Members of the Hangad Music Ministry and Ateneo de Davao University SubDominant7 pose for a photo after the Maging Daluyan ng Kapayapaan Concert last 18 November 2017 at the Our Lady of the Assumption Chapel, Ateneo de Davao University. Photo by Aivy Rose N. Villarba.
By Michael Aaron Gomez
The Ateneo de Davao University and the Hangad Music Ministry conducted a choral workshop and a benefit concert dubbed as Maging Daluyan ng Kapayapaan last 18 November 2017 at the Finster Auditorium and the Our Lady of the Assumption Chapel, respectively.
Students, parish choir members, and choral enthusiasts from Davao City and those from as far as Cagayan de Oro City attended the choral workshop. Maging Daluyan ng Kapayapaan featured performances from the Hangad Music Ministry and the SubDominant7, official college chapel choir of Ateneo de Davao University, and Mr. Jay Gomez, flutist of the Jesuit Music Ministry.
Daluyan was organized to help raise funds to support the activities of the Madaris Volunteer Program (MVP), a ten-month service program where volunteers would are exposed to a cultural immersion as teachers in Bangsamoro areas.
The Hangad Music Ministry performed worship songs Panunumpa and Paghahandog composed by Fr. Jessel Gerard “JBoy” Gonzales, S.J., as well as Awit ng Paghahangad composed by Fr. Charlie Cenzon, S.J.
Testimonials from the Madaris Volunteers were shown during the concert. They described their observations and experiences of Bangsamoro areas, particularly the school environment.
Former Madaris Volunteer and current MVP coordinator, Johdem Torayno shared he chose to stay in the program because of the compassion that he felt for the Bangsamoro people.
“I decided to stay to extend my help to the other communities,” he said.
Current Madaris Volunteer Regin Ruis Oliveros described it is a good experience to help the schools in the Bangsamoro.
“Bilang isang tao na galing Luzon, [may] lack of knowledge kung ano yung nangyayari sa Mindanao (As a person from Luzon, I am not really aware what is really happening in Mindanao),” Oliveros said.
He added it is through his volunteer experience that he saw and experienced what the people in the community are truly going through.
Harris Tanjili, MVP Coordinator, also explained the program serves as a connection between Muslims and Christians not only in education but in other aspects of life.
Salaam Movement Program Manager Althea Esmael said, “MVP is a program of compassion, where our volunteers and the members of the Bangsamoro communities witness how people can reconcile their differences and develop tolerance, understanding, and acceptance of cultural and religious diversity.” (Read her full speech here.)
The Hangad Music Ministry was formed in 1991 by a group of young professionals and students who shared a common desire (or “hangad”) to “know God; and helping others know God, through song.” They have recorded seven albums and produced four music videos with the help of the Jesuit Communications Foundation, as well as other performances around the Philippines and in the United States.
The Madaris Volunteer Program (MVP) is a collaborative initiative of the Ateneo de Davao University with the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) for the promotion of inter- and intra-faith dialogue through immersion. It is implemented in strategic partnership with the National Association of Bangsamoro Education, Inc. (NABEi) and the Regional Government of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).