A Filipino Dominican band is back after a long hiatus from the music scene.
“Inggo 1587” returned to the stage on August 26, after almost two decades of absence, in a fundraising concert at the UST Central Seminary for the Dominican Province of the Philippines’ missionary activities.
The 12-member band performed songs from their new album, “Lead Me On,” opening the night with a series of upbeat songs such as “This Is The Day,” “Sing Hallelujah,” and “Holy, Holy, Holy.”
“It feels good to be back, knowing that people still listen to our music and that we’re able to pursue our mission,” lead vocalist Fr. Jepoy Arsciwals, O.P. told the Varsitarian.
The band’s special guest, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, sang “Lead Me, Lord,” and Michael Bolton’s “Go The Distance” to the delight of the crowd.
He highlighted the duties of a “missionary’s heart” beyond work.
“Ngayon po sa mundo natin, kailangan natin ng misyon at pusong misyonaryo. Ang misyon po ay hindi lang isang trabaho, [ito] ay isang kultura, isang attitude, isang pagbubukas ng puso at pagkatao,” Tagle said in a short message.
“Sa pagsugo natin sa misyon ng mga Dominicans, hindi lamang trabaho ang ating itinataguyod; itinataguyod po natin ang isang kulturang Kristiyano – na ang tao, pwedeng lumabas at mag-alay ng sarili para sa iba,” he added.
An acoustic session followed Tagle’s intermission. Inggo 1587 serenaded the audience with Sharon Cuneta’s “Kung Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko” and their own single, “Tila.”
Fr. Napoleon Encarnacion, O.P., one of the original members of the band, treated the crowd to his rendition of Bee Gees’ “To Love Somebody.”
Inggo 1587 capped the night with inspirational songs “Hanggang Sa Dulo,” “I’ll Always Be There,” and “Kailan Lamang.”
Formed in 1998, Inggo 1587 took its name “Inggo” from “Domingo,” the Spanish name of the founder of the Order of Preachers, St. Dominic de Guzman, and the year the Dominicans first set foot on Philippine soil.
