Saved and Sound

In one of my recent visits to our mission house in Davao City, there happened to be a gathering of young people. It was not the usual gathering of students and members of youth groups who would often visit our house for a group study or a meeting or planning or to simply hang around. There was a mini concert on the night I was in Davao, by a group of young and talented musicians who call themselves “Saved & Sound”. “Saved & Sound”, because first, it’s a word play of “safe and sound”. Second, because they consider themselves as saved and sound (“sound” – meaning healthy) in their faith.

According to Duane Allyson Gravador, the lead vocalist and songwriter of the group, their band got together as “Saved & Sound” just last June 2013. Some of its members have been playing music as praise and worship leaders of the music ministry of Davao Archdiocesan Youth Coordinating Apostolate (or DAYCA). One time they were looking for a place to meet and to plan for their activities. Emerson Calumpang, a staff of San Pedro College of Davao City’s Spirituality Center (or SPICE) and keyboard player of the band, suggested to hold their meeting at the Dominican Mission House in Bajada. The Dominican Fathers in Davao City are the Chaplains of San Pedro College.

Fr. Mon Mendez, OP, our Promoter of Dominican Youth, gladly welcomed them and was more than willing to support them when he found out that this group is a band of talented musicians. After finding out that one of the group’s challenges is looking for a place to rehearse as a band during their free time, Fr. Mon offered a room for them to use in our mission house. They brought in their musical instruments and band equipment and they soon turned the room into a band rehearsal venue for their emerging young group. They started rehearsing on a regular basis, usually after their work. After a couple of months, they were ready to hold their first ever mini concert as a group known as “Saved & Sound”.

And so one Sunday evening, the youth group scheduled a mini concert in our house in Davao. As the evening drew near, the young people started coming, one by one and in small groups. Soon the house was filled with youthful presence. With about thirty or forty of them in attendance, Duane introduced their band as “Saved & Sound” and invited everyone present to join them in praise and worship for the next hour. With Rondale Pancho on drums, Jayson Lugod on bass guitar and Michael Moneba on lead guitar, Duane started singing a slow and mellow song accompanied by Emerson on keyboard. One song led to another in prayerful mood that inspired a few among the youth present to stand up and raise their hands in praise and worship. After a few prayerful songs, including “Finally”, an original composition by Duane herself, it was time to loosen a bit with songs that made everyone get on their feet in lively beat.

With everybody singing along the lyrics of familiar praise and worship songs projected on the screen in front of them, everyone was joyfully dancing and having a good time. Some members of DAYCA danced in front for the others to follow and imitate. Soon, with bodies swaying and hands clapping, the gathering turned into a joyful celebration. Almost everyone was singing in jubilation, with smiles flashing across the room. As I watched these young people from the back where I was standing, I thought to myself, “So this is how the youth of Davao spend a weekend evening having fun and celebrating joyfully…. because they are saved and sound!”