Favorite hymns & songs to celebrate Easter Sunday

By Leo Udtohan 

For Christians, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the assurance that God can overcome every fear we have, including death itself. The risen Christ at God the Father of All Mankind in Inabanga town, Bohol. 

“Sing to the Lord a new song; Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.” - Psalm 96:1-2

For Christians, the first witnesses to the reality of the empty tomb were women. 

Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James started early because they wanted time to cherish the memory of Jesus, who had died two days earlier.

Their journey to the tomb was motivated by love and faith they had in Jesus. 

As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here..." 

Eyewitness testimony of the resurrection is the basis of faith in Jesus as Christ. 

Among Jesus' disciples, there were 500 other witnesses. And the Jewish Law of Moses required at least two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6).

God made his risen Son known first to women, and only later to the Apostles.

Women were given the honor of passing on the best news ever transmitted—Jesus is alive!!! 

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What better way to honor the sacrifice Jesus made, and celebrate the hope He offered to mankind through His sacrifice, than with songs of praise and love!

Because He Lives

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow

Because He lives, all fear is gone

Because I know He holds the future

And life is worth a living just because He lives

Oh Happy Day

Oh happy day (Oh happy day)

When Jesus washed (When Jesus washed)

Oh when he washed (When Jesus washed)

When Jesus washed (When Jesus washed)

He washed my sins away (Oh happy day)

Oh happy day (Oh happy day)

Washed by the Blood of the Lamb

We are washed by the blood of the Son on the cross

We are washed by the blood of the Lamb

All our guilt, all our shame

Were his wounds and his pain

We are washed by the blood of the Lamb

How Great Thou Art

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art, How great Thou art.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Blessed Assurance

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God

Born of his Spirit, washed in His blood. 

This is my story, this is my song

Praising my Savior all the day long

This is my story, this is my song

Praising my Savior all the day long

Christ Is Risen! Hallelujah!

Christ is risen! Hallelujah!

Risen our victorious Head!

Sing His praises! Hallelujah!

Christ is risen from the dead.

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Passover seder 

Jews observe Passover (Pesach) around the same time as Holy Week and Easter. 

Passover begins this year on the evening of Friday, April 15, and ends on the evening of Saturday, April 23.

It retells and celebrates the story of the Israelites being freed from slavery in Egypt. It is a favorite holiday. At its heart is the seder, a special dinner with intricate ritual and meal filled with songs. 

I thank my sister Arlene who baked unleavened bread for our seder. My other sister, Rowena, also made kosher lumpia and spaghetti. 

This year's first seder night was joined by my nephews, nieces and cousins. 

And we said these prayers: 

Blessed are You, L‑rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.

Blessed are You, G-d, our G-d, King of the universe, who, in His goodness, feeds the whole world with grace, with kindness and with mercy. Because His loving-kindness is infinite. 

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At Easter, we celebrate Jesus’ victory

Our Savior has risen!

The Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection, as the greatest and most important Christian feast, is a Day of Obligation for all Christians.

The resurrection of Jesus reminds us that God makes all things new. It also reveals to all believers the deepest meaning and purpose of the Christian’s faith in the One who came to destroy death and give life to the world.

Here are some of the best known (powerful, Scripture-centered) Easter hymns that celebrate the resurrection of our Christ.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives

---Because He Lives

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see

---Amazing Grace

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
O what a foretaste of glory divine
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood

---Blessed Assurance

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! 
Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia! 
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! 
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia! 

 ---Christ the Lord Is Risen Today

Great is Thy faithfulness! "Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
Great is Thy faithfulness,  Lord, unto me!

--- Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

For three days, Satan must have believed that he had won the battle. He believed that Jesus would be forever in the grave and he conquered the world.

After all, Jesus had cried out in the cross "It is finished" and Satan thought it was a cry of surrender or defeat.

Then, the tomb is empty!  There is Light in the midst of our darkness.  Alleluia, Alleluia!

Easter is a significant day in the history of Christianity. It is with Easter that we remember and rejoice at the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

To make this day more profound and meaningful, let us sing together the hymn Christ the Lord Is Risen Today, composed by Charles Wesley. You can read alongside the Psalms and the Gospels "to feel" the spirit of the Easter.

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!

Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia!

Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!

Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!

Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!

Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!

Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!

Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!

Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!

Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!

Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!

Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia!

Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia!

Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia!

Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!

Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia!

Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!

Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia!

Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia!

And Bill Gaither’s Because He Lives:

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

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The burning of Judas in Baclayon, PHL, an Easter-time ritual, where an effigy of  Judas Iscariot is burned.

