When the first Spanish missionaries came to the Philippines in the 16th century, the colonizers used art to propagate the Catholic faith through beautiful images.

Given the language barrier, communication was a problem, and the friars used visual images – paintings, statues, engravings – to explain the concepts behind Catholicism, and tell stories of God’s life and passion.

Music, especially liturgical music, was another medium by which they evangelized. It is believed that the history of Christian religious music in the Philippines began when the first mass in the country was celebrated on March 31, 1521, Easter Sunday on the arrival of Magellan and his party. And it was during this occasion that the natives were able to hear the chants of a mass for the first time.

As they spread the faith, the friars celebrated the liturgy using Gregorian chant, polyphonic Masses and motets, and hymns, all in Latin. Gradually, they instructed the islanders not only in singing, but in playing instruments like the guitar, violin, flute, harp, and later on the organ.

As more and more around the country embraced Christianity, Latin liturgical celebrations in church later found expression songs in Spanish and gradually included songs in their own vernacular language.

As such liturgical music flourished in the country, especially in the province of Pampanga, where the faith remains strong to this day. Mallgoers got a glimpse of Kapampangan Sacred Music when My City, My SM, My Music made a stop at SM city Pampanga.

The event featured the blessed musical journey of the Father of Kapampangan music Msgr. Gregorio Lazatin Canlas working hand in hand with the Mirabilia Dei Foundation Inc. foundress Mrs. Consuelo Mendoza in molding the next generation of Mirabilia Dei Children’s Choir also known as Betis Children’s Choir.

A joint project of SM, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, the Filipino Heritage Festival, WCOPA, and the Philippine Star with support from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the National Music for Young Artists (NAMCYA), and Tahanan Books, My City, My SM, My Music is a celebration of Philippine Performing Arts – music, dance, and theater.

The campaign aims to bring people and music together by showcasing indigenous, folk, classical, and contemporary artistry in a roadshow around the SM Supermalls. Advocating music for all, we are working with communities to mount performances, exhibits, and workshops in key cities around the Philippines.

The program hosted by DJ Tyra Mendoza-Vitug of RW 95.1 FM, opened with a chorale performance of the seasons of the church by Mirabilia Dei Children’s Choir composed by Msgr. Gregorio Lazatin Canlas. The Liturgical Season—Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent, and Easter—is the annual cycle of seasons and days observed in the Christian churches in commemoration of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and of his virtues as exhibited in the lives of the saints.

Guests from the local government, Religious and musical community enjoyed the presentation led by Municipality of Guagua Mayor Anthony Joseph Torres, City of San Fernando Vice Mayor Benedict Jasper Ramos Lagman, and City of San Fernando Administrator Engr. Nelson Lingat, representative of City of San Fernando Mayor Vilma Balle-Caluag as well as City of San Fernando Tourism Officer Ms. Ching Pangilinan.

Also present were guests from the Archdiocese of San Fernando led by Archbishop Emeritus Most Rev. Paciano B. Aniceto, D.D. together with Sister Myra S. Dalisay, OP, secretary to the Office of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of San Fernando, Pampanga and Rev. Kristian Rei D. Cayanan, secretary to the Archbishop of San Fernando in Pampanga.

Talking  music were St. Scholastica’s College Dean of Music Sister Agnella Capili, OSB and President Sr. M. Christine Pinto, OSB., who gives Music scholarship to students of the Mirabilia De Foundation , and Mirabilia Dei Foundation Inc. Board of Trustees Members Dra. Leleng Santiago, Teresita Guanzon, Angelita Bondoc, Honorata Serrano, Carmina Seranno and Myrna Bituin.

They were all warmly welcomed by SM executives led by SM’s Millie Dizon with SVP for Operations North Luzon Engr Junias Eusebio, Regional Operations Manager for North 4 Andrea Madlangbayan-Rodriguez, SM City Pampanga Mall Manager Aaron Montenegro and Assistant Mall Manager Charm Bacani.

Another highlight of the launch was a performanceof the Mirabila Dei String Orchestra who serenaded the guests and mallgoers.  

Most Kapampangans are devout Roman Catholics and this faith is deeply embedded in Pampanga’s rich culture and tradition.

It was not surprising that Msgr. Gregorio Lazatin Canlas, was exposed both to music and the liturgy at a very young age. Both his parents Justo Pineda Canlas and Victoria Santos Lazatin were actively serving in the church as musicians in the town of Santo Tomas.

Growing up in this milieu, Msgr. Greg learned how to read notes and eventually learned how to play the piano using piano methods as a child.

After graduating from Grade 6 at Sto. Tomas Elementary School, Msgr. Greg immediately entered the seminary in 1956 and graduated from the then Mater Boni Consili Seminary located in Apalit. He then took Philosophy at San Carlos Seminary in Makati where he finished Theology Studies. He was ordained on December 23, 1967.

Msgr. Greg believes that his journey as a composer of Kapampangan Liturgical music was Divine intervention. After college, he was assigned as an interim for music at Mother of Good Counsel Seminary where he started to compose.

During the Pinatubo years, between 1991 to 1999, Msgr. Greg became the Pastor at Betis Church actively teaching the people and encouraging them to sing, showing his kabalen how music heals and uplifts one’s spirits.

Mrs. Consuelo J. Mendoza, on the other hand, was the head catechist and active in the choir, when she founded Mirabilia Dei Foundation Incorporated.  It was her passion for music and strong faith that led her to Msgr. Greg Canlas, and their eventual collaboration with his music and the Mirabilia Dei Foundation. With God’s grace, they created “wonderful things,” through the Mirabilia Dei Foundation Children’s Choir as the name ‘Mirabilia” means.

The Mirabilia Dei Foundation Inc is composed of the board of trustees and the Mirabilia Dei Children’s Choir (MDCC), also known as Betis Children’s Choir.

The MDCC holds their regular rehearsals every Sunday at Apu Telo’s residence under the guidance of Msgr. Greg to learn new pieces and practice in a conducive setting. Today, the choir has 37 members, who are taught not only to sing, but also taught to play the string instruments: the violin, cello and the double neck bass.

It’s a magical moment when the choir sings their praises accompanied by the magnificent Bamboo Pipe Organ at the Betis Church. Standing 4.6 meters tall and 2.4 meters wide, it is the country’s second Bamboo Pipe Organ built 195 years after Augustinian priest Diego Cera completed the original world-famous Bamboo Organ at the St. Joseph Parish Church in Las Pinas.

The My City, My SM, My Music event in Pampanga is the fourth stop in the series after the grand launch at SM City North EDSA honoring National Artist for Music Ramon Pagayon Santos, followed by SM City Olongapo Central featuring the classical music of Coke Bolipata and SM City Marilao’s Tribute to National Artists Francisca Aquino and Ernani Cuenco. Its next stop will be at SM City Masinag on March 18-27.