Music of the Philipine RC church
...is based on the outer design of the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome where the Somascan missionaries were based. The church has three main passages. The west entrance is where the underground chapel4 and crypt are located. The east entrance is where the parish office are situated, while the north entrance faces the Alabang-Zapote road. The altar (see fig. 1) is located right at the center of the converging entrances, decorated by an assortment of stained glass depicting the lives of Jesus Christ and St. Jerome Emiliani, and many life-size images of Jesus Christ, Mary, St. Jerome, and Sta. Susana. The north entrance is the longest while both east and west entrances have equal distances from the altar. All of these sections contain two columns of pews while the east and west wings contain only one. The altar serves as the reference point for all the locations of the lectors, commentators, servers lay people, and the choir. The lector stand is located at the left side of the altar while the commentator stand is on the right. Both stands are situated at the edges of the elevated altar for audibility purposes. The choir is located at the left side of the altar, facing towards the altar, occupying the first two rows of the outer column of the east side. The organ is facing the choir, perpendicular to the arrangement of the pews, with an overhead projector right between the altar area and the organ. The two microphones are located in front of the choir and is connected to the main sound system of the church. BACKGROUND OF THE CHOIR The Eleven o’clock choir5 started out as the Fernando family’s way of serving voluntarily back in 1988. This family attended one Sunday mass at St. Jerome Emiliani and Sta. Susana Parish only to find that there were no musicians to provide music to the liturgy and to lead the congregation in singing. It was later that day that the family decided to put up a choir just for the eleven o’clock mass. The parents, Luis and Rita, encouraged their three children to organize the choir as a way of serving the church and the community, since all three children studied piano and organ, and are capable of playing church songs. Led by the eldest son, Anthony, they organized what has become the Eleven o’clock choir, which provides music to the Liturgy of the eleven o’clock mass.6 The members of the choir were from families who served the church dury the Holy Mass on Sunday. These were the Fernandos, the Davids, and the Ramirezes. The members comprise the parents and their children who eventually became the core group of the choir. From this group, they invited friends and fellow parishioners to join them for a worthy cause, thus expanding their group and creating a new church organization. These new members of the choir include brothers and/or sisters of the core members, friends, schoolmates, officemates, or those who need to participate in church activities as part of their school requirement.7 With the growing number of members and supporters, Mr, and Mrs. Fernando decided to let their children take over the group. At this point, the choir, led by the Fernando children, sought to organize a three-fold mission: To cater to the spiritual formation of its members; To serve as a music ministry for Sunday mass at St. Jerome Emiliani Parish; To foster a spirit of love and friendship among the members.8 Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Fernando continued giving support to the Eleven o’clock choir. As a participant-observer, I have witnessed the many activities which supported its three-fold mission. All choir members indulge themselves in several activities such as music rehearsals, spiritual formations, fund-raising, fellowship, and outreach projects. Music rehearsals are held weekly during Fridays at around nine in the evening and fifteen minutes before the start of the Holy mass. The choir usually discuses the Mass and decides which songs to sing. They also study new pieces during rehearsals. The choir also discusses other activities, as well as other concerns, both personal and community-related. Spiritual formation activities cater to the spiritual growth of each member. Activities, such as bible-study and values-formation are usually held once a year, while some members are active catechists in the community. Fund raising activities aim to provide the group with financial support. Activities, such as rummage sales, garage sales, Christmas caroling, and other singing engagements also provide the group with healthy fellowship sessions. Fellowship activities aim to support the third mission of the choir. Examples of which are birthday and Christmas parties, beach outings, and wedding send-offs. Outreach activities cater to the responsibility of each member in the community as part of their service to God and to the church. Most of the funds of this group...