When celebrity couple Suzi Entrata and Paolo Abrera turned up at the press conference for the two-night concert headlined by the world-renowned and multi-awarded The Tabernacle Choice at Temple Square, they did so not just because of their participation in the shows as narrators. They actually have a more personal relationship with the musical ambassadors of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Entrata and Abrera are friends of the organization, as they told DAILY TRIBUNE after the program, where they joined on stage Choir president Michael O. Leavitt and music director Mack Wilberg, along with concert guest singers Lea Salonga and Ysabelle Cuevas. The media huddle was held Monday, 26 February, at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City.

The couple, who are media practitioners themselves, clarified that while they’re not part of the church itself, Abrera said, “we’re all united in our love for music.” Entrata went on recalling that she met the people behind the Choir through a segment she did for her morning show, Unang Hirit, which is aired on GMA.

“So that’s how the relationship sort of started because they would have some announcements through our show,” she explained. “That’s how they got to know me and then, of course, Pao.”

During the Q&A with the reporters, Leavitt and Wilberg said they are trying to involve more the youth in The Tabernacle of Choice at Temple Square, which is known worldwide for its “one-of-a-kind signature sound” created by its 420 volunteer voices and orchestra players.

For the Philippine shows, 330 out of the 360 active singing ambassadors performed last night, 27 February, and again tonight, 28 February, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. The show on the 28th will be streamed live on Facebook and YouTube.

We later asked Abrera and Entrata, who share three daughters, why encouraging children to get into other than academics is important. Abrera pointed out, “As parents, we’re often get smacked in more traditional way of thinking. I think perhaps the performing arts, creative arts may suffer because it’s not given much attention.”

He added, referring to the Choir’s shows, “I think performances like these prove how just as important the performing arts and creative arts continue to be, and how it is an important tool in bringing people together in relaying a message of peace, joy, hope.”

Entrata went on sharing some of her and her husband’s parenting ways: “Both Paolo and I are into sports, so people would think it’s natural that we encourage our kids to get into sports and not just focus on the academics.” The couple, in fact, met and fall in love while hosting the sports show Game Plan back in the mid-1990s. They eventually got married in 2001.

She added, “As we’ve also experienced being backstage with The Tabernacle Choir, the discipline also comes from doing arts — practicing, rehearsing, taking care of your voice, sleeping early, drinking a lot of water. Gano’n din pala s’ya (It’s the same thing). It’s almost you’re an athlete. So to be able to do that and to have passion for doing something else aside from academics, nata-transfer naman ang natututunan mo (the knowledge is transferred) from one discipline to another. At least hindi lang sila stuck sa pag-aaral (they’re not stuck to their studies).”

She said their children are into sports as well, but she quipped, “Ayaw nila ’yung pinapa-try namin sa kanila (They don’t like the sports we suggest them to try). At laging (And always) in their own time. They always find their own way around. I think it’s normal when your parents are into something, you’re kinda wary of doing the same thing. Yeah, they try to keep fit and eat well.”