In these trying times, everyone is struggling, especially our fellow inmates in the New Bilibid Prison. In order to aid their mental support and spiritual sustenance, Puhon Initiative in collaboration with Philippine Jesuit Prison Service Foundation, Inc. (PJPS) brings you Pananagutan: An Online Lenten Benefit Concert this March 27, 2021, Saturday, 8:00 PM via FB Live to raise funds in restoration of the Our Lady of Fatima Chapel in the Minimum Security Camp.
Puhon Initiative was formed in March 2020 as a small online Mass group with Fr. Roseller Atilano, SJ and his fellow Holy Land pilgrims who were undergoing their 14-day quarantine. The group continues to spread the word of God during the pandemic through daily online Masses, weekly catechism sessions, and charity programs.
Pananagutan, a Filipino term meaning “something you must take responsibility for” took inspiration from one of the inspirational mass songs. This Lenten season, we are encouraged to help our fellow citizens in the best way we are able. The concert features outstanding artists and group performers from all over the country with a special participation of the Jesuit Music Ministry. The proceeds will be donated to PJPS to aid in the restoration and renovation of the Our Lady of Fatima Chapel in the New Bilibid Prison. Through this endeavor, we aspire for a community that cultivates the spirit of giving and hope in each and every one.
“Sa ating pagmamahalan at panglilingkod, sa kanino man, tayo ay magdadala ng balita na kaligtasan.”
You can WATCH the concert LIVE for free via our Facebook page on March 27, 8:00pm: https://pjps.to/PananagutanLentenConcertLive
Know the artists below:
UP Med Choir - The University of the Philippines Medicine Choir, commonly known as the UP MedChoir, is the official choir of the UP College of Medicine. With members from all over the Philippines, the group aims to spread their vision of healing through music.
The choir has since grown to be one of the most active medical choirs in Asia and has toured the U.S., Europe, and China to great acclaim, garnering awards in local and international competitions. The UP MedChoir's repertoire includes an eclectic mix of classic and contemporary styles, blending distinct flavors of music from around the world in an effort to free the mind, quench the heart, and heal the soul.
Roy Lotfel “DJ Rick” Racaza – Roy, also known as DJ Rick, hails from Consolacion, Cebu and is a News Anchor for Sibya TV and a former Radio DJ of MOR 97.1 Lupig Sila (MOR, ABS-CBN Cebu). Aside from doing numerous events and wedding gigs around Cebu, he is a multi-award winning singer and interpreter. He is a Bronze Medalist at the CESAFI Singing Contest, Star of the Night of Sinulog Idol Season 7, 1st runner up at the 9th Huniño Songwriting Festival, Grand Champion and Best Interpreter at the 11th Huniño Songwriting Festival, Grand Champion and Best Interpreter at the 30th Original Marian Song Festival, and Grand Champion and Best interpreter at the 2nd DST-Nationwide AwiTeofilo.
Elim Music Ministry - Elim Youth is the youth arm of Elim Communities - a global family of Catholic Charismatic Communities serving in faith, hope & love. They are a youth ministry for high school and college students. Their goal is to become beacons and ministers of unquenchable hope in today's world. They are an accredited member of the Federation of National Youth Organization. The band's credentials and band involvement include Elim Youth Gatherings, Elim Gatherings, School events (Praise Fests), Elim Youth Camps, Worship Concerts (IEC, AYC, EYC, Amplified, Rock, Impact, Generations), National Catholic Events (IEC), International Excellence Conference, Archdiocesan Youth Congress/Camps, and other Charismatic events and workshops.
Natalie Roa – Natalie Roa is from Malaysia and is currently studying medicine in Poland. She is a classically trained pianist and was awarded Distinction for her graded examinations by the London College of Music. She has been playing the piano and organ for church ever since she was 10, and she still serves in Mass in Poland.
USC Choristers - The USC Choristers is an organized singing group of students coming from the different colleges of the University of San Carlos. It aims to promote cultural awareness among the students through opportunities where the musical talent can flourish, and inculcate the appreciation of fine arts, especially the love for music, in their minds and hearts. The USC Choristers is the official chorale of the university, established in the year 1965.
