21/12/2025
Tacloban Stake and Sinirangan Chamber Singers "Light the World" in Collaborative Concert
The Tacloban Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was transformed into a majestic concert hall on Saturday night, December 20, 2025. Just five days before Christmas, the venue was filled with the glow of holiday lights and the resonant echoes of sacred music as the community gathered for a night of inter-faith celebration.
The evening’s program was a centerpiece of the annual "Light the World" initiative, featuring a collaboration between the Tacloban Stake Choir led by its music director, Sister Jean Calidayan-Operio, and the multi-awarded Sinirangan Chamber Singers. This group of vocal virtuosos, hailing from across the Eastern Visayas region, brought a professional brilliance that perfectly complemented the heartfelt performances of church members.
The repertoire spanned from traditional Filipino carols that stirred local nostalgia to soaring, classically-arranged hymns.
Reflecting a spirit of unity, the audience included not only members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but also representatives from various faiths and local media. Notable guests in attendance included Brother Alfonso Marzol, President of the Board of Trustees for Christ Is King Mission Fellowship International, along with veteran journalists Roel Amazona (RMN Tacloban/Leyte Samar Daily Express) and Jaime Gravador (K5 News FM Tacloban).
Stake President Jhumer Operio emphasized in his opening remarks that the Light the World initiative is a global Christmas campaign by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints encouraging people to celebrate Jesus Christ's birth by serving others, echoing His message of love and light.
"The spirit of Christmas is more than the spirit of giving. It is the overall spirit and sense of becoming Christlike," he said.
Dane Triste, conductor and artistic director of Sinirangan Chamber Singers thanked the church for welcoming the group.
"We come from different professional and religious backgrounds, but we are welcomed with openness," Treste said.
For Marzol, the event was "truly amazing—well organized, beautifully executed, and a wonderful showcase of diverse talents through music and dance, all thoughtfully centered on the Christmas season."
"As born-again Christians, what touched us most was the spirit of unity present throughout the evening. Despite our different backgrounds, we were joyfully in one accord in celebrating the same Jesus—the true Light of the World. That shared focus on Christ made the experience even more meaningful and memorable," Marzol added.
Talented vocalists and dancers from various wards within the Tacloban Stake completed the lineup, their talents acting as a reminder to Light the World this Christmas season.
📸Photo credit: North Caguicla
Ken Baqueros Agner
