As I earlier had pointed out, the diamond jubilee celebration of the Bacolod Diocese has also attracted to Bacolod many Negrenses from abroad as well as from Metro Manila.
One of the highlights of the celebration – the Clergy Jubilee Concert – is held today at the Coliseum. This is presented by the Diamond Jubilee Secretariat headed by vice general Msgr. Vic Rivas.
The 60-member, all-male choir will be accompanied by Mary Jo Wright Tanpinco, who will be joined by her sister, Mary Ann Wright Anover.
Interestingly, much awaited is the cello performance by Philip Khalid, who is also training violin students in Bacolod. Edny Alarcon, Mikee Legaspi and Ela Legaspi will play the violin.
The concert will raise funds for the Priests Care Foundation.
The trainors are Msgr. Nicasio Melicor, Msgr. Guillermo Gaston, Fr. Tomas Tito and Abenir Pineda, with Inocencia Cabarles and Aquiles Almiou.
The tenors are Gaston, Frs. Samson Mariano, Christopher Entrata, Angel Fidel, Jacob Segurola, Greg Patinio, Alfredo Gamarcha, Casino Batalla, and Ronaldo Quijano.
Tenors segundo are Bishop Vicente Navarra, with Frs. Salvador Barcelona, Francisco Perez, Joevic Lemoncito, Rene Gaylon, Jonathan Borromeo, Diosdado Latoza, Narciso dela Cruz, Nitodel Soriano, Jose Ember Tuesday Tiongson, Rafael Baja, Jose Rey Exerima, Abenir Pineda, Tomas Tan, Romulo Mendoza, Armando Onion, Breathren Eye Gamala, Fred Guadalupe, Jerry Vel Celestial, and Arnold Delentina.
The baritones are Msgr. Rivas, JCD Virgilio and Frs. Edwin Cadena, Orlando Gargar, Filomeno Duaban Jr., Raymond Asoy, Nomeriano Esporsado, Segundino Chua III, Jose Louie Media, Julius Espinosa, Danilo Cenal, Virgilio Mahinay, Jitchel Villar and Alex Araneta.
Bass singers are Msgr. Melicor and Frs. Alsonsito Arroja, Alan Parreno, Chris Gonzales, Jude Serimo, Jeoffrey Flores, Joseble Mangubat, Belarmino Rene Obordo, Ivan Victor Intong, and Aniceto Buenafe.
Also in the concert are seminary rector Jesmar Manato and Frs. Joy Jimenra, Louie Gabines, Ernie Larida, Dimitri Gatia, Mimes Rita, Ireino Gordoncillo, Julian Bermejo, Farley Rey Santillan, and Alex Magbanua.
Clergymen from Negros Oriental and Iloilo are also scheduled to join the alumni reunion of the Bacolod diocesan seminary.
So, it’s not just a secular Masskara; there are also the religious facets of this year’s celebration in Bacolod.
That’s the reason why most hotels admitted that they have been booked solid for the week. But then local residents are also willing to host visitors in their homes.
But the most important spectacle is that Bacolodnons seem unmindful of the global financial crisis.