A Miss Caltex's Opus to the Almighty

CEBU, Philippines - Beauty queen-turned-spiritual instrumentalist Amy Gustilo-Lopez recently introduced her latest musical masterpiece called Thanksgiving in a launch at the Rockwell Chapel that pays tribute to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

A compilation of 11 tracks, two of the compositions namely Kahidlaw and Palangga Ta Ikaw exceptionally revisit her Bacolod childhood days, while Hearts Burning and Dancing with the Rhythm of the Spirit glorify her faith in God. The former 1969 Miss Caltex, a beauty title claimed as being more prestigious than today's competition crowns, has dedicated the album to her late Spiritual Adviser for 25 years, Fr. Thomas Green, S.J.

The launch was sponsored by her colleagues in Mary's Way Foundation, a spiritual organization that aims to trace Mary's footsteps by helping those in need.

She had shared a copy of the album with the Vatican through his cousin Fr. Francis Gustilo, S.B.D., a member of the Papal Theological Commission, who personally handed over her compositions to Pope Benedict XVI. Today, she cradles a reply from the Papacy's Secretary of State, expressing the Holy Father's gratitude and invocation of God's abundant blessings.

Two other masterworks, Offering and Remembering, preceded Thanksgiving.

Confident that music can heal both the body and the soul, she is presently engrossed in meticulously documenting testimonies of recovery of the disease-afflicted who have listened and reflected on the music. She plans to narrate their stories through a forthcoming book.

Thanksgiving and the other discs shall be available soon in Cebu. Meanwhile, the copies of her albums are available at the St. John Bosco Parish along Arnaiz Avenue corner Amorsolo Street, Makati City with telephone numbers (632) 894-5932 to 34 and at the Tanging Yaman Stores reachable through (632) 426-59-71 to 72 local 113 at the Jesuit Communications, Sonolux Building, Seminary Drive, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City.