Liberating Music from Libera

Libera came. They sang. And they conquered. And I was nowhere to be found. 

   I was just simply ecstatic when I heard the news that they were coming over here to MANILA for a one-night only concert at the PICC. It's LIBERA and I cannot just simply miss that. I got hooked to them when my cousin ERIK gave me a copy of their album. Since I'm a great fan of Pachelbel he pointed out to me that I listen first to the track entitled "SANCTUS". When I heard it, I was amazed at how the rearranged Pachelbel's CANNON in D and added the lyrics taken from the Latin Rites of the Catholic Mass.

   And from then on, I became an avid fan.
   It was just sad I wasn't able to see them live when they came here. I was busy with a client and was assigned for an out-of-town engagement. TATAY MONCH (who I also influenced) even called me up just to ask me if I was going to watch the concert. To cut the story short, he was there. I wasn't.

   For those who do not know them...

LIBERA is a non-profit all-boy vocal group directed by Robert Prizeman. Their name comes from their signature song "Libera," which is based on the Libera Me portion of the Requiem Mass. "Libera" is the Latin word for "free". Most of the boys in Libera come from the parish choir of St. Philip's, Norbury, in South London. The albums, tours and TV appearances the boys do as Libera are in addition to their regular singing as part of the full choir of men and boys at parish choral services.

The boys come from a variety of backgrounds in the London area, attending many different schools, including local state schools, church schools and performing arts schools. Libera recruits boys from any religious denomination and even those with no religious affiliations. Most boys join between the age of seven and ten, however older boys can join if they have the appropriate singing abilities. (wikipedia)

   And the boys never fail to captivate their audience. Tatay Monch recounts that it was already the end of the show and they already left the stage but after a while they all came back. The audience was delighted that they were treated to an ENCORE. But the encore was more than what they expected, after the first few notes of the song was played, the entire hall in PICC roared into a frenzy of applause and cheers - the boys are to sing BAYAN KO. 
   The song was especially significant to the FILIPINOS as it is one of the popular patriotic songs that helped stirred consciousness among the Filipino people. Originally written as a protest song during the American occupation by Jose Corazon de Jesus (music by Constancio de Guzman), BAYAN KO rose to popularity as it is often sung in protest rallies and demonstrations throughout Philippine history - more notably during the funeral of Sen. Benigno "NINOY" Aquino, Jr. and the following PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION where Freddie Aguilar led the crowd to sing the song's chorus. 
   To get a better appreciation as to why I am truly amazed, the video is posted below:





   After the song, the entire PICC came down with a thundering standing ovation from the crowd. Even Tatay Monch forgot he was the MONCHITO and started to scream his lungs out. (If I were there, I might have also lost myself, hehehe). The music felt it came from heaven and played just for us FILIPINOS.
   And I came to realize, if British boys can sing Bayan Ko with such ardour and passion, how much more us FILIPINOS? I doubt that these kids really understood what they were singing compared to us FILIPINOS who know the song since way way back then. How come they can make beautiful music and not us? How come they can sing it and own it like it was theirs? How come?
   I think the answer lies on our own hands. Let this be a challenge to all of us.


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LIBERA enthralled the Filipino audience with a concert at the PICC on October 25 and in CEBU on October 28. 
Visit them at their official website: www.libera.org.uk