MANILA, Philippines - The Bukas Palad Music Ministry is a community of young people who compose, record, and perform original Filipino religious music. Since 1986, Bukas Palad has recorded 14 albums and has performed in hundreds of concerts across the Philippines, Japan, Hong Kong, and the US. In its 23 years, Bukas Palad has grown to become an important force in Filipino music. Bukas Palad songs may be heard wherever Filipinos gather in praise and prayer. Many of the most popular praise songs were first sung and recorded by Bukas Palad. Hindi Kita Malilimutan, Tanging Yaman, Sa ‘Yo Lamang, Anima Christi, and I Will Sing Forever are but a few of the songs Bukas Palad has spread.
Bukas Palad has produced over a hundred original liturgical and inspirational songs composed by Fr. Manoling Francisco, S.J., Norman Agatep, Jandi Arboleda, and other Bukas Palad members.
This year, in preparation for its 25th anniversary in 2011, Bukas Palad is proud to offer its 14th album, To Love & Serve: Bukas Palad Chants. The album continues Bukas Palad’s aim of creating new religious music to give a voice to the most fervent prayers of Filipinos in the Philippines and throughout the world.
Inspired by the powerful tradition of chants used as prayer, To Love & Serve contains 10 new songs that exemplify the character of chants: Depth in simplicity, newness in repetition, communion in presence and contemplation. The chants represent different themes, genres, and styles, from traditional, gospel to folk rock. However, they all invite listeners to engage in prayer and worship through sung verses, which are continually repeated, and with words and melodies that can be easily learned and followed.
Rediscover this tradition of prayer as you listen to Bukas Palad’s To Love & Serve.
The album is a production of the Bukas Palad Music Ministry and the Jesuit Music Ministry of Jesuit Communications Foundation, and is distributed by Universal Records. To Love & Serve is now available in CD at record outlets and Tanging Yaman stores. For details, log on to www.bukaspalad.com or e-mail at info@bukaspalad.com.