Catholics in Marbel Diocese in the southern Philippines held a Marian song festival in the weekend to offer praise and express their gratitude to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The activity was part of the celebration of the month of October as the Month of the Holy Rosary across the country.
Church choirs from six parishes in the diocese in the Mindanao region joined the competition that exalted the Virgin Mary as the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary on Oct. 26.
The music competition was also aired over local Catholic church radio DXCP, which is operated by the South Cotabato Communications Corporation, the media arm of the Marbel Diocese.
Father Angelo Buenavides, director of the station, said the song festival aims to foster the habit of praying the rosary and to spread the virtues of the Blessed Virgin.
“We thanked God for the success of the festival,” said the priest, adding that it would not have been realized without the support of the parishioners and the groups who gave donations.
The Marian song festival will be conducted annually from now on as the diocese’s way of honoring Mother Mary and showing our love to her son Jesus Christ our lord and savior, the priest added.
“We are trying to hit two birds with one stone with the festival,” said Roy Maturan who headed the organizers of the event.
“We are promoting the importance of praying the rosary, especially among the youth, and giving praise to Mother Mary,” he said.
Father Buenavides expressed hope that next year’s Marian song festival will attract more choirs from the diocese as he encouraged musicians to submit original musical compositions.
Headed by Bishop Cerilo Casicas, the Marbel Diocese of covers the provinces of South Cotabato and Sarangani and parts of Sultan Kudarat.
