The Disciples Choir

During the late '70's, Sister Marina del Rosario, one of the officers of the Legion of Mary, requested the legionaries of Virgin Most Faithful (a praesidium of Legion of Mary consists of young females) to sing every 4 pm Sunday Mass in the former Good Shepherd Parish church located at the corner of Regalado and Fairview Avenues (now Fairview Center Mall). The group obeyed and surrendered at once as Mary humbly did to the words of God through Archangel Gabriel during the Anunciation. The young legionaries metamorphosed to a choir- The choir PAX ET BONUM. Later, some male youth legionaries of Mater Purisima assisted the choir and eventually became members.

THE BEGINNING

The choir decided to part ways because the male members formed their own group to sing every 8 pm Sunday mass. The all-male group was neither too big nor too small for a choral group. From then, they decided to recruit new male members who were fresh graduates of the Propter Nostram Salutem team. "Many are called but few are chosen." The usual attendance during practice averaged to twenty. However, during mass service it averaged only to twelve. Thus, on the 28th of May 1978, the DISCIPLES CHOIR was born.

The following people were the original member of the DISCIPLES CHOIR: Pedro Abella, Basil Arias - President, Christopher Cutler, Noel Fajardo, Edimar Gonzales - Secretary, Gilbert Jovero, Hernando Laquindanum - Vice-President, Juancho Laquindanum - Instrumentalist, Fernando Laquindanum Jr. - Instrumentalist, Virgilio Magpoc, Jaime Marpa, Ramon Quinan and Jeremie Tolentino.

DISCIPLES CHOIR: ITS MISSION AND VISION:

"To preach the Gospel through singing."

As Christ sent His disciples to preach the Gospel, the DISCIPLES CHOIR was also "sent" to help the church in evangelizing the parishioners through their songs.

THE ACTS OF THEIR DISCIPLES

Interestingly, the choir's uncanny practice and devotion continued over even into the early '90s under the spiritual directorship of Fr. Remigius Saw Htoo Lay commonly known as Fr. Remy. He was the one who taught the choir the acclaimed "Threefold Great Amen." Fr. Remy even recorded the songs of the Disciples at Radio Veritas and always played them during street mass especially whenever he says mass on-the-air for the Catholics in Burma broadcasted over Veritas-Asia.

The choir did not only showcase its talents during Sunday Masses. Under the leadership of Boyet Javier and Al Marasigan, they also managed to keep people listen to their joyful noise in concerts (fund-raising activities for the construction of the "new" Good Shepherd Parish Church), weddings, funerals, carolings, and other occasions where they were often invited. They also engaged in other traditional singing activities, such as "Pabasa" (Holy Week) and "Pangagaluluwa" (All Saints' or All Souls Day). The Disciples Choir was touted to their best all-male choral group in the Good Shepherd Parish. (Particularly, since there was no other choral group in the parish with the same composition.)

Aside from their angelic voices, the Disciples Choir also boasted of other Church-related activities. Under the leadership of Al Marasigan, the choir was able to sponsor a Parol-Making contest in 1990. The term of Edgar Lachica five years later, was the start of the yearly Libreng Pabinyag Project of the Choir.

Another commonly known fact was that the talents of the Choir were vastly improved under the directorship of Ronaldo Abarquez in 1991. The crackling geese turned into cherubs with seraphic voices.

Towards the third quarter of 1996, the all-male choir felt something that there's something missing, seeing only people of the same gender in all their activities. The Disciples Choir, with the guidance of their elders, went back to its roots and decided to again be a mixed choir. This has proved to be a crucial decision that has served to increase the "heavenly din" only they can create.

Early this year, the Disciples Choir came up with the grand plans and visions. To give the choir the much needed exposure as well as to raise funds to support its worthy projects, a concert was conceptualized and is now about to be materialized. To be directed by the choir's musical director Ronaldo Abarquez, the event is most lovingly dedicated to God Almighty, in bringing Him back the glory and in giving justice to the talents he has bestowed upon the Disciples Choir.

To date, the Choir has succeeded in bringing Christendom into the lives of dozens new Christians of different ages from Fairview as well as from other neighboring barangays.

PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES

Having been in the music ministry for quite some time, the Disciples Choir also actively participates in other productions. They have been dynamic participants in several musicals of the Good Shepherd Praise and Music Ministry (PMM) like the Pira-pirasong Paraiso, Pagdiriwang, Paglamig ng Hangin and Samu't Saring Pasko. They have also participated in invitational concerts such as the Colors of Worship I & II by the Manila Chamber Singers, and the Marian Concert and several thanksgiving concerts handled by the Good Shepherd PMM. They also represented the Diocese of Novaliches in Home At Last! (Wow Bahay! Matutupad Na!), a fund-raising concert of the Urban Poor Institute for Community Building Inc. (UPICOB), for the families affected by the railway construction in Caloocan, Manila, Taguig and Payatas.

The Disciples Choir have also staged two very successful concerts: Kakaibang Tinig in November 1998 to celebrate their 20th anniversary, and another in January 2004, 25 D.C.: Dating Timig, Bagong Himig as thanksgiving for 25 years of blessings and graces. They are now busy with rehearsals for their album recording, which hopefully would push though this November 2005.

With all those in the roster of their projects, the Disciples Choir still prioritizes serving at the Cathedral Shrine of the Good Shepherd every Sunday at 8 o'clock in the evening. After all, it is with God that all these have been possible and it is with God that they are made true disciples.