Lea Salonga sings at the INC at 95, the musical

by truthcaster | July 24, 2009 at 06:39 pm

8708 views | 4 Recommendations | 108 comments

Lea Salonga, famed international singer and Broadway and Film star graces the celebration of the 95th anniversary of the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ).

By Arlyn dela Cruz
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:14:00 07/25/2009

MANILA, Philippines — Stage and theater artist Lea Salonga is lending her international star power to the worldwide celebration of the 95th anniversary of the Iglesia ni Cristo on July 27.

Salonga, the award-winning star of the Miss Saigon musical, will be interpreting two songs about the story of the INC, in a 1 1/2 hour-long musical that will be telecast worldwide on the eve of the INC anniversary on Sunday.

The songs, “Sumilang na ang Kanyang Liwanag” and “Alipin sa Malayong Silangan,” essay how the millions of INC brethren worldwide feel as they look back on 95 years of their church which “reemerged” on July 27, 1914 from its humble beginnings in Punta, Sta. Ana, Manila.

During the taping of the musical last Wednesday to a live audience of 2,000 INC members, Salonga’s eloquence and sincerity almost reduced her listeners to tears.

“Sumilang” is a composition of Ryan Cayabyab with lyrics by INC spokesperson Bienvenido C. Santiago while “Alipin” is an original composition of the late National Artist for Music Lucio San Pedro.

She was accompanied by the Filharmonika Orchestra conducted by her brother, Gerard.

Actress and television host Gladys Reyes, who was among the presenters that evening and is also a church member, could not contain her emotions as she thanked Salonga for her wonderful rendition of the two songs about the INC.

In jest, Salonga remarked that she can now boast that she made a known screen “kontrabida” cry.

The INC 95th Anniversary Special features Salonga and other singers and performers from different parts of the world who are also members of the INC. It will be aired on the eve of Monday’s grand celebration worldwide from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. over GEMTV-49 and Net-25.

The musical debuts for the first time in the Philippines an all-HD production shot with a 20-camera setup using the latest high-definition technology. It has for background a customized wide screen (40 ft x 18 ft) using 3 digital HD projectors.

The INC last held a grand celebration 20 years ago during the church’s 75th Anniversary in 1989. Tens of thousands of INC members assembled at the Central Temple, with delegates occupying almost the entire stretch of Commonwealth Avenue and major streets in Quezon City.

Salonga expressed her admiration for the tremendous growth of the INC. It was not the first time for her to sing in an INC occasion.

Song from the heart

“Being here today brings back memories of when I was young and I performed right here in Central … I think I was about 10 years old, not exactly here at the studio, but right here in Central. I can’t believe how much the Church has progressed and grown since the last time I was here. From a small country like the Philippines, it is now virtually in every corner of the globe. It’s undeniable that this Church has truly been guided by a higher power,” she said.

She offered her song “Journey” to every brethren of the INC worldwide saying it’s a song “from my heart to yours” and wished that the Church “be filled with God’s blessings and love” as the INC looks forward to more anniversaries.

5,400 congregations

At 95, the INC has over 5,400 congregations in 90 countries and territories and a membership composed of 102 nationalities.

On the actual day of the celebration on Monday, dubbed Iglesia ni Cristo Day, simultaneous worship services will be held in 14 venues in the country and five other sites in four other countries.

In Metro Manila, the centers of the INC celebration are the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City and the Rizal Memorial Complex in Manila.

Purely spiritual

INC spokesperson Santiago clarified that what will take place on Monday is a purely spiritual gathering.

“There will be preaching and singing of hymns of praises. We are truly thankful to the Lord God for His guidance in His Church. It is God’s will that the church has reached its present splendor and we offer all the glory to God,” he said.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

owen buenaventura (not verified)

at 08:41 on July 25th, 2009

Thank you for posting this.

ronnie_b (not verified)

at 14:06 on July 27th, 2009

happy 95th anniversary mga kapatid sa buong panig ng mundo

Purihin ang kaisa-isang Diyos....

Noel T. (not verified)

at 10:55 on July 25th, 2009

Indeed this 27th July is another significant day for us brothers and sister. Happy 95th anniversary and INC day to all my brothers and sisters in the world...from Mortco-Jubail locale..

Emily Calbes (not verified)

at 12:43 on July 25th, 2009

I love LEA SALONGA so much.. sana mag Iglesia din sya no?

Happy 9th mga mahal na kapatid

Bro. Toots (not verified)

at 13:42 on July 25th, 2009

Sana nga sister like sister Janice De Belen...totoo ba sister na natin siya?

