Faith-Based Organizations Join the Church in Virtual Interfaith Christmas Concert 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hosted and premiered The Light the World Interfaith Christmas Virtual Concert video on December 24, 2020, at 8:00 pm on the Church’s Philippines Facebook page. The virtual concert featured performances from selected members and performers from multiple religious and spiritual groups and organizations.

The virtual concert was hosted by missionaries of the Church, Elder Mallapre, Elder Santos, Sister Lamig, and Sister Bacolod. Among the participating faith-based organizations aside from the Church which spearheaded the event were chorales from the Roman Catholic Church, the Focolare Movement, Brahma Kumaris, and the Fo Guang Shan Mabuhay Temple. 

The event started with an opening song by the Alabang Temple Choir, and included performances from members Zcharmaine Princess Barretto, who was accompanied by Rev. Fr. Yohanes Bakok, SVD at the assando, Mikee Misalucha, and Anton Antenorcruz who were accompanied by a joint choir composed of members from the Santuario de San Vicente de Paul Chorale and selected single adults from the Church. Tina Diaz from the Brahma Kumaris, a non-sectarian, non-governmental meditation group, interpreted There Comes a Time. 

The SJ Tañong Chorale of San Jose Manggagawa Parish Marikina performed Prayer of Unity, written by their leader Jerry Olaguer. Singers from the Focolare Movement, an international organization composed of members from differing faiths united in the purpose of universal brother- and sisterhood performed One Heart, One Soul. The Guang Ming Institute of Performing Arts from a Buddhist congregation, the Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Mabuhay Temple, sang Be the Light. 

Elder Steven R. Bangerter of the Philippines Area Presidency addressed the viewers of the concert and said, “In the beautiful music that has filled this sacred virtual gathering, the Spirit of God fills our hearts and lifts our souls. Here we find a sense of hope and assurance. Assurance both in the strength of shared values and in deeply rooted faith that God’s hand is upon this country and upon us, His children.” 

He further said that the performances were a testament to the closeness of the relationships that have been built between people of different faiths coming together to link arms for the common good. 

The concert was also graced with a rare performance by the University of the Philippines Madrigal Singers, who rendered an interpretation of One by One, composed by Paul Cardal, with lyrics written by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. 

The historic interfaith virtual concert was concluded with a prayer written by the Venerable Master Hsing Yun, founder of FGS, which was read by Venerable Miao Jing Shih. 

The concert is available on the Facebook page of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.