St. Jude Catholic School’s auditorium was filled to the rafters for the “Friends in Concert” last Nov. 8, 2008 in San Miguel, Manila, the grand fund-raising activity of the Friends of the Divine Mercy for this year. 

     The Friends Dance swung to danceable praise and worship songs, transforming the school auditorium into a worship venue. The Friends Music, meanwhile, provided the upbeat and solemn praise and worship songs. The concert was the first of its kind for the St. Jude community.

     Guest singer Kyla, known as the “R&B princess,” created quite a stir among the crowd, not just for her crystal-clear voice, but her kind demeanor and warm accommodation to St. Jude students.

     She sang popular songs like “Take My Heart Away,” “Hanggang Ngayon” and “Love Will Lead You Back” from her albums. Both the grade and high school students, along with the faculty, showed delight for her presence, shrieking each moment she came down the stage to get near them.

     The San Sebastian Cathedral Choir also shared stellar billings at the concert, filling the concert hall with their soothing voice. Soprano Kaye Labrador was a stunning vocalist; and in duets with Fr. Ric Torrefiel, spiritual director of Friends, the pair instantly made a remarkable performance at the stage.

     The crowd numbered to nearly 3,000, both grade school and high school, including staff and faculty, from the English and Chinese departments. Fr. Lino Nicasio, principal of St. Jude, welcomed the Divine family to the school and shared how the concert added to the school’s vibrant spiritual formation program.

     The Friends Music’s repertoire included “People Just Like Us,” “Every Move I Make”, “Here I am to Worship”, “Oceans Will Part,” “Hallelujah to the Lamb”, “One Way,” “The Power of Love,” “I Could Sing of Your Love,” “Tell the World,” and Bro. Waldee Oasan’s original composition “Jesus Take Over.”

     The second leg of the Friends in Concert takes place on Nov. 23, 6 p.m., at Layforce Chapel, San Carlos Seminary, Guadalupe, Makati . Funds raised from the concert will support the community's programs and projects aimed at "bringing care to the poorest of the poor."

     Concert major and minor sponsors include Mossimo, Audiophile, Goldilocks, Bluskies Crackers, Mega Sardines, Zesto Corp., San Miguel Corp. and Pacific Hub Corp.