Excelman Burgos (not verified)

at 15:53 on July 25th, 2009

World-class performer...what else can we ask for? Happy 95th Anniversary!!!

alice_fraser (not verified)

at 21:56 on July 25th, 2009

pag ang relihiyon, nambubugbog at pumapatay ng tao na sumasalungat sa turo nya, sa Dios ba?
nagtatanong lang, ang tamaan wag magagalit.maligayang ika-95 anibersaryo sa inyo. bakit hindi ginawa sa 100th? kung matatandaan ko, huli ninyo ginawa to noong 75th.

zurc (not verified)

at 15:16 on July 26th, 2009

Una sa lahat walang aral ang INC na nagtuturo ng katulad ng sinasabi mo, kahit sa anumang relihiyon ay may mga miyembro na nagkakasala o nagkakamali at sa organisasyong ito ang mga nagkakamali ay pinapatawan ng kaukulang aksyon/parusa upang manatili ang kadalisayan ng Iglesia. Gayon pa man salamat sa iyong pagbati. Tungkol naman sa ika-95 annibersaryo ng INC at para na rin sa iyong ikababatid, taon-taon isinasagawa ang pagdiriwang ng anibersaryo ng INC. Sana maliwanagan ang iyong puso't isipan, upang makita mo na ang Dakilang Diyos ang may gawa ng pagtatagumpay ng Iglesia Ni Cristo.

alice_fraser (not verified)

at 22:19 on July 26th, 2009

ahh.. i stand corrected, wala po ba?

si john regala natiwalag nyo na ba ulit? kung matiwalag man yun, may balik loob naman di ba? ang tawag dyan, sampay bakod.

mga myembro nyo nga pagkatapos sumamba, direcho agad sa tindahan para mag yosi eh.. saksi ako dun! dahil sa tindahan sa tapat ng kapilya sila nabili.. pagmamayari din un ng isa nyong myembro ha... pwede ba sa inyo un?

another thing, yung magazines na pinamimigay nyo about soriano? binigyan ako ng kapatid ko nun... INC yun... tapos sabi ninyo, binabaka ninyo ang kalaswaan? e kayo pa ang nagpapalaganap eh! sa nakikita ko, talagang malabo na maanib ako sa inyo... malulupit kayo... napatunayan ko na yan...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g98ZVT50CD4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tglVPTQm9Y&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1M4aBK7K4g&feature=related

natiwalag na kaya ang mga ito?

jo s (not verified)

at 20:57 on July 27th, 2009

Sanay kami sa ganitong batikos.

Sa maliit na dumi ka lang kasi nakatingin.

May higit na mahalaga at mahiwaga at hindi ito ipinauunawa sa liko ang pag-iisip.

So sorry for you.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!dragon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (not verified)

at 23:44 on July 27th, 2009

magandang araw po sa inyong lahat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Binabati ko po ang lahat ng kaanib ng IGLESIA NI CRISTO sa buong mundo ng maligayang ika-95th anniversary sa inyong lahat..........................nawa'y bigyan pa po tayo ng ibayong lakas,sana'y gabayan tayo ng panginoon sa lahat ng panahon,at nawa'y makatapos tayo sa ating takbuhin, makasapit sa bayang banal na inilaan ng panginoong Diyos para sa kanyang mga hinirang.......Muli po, HAPPY 95th ANNIVERSARY MABUHAY ANG BAYANG DI PINABABAYAAN..............................................

rhea redula,mang-aawit,

locale ng ubujan,distrito iglesiastiko ng bohol.....................

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!dragon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (not verified)

at 23:48 on July 27th, 2009

magandang araw po sa inyong lahat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

rhea redula,mang-aawit,

locale ng ubujan,distrito iglesiastiko ng bohol.....................

jamie sullivan (not verified)

at 23:25 on August 2nd, 2009

"Una sa lahat walang aral ang INC na nagtuturo ng katulad ng sinasabi mo..."

Ha! You are just like the other members of your church - a blind follower! You don't know much about your leaders and your church.

"Sana maliwanagan ang iyong puso't isipan, upang makita mo na ang Dakilang Diyos ang may gawa ng pagtatagumpay ng Iglesia Ni Cristo."

What victory? Your leaders can't even face Brother Soriano in a debate and you are claiming to be victorious?

EDELMA MEMBRERE TROPIA (not verified)

at 23:44 on July 25th, 2009

TO ALL " IGLESIA NI CRISTO "

HAPPY 95TH ANNIVERSARY.....

