Singing Priests of Tagbilaran
| Singing Priests of Tagbilaran | |
|---|---|
 The Singing Priests of Tagbilaran or SPOT | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines |
| Genres |
Religious Pop Jazz |
| Years active | 1998 – Present |
| Labels | DartPro, LLC |
| Associated acts |
Chorus Paulinus Singing Priests of San Francisco |
| Website | Singing Priests of Tagbilaran |
| 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. |
The Singing Priests of Tagbilaran or SPOT[1] is a group of Catholic priests from Bohol, Philippines. In addition to preaching sermons they also evangelize from the stage in songs and dances.[2]
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.[3]
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.[2]
History
The group members are all graduates of Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, though from different years. Their debut album, entitled Singing Priests of Tagbilaran, came out in 1998.[3]
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.[4] He is also the founder and music director of the Singing Priests of Tagbilaran.[3]
Zamora has also conducted the Philippine Consulate Choir in San Francisco,[5] 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..[6][7][8]
Members
Melchisedech E. Monreal
Fr. Monreal is the lead vocalist of SPOT. He hails from Loon, Bohol, and is a product of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary and San Jose Seminary. He is currently serving in the Archdiocese of San Diego.
Irvin B. Garsuta
Fr. Garsuta is currently the music director of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary.
Justino H. Estoque, Jr.
Fr. Justino H. Estoque, Jr. is a graduate of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary. He is currently serving in the Holy Trinity Parish, Loay, Bohol in the Diocese of Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines.
Bonifacio G. Espeleta, Jr.
Fr. Bonifacio G. Espeleta, Jr. is a graduate of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary and of the Seminario Mayor de San Carlos in Cebu City, Philippines. He is currently serving in the Diocese of Tagbilaran.
Jeffrey P. Malanog
Msgr. Jeffrey P. Malanog is a product of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary and the Pontifical Seminary of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. He is currently the Vicar of the Diocese of Tagbilaran in Bohol, Philippines.
Joseph Swanee Skelton, Jr.
Fr. Skelton is an American from the musical city of Detroit, Michigan, USA. He was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Tagbilaran in Bohol on June 5, 2001. He is a gospel singer who has had many years of professional concert performances and recordings both in the U.S. and the Philippines since thirteen (13) years old. He was a member of the Donald Vails Choraleers, a Gospel music singing choir that is now in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. He has been a guest soloist on a number of albums, one being the Lead Me, Guide Me project of GIA Publications. Fr. Skelton has traveled with Bro. Bo Sanchez, a Catholic lay-evangelist to many of the provinces here in the Philippines who lead the masses in Praise and Worship. He has a solo album under Praise Records, Inc. entitled "Through Jesus We Have Victory", and he has been a guest soloist on countless albums as well as a featured singer on a number of music videos from RPN-9 Manila to CCTN-Channel 47 in Cebu City. Fr. Skelton's R & B style coupled with his Spirit-filled sharings help to make any concert a real encounter with the Living God. He is currently serving in Santa Monica Parish of the Diocese of Tagbilaran, in Alburquerque, Bohol, Philippines.
Past members
Petronilo "Jun" Ligtas, Jr.
Fr. Petronilo Ligtas, Jr. is a graduate of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary and the Seminario Mayor de San Carlos in Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines. He is currently serving in the Diocese of Tagbilaran.
Discography
Album
| Album information |
|---|
Singing Priests of Tagbilaran (2003)
|
Singing Priests of Tagbilaran (1998)
|
See also
References
- ↑ What does SPOT stand for? Acronym Attic search
- 1 2 Ferdie S. Villar Tagbilaran Singing Priests perform at Star of the Sea Church on September 17 www.asianjournal.com Retrieved January, 2007.
- 1 2 3 Singing Priests of Tagbilaran www.soundclick.com Retrieved 25 January 2007.
- ↑ Chorus Paulinus WeddingPals.com Retrieved 29 January 2007.
- ↑ SF Consulate Commemorates Dr. Jose Rizal's 109th Death Anniversary Philippine Consulate News Retrieved 21 January 2007.
- ↑ Office of Religious Education & Youth Ministry San Francisco Parishes
- ↑ Reverend Arnold Zamora at zoominfo.com Retrieved 21 January 2007.
- ↑ Clergy appointments and assignments Catholic San Francisco June 25, 2004.
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