Our country’s best choirs would certainly include the Madrigal Singers, Ateneo Glee Club and UP Concert Chorus. They have reaped countless accolades in contests and performances here and abroad.But our beloved Bohol could not be far behind with such famous groups as the Loboc Children’s Choir under the baton of Madam Alma Fernando-Taldo, the City Choir under maestro Butch de Juan, the erstwhile Capitol Choir under Madam EquitButalid and the HNU Chorale under Fr. Ervin Garsuta, among others.
We have recently been pleasantly surprised though. A jewel fromBusao, Maribojoc came shining through. Whether it’s the invocation, the anthems, or a pop ditty, you’ll love hearing them sing. The Isidore Parish Choir honed by the training skills of Fr. Milo Mapaye, SVD developed with beautiful tone and harmony in such a short span of five months.
This column’s favorite philosopher, Dr. Rudolf Steiner, said that music and math are closely related and their affinity can be scientifically demonstrated with clinical precision.HNU College of Arts and Sciences Dean, Fr. Milo Mapaye, SVD, is proof to that assertion. He was a mathematics teacher for six years at the Angelicum College-UST in Manila, having graduated as a Math major from the Far Eastern University (FEU), and now a PhD candidate.
Fr. Milo was born in Lucena City to a devout Roman Catholic family, went to church every day, joined the altar boys, then the church choir, and later became active with the diocesan youth group. He went on tolive under the tutelage of a priest-relative in Atimonan, Quezon where he led the church choir. This sparked his childhood desire to become a priest andeventually enter the Christ the King Seminary in Quezon City in 1998 and was ordained priest in 2006 at the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay City. His first assignment was here at our very ownHoly Name University as Chaplain of the Education Department. Thereafter, he was assigned in Davao City where he also taught at the St. Xavier College Seminary.
Of course, the spotlight belongs to the twenty or more members of the IPC whose ages range from teens to forties, majority of whom are unassuming pretty young lasses who actively serve the St. Isidore Parish of Busao, Maribojoc. The SVDs have a long history of serving the Busao community. HNU founding president, Fr. Flor Camacho, SVD, even devoted many years there.
Boholanos deserve to hear more of IPC. May they continue to flourish and sing more melodies for our people, this Christmas and the coming years. We would love to particularly hear them sing Boholano songs and compositions. Kudos, Fr. Milo and the IPC!