Christmas Caroling in the Philippines featuring the Don Galo Coop Choir

The initial reaction from the office clerks of Don Galo Cooperative (Paranaque City, Manila, Philippines) was infectious as it drew some interested members with 'voice' (take note) in order to partake in this holiday endeavor.

Creating a choir for the first time in a cooperative can be tiresome. This hubber, being the newest member of the coop took a nod to act as the main guitar man of the group composed mostly of working mothers and some golden ladies (active elders in their sixties).

We are lucky to have the presence of some parish choir members and balikbayans (from the USA and Canada) who are enjoying their stay in the country.

The practice started on December 2nd and we did it every night until the 9th day of the month. The three ladies at the office plus the resident manager of coop and handpicked members practice with lots of enthusiasm coupled with vocal adjustments and calisthenics that each one of us tried hard to master.

In a span of eight days, we were able to come up with sets of Christmas music, ranging from Filipino and English traditional songs up to some contemporary selections.

Choices for Christmas songs to be sung by Don Galo Christmas Choir:

1. Bati Nami'y Merry Christmas (Christmas Greetings)/Himig ng Pasko (Christmas Hymn)/Feliz Navidad;
2. Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit (Christmas arrives)/Pasko na namang muli (It's Christmastime again)/Feliz Navidad;
3. Oh, Come All Ye Faithful/Gloria En Excelsis Dio (Glory in the Highest);
4. Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit na Naman (Christmas is here once again) Medley/We Wish You A Merry Christmas;
5. Christmas in our Hearts (Contemporary); and
6. Winter Wonderland.

The 10th day of December saw the Don Galo Coop choir started roaming the main streets of the county according to the scheduled house-to-house caroling.

An invitation letter was already sent to each recipient and a text confirmation was also sent for further clarification.

So there, the group will choose what set of Christmas songs will be sang infront of a particular house.

We visited the aforementioned residences at around 6:30 PM or 7:00 PM, before dinner. As the member of the household signals for approval to sing, we will agree to the selected set of Christmas songs we will render for the particular family.

The first night saw us visiting more than 5 households then the succeeding three nights, we were able to visit and sing for 10 households respectively.

The proceeds of our initial venture this year for the holidays will be for gift-giving. The Christmas party will be held on the 16th so, we still have ample time to prepare for the next activity for the party.

Christmas caroling in the Philippines is fun. It's a tradition we shouldn't miss. Even the children are going excited once they hear Christmas songs being sang along the streets by carolers. They also imitate what their parents, older brothers and sisters are doing for the church and for the organization sharing the advocacy to help less-fortunate families through the money collected during the said endeavor.

GLORY TO THE HIGHEST...this is the Good News coming from the host of angels who gathered over the manger where the Son of God, Jesus, was born in Bethlehem thousands of years ago.

The shepherds who are watching and guarding their flocks of sheep and other pasture animals during the special night were awed at the grandeur of shining creatures (angelic host) who sang the first Christmas carol in order to spread the news regarding the coming of the Lord on Earth.

PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TO MEN...The whole world rejoices as the star of Bethlehem shone brightly and signaled that the Son of God came down to Earth in order to save us from sins, as the prophecy reverberated by the prophets becomes real.

Although there are lots of challenges that were faced by the human parents, Joseph and Mary, of the Lord Jesus, still, God's promise to bring His children back to Heaven is eminent up to these days.

Christmas carols remind us of that solemn promise. From country to country, Christian believers will always include such act of praise by remembering the wonderful promise that will surely get us back to Him through the songs we are singing during Christmas season.