Egg hunt during Easter Sunday in Tagbilaran

Hugos or Easter Sunday ritual in Baclayon, Bohol, Philippines

Good news on Easter Sunday

The days were dark and solemn last week. It was dark at Christ's arrest on Maundy Thursday. It was darker at His crucifixion and burial on Good Friday.

But the mood changed rapidly on Easter morning, the day Lord Jesus Christ is risen!

Let us sing together Alive Alive:

Alive, alive, alive forevermore.
My Jesus is alive, alive forevermore.

Alive, alive, alive forevermore.
My Jesus is alive.

Sing alleluia, sing alleluia,
My Jesus is alive forevermore.
Sing alleluia, sing alleluia
My Jesus is alive.
And everybody now:
Because he lives
I can face tomorrow
Because he lives
All fear is gone
Because I know
He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because he lives.

Thank the Lord that life is being shared with us and with all humanity.

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Boholana tops Beat100 Music Charts

Isabel Iris is, of course, Isabel Iris Tirol Garsuta, who is now the singing sensation on music video network BEAT100.com Covers Music Chart.

Garsuta

According to Beat100.com, Isabel Iris topped the BEAT100 Music Video Chart last month with her original track, Glad You Came. Her entry received a Bronze Video Award.

"13-year-old, Isabel Iris, has become a massive hit on the music video network BEAT100.com, coming in third in the overall Covers Charts with her rendition of the song Glad You Came," Beat100.com said." The teenager, who lives in the Philippines with her family, has had BEAT100 users from around the world voting in their thousands after showcasing her vocal talent and displaying great composure on the acoustic guitar whilst performing the 2011 summer hit on webcam and was clearly beaming when told of her $100 prize."

"I am very thankful to Beat100, and most especially to my family, friends and supporter,” Isabel told Beat100.com. "This is my biggest achievement in music so far. I found joining BEAT100 a fun, exciting and challenging experience. It gave me an opportunity to share my talent and promote my videos. I enjoyed it very much. I started singing at the age of four and I have joined local contests like Little/Big Star in the Philippines. I wish to continue my dream of writing my own music and producing quality videos.”

Isabel Iris, the daughter of Lino and Marissa Garsuta, has been performing music since she was a kid.

The gap is close and you can check out Isabel's video and vote again at http://www.beat100.com.

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Mikey meets Wonder Woman

US-based Boholano socialite Mikey Gatal was rubbing elbows with Lynda Carter, the singing actress best known for her work on the TV series "Wonder Woman." 

Mikey had watched Carter's performance at The Catalina Jazz Club on March 15, at Sunset Boulevard, California.

Mikey and his Wonder Woman

"It maybe considered as her successful comeback to the concert stage where people were lining up just to watch her perform," said Mikey.

"She maintains her looks that brought her to fame and can definitely sing," gushed Mikey.

The former 1971 Miss World - USA was very nice to entertain people after the show, signing some autographs and photo opportunities with their idol.

As a gesture to the American icon and TV's legendary superhero, all of her fans who waited down the hall, made their Wonder Woman spins as soon as Lynda Carter stepped outside and she was so delighted to see that.

What an OMG experience!

***

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A different Princess (The Princess Analiza of Tubigon, Bohol)

Princess Analiza with daughter Batong Orange

When she appeared on TV years ago, she was an instant object of ridicule. Everyone who saw her laughed at her as, they made fun of her “fashion”—colorful gown with Biblical messages, necklaces and other stuff—even if she is not really that bad looking though—but people treated as if she is a nutcase.

And so Princess Analiza of Tubigon town, her so-called kingdom has become a byword to many of having different personas: a woman with esoteric wisdom and a person having a supernatural power.

Her kingdom is actually at the top of the Ilijan Hill in Ilijan Norte, five kilometers from the Poblacion, a protected municipal park for flora and fauna.

Her journey
We met the princess in August 2002 when we asked her to feature her for national TV networks.
Her domain Ilijan Hill was chosen to become her niche for her to practice her hermit passion.

Halilie Laylah Demeras Analiza, whose real name Lucrecia “Nene” Duterte Aplacador had an epiphany in the late 70s and started to become what she is today. She led a group known as “Subano Group catholic Holy God Spirit (SGHGS)” which had followed her to the hill and has stayed on top since. She and her followers have grown accustomed to the life on top of the hill that her group has yet to return to the lowland for 20 years now.

