attained its grandeur as a church if only we have set aside our self-kept personal motives then, follow the sacrificial path for the church to become stable in finances and in the ministry to His people.

I was proud as an IFI to see and witness for myself that our church is being respected in the place. I was also touched by the firm stand of the diocese against large scale mining which was evident not only in their large posters outside the churches but also noticeable in their advocacy and programs in the local churches.

"The Living Heritage thru Banners and Flags" The Frontage of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration, the Seat of the Diocesan Bishop of Surigao Diocese is being seen with a large poster with a very poignant advocacy of protecting the environment and upholding eco-justice. 

Ecumenism was also evident as they grow good relationships with ministers and faithful of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines in the different locales. This church whom we signed a Covenant of Partnership also shares almost all of our advocacies as with the pro-people movements.

Even the recently conducted 4^th Diocesan Choral Festival is one of the indicators that the IFI in Surigao has grown so much more than the dioceses in the whole of the archipelago. The diocese now produces its own songs and music for the liturgical celebrations and pursues uniformity in songs and hymns usage in its parishes and missions.

To note the expansion of the church, the Diocese of Surigao gave birth to the Diocese of Dinagat and soon, the Diocese of Siargao. This is a proof of the growing that this diocese has caused to the whole of IFI. 

Indeed, the glory of IFI can be best seen in a diocese located almost at the tip of the Philippines, and that is  in Surigao.  Kudos to the great leadership of Rt. Rev. Rhee Timbang for the remarkable achievements and for letting me see the IFI’s glory right before my very eyes.

"A Temple at the Top" The Cathedral of the Transfiguration, Seat of the Diocesan Bishop of Surigao Diocese located at Km.2 National Road, Surigao City. 

(This is a Feature Article on the 4th Diocesan Choral Festival of the IFI – Diocese of Surigao. This is a personal blog entry and the opinions expressed on this blog is not of the IFI-Diocese of Surigao or any of the dioceses I may have belonged to. The reason why I published this is in my personal blog is for  me to convey that this is of my own opinion and thus, free from any external dictates.- Klein Emperado)