To our Executive Minister Bro.ERANO G. MANALO, thank you for all the sacrifices,taking care,loving of all the brethen of IGLESIA NI CRISTO. I, as a member of the church,my heartfelt thanks to our Almighty GOD.

HE makes me strong in my faith,inspite of a lot of trials and poblems in this life. I always pray what problems and trials that I have encountered..PRAYER, is the best solutions of all my problems.

Eventhough I'm far with my family,my children and my husband,we keep in touch each other,to make our bonding as a family will still remain.Also as we remain a member of the IGLESIA NI CRISTO.

Once again, HAPPY 95th ANNIVERSARY -IGLESIA NI CRISTO

"MABUHAY AT SUMULONG SA NALALAPIT NA PAGDATING NI CRISTO"

GOD BLESS US ALL...

BEST WISHES,

edelma m. tropia (tel-aviv,israel)

TrueBELIEVER (not verified)

at 00:30 on July 26th, 2009

Happy 95th anniversary to the Sole Corporation of Manalo Family. Naway, mamulat sa katotohanan ang mga kapatid na nasa kultong INC, hindi totoong Sugo si Felix Manalo. I will pray na sana mamuhay kayo sa kabanalan, at manumbalik sa totoong tahanan ng Diyos.

Edgar B. Saulo (not verified)

at 01:27 on July 26th, 2009

Happy 95th Anniversary to the Iglesia Ni Cristo !!!

from the Brethren in Al Khoud, Om.ME

Julie H. (not verified)

at 02:13 on July 26th, 2009

It's the 95th Anniversary of the Corporation sole owned and managed by the Manalo Family: Iglesia ni Cristo, a corporation.

Lea singing at their anniversary for sure this has nothing to do with Ms. Salonga's beliefs, mahal ang talent fee ni Lea so thanks sa mga church donations niyo at mapupunta rin kay Lea and I think Lea is tithing sa kanyang church (not the Iglesia ni Manalo).

So kung may manonood doon I am sure they came there not for the Iglesia ni Cristo but for Lea Salonga. Thanks Lea, sa tulong mo, dudumugin ang kanilang anniversary.

Julie Hibang! (not verified)

at 04:46 on July 27th, 2009

Hay naku....wag kang magpasalamat kay lea...kase pag nakilala ka mas dudumugin ka for sure....sikat na sikat ka julie h!....anyway...be kind to the Animals.....

Jun H. (not verified)

at 19:22 on July 28th, 2009

Para namang hawak mo ang isip ni Lea Salonga. You only think that Lea is tithing sa church niya, how sure are you? Exclusive ang audience do'n iha. Puro members lang kaya hindi tulong ni Leah yun para dumugin ang anniversary. Bagong silang ka lang siguro kaya wala kang kaalam-alam sa history namin. Ask mo si Lea kung magkano bigay sa kanya. Parang close naman kayo e. 'Wag kang masanay sa tsismis, base on facts.

tagamasid (not verified)

at 07:10 on July 29th, 2009

Ikaw masyadong ,matalas yang dila mo.. hindi mo alam yung pinagsasabi mo.. kung makapagsalita ka kala mo lam mo lahat tunkol s iglesia.. huy mahiya ka naman.. baka bumalik sayo yan.. bago ka magsasatsat!!!!!!!!!! alamin mo muna.. Ibahin mo yung Iglesia pagdating sa handog. di kami katulad ng mga pari nyo.. o ng mga pastor nyo.. kung nakikita mo ang mga bahay sambahan namin nalulumutan ba??? o sir-sira ba?? laging maganda.. inaayos.. Para sa kapurihan ng Panginoon.. tingnan nyo nga mga simbahan nyo.. mganda ba?? naayos ba??? san ba napupunta yung mga abuloy nyo??? tanungin nyo nalang yung pari nyo.. ang tulong ng mga kaanib at ng iglesia sa mga tao sa oras ng kalamidad.. ang pabahay namin sa mga kapatid.. Lingap samamayan.. at madami pa.. huy manood ka kaya ng net25 at gem tv.. hindi ipinag yayabang yan.. kaya manahimik ka wala kang alam, parang kang tanga!!!!!!!! nag sasatsat kala mo maraming alam!!!!!!!!!

Julie H (not verified)

at 02:17 on July 26th, 2009

salamat kay Lea dudumugin ang anniversary nila dahil may artista doon. Kung si Janice de Belen lang at si Gladys baka iipisin ang anniversary nila kaya malaki ang donation siguro dahil mahal ang talent fee ni Lea Salonga. Tsaka di naman INCorporated member si Lea kaya no problem. Sige bigay niyo sa kanya ang inyong church donation kasi pupunta naman sa church affililiation niya yung mga pera niyo...

