[MUSIC PLAYING AND CHOIR SINGING]
Concerts by the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square are underway in the Philippines as the Hope World Tour gets a big boost from journalists. Nearly three dozen members of the Metro Manila media attended a news conference, and the Tabernacle Choir is a known entity here. I’m going to be snarky. You never heard the choir? Under what rock have you been hiding? It’s so great to have you in the Philippines. Filipino native Lea Salonga
is headlining with a choir, something she's done before singing with a choir in Salt Lake City at the Christmas concerts in 2022.
How long did you have to think when you received the second invitation? One second.
Not long. If that.
Because we had such a wonderful time the first time.
Ms. Lea, when you were on the first day of the Christmas concert, you went out, saw this 20,000 people— what was the first thing that went through your mind? Oh. That's a lot of people.
We form a very special relationship with those that we have as guests, and they are enduring relationships.
Lea Salonga is a friend that we value very much.
Mabuhay! Filipinas! Good evening Filipinos!
Is having the choir here in the Philippines is a great honor for us to host you guys, to have you guys perform for the Filipino people.
The first of two concerts at the Mall of Asia in Manila is over,
and a highly enthusiastic crowd gave their approval of the choir.
Filipinos are known for their musical skills, and another crowd pleaser was recognizing... Mr. Leo Marcelo, where are you? Tabernacle choir member Leo Marcelo, a native of nearby Quezon City.
It's a dream come true, and it's way more than I expected, and it's beyond my belief. It's amazing. I’m just so happy with the outpour of love. Beyond the concert hall and all the media attention the choirs reach is expanding like never before.
Our performances will actually be streamed to movie theaters. They'll be streamed into church buildings around the Philippines and in other Asian countries.
Everybody who comes to the concert, it’ll be something that they will remember for a lifetime.