PILI, Camarines Sur, Jan. 05 (PIA) – The Worldwide Online Christmas Concert for a Cause organized by St. Raphael the Archangel Parish of Pili, under the stewardship of its parish priest, Reverend Fr. Wilmer Joseph S. Tria, proved to be an overwhelming success after magnanimous donors unselfishly poured out their support to the said activity.
Dubbed as “Pasko sa Kabikolan,” the online concert for a cause filmed in the span of two months lasted for 90 minutes. Featured in the said concert were Bicolano vocalists, dancers and musicians performing Christmas songs, also produced by fellow Bikolanos including Ferdinand Dimadura and the parish's very own, Fr. Tria.
Original compositions and a few traditional carols were part of the renditions.
“As a priest for almost 30 years, I have seen my share of God’s miracles and this Christmas concert is one of those miracles. In this pandemic, while many preferred to stay indoors and wait for this terrifying storm, our parish community went out to face the storm. We wrote our music, we recorded them, we filmed music videos and gathered a small symphony orchestra.”
The very altar where the holy mass is celebrated, became the very altar where the viewers witnessed the performance of a glorious music, many of them were never heard before.
Tria said that the altar where he transformed the bread into the body of Christ is the very altar where they produced the music that hopefully transformed the sorrow experienced by those affected by the pandemic and calamities into joy.
The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the greatest challenges that hit the team. Tria made sure that he and his team strictly adhered to the basic health protocols during the practice as he very well knew that with just one infected production crew, the entire preparation will go to waste.
“Amazingly, miraculously, not a single one of us from the directors to the lowest crew; from the orchestrators to the musicians, from singers to dancers, not a single one of us got the virus,” the parish priest said.
No less than Most Rev. Rolando Octavus J. Tria-Tirona, OCD, DD, Archbishop of Caceres attended and sent his congratulatory remarks for such a well-prepared presentation.
"In the midst of pain, fear and difficulties, we never fail to appreciate the value of music. Music is the very soul of the Filipino spirit. This is one of the most beautiful expressions of creativity," said Archbishop Tirona D.D. in his welcoming message before the concert was initially streamed on You Tube last Dec. 24 and 25.
Due to the overpowering demand from the public, Pasko sa Kabikolan had its rerun from Dec. 31 and Jan. 2, 2021 and was streamed at the parish at Brgy. San Antonio, in Pili on Dec. 28.
“The support to Pasko sa Kabikolan was overwhelming. In spite of the pandemic, our sponsors and donors were generous. The Bikolanos working abroad were also surprised how we were able to make such a production. To God Almighty, to the Holy Family, and to all our supporters, gratitude and blessings,” Tria happily said.
All of the proceeds will go to those affected by the consequent three strong typhoons that ravaged the province, especially to provide shelter assistance and livelihood rehabilitation of those devastated by the said calamities.
Tria’s vision of a grand chorale performing music with the goal in mind to bring joy, hope and faith this Christmas while at the same time doing their share in helping rebuild the lives of the typhoon victims in the country turned into reality.
“I believe we were covered by God’s protection, by His mantle of love and blessings, that God created the world through divine music and every creature is a note and every time we creatures praise God, the entire universe sings in complete harmony,” Tria said in closing. (LSMacatangay, with reports from MMac-PIAV/Camarines Sur)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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