The ''Bukas Palad'' Music Ministry (

Filipino Filipino may refer to: * Something from or related to the Philippines ** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines. ** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...

for "generous"; literally, "open palm") is a

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, contemporary worship musical group in the Philippines that composes, records, and performs original

religious music Religious music (also sacred music) is a type of music that is performed or composed for religious use or through religious influence. It may overlap with ritual music, which is music, sacred or not, performed or composed for or as ritual. Relig ...

. Since 1986, ''Bukas Palad'' has recorded over a dozen albums with the Jesuit Music Ministry of

Jesuit Communications Foundation Jesuit Communications Foundation (JesCom) is the media arm of the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus. JesCom was founded in 1995 by the late Rev. Fr. James B. Reuter, S.J. It is based in the Society of Jesus, Jesuit Ateneo de Manila U ...

, a ministry of the Philippine Province of the

Society of Jesus , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

, based in

Ateneo de Manila University , mottoeng = Light in the Lord , type = Private, research, non-profit, coeducational basic and higher education institution , established = December 10, 1859 , religious_affiliation = Roman Catholic ( Jesuits) , academic ...

. The group has performed in over a hundred solo concerts across the country and overseas in Japan, Hong Kong, the United States, and Canada.

History

Norman Agatep, Jandi Arboleda, and Rev Fr. Manoling Francisco SJ began writing liturgical songs as high school students. Their songs were eventually popularised through use in Catholic

Mass Mass is an intrinsic property of a body. It was traditionally believed to be related to the quantity of matter in a physical body, until the discovery of the atom and particle physics. It was found that different atoms and different eleme ...

es and other liturgical services nationwide. After Francisco joined the Society of Jesus in 1986, Agatep and Arboleda gathered some friends to sing at a wedding. This group continued singing and soon recorded their first album of original songs, entitled "''Bukas Palad''", which also became the group's name.

Music

''Bukas Palad'' has produced well over a hundred original liturgical and inspirational songs composed by Agatep, Arboleda, Francisco, and other members, as well as setting text to music like various Biblical passages and religious poems. Very few of Bukas Palad's members received formal musical training, yet over the years they have become a significant force in the Filipino music industry. The group has also written hymns popular in the Philippines, such as "''Hindî Kitá Malílimutan''" ("I Will Not Forget You"), "''Tanging Yaman''" ("Only Treasure"), "''Sa 'Yo Lamang''" ("Only Yours"), " Anima Christi", "''Humayo't Ihayág''" ("Go Forth and Proclaim") and "I Will Sing Forever". Many of their musical settings for portions of the Mass, such as the Gloria, the

Lord's Prayer The Lord's Prayer, also called the Our Father or Pater Noster, is a central Christian prayer which Jesus taught as the way to pray. Two versions of this prayer are recorded in the gospels: a longer form within the Sermon on the Mount in the Gosp ...

, and the ''

Agnus Dei is the Latin name under which the " Lamb of God" is honoured within the Catholic Mass and other Christian liturgies descending from the Latin liturgical tradition. It is the name given to a specific prayer that occurs in these liturgies, and ...

'', are popular throughout the country. Popular Filipino artists like Lea Salonga,

Regine Velasquez Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez ( ; born April 22, 1970) is a Filipina singer, actress, and record producer. She is considered one of the most influential figures in Philippine popular culture and is known for her vocal range and beltin ...

, Gary Valenciano, Basil Valdez,

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Joey Albert Joey Albert (born March 19, 1960) is a Filipina pop and jazz singer, musician, lyricist, and songwriter. An alumna of St. Theresa's College Manila and Assumption College San Lorenzo, she began her professional singing career in 1981. In 1982, she ...

, Cooky Chua, and

Noel Cabangon Noel Gadiano Cabangon (born December 25, 1963) is a Filipino folk singer and composer, known for composing socially-relevant songs. In 1987, he formed the group ''Buklod'' together with Rene Boncocan and Rom Dongeto. Early life Noel Gadiano Cab ...

have also covered and popularised the group's songs. ''Bukas Palad'' has been featured in various media including

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television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertisin ...

, and film. ''Bukas Palad'' pieces have become theme songs and spawned films and television shows, such as the film '' Tanging Yaman'' and the 2010 series, and the 2010 film '' Sa 'Yo Lamang''. The group conducts liturgical music workshops for parish communities and choral groups, as well as outreach activities for the marginalised like the elderly, orphans, the sick, and the imprisoned. Outside of liturgical use, ''Bukas Palad'' is also a highly acclaimed performing group, having staged concerts in churches, theatres, concert halls, convention centers, and shopping malls.

