By Caesar Vallejos
Eagle News online correspondent
What is your wellspring of joy?
To the Iglesia Ni Cristo Sanctuary Choir (INC SC), which is commemorating its 21st Anniversary, comfort and consolation in life comes only from singing praises and thanksgiving to the Almighty.
“Tangi Naming Kaaliwan” (Sa Iyo’y Magpuri Magpakailanman) is a fitting anniversary theme as one of INC’s premier choral groups celebrates its foundation through a major concert dedicated to Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo as the choir’s birthday tribute to the INC Executive Minister. It will be held at the Tabernakulo, inside the INC Central Compound on October 25, 2015, 6 pm.
To celebrate its 21 years, the INC Sanctuary Choir will be performing 21 songs including ‘Tangi Naming Kaaliwan” (Sa Iyo’y Magpuri Magpakailanman), written by the INC Sanctuary Choir members of batch 2008 with music and choral arrangement by Bro. Rogel P. Flores. Its first recorded CD with the same title will be launched during the concert.
The lines, “Maraming salamat aming Ama, kaagapay sa pagsulong ng Iglesia, mapalad kami at laging nadarama, pag-ibig, kalinga ng Pamamahala,” are words thar are also written in our hearts,” said Irma Pingol, SC Choirmaster.
“We may have performed in the grandest of concert venues and the halls of notable offices in the country but nothing is more satisfying than to sing songs of praises to glorify God and to thank His Church Administration,” said Henry Pingol, the President of the 35-member music group.
Choral performances of Christian songs are one of the major art forms that the Church Administration employs to inspire and edify the brethren and instill time-honored values of love, hope and faith.
The INC Sanctuary Choir joined other INC choirs in an outreach program dubbed “Edification through Voice and Music” (EVM) in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya last September 20, 2015. This was done under the auspices of the Christian Family Organizations (CFO) Office in collaboration with the INC Music Department,
The EVM Outreach Concert aims to reach out to brethren in different districts, in edifying and strengthening their faiths through Christian music. It also encourages brethren to join the Church’s missionary and propagation efforts.
It elicited an overwhelming response from the brethren who witnessed the outreach concert. Edified by the gospel music, Romeo Dugay said, “Hindi namin malilimutan ang pagtatanghal ng grupo ninyo. Nagsilbi itong tulong at spiritual booster dito sa aming Distrito.”
The INC Sanctuary Choir’s first performance was done during the INC’s 80th Anniversary. Since then, it has continued the pursuit of choral excellence and has since remained to be an interpreter of original musical arrangements, compositions and Christian Music Videos created by the INC brethren. It appears regularly in religious programs of the Iglesia Ni Cristo on radio (INCRadio) and TV (INCTV) and is visible in most of the major celebrations and activities of the Church.
For 21 years, the Iglesia Ni Cristo Sanctuary Choir has worked with the prominent choirmasters and eventually evolved its vocal techniques, producing a sound that is unique and special in the delivering God’s message in music. But one thing remains unchanged — its aim to help strengthen the brethren’s faith. And for this, the Sanctuary Choir members remain grateful. As the lyrics of one of their songs go: “Tumibay ang pananampalataya, lumakas at tumatag ang pag-asa, salamat po Ama sa biyayang ito.”
