Letter to the editor - Preserving Cebuano music

Dear Sir Dodong and Inday Nena:

Greeting of Peace and Happiness!

I contemplate on how to express my warmest gratitude and appreciation on account of your invitation to Sugbuanong Kanta last February 28, 2007. And, it is fitting to write you, because I am convinced it is worthy to express - though words are not enough to capture - such mesmerizing event. And, by not doing so, I believe that it is such crass and breathless promptness that takes away a great deal of the pleasure of the correspondence.

It is said that, "after silence that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." And, after such musical event, I cannot help but be thankful also to the author of music Himself. With great sense of gratitude, my personal awareness and growing sense of developing and cultivating Cebuano love and harmony expressed through songs, create in me a zealous endeavor too that in my own way in this ministry I could also contribute to the need of spreading such task of bringing it back to the cebuano hearts and pride. And, that cannot just simply make me be silent about it.

And, lastly, I believe that music streams also in your veins. That is why, I am thankful too that there are people like you who are supportive of such endeavor to preserve Cebuano music - which is our pride and speaks a lot of our cultural background and identity.

Sir Dodong and Inday Nena, from my heart that overflows with gratitude to God... and, with an overwhelming experience which I owe from you (for such a wonderful invitation), I simply express and exude that it was a night indeed to remember!

God bless and more power to you...

With prayers and blessings,

(Sgd.) Rev. Fr. Gerardo E. Matela
Parish Priest
Sto. Niño Parish
Guba, Cebu City

(Sgd.) Rev. Fr. Roland A.A. B. Torres
Priest-in-Mission
c/o Sto. Niño Parish
Guba, Cebu City