MANILA, October 5, 2008--The Communication Foundation of Asia (CFA), a Catholic media center, is set to re-launch all of its music productions in time for the Christmas season.
The decision was taken in CFA’s recent gathering of its Catechetical Congress and church communication workshops where there has been a noticeable demand for original pastoral and catechetical music, a CFA press note said.
The CFA initiated its Pastoral Music Program in 1979 with a workshop for budding composers, who created original music with the Christmas themes of faith, love and joy.
According to the press note, the consultant for the program and the workshop, was the late composer and arranger late Fr Eduardo Hontiveros, SJ.
The result was the album “Diwa ng Pasko,” which was produced with full orchestra in 1980.
Hontiveros’ next workshop with CFA resulted in an album of songs of praise, joy and inspiration, entitled “Magsaya, Magalak,” produced in 1981. The songs were performed by the well-known group Saringhimig, and professionally arranged by Bert Robredo.
The third Pastoral Music album was “Mahal Ako ni Hesus,” which was a collection of liturgical songs for children.
The consultant for the composers’ workshop this time was Sister Jesusa Enginco, OP, who is now the secretary of the Episcopal Commission onCatechesis and Catholic Education of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
Over the next few years, CFA produced other titles for the Pastoral Music series: “Sigaw ng Kalayaan,” which contained the theme music of the 1986 EDSA Revolution, extolling freedom, peace and justice, and “Habang Buhay,” which featured songs on love and marriage performed by Marco Sison.
CFA will also reproduce on CD its two albums that have proved to be very popular in catechetical gatherings: “Making Melodies” Volumes 1 and 2.
This year’s compilation of catechetical songs, “Kalipaya,” composed by Albert Saldajeno and his team, will also be re-released after all copies have been sold out.
The eight music CDs will be available at CFA and at Catholic bookstores. (Santosh Digal)
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