LUMC Chancel Choir Cantata 2012

The Lagro UMC Chancel Choir

In celebration of the Nativity, our Chancel Choir had a cantata last December 23, 2012. This year's cantata was less formal compared to the previous years. The music genre was more on pop and jazz. In previous cantatas, we only had piano accompaniment but this time, we had the LUMC Praise Band to handle the music. 

However, our expert guitarist Manong Rey could not join us because of provincial assignment from work. Anyway, we proceeded even without a lead guitar. We only had a keyboard, bass guitar and drums but it was worthwhile although it could had been a lot better if Manong Rey was around.

On drums: RR Rivera, on keyboard: Arnel Oroceo, and on bass guitar: Oyi Negre

I had a little problem though because of what it seemed like neuropathic pain on my arms and hands particularly on my right hand. After several minutes of playing the piano, my right hand would become numb. It would feel so thick that I could hardly feel the piano keys anymore particularly with the upbeat and fast songs.

The Lagro UMC Chancel Choir

Anyways, I really enjoyed playing with the band to accompany the choir. It was a very wonderful experience.

Right after the cantata, we had our Christmas party. Everybody had a good time singing and playing together although we finished a little late. 

@ The Christmas Party

"Ang Bunga" the Musical Play

Ang Bunga Casts

This is the third musical play that I have written for Lagro UMC. In comparison with “Sa Sangandaan”, I have not used original music for this play but we have improved in lighting and stage design particularly the “Tree”.

Ghen, our stage director, has asked me to write the play last May but I have only started writing first week of June but I don’t know but it seems that I have suffered from a writer’s block. I just couldn’t get my thoughts together. Anyway, if I remember right, I have finished the entire script around first week of August and I have sent to Ghen a copy for printing.

The Director and the Playwright

Then, my computer’s motherboard has crashed that time. Whew! (That’s one reason I could not do any additional enhancement to the script) and then I have found out that the copy I have sent to Ghen has three pages missing. What? I know I have saved the script on my PC so I have sent a copy to Ghen already. It seems that I have not saved the file properly before the computer has crashed. I think, it’s already the last week of September that time. I’ve asked the director to double check the file but it has yielded the same result, incomplete pages. It means at least three pages are missing and those are the crucial scenes.

So, I’ve had to borrow a laptop from a friendly neighbor so I could re-write the last two scenes and send it again to Ghen right away in time for practice. Whew! That has been scary. It has taken me almost two days to re-write the last two scenes.

Practices have gone smoothly. Music is still with a live band accompaniment. However, I have only used pop music selections since dialogues and monologues do not need to be set into music.

The Playwright

I have found inspiration for the “Ang Bunga” script from Matthew 21:18-20, about the fig tree that the Lord has cursed for not bearing fruit. Indeed, the value of a fruit tree is in its bearing fruits. Same with a Christian, he needs to bear the fruit of the Spirit to keep a valuable testimony to other people. His enemy, Satan, does not want him to do so. He has released the seven deadly sins to hook the child of God and prevent him from becoming what God wants him to be. The play revolves around this concept. The cursed tree in the play represents a person who has died in his sin but by God’s grace, he would come back to life by the power of Christ in his life.

Scene with Mga Bunga ng Espiritu Characters (seated at the back from left, Neneng Jimenez, Noni Panganiban, Rose Reyes and Michelle Bamba)

Sina Inggit, Pagnanasa, Galit, Pag-iimbot at Katakawan (Lisette Inigo, Oni Cerdena, Abby Ojenar, Elijah Alivia and Yeye Jimenez

Sina Palalo at Katamaran

Mga Bunga ng Espiritu Characters (Kien Aby Ojenar, Angel Vinluan, EJ Bangloy, Karen Hernandez, Levi Alivia and Michelle Bamba)

The Band in practice

Main Characters: Rhodora at Hardinero (CJ Bangloy and Rev Rolly Abesamis)

The Make-Up Artist- Ms. Makki Alivia

Ang Puno- sa matiyagang paglikha ni Pastora Andrea Agovida

Ang Puno Characters

From left- Pastora Andrea Agovida, Deaconess Julie Ann Soriano and Ate Anabel Abesamis

Ang Bunga Casts and Crew

Choir Sunday 2012

The Lagro UMC Chancel Choir with N. Arnel de Pano

In celebration of this year's Choir Sunday, the Lagro United Methodist Church has invited to speak before the congregation N. Arnel de Pano, the famous Papuri Artist who has given us Filipino Gospel songs like "Dakilang Katapatan", "Itatawid sa Landas", "Bilib sa Sarili" among so many others. He has been in the music ministry for so many years now. Arnel de Pano is also known for his cantatas and choral arrangements. He is a choir director.

The Praise and Worship Team has included his composition "Dakilang Katapatan" in our line up as our solemn song. However, I was not able to attend the morning service because I have been down with a flu. I have missed a lot definitely.

Our New Pastor: Rev Glicerio Ferrer

Pastor Glee

We have a new Administrative Pastor in the person of Rev Glicerio "Glee" Ferrer. He has been an ordained UMC clergy since 1990. He has finished his Masters in Divinity at the Union Theological seminary. He hails from Pamplona, Cagayan Valley.

