At the Sto. Niño de Tondo Parish in Manila, the radio broadcast of Sunday’s canonization of Pedro Calungsod at the Vatican was preceded by a rap performance telling the life and martyrdom of the new saint.
Titled “Pedro Calungsod: Santo ng Kabataan (Saint of the Youth),” the song was a fitting introduction to the patron of the youth and in line with the Church’s new way of evangelization.
“We want to jive with the beat of the youth,” said June Valdez, a catechist from Don Bosco Parish Tondo, who accompanied the three rappers.
Wearing shades, jackets and “bling-bling” (flashy jewelry), the three young rappers seemed unlikely messengers for the Catholic saint.
Expressions of faith
“At first it was awkward but we’re happy that the life of San Pedro Calungsod has bonded us though we came from different religions,” rapper Aaron Saavedra, 24, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
He said the group was happy that through their rapping skills and through the Internet, they were able to disseminate the message of Calungsod’s sainthood.
Another rapper was a 17-year-old boy who asked not to be identified, saying his family—
who belongs to another church—didn’t know about his participation in the Catholic production. He said he just wanted to support his fellow rappers and their religion.
A music video of the rap song was posted on YouTube by the Salesians of Don Bosco, the group that organized the production.
The video now has thousands of views and a user commented: “Mabuhay kayo mga Pre. Isabuhay ang Ebanghelyo. Salamat (Long live, brothers. Live the Gospel. Thank you).” Another said: “Indeed there are many expressions of faith.”
Ways of the young
Calungsod was a Visayan teenager who joined a missionary expedition to Guam in 1668. Enduring physical labor, he assisted Fr. Diego Luis de San Vitores in organizing Masses and baptismals. He also taught Catholic doctrines to the natives through songs.
The two were killed in 1672 after baptizing a chieftain’s baby because the natives were led to believe by a jealous Chinese that the holy water was poisonous.
Parañaque Bishop Jesse Eugenio, chairman of the Episcopal Commission on the Laity of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, has said that the rapid changes in society call for new ways of teaching the message of Jesus Christ.
“To revive the faith, we should let the youth participate and express in their own ways their belief in Jesus. It can be through social media, rock concerts, hip-hop dancing or theater plays,” Eugenio said.
Bass drums and confetti
A part of the Tondo rappers’ song goes: “Kabataan man ituring / huwag itong maliitin / Ang espiritu’y mag-aalab / sa pag-ibig hindi nagmintis / Sisigaw at nagliliyab / ang pag-ibig, pag-asa / At pananalig sa Diyos nating lahat.”
It means: “Though young, don’t belittle the burning spirit of love. Love, hope and faith in our God will be proclaimed.”
In time with the canonization in Vatican, a tarpaulin bearing the image of Calungsod was unfurled at the balcony of the Sto. Niño de Tondo Parish to the beat of bass drums and a shower of confetti and balloons.