Catchfire and Chan’s concert wow Davao’s lay, religious

The 20th of November 2016 was an eventful day in Davao City. Davaoeños enjoyed two concerts in one Sunday!

The Catchfire 2016 event in the morning was a joint project by the Couples for Christ (CFC), Familia, Holy Trinity Community (HTC), and Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP), and their sub-communities headed by Noel Dacalos, Jun Limbaga, Ceazar Mozar and Rodolfo Lorena, respectively. The theme for this year’s event is “All for the King”.

This thought-of concert was materialized as an offshoot of an idea 2 years ago when the 4th Catchfire concert in Araneta Coliseum was held and was attended by Dr. Magno, the Area Managing Director of BCBP, to bring the family-based, Christic event to the families, especially to the youth of Davao.

And so last year, the first Catchfire concert was held here in the Almendras Gym but with the performers directly imported from Metro Manila. However, this year’s prayer concert was performed by the talent groups of different local communities forging partnerships to bring about such success.

CATCHFIRE 2016
The prayer concert at PWC RSM Event Center commenced with a healing mass at 11:00 A.M.; a celebration of the Eucharist at 1:00 P.M. by celebrators, Fr. Paul Quison and Fr. Gio Santos; and the concert from 2:00 P.M. until 6:00 in the evening with 4 sharers and the keynote speaker, Atty. Bobby Acosta Quitain, in between.

Catchfire will be launched today, November 27 in Cebu.

CHAN’s CONCERT
Later in the evening, for 3 hours starting 7:00 P.M. at the SMX Convention Center, Davaoeños were serenaded by Mr. Jose Mari Chan with melodious songs from the heart which were all too familiar that the audience could not help but, sing with him.

However, what made the concert really heart-felt was Mr. Chan and his family’s generosity of talents, compliments, time and resources. He and his 3 kids sang songs that told of their humble beginnings, especially pertaining to Mr. Chan’s experiences – his life and love stories along the way which mold him as a person, and how his faith played its part. His introductory statement even was about how Davao had made a mark in his heart by being the first city he visited and performed back in the 60s.

The concert was a fund-raising event for the expansion of the Sacred Heart Parish in Barrio Obrero, for which Mr. Chan personally donated P 500, 000 out of the needed P 5 million pesos.

Chan sang with the local student performers, went around mingling and engaging with the audience to sing with him and spent way past his concert time to interact and do fan signs for his fans.

Songs from last night’s repertoire included “Deep in my Heart”, “Constantly”, “Mr. Songwriter”, “Afraid for Love to Fail”, “A Love to Last a Lifetime”, “Please Be Careful with my Heart”, “Christmas Moments”, “Let Love Be Your Gift”, and many more. Most of such songs were made because of his love for his wife, socio-political events he endured in his life’s journey and his new Christmas album after many years.

Looking back at Mr. Chan’s concert, one cannot help but think how St. Ignatius was right in saying that humility is the mother of all virtues. Looking at Mr. Chan’s humbleness despite his achievements, especially in his behavior towards his fans and to the Church, it is no wonder why he is so blessed, loved and successful. In turn, by his presence and performance, the crowd felt equally blessed and loved, and some others, in love. (Sam Ajoc & Manilee Araune | HTC correspondents)