He has been a missionary to Saipan of the Northern Marianas Islands. He also has held missionary work in Marinduque, Philippines from August 2010 up to May 2011 .

He has served in Del Monte United Methodist Church and Deparo United Methodist Church among others.

Pastor Glee's first worship service here in Lagro UMC was yesterday June 3, 2012, Communion Sunday. I attended the Vesper Service together with my Mom and Mylene. It was not the first time we met. In fact, we met several times in the past during QCPACE workers' fellowships. He had even pulled a chair to assist me before.

I look forward to a fruitful ministry with Pastor Glee here in our church, the Lagro United Methodist Church.

Transfer of Assignment

Rev Pastor Orly Veron- taken during the despedida party

It is sad to hear that our Administrative Pastor, Rev Orlino Veron, for around six years has received a new assignment from the bishop. It means that we have to say goodbye to him as our admin pastor. He has been a great pastor for the church, inspiring and leading the church for many years. He has been like a father and brother to the members so I am sure that we will miss him and his family. 

May the Lord bless Him more especially in his new parish assignment, (which is actually not too far from our place) and may his ministry become even more fruitful as I wish the same for the new pastor that will lead our church in the years to come.

Church Outing 2012

One of the best summer activity of the church is the church outing! It is an opportunity for the church members, young and old alike to have fellowship with one another. It is a joyous occasion for all of us to enjoy each others' company. However, I could not join such activity because of my condition since Dad has died. Only Dad can carry me to the pool to swim. 

Besides that, Mom is sick at that time so we could not join in the fun physically. But the pictures show how happy everyone have been so somehow, I can share in their joy too.

Sunrise Service 2012

This is the first time that I have attended a Sunrise Service and I think, this is also the first time that Lagro UMC has hosted a Sunrise Service ever. The church has held the early morning worship at the Barangay Greater Lagro covered court behind the barangay hall.

The worship service has started at around 5:30 AM. Pastor Allan Asuncion, administrative Pastor of Taytay UMC has addressed the congregation with a very powerful and moving message. Worship has ended at around 7:30 AM. Then, the church has served a yummy breakfast for everyone who has attended.

The LUMC Chancel Choir

The worshiping congegation

Our Pastors: (From left: Rev Rolando Abesamis, Rev Orlino Veron, DS Rev Miranda, Rev Allan Asuncion and Pastor Andrea Agovida)

The Praise and Worship Band: (Michael Ojenar on drums, Makki Alivia on bass, JR Bamba on guitar and Arnel Oroceo on keyboards)

The Liturgical Dancers

Rev Allan Asuncion (left), Annie Cabantac, our Choir President (middle) and Rebecca Almazar, our Choir Director (right)

“Sa Sangandaan” Musical Play Part Two

The “Sa Sangandaan” was my first ambitious musical stage play. It is the most elaborate so far. We used a video plug, a video credit, sound effects, costume, make-up and all original songs with a full band accompaniment. Whew!

This musical was my first attempt to use original music in a stage play. However, it was not an all original music sound track, around 50% of it perhaps but it was an all original lyrics. I finished the entire script in two weeks at least after staging the play “Ang Regalo” (The Gift) just in time for the 30th founding anniversary of LUMC.

I was a bit nervous at first because we had little time to prepare for it. There was a point when I thought we would not make it but God is good and gracious. He had blessed us with grace to practice enthusiastically. Can you imagine? The band was only able to perfect the songs two days before staging the play!

The scariest part of it was that I was sick at that time. I had cough and fever the week before the presentation particularly the day before and on the day itself. I just could not excuse myself because I was the one in charge of the band. Miraculously, the cough subsided during the entire presentation. I thought it had gone.

After staging the play, the cough began to surge again until I could hardly breathe. Our pastor and church elders rushed me to the hospital and the doctors said that I had pneumonia. It was shocking for me. After two days of confinement, my attending physician had allowed me to go home. The Lord is good all the time.

It has been a great experience doing a musical stage play for the Lord and I know that there will be more to come in the future.

“Sa Sangandaan” Musical Play

As part of our church’s anniversary celebration this year, we presented another musical play, “Sa Sangandaan” last Februaury 19, 2012. The play featured the talents of the Lagro United Methodist Church. This time, not only the UMYF and UMYAF participated but also talents from the UMM, WSCS and our Admin Pastor no less.

The story was about two Christian friends- Sam a devoted Christian while Tony was not. They both underwent a time of deep trial and they showed different responses. The former was one with trust and reverent submission, while the latter was one with questioning and rebellion.

Tony met a terrible car crash that almost caused her life. While in coma, she had a vision. She met two spiritual beings, Legion and Rafael. Legion represented the devil and was enticing her to give up her life. Rafael represented an archangel and came to her aid and tried to bring her back to the side of light.

Tony met a crossroad in her spiritual life. She had to make a decision as to which way to choose: the way toward God or the road that led to death and destruction. In the end, she made a decision. As she arose from coma, she rededicated her life to the Lord with absolute faith and submission.