WORLD YOUTH DAY 1995 THEME SONG - TELL THE WORLD OF HIS LOVE

Title: Tell The World of His Love

Originally Sung By: Raquel "Carelle" Mangaliag and Jeffrey Arcilla

Originally composed by: Trina Belamide

Country: Philippines

World Youth Day is a worldwide religious gathering of youth presided by a Pope. Every World Youth Day has had its own theme song. "Tell The World of His Love" is the theme song of the 1995 World Youth Day which was held in the Philippines.

In January 1994, a nationwide song-writing contest for the theme song of World Youth Day 1995 was launched in the Philippines. The entry "Tell The World of His Love" was chosen.

The song was composed by Trina Belamide whose real name is Katrina Marie Concepcion Ruiz Belamide. Prior to the contest, she has already been writing songs for different Filipino artists for three years.

In an interview, Ms. Belamide was asked how she came out with the beautiful lyrics and the melody of the song. Ms. Belamide explained, "I started the song with the title, Tell The World of His Love, and I built it from there. Actually, I didn't have a rough time writing the lyrics. I had a rough time with the melody. I had a clear vision of what I really wanted. I wanted the people to sway with the music. And I pictured them with a "lighter" in their hands as they sang it. I wanted a melody that could easily get the "feel" of the youth."

As a Filipino, I'm so proud of this song. It was played at St. Peter's Square on the day of Pope John Paul II's beatification. It was reportedly one of the late Pope's favorite songs.

Note: The above music video is not the official music video of Tell The World of His Love. I choose this video because it plays the original version of the song which was the carrier single of the official World Youth Day album that was released in a limited tape edition. This version was the one used months before, during and after the World Youth Day. I was one of the millions of participants of WYD 1995, and this version is the one that always brings back all the wonderful memories that I have of World Youth Day 1995.

ARTISTS AT A GLANCE: LEA SALONGA

cc photo by FrankTang on Wikimedia Commons

Real Name: Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga

Birthday: February 22, 1971

Birthplace: Angeles City, Philippines

Lea Salonga is a Filipina singer and actress. She is one of the Philippines' pride especially in the field of music. She started her career in 1978 at the age of seven in the musical The King and I. This was followed by Annie, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Fiddler on the Roof, The Rose T, The Goodbye Girl, Paper Moon, and The Fantasticks. She was also one of the original members of the defunct Filipino youth-oriented talent and variety show That's Entertainment (1986-1996). She also starred in several Philippine movies.

1989 - Lea was chosen to play the role of Kim in the London musical Miss Saigon. She is the original Kim.

1991 - Played Kim in the Broadway presentation of Miss Saigon.

1992 - Did the singing voice of Jasmine in the movie Aladdin.

1993 - Performed the song A Whole New World of Disney's film Aladdin with Brad Kane at the 65th Annual Oscar Awards. The song won Best Original Song.

1998 - Did the singing voice of Fa Mulan in the movie Mulan.

2000 - Played Kim in the musical Miss Saigon in her country, the Philippines.

2002 - Played the role of a Chinese immigrant in the Broadway musical Flower Drum Song.

2004 - Did the singing voice of Fa Mulan in the movie Mulan II.

2010 - Performed as Fantine at the Les Miserables: 25th Anniversary Concert.

Awards and Citations:

1989 - Laurence Olivier Award - Best Actress in a Musical 

1990 - Received a Presidential Award of Merit from the late Philippine President Corazon Aquino.

1991 - Tony Award - Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical

1991 - Drama Desk Award - Outstanding Actress in a Musical 

1991 - Theater World Award 

2003 - Aliw Awards (Philippines) - Entertainer of the Year for her concert entitled Songs from Home

2005 - Golden Artist Award from FAMAS (Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences) in honor of her international achievements

2007 - Received the Order of Lakandula Award from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The award is one of the highest honors given by the Republic of the Philippines to individuals in recognition of their excellence in their craft.

2008 - Special Citation from Awit Awards (Philippines' equivalent to Grammy Awards)

2011 - Named Disney Legend for her extraordinary and integral contribution to The Walt Disney Company

BASSILYO - LORD PATAWAD LYRICS

CLICK HERE FOR LORD PATAWAD LYRICS

Lord Patawad, in English "Lord, forgive me."

This song was written by the artist himself - Bassilyo - way back in 2008. It talks about his wrongdoings and his sins against the Lord. It talks about how he just ignores the Lord and only remembers Him when he is in need or when he has problems.

He realized that nobody is perfect, and that each one of us has his own shortcomings when it comes to our personal relationship with God in spite of the Lord's goodness, thus he asked the Lord for forgiveness.

According to Bassilyo, 90% of the lyrics are based from the real story of his life and 10% from what he sees and observed from the people around him, from his immediate environment.