Singing Priests of Tagbilaran

Infobox musical artist
Name =Singing Priests of Tagbilaran


Img_capt =The Singing Priests of Tagbilaran or SPOT
Img_size =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines
Genre = Religious
Pop
Jazz
Years_active = 1998 – Present
Label = DartPro, LLC
Associated_acts =Chorus Paulinus
Singing Priests of San Francisco
URL = [http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pageartist.cfm?bandID=648617 Singing Priests of Tagbilaran]
Current_members =2003
Arnold Zamora
Melchisedech E. Monreal
Irvin B. Garsuta
Justino H. Estoque, Jr.
Bonifacio G. Espeleta, Jr.
Jeffrey P. Malanog
Joseph Swanee Skelton, Jr.
Past_members =1998
Arnold Zamora
Melchisedech E. Monreal
Justino H. Estoque, Jr.
Bonifacio G. Espeleta, Jr.
Jeffrey P. Malanog
Petronilo "Jun" Ligtas, Jr.|
Notable_instruments =The Singing Priests of Tagbilaran or SPOT [ [http://www.acronymattic.com/results.aspx?q=SPOT What does SPOT stand for?] Acronym Attic search] is a group of Catholic priests from Bohol, Philippines. In addition to preaching sermons they also evangelize from the stage in songs and dances.

The Singing Priests of Tagbilaran were formed in 1998 by Paring Bol-anon Fathers Arnold Zamora, Melchisedech "Edick" E. Monreal, Justino "Loy" H. Estoque, Jr., Bonifacio "Boy" G. Espeleta, Jr., Jeffrey "Oloy" P. Malanog and Petronilo "Jun" Ligtas, Jr.

In 2003, the group was composed of Fathers Arnold Zamora, Melchisedech "Edick" E. Monreal, Irvin B. Garsuta, Justino "Loy" H. Estoque, Jr., Bonifacio "Boy" G. Espeleta, Jr., Jeffrey "Oloy" P. Malanog, Joseph Swanee Skelton, Jr., and pianist, Mr. Joseph D. Namoc.

History

The Singing Priests of Tagbilaran are all graduates of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary. The members come from different graduating classes and age groups, but all received their musical training from the same seminary.

With the common desire to share their talents along with their philosophy of joy, prayer and fun, they bonded together to form a singing group called SPOT (Singing Priests of Tagbilaran). The group is also named SPOTlight since they seek to bear "the light of Christ" to the world.

In the Philippines, SPOT has performed in many concerts. They were the main attraction in the diocesan production, HIUSATLO (three acting in unison). They staged a solo concert, Valentine's SPOTlight, at the Bohol Tropics Resort in February, 1998.

In the summer of 1998, they gave concerts for religious causes in the United States. They performed in many cities in California including San Francisco, South San Francisco, San Jose, Stockton, Los Angeles, Redwood City, Foster City, Santa Maria and Vallejo. They also performed in Seattle, WA and Las Vegas, NV. The proceeds from these series of benefit concerts in the United States was used as the seed money of the priests' standard living allowance, a monthly standard salary for priests in Bohol, Philippines.

Their debut album entitlled "Singing Priests of Tagbilaran", contains a repertoire of religious and popular songs in English, Tagalog and Cebuano. This album also highlights the works of Father Arnold Zamora, the group's musical arranger and accompanist. This compilation of songs portrays the universal message of love and peace. The blending of their voices characterizes human emotions of joy, hope, sorrow and understanding.

In 2003, the second batch of SPOT did concerts in San Francisco, California, Fairfield, California, Sacramento, CA, Stockton, CA, Houston, Texas, Chicago, Illinois, Orlando, Florida, Miami, Florida, West Palm Beach, Florida, and Los Angeles, California. Proceeds from the benefit were for the retired and sickly priests of the Diocese of Tagbilaran, Bohol. Ferdie S. Villar [http://www.asianjournal.com/print/pdfs/asianjpdf/sept_04/SF/0903_SF/p.17-sec2.pdf Tagbilaran Singing Priests perform at Star of the Sea Church on September 17] www.asianjournal.com Retrieved January, 2007. ] In addition, the proceeds were used for the health plan of the clergy.

