HIMIG Choir Legazpi City, Albay,Philippines

"Serving God with love through music since 1986"..

BACKGROUND:

With eight people who hardly know each other started it all. They are the Aycardo sisters namely, Doris ( who is now a nun ) and Celeste ( a Special Education (SPED)teacher in PAGASA, Rawis, Legazpi City) and their brother Fernando (working in Sunwestville Realty & Dev't. Corp.), Ricky daet (working in COMELEC), Lito Asejo (working in BAYANTEL). Tess Barcebal-Asejo ( a loving wife to Lito Asejo and the first couple to marry within the group), Allan Belga (Electrical Engr. who's presently abroad ) and Jess Longares ( a Philippine Navy).

They all came from different church organizations and with their personalities, background and perseverance a choir was formed. With only determination and sincere desire to serve the community, church and God, the group went through many tests when they finally convened to form this group. On November 16, 1986 after the mass service, a meeting was held to formally launched the choir and it's name. Fr. Rey Daet (who was then a seminarian) suggested " RAFIEL" as it's name after the patron saint St. Raphael Archangel, then "TINIG" by Celeste Aycardo-Omanga and "HIMIG" by Jill Manlangit, a visitor and a friend of Olive, sister of Ricky Daet. Then finally, HIMIG CHOIR was born.

Filled with eagerness to be of service, they continued to struggle through diligent services in and out of the parish. They even sufferred insults, discriminations, misunderstandings and discouragements. But their being intelligent and matured, enabled them to recognize the advantages of accepting those trials positively and wholeheartedly. They considered those difficulties as an aid to make them more united and ever patient to go on the way of serving the Lord. After a year of continued strife, the whole community began recognizing the choir as a true servant of the church. By then on, this choir bears a good promising name in tha parish. The group's schedule are Wednesday, First Friday and Sunday 6:00am mass. Through the untiring efforts of it's members, they elevated themselves from their ordinary routines by doing a lot of activities such as vocal trainings, prayer meetings, recollections, outreach programs, sports fest and evaluations. These series of activities contributed much to the personality development of each member. By actively and unconditionally participating in every activity of the group, an individual member starts to experience the reality of his/her existence as a normal person, gifted with different talents and abilities to express one's feelings and sentiments, thus making a well-rounded and matured personality. HIMIG Choir is a NO-VICE GROUP. "To continue being a member, stay away from any vices, fraternities or sororities!" says one Himig Choir officer. So parents should not worry about their childrens' whereabouts. They are in good hands with the group, and they will never go wrong.

PRESENT ACTIVITIES:

The group is now composed of young and adult individuals.

Now the regular services of the group are Wednesday (5:30pm novena mass at St Raphael), Thursday (5:15pm novena mass at St Jude), Saturday (6:00pm Anticipated mass at LCC , Sunday (8am and 930am Sunday mass at St. Jude) and Sunday 5:00pm( Sunday mass at St. Raphael church). And Special services like weddings, funerals, etc.)

The group also now participates in many activities outside the parish, like choir competitions which makes the choir even more popular that's why many couples who are getting married get the group's service on their wedding.

On November 16, 2011, the HIMIG Choir will be celebrating it's 25th Golden Anniversary.