Sa yaman ng mga Manalo, yakang yaka!

belle72804 (not verified)

at 11:32 on July 26th, 2009

hindi nyo po alam ang inyong sinasabi.. nakaawa...tsk tsk tsk......

zurc (not verified)

at 15:26 on July 26th, 2009

Tama ka kapatid na belle, hindi alam ni Julie H ang sinasabi niya, kung sa bagay ganiyan din ang paniniwala ko noong wala pa ako sa Iglesia at puro paninira ang sinasabi ko laban sa INC. Sana maliwanagan din ang kanilang puso't isipan upang kanilang maunawaan ang Tunay na Iglesia Ni Cristo.

Julie Hibang! (not verified)

at 03:55 on July 27th, 2009

Julie H!...nakakaawa ka....sabagay there is a saying na be kind to ANIMALS.... so pagpapasensyahan ka lang ......tsk ...tsk....tsk....

Julie Hinggit (not verified)

at 19:38 on July 28th, 2009

Iha cguro nanood ka 'no? Aminin mo na kasi nagandahan ka, Lipat ka na lang para LIVE pa panonood mo. Libre pa nga LRT that day e FYI. Sa'n ka pa? O 'di ba?

Phil1986 (not verified)

at 05:12 on July 31st, 2009

I don't believe that INC critics are feeble minded. Matatalino sila kaya nagtatanong.

Alam nila ang sinasabi nila. Mahilig lang sila mangasar kasi either wala sila alam sa INC at nanunuklas sa paraang panlalait OR talagang masama ang layunin nila. Sano po bigyan natin ng pang-unawa.

Wala pong tao na ibig lumangoy sa kumukulong langis at asupre.

Mangmang lang...

Diretso kasi INC sa pangngaral. Walang feel-good, sugar coating. Masakit matamaan ng katotohanan. Lalu na kung maririnig mo sa ministrong sobrang ganado at panalong panalo sa pagsesermon.

Pero sa taong seryoso sa kaligtasan. Walang batong hindi itataob. Kahit pa bundok, dagat o kapahiyaan daranasin mahanap lang si Kristo.

tagamasid (not verified)

at 20:44 on July 31st, 2009

ayan kananman satsat ka ng satsat wala ka paring alam.. alamin mo kasi muna.. Ilang Venue ba may roon kami?? at sa lahat ng venue nayun wala dun si lea.. Dahil 22 palang ng July yun na record sa studioat ipinalabas lang sa net25 at GEM TV ng sabado at linggo, Para sa aming anniv. Yan kasi wala kang alam. bago ka mag kumentaryo dito alamin mo muna.

Lea was invited. at pinaunlakan nya yun.. Ikalawang beses na ni lea kumanta para sa anniv. ng Iglesia. nung sya palang ay 10yrs. old palang sya.. wala kang alam!!

local ng village east (not verified)

at 02:58 on July 26th, 2009

district of rizal will be held at rizal stadium. see yah there!

INC ako (not verified)

at 07:04 on July 26th, 2009

Julie H/ Truebeliever/ alice_fraser,

You can say what you want... but in the end, we will be looking down at you. So maximize your time while you still have it. Thanks.

alice_fraser (not verified)

at 21:49 on July 26th, 2009

oo, kayo lang kasi ang maliligtas eh dba?

isa pa bakit nageendorse kayo ng mga kandidato? di bat mas maganda kung bibigyan nyo nlang ng guidelines ang mga myembro nyo? ang pagboto kasi ng isang taong malaya, lalo nat sa isang demokratikong bansa gaya ng pinas, ay hindi dapat pinakikialaman.

ginagawa nyo kasing tao-tauhan mga myembro nyo. nakausap ko isang ministro nyo, pag dating sa local elections, ang isa sa pinagbabatayan ninyo ay kung naging "mabait sa iglesia" ang kandidato....

kaya pala may mga pagbati sa inyo na nakabalandra sa mga pampublikong lugar mula sa mga politikong mabait sa inyo...iniisip ko din ung mga pabor na madali ninyong nahihingi sa mga naka pwesto sa gobyerno na nangungutangan ng loob sa pagboto ninyo sa kanila. tsk...

oo nga naman, endorsement nyo ang kapalit nang mga un eh di ba?

kapwa kayo nakikinabang sa isat-isa.

come 2009, di ko iboboto ang mga ieendorso ninyo. di ako boboto ng kandidatong nangungutangan ng loob.. lalo na sa mga INC