Lighting the World Through Music

A Christmas concert series capped off the 2022 celebration of the Light the World initiative, highlighting the Filipino love of music and all things Christmas. Philippines Area President Elder Steven R. Bangerter explained how Christmas is all about gifts, from artists gifting us with their talents to our Father in Heaven gifting mankind with the greatest of all gifts, the birth of His Only Begotten Son.

The MTC Activity Center became a veritable music hall as three shows served up world-class entertainment and inspiration. Concert pianist Dr. Sunbeam Choi opened the series on December 17 as he delighted the audience with Christmas carols and classical pieces. The Philippine Madrigal Singers, the country’s premiere choir, took the stage on December 20 and enthralled with their renditions of Christmas classics like “O Holy Night” and “Have Yourself a Merry Christmas,” as well as a medley of Filipino classics like “Pasko Nanaman,” “ Noche Buena,” and “Pasko ng Madla.”

The showstopping finale was an evening with “Asia’s Nightingale” Lani Misalucha and friends on December 21. Lani was joined by fellow Latter-day Saint artists, Tawag ng Tanghalan season 2 finalist Anton Antenorcruz, the cast of “Hear Him through Music” led by Daday Ducena-Baluyot, and the Southern Luzon Regional Choir. Lani lovingly recalled how she used to perform with the choir during the Christmas Lighting Programs at the Manila Temple grounds more than two decades ago. “I am so grateful to be back performing for the Church again,” she gushed.

Yandell Villacorte, a pastor from Gates of Praise Taytay, expressed sincere gratitude for being able to attend the concert. “As a lover of music, and a fellow Christian, I really enjoyed the concert, especially when Lani and Anton sang ‘The Prayer,’“ she revealed. “I really felt the spirit of the Lord.”

Incidentally, Filipino Christmas music also conquered the global Church scene when Broadway star and Disney royalty Lea Salonga was the featured guest artist at the 2022 Christmas concerts by The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square from December 15-17. Before that, the Temple Square Christmas celebration “The Promise of Christmas” which premiered on November 26 featured “Liwanag Niya,” the official Philippine Light the World theme song written by the husband and wife tandem of Justin and Daday Baluyot.

“Shooting the music video was quite an experience, but performing the song live with the Southern Luzon Regional Choir and sharing the stage with my idol Lani Misalucha was an absolute dream come true,” Daday shared gleefully.

In his closing remarks, Elder Yoon Hwan Choi, First Counselor in the Philippines Area Presidency, marveled at the professional level of the talents he witnessed. He also complimented the giving nature of Filipinos, from the performers who gave of their time and talents to the 7,420 soldiers who served in the Korean war. He quoted President Thomas S. Monson who said, “He who gives money gives much; he who gives time gives more; but he who gives of himself gives all.” and closed by challenging everyone to Light the World by giving of themselves.