Bukas Palad Ministry inspires others through music

MANILA, Philippines -  A Sunday Mass will not be complete without best-loved hymns like Panalangin sa Pagbukas Palad, Tanging Yaman and I Will Sing Forever composed and recorded by the Bukas Palad Music Ministry. The popular hymns are sung in liturgical services of Filipino communities all over the world. Like a salve that soothes longing hearts, the prayerful lyrics continue to bring hope even to our hardworking countrymen who are yearning for home.

From the start, the Bukas Palad Ministry has forged its commitment to compose, perform and record original Pilipino religious songs. The group officially started in 1986, but its founding members, Norman Agatep, Jandi Arboleda and Manoling Francisco SJ, were composing songs of worship even during their high school days.

The group was initially known as the Ateneo Student Catholic Action (ATSCA) and Ateneo Christian Life Community (ACLC) choir or ATSCA-ACLC choir. “It was not uncommon for anyone to catch us singing together between classes. We would take over the entire Colayco lobby and conduct practices there,” relates Norman Agatep, managing director and chief creative officer of Havas Worldwide Manila.

During the Christmas season while everyone was practicing traditional yuletide carols, the ATSCA-ACLC choir was busy learning Christmas songs, composed by its members. Apart from the vocalists and instrumentalists, the group has passionate song writers and musical arrangers, who actively developed new materials for the group. “We wrote our own music, and we studied new arrangements of old Mass songs composed when we were in high school,” he said.

Because its beautiful music constantly filled the campus halls, the choir was often invited to sing in university Masses and other school activities. The ATSCA-ACLC choir would perform at the Ateneo art gallery, college cafeteria and other campus venues.

Its name was changed to Bukas Palad on its first official singing engagement. An alumna invited the group sing at her sister’s wedding, however, only nine members can be accommodated. Founders Norman and Jandi were tasked to assemble a choir. By then the other founder, Manoling Francisco has joined the Sacred Heart Novitiate in Novaliches. However, he was constantly updated with the developments in the choir.

Incidentally, Manoling Francisco is the composer of Hindi Kita Malilimutan. He wrote the song when he was still a freshman high school student. The song was popularized by Basil Valdez. To date, the composer has written more than a hundred songs which include Tanging Yaman, Sa ’yo Lamang and many others.

The wedding was the choir’s first public appearance outside the Ateneo de Manila campus. And like all performances, the founders made sure that they had an all-original repertoire. The commitment to develop its own brand of prayerful music unconsciously built the foundation for a meaningful music ministry.

From the start, it was clear that its music is bound by faith. While the message would never fail to touch the hearts of ordinary listeners, its songs were meant to serve Catholic liturgical celebrations.

In time, even churchgoers outside the Ateneo de Manila campus became aware of Bukas Palad’s music. Its growing popularity caught the attention of Fr. Joel Tabora, the priest of Sambayanan ng Kristong Hari in Commonwealth Avenue. He was looking for a fundraising activity so he can raise funds to renovate their church.

“Fr. Tabora used to be the moderator of ACLC (Ateneo Christian Life Community). He was fan of Manoling and Jandi’s music, he broached the idea of recording the songs on audio cassette and marketing them.”

Norman and Jandi agreed, although they needed to consult Manoling. The latter responded positively and even sent some arrangements from the novitiate. The two worked on the music and come recording time, Manoling was given permission to leave the novitiate for a day, so he could record the instrumental portions. The album was released in 1986 aptly called Bukas Palad.

Since then Bukas Palad has recorded numerous albums under the Jesuit Music Ministry of the Ateneo de Manila University. Aside from singing in Masses, the choir holds concerts both here and abroad. It has performed in Japan, Hong Kong and the US and finished a successful Sing Forever US-Canada Tour in 2011 going to L.A., San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, Chicago, New York and Washington.

Bukas Palad songs were also recorded by top OPM artists like Regine Velasquez, Lea Salonga, Joey Albert, Basil Valdez, Gary Valenciano, Jamie Rivera, Cooky Chua and Noel Cabangon. The compositions have also been used as theme songs and titles of movies and telenovelas.

This year, Bukas Palad will launch its 17th album titled Light From Light. It includes the new English translation of the Roman Missal. Regular churchgoers must have noticed the various changes in Mass responses, including the new version of the Apostles’ Creed. The songs in the Light From Light are based on the new developments.

“Last year when during our production meeting for the new album, Fr. Manoling has informed us on the different changes in the liturgical Mass. We based our compositions from there. In the album, the songs are even arranged according to the order of the Holy Mass.”

Among the cuts in the album are Great is Our God, Lord of Salvation, Lord Have Mercy, Glory to God and Alleluia. It also includes Holy, When We Eat This Bread, Doxology of the Eucharistic Prayer, Our Father, Lamb of God and many others.

Apart from the prayers for the Holy Mass, Fr. Manoling also suggested a composition in honor of Pedro Calungsod, the second Filipino saint who will be canonized this month. The task of putting the music together was given to Norman while Lui Morano was assigned to do the lyrics.

Pedro Calungsod was a young catechist from Cebu who accompanied Jesuit priest Diego Luis de San Vitores on a mission to Guam in 1672. Their lives were threatened because among the non-believers was the village chief. But the two continued to spread God’s Word amid hostile territory. In time the chief ordered their persecution.

The composers were given research materials on the life of Pedro Calungsod. The task was not that easy according to Lui. “We had to study the exceptional qualities that made him a saint, and then recreate all that in the lyrics,” he said.

As for the music, Norman scoured his library of unused materials. But nothing beats the sudden surge of inspiration that guided him through the song’s completion. For Lui, what struck him most was the devotion of the young catechist. “He was just a student but he was a dedicated catechist and a missionary.”

The result is a meaningful song that spoke of the saint’s admirable qualities.

With Love and Faith

Song for Saint Pedro Calungsod

Words by Lui Morano

Music and arrangement by Norman Agatep

To be the Lord’s companion and his friend

You vowed to turn away from sin

And with your passion and your piety

You showed us how to hope and trust in him

To spread the Lord’s salvation and his truth

You traveled far to preach your dream

And with your mighty selfless heart and soul

You showed us how to live and die for Him

Refrain

With your love and faith you conquered doubt and hate

Lead us to God’s Word and bring light to the world

Guide us all as we prepare our hearts and be your company

In mission to create God’s kingdom here on earth

To prove the Lord’s compassion and his strength

You shed your blood to save a kin

And with your loyalty and sacrifice

You showed us how to laud and honor him

Other local composers are set to release songs in honor of the Filipino saint but according to Norman Love and Faith is the only material written for a congregation. “As with all other songs by Bukas Palad, dapat pwede sa choir yung iba kasi pang solo. With Love and Faith is simple, sing-able, and easy to remember.”

Aside from the album, Bukas Palad will also release the Light From Light songbook which contain the basic arrangements of all the cuts in the album. The pieces are meant to help other choirs learn their songs. If other performers gauge their success according to number of albums sold, Bukas Palad Music Ministry draws fulfillment from listening to other choirs interpret their songs.

Now on its 26th year, Bukas Palad Music Ministry continues to inspire others with music. And while its schedules are packed with rehearsals, performances and production work, the members also find time to conduct free liturgical music workshops for parish communities and choral groups. Aside from teaching them new songs, this is also the choir’s way of encouraging others to follow its path and find joy in writing songs of faith.