The cover blurb explains the album title. Ang Ating Pasko is a look through music at the uniquely Filipino way we celebrate the Christmas Season. It says, “Alaala ng mga Paskong nagdaan/ sila nating babalik- balikan/ at kay raming paraang magsaya/ saan man tayo naroroon/ ngunit walang katulad/ ang pagdiwang nang ganito/ sariling atin, mahal natin/ pagkat ito Ang Ating Pasko.”
While it is derivative of western traditions, it is a fact that Filipinos have over the years developed their own ideas of how the Christmas holidays should be observed. That is what the CD Ang Ating Pasko by the Ateneo Chamber Singers attempts to portray. It is by no means complete. I doubt if anything, book or album or something else can ever do that.
But the ones that matter to most of us are here. From songs about Advent, Ilang Tulog Pa Ba by Edith Gallardo and Moy Ortiz to the family at Christmas dinner, Noche Buena by Arnel de Paño and most important of all, the Baby Jesus, Munting Sanggol by Ryan Cayabyab and This Little Child by award-winning songwriter and ACS member Trina Belamide.
Christmas music makes up a big part of the celebration. What would Christmas be without the carols? It is no matter if these are the tuneless rantings of neighborhood kids who make frequent trips to your door or the hit standards by various artists. We need them to survive the hectic days of December. Of course we like them better when they are performed by a choir because we believe blended voices are the closest we can get to the singing of angels.
Ateneo Chamber Singers is the latest addition to our line-up of choirs. I believe members are mostly Ateneo graduates. And I am glad they made their recording debut with a Christmas CD. One can never have enough of choirs at Christmas. Besides, I am glad their album Ang Ating Pasko is made up of mostly new original compositions. You know how it is with Christmas CDs. Buyers tend to prefer the old songs they can associate with memorable Christmas celebrations from the past.
This is a risky move for the ACS but somebody has to do it. I mean introduce new Christmas songs future generations can include among their favorites. Otherwise we will be stuck with Christmas In Our Hearts, Miss Kita Kung Christmas and Pasko Na Sinta Ko all our lives. Now this is not like that we should mind being in that rut, because those are beautiful songs by Filipino composers, but we can always use something new.
Hopefully, one day, people will remember come Christmas time that it was the ACS who introduced them to the best new works of this batch, Ang Ating Pasko by Belamide, Ilang Tulog Pa Ba? by Gallardo and Ortiz and the latest from Manoling Francisco, S.J., Paglaming Ng Hangin. The ACS also does a great Paskong Walang Hanggan by Jose Javier Reyes and Ryan Cayabyab, which was first recorded by the defunct San Miguel Choir.
Also included are Maybe Next Year by Arnel de Paño; Pasko Na! by Francisco, Norman Agatep and Jandi Arboleda; Christmas In Our Hearts by Jose Mari Chan; Oyayi by Arnel Aquino, S.J.; Gloria by De Paño; and a Take And Receive MedIey by Tim Ofrasio, S.J., John Foley, S.J., Francisco/ Arboleda and Felipe Fruto Ll. Ramirez, S.J.
Ang Ating Pasko will be launched with a free concert on Nov. 21, 6:30 p.m. at the Ateneo Grade School Chapel in Loyola Heights, Quezon City. Copies are available at all Tanging Yaman stores. These are located at Sonolux Bldg. and Loyola House of Studies at Ateneo de Manila University and at the fifth floor of SM Megamall. Call 426-5971 or 72 local 113 or 0918-9431817 or log on to the Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. or Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. websites for more information.
Meanwhile now that the Christmas wait is in full swing, I have taken out my favorite albums by Filipino artists to again listen to and to fill with new memories for future use. These are Christmas In Our Hearts by Jose Mari Chan, The Christmas Album by The Company, Pasko by the San Miguel Choir and Orchestra and a new addition, The Voice of Christmas by Jed Madela. It is too bad Jed has no new original in his album. But it was well-produced and he has the sort of vocals ideal for Christmas songs.