For 56 years, the USC Choristers has reached numerous milestones and a variety of achievements that characterize the spirit and passion for music and the arts. A few of the most memorable achievements include the choir placing 3rd place in the 2004 CESAFI Choral Competition; winning the 1st prize on December 23, 2005, in the Christmas Choral Competition held in JY Discovery Mall; on December 12, 2009, they won the 1st place in the German Christmas Carol Competition sponsored by the German Embassy and the Goethe Institute in Manila; On February 24, 2014, the USC Choristers also passed the first-ever Choral Music Examination and Accreditation in the Philippines conducted by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), attaining the highest possible score. This was the first-ever choral accreditation held in Asia where other choirs all over the world also participated. The group’s milestones grew even more in the year 2015 when the group flew to China on November 7 to participate in the International Choral Festival with the title “Sing ‘n’ Joy” held in Shunde, China where they sang songs that reflected the Filipino spirit and that of camaraderie.
With these major accomplishments, the USC Choristers also ventured on to performing in numerous malls in Cebu, including the annual series of Christmas concerts in SM City Cebu, SM Seaside, Ayala Center Cebu, and the newest one, Ayala Malls Central Bloc. Aside from that, they also perform in a variety of events including valentine concerts, weddings, guesting in various programs and the like.
April Amisola - April is a 27-year old freelance wedding singer, Eucharistic Youth Movement (EYM) Philippines Animator, and Rogate Youth Minister in the Rogationist Seminary Manila. She currently resides in Baguio City. She loves to travel for a cause and organize outreach programs!
Virtual Choir 6 (VC) Philippines - Virtual Choir 6(VC6) Philippines is an all Filipino online/virtual choral community that sprung from Eric Whitacre's Sing Gently Virtual Choir project. The initiative started when MADZ alumna Jacqui Jimenez and Koro Ilustrado member Gibs de los Santos were joking about forming a group of Pinoy choristers who successfully joined Sing Gently. Little did they know the joke suddenly became a reality when they got a lot of sign ups after the invite was sent out. Virtually established on May 23, 2020, Jacqui and Gibs are currently leading a group of 200+ singers who respectively and originally belongs from the least to the most known choirs around with a wide age range. They are situated in various parts of the world with a common ground of wanting to make music together regardless of choral affiliations and backgrounds. The group has a unique set up of not having a conductor but their music is being guided by Tomy Virtucio and Jacqui Jimenez who are former members of the MADZ. VC6 Philippines desires to give inspiration to the community and give glory to God as they sing as one.
Emman Casquejo - Emman is a local artist from Cebu and does song covers during his free time. He sang Tenor as a member of USC Choristers 2015-2018 and a part of the choir's delegation to Shunde, China at the Interkultur Sing N Joy 2015 International Choir Festival. He also served as the choir's president from 2017-2018. He played the role of "Jesus" in Jesus Christ Superstar - CIC last Dec 2019 and Mar 2020. He is a finalist in the 41st Cebu Popular Music Festivals. He is a member of Servant Communities - New Creation, Lourdes Chapter.
Niña Arny Mabugat – Niña is a singer-songwriter, theatre actress, and recording artist from Viva Records. She has been performing in various events and musicals in the Philippines. She played Elsa in USC's Facets of Love, Mei Li in Flower Drum Song, and Princess Yasodhara in Siddhartha the Musical. In Calgary, Canada, she has continued her passion for singing by fronting concerts for some of our favorite Filipino celebrities and performing in events like debuts, weddings, and other holiday celebrations.
Fatima Soria - Fatima Soria is currently a student of the University of San Carlos in the School Of Business & Education, taking the course Entrepreneurship. As a theater and film actress, she is proud to be a part of Disney's Mulan Jr., Miss Saigon Cebu, Siddhartha The Musical, Propesiya, and other short films. Not only is Fatima a theater enthusiast, but she is also a Spotify artist by the name FTMA with her first song "Girlfriend's Anthem," together with other local artists. Above all that, she is an advocate for promoting homegrown talent in Cebu & creating projects for a better world through her various fundraising projects (Para Jeepney, DUWA & Decluttering With Cupid).
