Flonique Guimary

Jamie Rivera shares the story behind the song she wrote for Pope Francis' 2015 PH visit

Article (news)

E. Kristhoff Cagape

Push Team

<p>Jamie Rivera opened up about the story behind the song &quot;We Are All God&#x27;s Children&quot; which she wrote for Pope Francis during his 2015 visit to the Philippines.</p><div><br/></div><p>In an interview with Julius Babao for his YouTube vlog, the Inspirational Diva shared that she personally volunteered to create a song for the Pope.</p><div><br/></div><p>&quot;Tumawag ako kay Archbishop Soc Villegas,  sabi ko, &#x27;Father, balita ko po darating si Pope Francis... Pwede pa po ba kaming mag-record ng kanta para kay Pope Francis para sa pagdating niya,&quot; Jamie recalled.</p><div><br/></div><p>The singer offered to write, sing, and produce the song. The Archbishop then agreed. &quot;Sabi niya, &#x27;O sige but you only have two weeks kasi ipapadala pa natin &#x27;yan sa Vatican, kailangan i-approve. Ipapa-approve pa natin &#x27;yan sa CBCP,&#x27;&quot; she recounted.</p><div><br/></div><p>Jamie admitted she struggled at first to compose the song. &quot;Alam mo, two weeks ‘di ako lumalabas ng bahay. Nagco-compose ako, hindi ako makagawa. Pinanood ko lahat ng videos, nagbasa ako ng bible, nagbasa ako lahat anything about the saints, wala talagang lumalabas,&quot; she recalled.</p><div><br/></div><p>After spending days indoors, she decided to step out, which led to an unexpected source of inspiration.</p><div><br/></div><p>&quot;Paglabas kong ganyan, may kumatok sa bintana ng kotse [ko] sa Santolan. Pagkakita kong ganyan , sinulat ko kaagad, &#x27;Do you see these children on the streets?&#x27; Tapos biglang makita mo nandun sila sidewalk, natutulog &#x27;yung family. &#x27;Have you walk the pavements where they sleep?&#x27;&quot; she recounted on how the first few lines of the song was composed. &quot;Tapos siyempre binigyan ko ng bata di ba? Eh sumagi ng ganun. &#x27;Do you feel their hands, when you give them alms. Did you ever give them bread to eat?&#x27;&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-8" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIJe5Mwv33V/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=630&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A8%2C%22os%22%3A3987529.399999976%2C%22ls%22%3A291475.5%2C%22le%22%3A291486.2000000477%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="987" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-8" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Jamie relayed that she was given a theme for the song by Archbishop Soc at that time, which aligned with the lyrics she was writing. &quot;Solidarity with the poor, mercy with to weak, sabi niyang ganun,&quot; she shared.</p><div><br/></div><p>When the country was hit by typhoon Yolanda, Jamie reflected that on the song she was writing.</p><div><br/></div><p>&quot;Tapos sumunod na, derederecho na &#x27;yun. Iyon &#x27;yung time ng Yolanda: &#x27;Have you seen their homes wash by the floods? When a mother tightly holds her child?&#x27; Kasi nakita ko &#x27;yung nanay na nakakapit sa poste, hawak niya anak niya para hindi matangay ng hangin. So dere-derecho na &#x27;yung lyrics,&quot; she said.</p><div><br/></div><p>After writing the song, Jamie then contacted Noel Espenida to incorporate the music.</p><div><br/></div><p>After submitting the song to Archbishop Soc, she was later informed that the song was approved.</p><div><br/></div><p>&quot;Sabi niya, &#x27;Jamie you will be very happy with my news. It&#x27;s so beautiful, na-approve na rin ng CBCP. Kumbaga, needless to say na approve na rin ng Vatican. Tapos ni-record na namin with Hail Mary Children&#x27;s Choir,&quot; she relayed.</p><div><br/></div><p>Jamie performed the song at the Mall of Asia Arena during Pope Francis&#x27; visit to the country in 2015.</p>

<p>Jamie Rivera shared the inspiration behind her song 'We Are All God's Children,' which she wrote for the Philippine visit of Pope Francis in 2015. </p>

Jamie Rivera shared the inspiration behind her song 'We Are All God's Children,' which she wrote for the Philippine visit of Pope Francis in 2015.