Tacloban, Philippines - Pope Francis’ upcoming “Mercy and Compassion” themed Apostolic visit will be accompanied by the song ‘Mercy’, composed by Cherrie Anderson, the Tacloban-born front woman for international electropop band Ooberfuse.
‘Mercy’ was composed by the band’s vocalist Cherrie Anderson, whose mother is from Tacloban City, specifically for Yolanda survivors,” according to Fr. Chris Militante, Palo Archdiocese’s Information Officer.
“It was officially nominated as one of three songs that convey the message behind Pope Francis’ upcoming state and pastoral visit. Palo, Leyte was one of the most devastated areas during Typhoon Yolanda last November 2013.
“I vividly remember the night Typhoon Yolanda hit,” Anderson shared. She is currently based in England and tours frequently. “I sat up all night frantically ringing members of my family to make sure they were ok. I could not contact my family directly for days and relied exclusively on media reports for news.”
She feels gratitude for the Pope’s decision to visit the place she was born. “The lives of ordinary Filipinos bear the scars and emotional wounds of Yolanda. It is a measure of Pope Francis’ deep humanity and real concern for the poorest of the poor that he has chosen to offer direct consolation by visiting the thousands of families devastated by the worst typhoon ever to hit the Philippines,” she said.
Pope Francis is scheduled to visit the Philippines from January 15 – 19, 2015. Manila, following the scheduled visit in Tacloban on January 17, where he will have a Holy Mass at the Tacloban airport. Pope Francis will also be having lunch with survivors of natural calamities and the poor at the residence of the Archbishop of Palo in Leyte.
Aside from ‘Mercy’, the Palo Archdiocese will carry two other theme songs for the Papal visit – ‘We Are All God’s Children’ by Jamie Rivera, and ‘Shepherd’s Love’, composed by Fr. Kim Margallo.
The lyrics of ‘Mercy’ highlight the love of God, and usher in a season of restoration and grace. The band has also done an acoustic Filipino version of the song, as well as a remix. Both are available on their website.
“Pope Francis’ visit to the victims and their families will help keep the plight of those who have lost everything, like some members of Cherrie’s family, in the public eye. ‘Mercy’ tries to emphasize that in spite of the worst tragedies, God’s eternal mercy and compassion will sustain us through the darkest hour,” said Hal St. John, another member of Ooberfuse.
Another contribution to the Local Theme Songs for the Apostolic Journey of Pope Francis to the Archdiocese of Palo is the song MERCY. Sang by Cherrie Anderson, a Taclobanon who is now the lead singer of the British Band “Ooberfuse”; speaks about the Pope’s message of mercy and compassion.
Ooberfuse is composed of Cherrie Anderson, Hal St. John and producer Roland Faber. The band performed the official theme song for the World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
For more information, photos and videos about Ooberfuse, see the Official Ooberfuse PH Visit 2015 Website: http://ooberfuseph.com.
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