Discography

Albums

* ''Bukas Palad'' (1986) * ''Pasko Na!'' (1987) * ''Tanging Yaman'' (1989) * ''Balang Araw'' (1992) * ''In Him Alone'' (1995) * ''The Best of Bukas Palad Vol. 1'' (1997) * ''The Best of Bukas Palad Vol. 2'' (1997) * ''Pasko Na!'' (1999) * ''All Shall Be Well'' (2002) * ''Tinapay ng Buhay'' (2002) * ''Let Your Praises Be Heard'' (2003) * ''God of Silence'' (2005) * ''Hindi Kita Malilimutan'' (2007) * ''To Love & Serve'' (2009) * ''Christify'' (2010) * ''Sing Forever'' (2011) * ''Light From Light'' (2012) * ''Behold the Child'' (2013) * ''Huwag Kang Mangamba'' (2014) * ''Behold the Cross'' (2016) * ''Behold the Risen Lord'' (2019) * ''If I Could Touch You: Songs and Prayers for Healing and New Hope'' (2020) * ''Poong Jesus Nazareno'' (2021)

Collaborations

*Narito Ako (Praise Inc., 1985) *Likhawit: Isang Handog (Praise Inc., 1993) *Tell The World Of His Love (Praise Inc., 1994) *Jubilaeum 2000: In The Fullness Of Time (Star Music, 2000) *Far Greater Love (JesCom Music, 2000) *Something More: Songs For Skeptics (JesCom Music, 2001) *Luceat Lux (Xavier School Music Greenhills, 2002) *Huwag Mangamba (JesCom Music, 2002) *Noel (JesCom Music, 2003) *Mga Mysterio Ng Liwanag (Universal Records, 2003) *Kapayapaan (JesCom Music, 2004) *Born Diva (Star Music, 2004) *Red Cross: I Move, I Give, I Love (Star Music, 2009) *Only In Love (JesCom Music, 2009) *Mercy And Compassion: Songs for Pope Francis (JesCom Music, 2015) *Mass of Mercy And Compassion: Songs from the Luneta Papal Mass (JesCom Music, 2015)

Bukas Palad Popular Singles

*"Tanging Yaman" (also covered by Carol Banawa) *"Sa Yo Lamang "(also covered by Joey Albert) *"Humayot Ihayag' *"Free" (a song finalist on ''Himig Handog PPop Loves Song'') *"Prayer of Rupert Mayer"

Awards and citations

*2019

Catholic Mass Media Awards The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

**Best Religious Album, ''Behold The Risen Lord'' - nominee *27th Awit Awards (2014) **Best Christmas Song, ''Tahanan'' (by Gino Torres, from ''Behold The Child'') - nominee *2013

**Best Religious Album, ''Light From Light'' - nominee *25th Awit Awards (2012) **Best Inspirational Religious Song, ''Sing Forever/Magsiawit Magpakailanman'' (by Norman Agatep and Roy Tolentino, from ''Sing Forever'') - nominee *2010

**Best Religious Album, ''To Love & Serve'' - nominee *23rd Awit Awards (2010) **Best Inspirational Religious Song, ''Iukit Ang 'Yong Batas'' (from ''To Love & Serve album'') - nominee *2008

**Best Religious Album, ''Hindi Kita Malilimutan'' - winner *2006

**Best Religious Album, ''God of Silence'' - nominee *19th Awit Awards (2006) **Best Performance by a Group, ''Servant Song'' (fr. God of Silence album) - nominee **Best Vocal Arrangement, ''Servant Song'' (fr. God of Silence album) - nominee (Palan Reyes, arranger) *17th Aliw Awards (2004) **Best Choral Group - nominee *2004 Catholic Mass Media Awards **Best Religious Album, ''Let Your Praises Be Heard'' - nominee *17th Awit Awards **Best Inspirational Religious Song, ''Awit sa Ina ng Santo Rosario'' (with

Karylle Ana Karylle Padilla Tatlonghari (born March 22, 1981), known mononymously as a Karylle, is a Filipino singer, actress, TV host and musical theatre performer. She is heralded as "''OPMs Showbiz Royalty''". She notably received a nomination for ...

) - winner **Best Inspirational Religious Song, ''We Are Yours'' (by Noel Miranda, from ''Let Your Praises Be Heard album'') - nominee

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bukas Palad Music Ministry Filipino choirs Filipino Roman Catholics Musical groups established in 1986 1986 establishments in the Philippines Performers of contemporary worship music