SILANG – CAVITE, On the 11th of October 2026, seminarians from the Saint Paul Seminary Foundation showcased their musical talents through ‘Tinig at Pananalig,’ a sacred music recital, featuring instrumental performances that reflect their appreciation of music as an expression of one’s faith.
Tinig at Pananalig is held as the culminating activity for the Music and Instruments subject. It marked the conclusion of 18 classroom sessions dedicated to developing the students’ knowledge in music and acquisition of the necessary instrumental skills.
In her opening and welcome remarks, subject area professor Ma’am Cristy Arienda, emphasized that the recital was more than just a demonstration of musical skills. Drawing from St. Augustine’s teaching that singing well is praying twice, she reflected on how playing an instrument for the Lord well, can likewise become an avenue for prayer and service. “It is not merely an artistic performance or a demonstration of skills, but a window to the human heart,†she added.
Featured also in the Tinig at Pananalig, were guitar and organ performances by the seminarians, alongside a classical piano presentation by Judsen Virata, and a violin intermession featuring Cailin Reyes and Jill. Koro de Santo Rosario also enriched the program with their choral performances, complementing the instrumental pieces through sacred music.
Each of the performances became a reflection and testament of what has been learned so far and the skills developed throughout the semester. In the closing intermission number, all recitalists joined hand-in-hand with Koro de Santo Rosario, in a solemn rendition of the Prayer of Rupert Mayer, which brought everyone together in a shared musical offering.
In his closing and thanksgiving remarks, Fr. Norman Melchor Peña Jr., SSP, Rector and Dean of Studies, recalled a lesson from his fourth-grade years when he learned that music is the art of combining tones in a manner that is pleasing to the ears. He then related this definition to his priestly journey, where music is a narrative that accompanies us all through different experiences, including our moments of sadness, anger, loneliness, and love.
Fr. Norman likened each of us to a musical note, distinct in character yet contributing to a greater harmony, that, in a similar way, people become part of one another’s journeys. Each leaving a mark on the stories that we share—the stories that we all belong to.
What a day has it been. True enough, all journeys lead to an end. Tinig at Pananalig did not only serve as a finals’ requirement, but ultimately, in the bigger picture and the greater scheme of things, it became an offering of faith and the gifts nurtured through patience and practice.
For at the end of the day, as long as we, in the Divine Master remain, our hearts, surely, will find its rest.
By Gerick Tolentino
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