Passion Manila

Passion Manila
August 1, 2008
Philsports Arena (formerly ULTRA)
7:30 PM

Note: Click on the photos for larger views

PASSION MANILA was, as Passion founder Louie Giglio has put it in their blog, “WOW. WOW. WOW”. I believe, however, that such is still an understatement of how the Lord brought Philsports Arena down!

Typing at 1:41 AM, I totally have no idea on how to begin with this blog entry. Overwhelmed MUCH-MUCH-MUCH? You can say that :-)

Two weeks of announcing stuff about the conference-concert stirred up much excitement in me. More than seeing and hearing Passion worship leader CHRIS TOMLIN, singer & composer of my superior fave song How Great is Our God, my heart was full of enthusiasm because I had this faith that the Lord will truly move and take over the event. I also was thrilled about it ‘cause I knew that the Lord would also store something in the hearts and spirits of my co-young people from JRC through it – kaya nga I really tried hard to push through our attendance (feeling organizer and ticket distributor. ahaha). There were 24 from my church that attended the event, btw. Shoutout: Thanks to Kuya Aldwin of Back to the Bible Ministries for helping us avail tickets. You have been a GREAT blessing!

Not minding our not-so-comfortable (but fun) 5-hour travel from Nueva Ecija to Pasig (Manila), we lined through ULTRA/ Philsports Arena to surrender our low-cost tickets (all tickets were sold at only PhP150 –around $3) and get our über cool bright-colored wrist-straps, which served as gate passes.

We headed to the gallery ‘cause we wanted to have a full view of the event (we were at the upper center section), plus we thought that the ground level was already filled by excited young people by the time we entered the arena, and indeed it was.

After the opening animated presentations, the night was followed by worship lead by the Passion Worship Band. I don’t have a Passion/ Chris Tomlin CD collection, so some of the songs their played were knew to me. However, this didn’t stop me and my co-youth from singing, jumping, dancing, shouting, and really showing our passion for the Most High. As Ptr. Loiue Giglio has observed it,

“I’m not sure how to fully describe what happened, but let’s just say these guys have fully embraced the message and music of Passion and were up for everything that came their way. They even started singing on “Jesus Messiah” like they knew it…and funny thing, they did! YouTube?!?!”

Haha. If not YouTube, it’s prolly the musicality of Filipinos that gave them the impression that we sing like we knew it. Haha. On a another thought, I knew about Jesus Messiah, a song included in C.Tomlin’s new album to be released on September, through frequently visiting Chris Tomlin’s MySpace! Anyhow, it truly was another great experience to worship the Lord together with thousands of young people who are “crazy” for Jesus as I am.

Louie Giglio went upstage after Passion Worship band’s first set. He asked us to do a prayer of three, though I regrettably wasn’t able to join in this ‘cause my little brother kept on bugging me on getting him a drink. After buying candies and bottled waters, we rushed to go back inside the arena ‘cause I heard Chris sing GOD OF THIS CITY, carrier single of their latest group album. You guys must know that I even downloaded that song the night before the event ‘cause I knew it’ll be sung! Ahaha. Disclaimer: I hate piracy. Pardon my download—I will compensate by buying their new album:-D
Thank goodness, it was sung twice that night!

Louie also got to speak for less than an hour – a very brief period for a really good and equally funny speaker. He used Isaiah 26:8, the scripture and commitment they’ve been sharing with hundreds of thousands of young people since 1997. His message was about us just saying YES to the LORD – a name which you can’t stick with words like no, later, maybe, perhaps, and stuff like that. He also told us a story about a college girl named ASHLEY. Feeling all screwed-up, Ashley has received and experienced the grace and love of the Lord through a Christian room mate whom she funnily labeled as FRUITCAKE. Alright, I do not wish to give details about this story ‘cause after Manila (Philippines), Passion will be going to many other places where they will be sharing the same thing, and I don’t wish to spoil the momentum of their conferences at those other places they’ll be ministering to. :D

Anyhow, with that story I must say, “I WANT TO BE A FRUITCAKE!”.

Louie also shared about living this 5-second life that we have. He told us that we can either let this life [that’s similar to a lit matchstick] happen so quickly with a little fire that dies after its time, or let this lit matchstick be connected with a fire that is indelible and eternal – Jesus Christ. As for me, I just say YES to a life devoted to the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I say YES to a life consumed by that One who died for my sins, who died all out of LOVE FOR ME. (Do you say yes to that life, as well?)

I do choose to live my life telling a story that’s bigger than me, a story for HIS renown. I want to make the Lord famous in this generation. I want to live a life that just says “YES, LORD!”

After Louie Giglio delivered the word of God, he called Chris and the band on-stage again. He went on like “I think there’s still one song that these people wanted you to sing, Chris.” (not his exact words). After which, the Filipinos “took over” and altogether sang HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD, without accompaniment. It was the best chorus I’ve ever heard (so far). I was truthfully awestruck by the flow. I’ve even observed that during the crowd chorus of How Great is Our God, Louie brought his cellphone out and let I face the crowd. After we sang, we were told that we’ve been just put on Passion’s live internet podcast! He mentioned, "Chris was about to sing it in a minute, but these people can't wait!".

We also got to pray for Passion Kuala Lumpur (hello, friends from KL!), like London did for Manila (thank you, Passion London attendees!). I believe the Lord continually move through those 4000+ young people from Malaysia. Our wristbands actually have Passion KL printed at the back!

On a really cute note, we all were struck when Chris Tomlin started to sing How Great is Our God – the Filipino version! O, ‘di ba, may translated version na. Akala niyo Fire Fall Down (Fuego De Dios) lang? :-D Really awesome!
Okay, inasmuch as I DO NOT want to share the video clips I shot, my heart can’t contain this excitement to let you guys hear the Filipino/ Tagalog version of How Great is Our God, my top favorite song.

Okay, things to remember before watching the vid:
1. no visuals are present (if there are, you’ll only see bits of lights). Because I didn’t want to be distracted by video-ing, I just knotted my camera’s handle at my jeans’ belt string while it was recording:-D
2. You’ll hear the messed up voices of (of moi!) the people beside me ! Haha. Chris Tomlin said we should just sing our lungs out, and so I did! HAHA. Please understand that we’ve been screaming since 7:30, while How Great was sung at round 11 PM! Okay, these all are (factual) self-serving excuses and biases, I know. The truth is that you’ll never really care about singing in a good tone when you’re singing along thousands of people!

HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD (Filipino Version)
Performed by Chris Tomlin, the Passion Worship Band,
and the Filipino young people

How great is our God, indeed!

Dakilang Diyos // Awitan ang // Dakilang Diyos // Awitin ang //
Dakila Ka, O Diyos

Thank you, Passion Conferences, Ptr.Louie & Sheryl Giglio, Chris Tomlin, Becca Music, House of Praise, Passion organizers, Passion media team, Passion volunteers.
May the Lord richly bless you and your ministries!

PHOTOS WERE POSTED HERE.