Fr. Eugene D. Tungol, Pastor of the Epiphany Church in San Francisco, California was a major catalyst in all of SPOT's concerts in the U.S.

The founder

Arnold Zamora (born February 10, 1961) is a Filipino musician from Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines who has carved for himself a name in the national music industry as a singer, composer, arranger and conductor. As a seminarian at the UST Central seminary, he founded the "Psalterion Choir". At the University of the Philippines, he joined the Philippine Madrigal Singers or MADZ and is the founder of the Chorus Paulinus. [ [http://www.weddingpals.com/supplierpages/page_supplier.php?sid=102&PHPSESSID=c521c78e7336a7915da9eca7469a41d Chorus Paulinus] WeddingPals.com Retrieved 29 January, 2007. ] He is also the founder and music director of the Singing Priests of Tagbilaran. [http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pageartist.cfm?bandID=648617 Singing Priests of Tagbilaran] www.soundclick.com Retrieved 25 January, 2007. ]

Zamora has also conducted the Philippine Consulate Choir in San Francisco, [http://www.philippineconsulate-sf.org/news_rizal.htm "SF Consulate Commemorates Dr. Jose Rizal's 109th Death Anniversary"] Philippine Consulate News Retrieved 21 January, 2007.] the Filipino Priests Concert in San Francisco, California and FilAmusika, a group of Filipino and American young adults Zamora has recently formed. In addition, he is the music director of the Star of the Sea Parish and conducts the Stella Maris Choir of the said parish.

He currently works for the Archdiocese of San Francisco in San Francisco, California, U.S.. [ [http://home.catholicweb.com/sforeym/index.cfm/NewsItem?ID=137918&From=Home Office of Religious Education & Youth Ministry] San Francisco Parishes ] [ [http://www.zoominfo.com/Search/PersonDetail.aspx?PersonID=549626873 Reverend Arnold Zamora] at [http://www.zoominfo.com zoominfo.com] Retrieved 21 January, 2007. ] [ [http://www.catholic-sf.org/062504.html Clergy appointments and assignments] Catholic San Francisco June 25, 2004. ]

Discography

Album

References

Additional readings

* [http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pageartist.cfm?bandID=648617 Singing Priests of Tagbilaran] at [http://www.soundclick.com Soundclick.com]
* [http://www.fosni.com/?p=3 SPOT Concert July 2004] Friends of Sto. Niño, Inc.
* Ferdie S. Villar [http://www.asianjournal.com/print/pdfs/asianjpdf/sept_04/SF/0903_SF/p.17-sec2.pdf Tagbilaran Singing Priests perform at Star of the Sea Church on September 17] www.asianjournal.com

ee also

* Arnold Zamora
* Paring Bol-anon
* Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary

External links

* [http://www.esnips.com/web/spotlight Singing Priests of Tagbilaran]
* [http://www.esnips.com/_t_/zamora Arnold Zamora] at [http://www.esnips.com esnips.com]
* [http://www.esnips.com/_t_/arnold_zamora arnold_zamora] at [http://www.esnips.com esnips.com]
* [http://www.esnips.com/web/paringbolanonmusic Paring Bol-anon Music]
* [http://www.esnips.com/_t_/ihms Arnold Zamora in IHMS]
* [http://www.esnips.com/web/FrosMusic Fros Music]
* [http://www.soundclick.com/player/stations_player.cfm?q=hi&folderID=498177&shuffle=true&ref=9 Paring Bol-anon Music Station]
* [http://www.soundclick.com/player/stations_player.cfm?q=hi&folderID=508627&shuffle=true&ref=9 Musikang Bol-anon]