Strengthening our Faith to Ina through Music
Have you ever wondered who composed the new hymn that devotees of Ina will be singing to give their praises and honor to our dearest patron for the next hundred years? Who could be this person who has a certain level of passion and thirst for knowledge but most of the time finds himself in the middle of everything without anymore time for each but for music?
Joseph Reburiano is our Featured Bicolano for the month of September. He has so many good qualities but what makes him stand-out to be featured this month is his contribution to Bicolano music and most especially to our longstanding devotion to the Patroness of Bicol Region.
Contribution to the Bicol Heritage
In preparation for the Tercentennial Anniversary Celebration of our Devotio0n to our Lady of Penafrancia, “Himno Ki Ina” Hymn-Writing Contest, sponsored by the Caceres Commission on Liturgy and the Liturgal Music Committee was held last August 2009. Joseph is one of the ten finalists. As a humble man, he never expected anything from the contest but experience.
Joseph first knew about the contest in February 2009 when Fr. Joel E. Tabora, Ateneo de Naga University President encouraged him to joined the competition. . It was last May when he first tried composing the music, research on the characteristics of a hymn and studied the previous Penafrancia celebrations. Time passed, he was occupied with a lot of work and the project was left behind. The inspiration was left untouched until the submission deadline was near.
Tic. Tac. Tic. Tac. Time is running so fast and Joseph has a deadline to beat. 3 days prior the cut-off, he started to develop the motif. The 2nd day was devoted to the lyrics and words. On the night before the big day, he still went to a family gathering and it was only past midnight when he was able to record the music and put all the elements together to create the hymn. “Ina nin Kabikolan” was technically composed in just three painstaking days, in between office hours, meetings, choir practices and family gatherings.
Who would have thought that a hymn done in three days would be proclaimed as the Grand Prize?
For Joseph, it is not alone his passion or talent in music that helped him made it possible all in just three days but in great part, it is God’s guidance. For him, he was chosen by God to relay that message and the inspiration should be attributed to our Ina.
A Humble Beginning in the Province
He was born in Oas, Albay where he spent most of his childhood and teenage years. Back then, he was already exposed to different kind of music but his all time favorite is jazz. For him, Jazz is the most challenging genre. While others are playing the popular songs of the bands in late 1980’s and early 1990’s, Joseph would listen carefully to jazz tapes, break it down and try to infuse freestyle. This enables him to enrich his knowledge as well as get a taste for appreciating finer music genres.
In the past, siblings and cousins formed a group and joined several local competitions in their hometown. Now, most of them pursue a profession in music as composer, pianist, guitarist, singers and band member. Mr. Oscar Regalario Reburiano and Mrs. Elizabeth Brazal Reburiano are certainly proud parents for having children who are gifted in music.
Dreams and Passion
With the dream of becoming a doctor, he took up B.S. Biology at Ateneo de Naga University and graduated in 1996. Music was in his hearts and it radiates during his college years when he was so much involved with the Campus Music Ministry. He could have been a singing doctor now but God has other plans for Joseph.
Fr. Joel Tabora, one of his supporters, saw his great passion and potential in music so he was encouraged to pursue formal music education. In 2001, he enrolled in University of the Philippines College of Music and now he is just preparing and waiting for the graduation recital. Back in Ateneo, he is currently part of the Campus Ministry Office and the choir conductor for the University Choir.
Music is in the family… it became a big part of their lives. It is the first thing that greets his ears in the morning and it also serves as lullaby in the evening. He can still remember that during lunch time, his father would play beautiful music and everyone enjoys the meals. It is the passion for music that binds them together even in his own family. He is thankful for his wife, Katrina and two kids, Kirk and Anne, for all the support and understanding his passion for music.
Aspirations
Joseph treats every situation as a calling… everything is a call from God and we are demanded to respond – to become what God wants us to become. He wants to be a catalyst for the propagation of Bicol music by helping other Bicolano realize their talents as God given, that passion is not enough, and one must be a scholarly musician with substance.
Complete the sentence
My favorite Bicolano dishes are …. Pinangat and Bicol Express
I love to hang-out and visit …. Caramoan islands - a haven for Bicolanos and tourists
I’m proud to be Bicolano because of …. Being binocular (having and being able to speak so many dialects) as well as the way we celebrate the liturgy.
What is so special about Bicolano music is that …. It is “malambing” and very much connected to religious celebrations.