Zamboanga Hermosa Chorale - The Zamboanga Hermosa Chorale was founded in 2001 by Ms. Virginia Angelita Constantinopla, simply for the love of choral music. The choir was twice awarded as the Top Local Achiever for Culture and the Arts category by the City Government of Zamboanga in 2007 and 2016 for remarkably demonstrating love for the promotion of the city's rich cultural heritage, the Chabacano language and it's music. This encouraged the group to try something new and join local and international choral competitions. The group bagged the championship during the Manila Broadcasting Company or MBC Regional Chorale Competition in 2012. Prior to that, in 2011, the choir went international by joining the First Vietnam International Choral Competition and Festival held in Hoi An, Vietnam and won a Golden Diploma qualifying them to join the 7th World Choir Games in July 2012 which was held in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. The choir was awarded Two (2) Silver Diplomas and a Bronze Diploma.
Presently, The Zamboanga Hermosa Chorale, bound with graces of God's gift, is not only exemplifying their talents but also creating a harmonious relationship with people through outreach activities and church services with the Sto. Niño Foundation- Formation Center.
Margrethe Ellaine C. Matin-ao – Margrethe Ellaine C. Matin-ao is a 21-year old amateur singer-songwriter. She grew up and progressed as a performer in Cebu City. She is currently a member of the University of San Carlos Choristers, Christian Voices Choir of the Redemptorist Church, and Creative Thespians Club, Inc. In the local theater scene, she has also performed in a few productions and concerts, with experience in directing mini productions as well. As a singer-songwriter, she placed 1st place in the 2020 WitnesSing to the Word Songwriting Contest. She has also interpreted a few compositions from well-known composers in Cebu for contests like Huniño, Original Marian Song Festival, and the most recent one, the 41st Cebu Popular Music Festival.
Wonggoys – A band of brothers who exude mirth and lyrical storytelling with their feel-good tunes bordering on folk rock, jazz, and rhythm & blues.
The band of brothers –Gabe, Bill, and Kyle Wong fondly call themselves the Wonggoys: a playful take on their surname and how their mother used to call them when they were little (“unggoys”, read as “my three little monkeys” in English). Together they exude mirth and lyrical storytelling with their feel-good tunes of folk rock, jazz, and rhythm & blues.
Music seems to just come naturally for these three. What started as just singing cover songs in harmony at home led to a trip to the recording studio with a full-length album under their belt after just four months of writing and recording. The trio debuted their first album, "I’m Not Sure What To Say But I’ll Say It Anyway" in 2010, which combines Kyle and Billy’s pop-driven melodies with Gabe’s thoughtful lyrics. And contrary to the album name, their songs speak straight to the heart. The brothers’ soulful, guitar-driven music is evocative of their musical influences such as John Mayer and Jason Mraz. They released a reissue of their debut album in 2013, with two previously unreleased tracks, Life To Live and Who Do You Think You’re Kidding, and have played gigs in New York City and Baltimore, MD. Their sophomore album, "High Hello" was released in 2017.
Maestro Dennis Gregory Sugarol - Born with a passion for music, Dennis Gregory Sugarol is a tenor, conductor, music director and composer. He finished his Bachelor's degree in Music in Cebu City in 1997 and further studies in Choral Pedagogy and Conductor at the Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music in the Philippines in 2003. He is a recipient of provincial and national awards for his excellence in Music and Arts.
His choral groups: The Mandaue Children’s Choir, Tabor Hill College Choir, St Benedict Children’s Choir, Children’s Paradise Montessori Choir and Cebu Chamber Singers won Grand Prix and Gold Awards in International
Competitions.
Jesuit Music Ministry – The Jesuit Music Ministry (JMM), an official ministry in the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus, traces its roots to the pioneering work of Fr. Eduardo Hontiveros SJ, who began composing Filipino liturgical songs in response to the mandate of Vatican II in the ‘60s. Vatican II’s Sacrosanctum Concilium urged the entire assembly to actively participate in the liturgy that includes singing. From the first song Fr. Honti composed for a group of young boys and girls in Barangka, Marikina to the songs composed by present generation Jesuits and lay partners, JMM songs have been sung in churches not only in the Philippines but in the world.
