Christy Rosacia
LOS ANGELES – Two Filipino-American video journalists took part in the spectacular global musical performance that has recently broken the Guinness World Record for the largest gospel choir.
“I was amazed and had goosebumps,” said Christy Rosacia, Los Angeles correspondent for UNTV. “I was teary-eyed. They were tears of joy.”
Rosacia and Joy Macainan, who is part of the UNTV camera crew, sang gospel songs at the Church of God International (MCGI) center in Los Angeles – in unison with their fellow members in 1,360 centers around the world.
The main gathering, with 8,688 “Ang Dating Daan” (ADD) choir members, was at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Joy Macainan
Guinness World Records adjudicator Fortuna Burke Melhem confirmed on Oct. 12 that MCGI now officially holds the Guinness World Record title, “Largest Gospel Choir.”
The auditing firm Punongbayan & Araullo validated the record number of choir members at the Araneta Coliseum.
The MCGI bagged its Guinness World Records title on its 35th anniversary. During the program, the choir members performed 15 songs in five languages.
“We’re so blessed to be part of the ADD Chorale,” said Macainan. “Though we’re not with them physically, we were in one chorale group spiritually.”
Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path) is the longest running radio-television program of its kind. The show is hosted by Bro. Eli Soriano and Kuya Daniel Razon.
Fil-Am video journalists Christy Gaela Rosacia (leftmost)and Joy Marivic S. Macainan (second from right), both seen here with Sen. and vice presidential candidate Chiz Escudero and a fellow journalist Ana Mendoza, were among those who took part of choir that broke Guinness World Record. Photo: from Christy Gaela Rosacia’s Facebook Page.
“Like what we always say, if we are able to do something, and if there is any glory attained, it is always for God; to God be the glory,” said Soriano, the show host.
MCGI beat the former title holder, the Iglesia ni Cristo, which had 4,745 choir participants.
The choir performed gospel songs composed by Norman Caraballo Rueda. They included “Stand Up,” “Praise the Name,” “Halleluja, Amen” and “Enrich the Spirit.”
Rosacia and Macainan – who are also members of the Disciples Band and the Fil-Am Media Band – are scheduled to perform with the bands at the “Abakada: Children Helping Children” concert at the Celebrity Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m.
The concert will be headlined by Original Pilipino Music (OPM) icon Florante and the international youth band Back2Jupiter. Other top-caliber performers include Jo Awayan, Malou Toler, Mon Concepcion and Matthew Parry-Jones.
The event, which will help support a scholarship program for the children of slain journalists, is produced by Balita Photo Editor Benny Uy and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)-US Chapter.
For more information, call Nikki Arriola at (310) 503-9310 or Abner Galino at (661) 644-4953.