Ilijan Hill in Tubigon, Bohol, Philippines

Princess Analiza before she became the leader of the esoteric group married Isaac Aplacador who is with her o n top of hill. They got married before the epiphany that came to a simple lass that changed her life forever.
The couple was blessed with three children: Arcadio, Jose Baniecito and Laoro, all born on top of the hill. However, Laoro died at an early age due to unknown illness.  After the incident, Nene who was very frustrated sought God’s help, instantly a divine force helped her to overcome her sufferings in life.

Months later, she related the God Holy Spirit gave a “mission” to her and she became Princess Analiza.
Her mission: to pray while walking, inside the church, sea, cemetery and forest. She was also told to live in a small nipa hut and give birth to a baby girl.

She gave birth to the girl by herself without any aid or help of a midwife. The baby turned out to be Prinsesita Mier Ve Batong Orange Nonon Luningning or Batong Orange.

Different belief
It is not easy to enter her kingdom although they welcome other people visiting them. They said though the
Princess only entertains people with pure hearts. At least 17 families are members of the group, which includes people from all walks of life.

The group considers the hill as sacred that is why they are choosy on the kind of people they receive in their domain.

The Ilijan people speak their own language and only them could understand it. Our interpreter-member Mawin told us that the spirit taught them the language they are using.

The Princess would give out blessings good enough for two years and hand out spiritual names to her followers. A pattern though could be observed in the names of the members where the word WIN will be added to your name while the word MAR will be added if you are a female. So, if your name for example is Leo, you would be called Leowin subject to the approval of the Princess since she is the only one authorized by their group to give out spiritual names.

The group maintains they are no cult, contrary to the perception of other people unfamiliar to their ways.  The Princess said that they are not doing magic rituals, spells or use symbols that are identified with the underworld or to Satanic cults. To prove that their group adhered to the Being up above, the group adopted the catholic Church’s teachings as they are also have statues of saints and use of Catholic songs and prayer books where hey also attended mass in their chapel. The Sunday mass is officiated by an elder since the Princess does not mingle with the group during this time as she is contended by giving out instructions.

The "Holy Family" 

The history, mission and practices of the group has been edified so that their members and the next generation would be able to practice and keep their belief alive.

But what strange is the singing of the last part of the national anthem, they sing “ang MABUHAY nang dahil sa iyo,” instead of the original “ang mamatay nang dahil sa iyo.” They believe that their vision tends to bring in ponderous logic and believed to have mysterious healing powers. However, the Princess said, “it means to show unity.”

Princess Analiza believes every human being is completely responsible for his own actions. To her evil is a choice that is made by man and should expect punishment as a result, while blessings will come and go when you are good.

She also holds the ancient belief on reincarnation—the after-life.

Healing powers
Princess Analiza is said to have ability to bring fortune to those who believe in her, foretell calamities and heal the sick.

There were stories from the members that the Princess healed them. The late barangay captain of Ilijan Norte Rogelio Lamalinao testified that the people in the hill once cured a man who had a severe gangrenous wound. Since the man has no resources to pay for an operation, he opted to seek healing from Princess Analiza’s group. During the healing, Princess Analiza raised both her hands as if asking for a divine intercession, when witnesses attested they saw as if an expert’s hand massaging the patient.

In other instance, the village head said while he was still a policeman, he had to climb the steep hill to see for himself and examine a dead baby who was not buried because their leader told them that the dead baby will not undergo decomposition. True enough, he found the boy’s body placed inside an urn in squatting position with clear eyes opened, without any sign of decomposition, even after over a year.

There was no way they could embalm him or introduce preservatives to the body, considering the place is bereft of science and technology.

No regrets
The Princess expresses no regrets of living a life on top of the hill. Despite the supernatural power she possesses which keep people to wonder with awe and respect, she still has the heart of a mother and she is a Princess in her own rights. (March 27, 2005)

Trivia:
The Solid Rock, the Ilijan Hill in old times was known as wizard's place.  It is the Kingdom of King Antipone and Queen Fairystil. Long time ago, people borrowed things and wedding gowns from this place.

In Year 1952, people from neighboring towns were panic for they saw a wondrous Virgin at Ilijan Hill and when they came nearer nothing could be seen. They could only feel and smell the fragrance. The people from Dauis, Bohol also arrived in Ilijan Hill following a wondrous Virgin on top of the rainbow going to Ilijan Hill.


Update: Princess Analiza and Batong Orange are still at Ilijan Hill. The members are growing in numbers and in faith.