Bagong Gising: A Sound of Awakening

My husband is a songwriter. He has been writing and recording his songs for some years now in his small home recording studio. From a pool of dozens of songs, he nitpicked 10 songs for a full album. And finally, here it is! With the album title "Bagong Gising", the songs carry themes about reachability of joy, realities and realizations of life. The sounds from this album explores somewhere between passionate folk and rock. There is just this gist of western folk with the feel of OPM rock.

The album is available for streaming and downloading on his websites. Feel free to check it out on the following links and he would appreciate it if you shoot him a message for any thoughts, comments, suggestions and questions regarding the album.

Physical CD copies of the album are also available for only Php100.  If you want to grab a copy, you are welcome to contact us through email or Facebook. The proceeds of this album will be used in the restoration of the only Christian radio station in Baguio City and Benguet Province, which was badly damaged when the city was hit by Typhoon Lando (Typhoon Koppu) last October of 2015.

Website           divinorivera.com
YouTube           https://www.youtube.com/user/divz220
Facebook          https://www.facebook.com/divinoriveramusic
Email                 divino.rivera@gmail.com

Thanks for listening and God bless!

This life is about waking up each day with a choice to live through possibilities and impossibilities, needs and struggles, fears and dreams and to what we live for. More to that, we have a choice to believe the reachability of joy through the realities of earthly pain. Today and tomorrow, should we all wake up through all of these over again, lo, we can take heart with the strength God gives through each day.

-Divino Rivera

SEPTEMBER MIXTAPE

Here's another mixtape of songs I've been listening to for this month. The first song, How Deep the Father's Love For Us (originally written by Stuart Townend,1995) holds a very, very, very special place in my heart. I loved it since the first time I heard it eight years ago, and even though thousands of good worship songs are being released nowadays, I think this will always be on top of my list.

1. How Deep the  Father's Love For Us - Adam Wheatley Listen
2. The Earth is Yours - Gungor Listen
3. The Proof of Your Love - King & Country Listen
4. But For You Who Fear My Name - The Welcome Wagon Listen
5. Death in His Grave - John Mark McMillan Listen
6. White as Snow - Jon Foreman Listen
7. Run Wild (In My Soul) - John Tibbs Listen
8. Before the Throne of God Above - Sojourn Listen
9. Posters - Strahan Listen
10. Burning Up the Sky - The Parson Red Heads Listen
11. All My Days - Alexi Murdoch Listen

AUGUST MIXTAPE

Jon Foreman's Your Love is Strong has been my number 1 track these past days. It's just so comforting to know that in our weakness and worry and doubt and insufficiency, God's love is strong. August is almost over and I just thought of creating and sharing a mixtape of songs that became a safe haven for me for the past days and weeks.

1. Your Love is Strong - Jon Foreman Listen

2. More Heart, Less Attack - NEEDTOBREATHE Listen

3. Hesitate - Judah and the Lion Listen

4. Farther Along - Josh Garrels Listen

5. Simplicity - Rend Collective Listen

6. Beautiful Things - Gungor Listen

7. Your Glory/Nothing But the Blood - All Sons and Daughters Listen

8. You're Beautiful - Phil Wickham Listen

9. Safe Place - Enter the Worship Circle Listen

10. Be Thou My Vision - Ascend the Hill Listen

11. Oh How I Need You - All Sons and Daughters Listen

12. We Will All Be Changed - Seryn Listen

13. House of God Forever - Jon Foreman Listen

14. Anchor - John Tibbs Listen
15. Satisfied in You - The Sing Team Listen
16. You Are Mine - Enter the Worship Circle Listen

UNOS

"Unos" means storm . Its translation cannot be sugar-coated. It stands for what it means. How does this sound to somebody who suffered devastation from the calamity it brings? It’s a natural phenomenon but the pain it causes may be difficult to measure. It may be as difficult as knowing how to comfort and identify the deeper needs of those who have felt its rage. Its terror even lingers in its aftermath. Seeing a dark cloudy sky or a single raindrop may provoke a trauma. A child’s sniveling might mean more than hunger pangs. Many may have seemed betrayed by the sunny days’ promise of a bright tomorrow. Now it’s life after a deathly blow. - Divino Rivera

My husband recorded a benefit album for Typhoon Yolanda relief operations. Learn more about this project and listen to Divino's songs by visiting his Bandcamp page and YouTube page.

Thanks and God bless!