Twelve parishes unite in the concert ‘Colours of Love’
The Sariling H.I.M.I.G. Choir, a registered non-profit organization, is collaborating with the dynamic Fr. Art Mateo in its very first-ever concert, which will be held on February 22, 2020 at the California Education and Performing Arts Center in Ontario, CA.
Fr. Mateo, who is based in the Philippines, has inspired choir singers for 12 parishes to raise funds to support Bahay Bata, Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Montclair, and St. Oscar Romero’s Church Building Fund Campaign. Bahay Bata (Save the Children) is an organization that provides food, clothing, shelter and education to roughly 300 less fortunate children from the streets of Bulacan and Manila, Philippines.
The concert, dubbed as “Colours of Love,” is a collaborative effort of choir members from 12 different parishes in the Diocese of San Bernardino and Riverside who have organized H.I.M.I.G., which stands for “Healing in Music is a Gift.”
The group’s enthusiasm to help others through music was formalized in just 10 months.
Members voted and unanimously decided to name the group Sariling HIMIG in March 2019 and late last year, HIMIG registered as a non-profit public benefit corporation with the state of California and with the IRS as a non-profit organization, so sponsorships for the group’s efforts are tax-deductible.
Churches represented are Corpus Christi – Corona, St. Oscar Romero- Eastvale, Our Lady of Lourdes – Montclair, Sacred Heart – Rancho Cucamonga, San Secondo d’Asti – Ontario, St Anthony – Upland, St Catherine of Alexandria- Riverside, St George – Ontario, St Frances of Rome – Wildomar, St Margaret Mary – Chino, St Paul the Apostle- Chino and St Thomas – Riverside.
HIMIG members have been part of the Pagdiriwang Choir of the Diocese of San Bernardino since 2012, the Assumption Choir and had performed in the February 2019 “ASIN ng LUPA” Concert at St George in Ontario with Noy Pillora, co-founder of ASIN, a Pinoy folk-rock band from the Philippines.
Additional performers include: Vhen Bautista aka Chino Romero, an award-winning singer and composer dubbed the “Prince of Ilocano Songs”; 18-year-old Mikaela Bautista, a pre-nursing student and Gaward Amerika awardee; 19-year-old Kaylen Wenzel, a past member of the Madrigals Centennial Choir; and Chloe Jane Reyes, a singer and stage actress whose repertoire encompasses opera, radio, as well as show tunes.
Currently, HIMIG extended their services to other parishes, singing every month during Filipino masses at St Margaret Mary-Chino on first Saturdays at 7 p.m. with Fr. Joseph Pilotin officiating; Our Lady of Lourdes-Montclair on the second and third Sundays at 12 p.m. with Fr. Clarence Saldua; and at St Anthony-Upland every last Saturday of the month at 7 p.m. with Fr. Gerald Vidad.
Witness the joy of music that brought together these individuals in “Colours of Love” on February 22. Tickets are $20. Email [email protected] for more information.
Sariling HIMIG will also be performing at Asia Pacific Fashion Week on April 25 in North Hollywood, as well as the Travel Trade and Consumer Expo on August 8 at the Pasadena Convention Center.
