Hangad marks 20th year with new album

MANILA, Philippines - They don’t call themselves a choir, or even a singing group. They are a group of young people, most of them professionals and a few college students, who sing to glorify God and to draw people closer to Him. They call themselves Hangad.

Next month, Hangad will mark its 20th anniversary with the release of a new album that explores and celebrates prayer as a deeply personal, one-on-one communication with God. The CD, the group’s eighth, is titled “This Time with You.” It contains 16 songs, 15 of them original compositions by the members, that span a broad range of themes, emotions and musical styles, including a mix of a cappella vocals and various instruments (piano, guitar, flute, saxophone and strings).

 Renato Lucas, the celebrated principal cellist of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, performs a solo.

The album will be launched at two free concerts: on Sept. 3 at 2 p.m. at the Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord in SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, and on Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Santo Niño de Paz Chapel in Greenbelt, Ayala Center, Makati City.

Accompanying the album is Words and Music book containing reflections and prayers written by Hangad members, and the complete vocal scores of the songs on the CD. 

This new album recalls Hangad’s origins as a choir for Days with the Lord retreats at the Ateneo High School in 1991. Since then, the group has produced five music videos besides its eight CDs and has performed in numerous inspirational and fund-raising concerts around the country and in the US.

In 2006 Hangad won the Awit Award for best inspirational/religious song for Pieta: Oyayi sa Paanan ni Hesus in the album titled “Easter Journey.”

Hangad is under the Jesuit Music Ministry. “This Time with You” is a joint production of Hangad and the Jesuit Communications Foundation.

For inquiries, visit www.hangad.com, or e-mail mail@hangad.com.