Tulihaw concert at YMCA Forum Hall
When young girls were busy playing hide and seek, "piko", "hola hoop" and skipping rope, the Yanson sisters Faith, Mercy, Charity and Hope who were still in their cradle years were already tampering with piano chords, guitar and violin strings. Faith who was only 2 ½ years young was already performing mini-concert in elementary schools in Pontevedra and La Carlota, Negros Occidental and at Doanne Baptist Church and other religious groups in Iloilo City. Faith's mother Filipinas Jover Yanson was her piano tutor including the three other sisters Mercy, Charity and Hope. The Yanson sisters whose musical voice catapulted them to the music fame not only in the Philippines but also abroad were already music aficionados in their early teen-aged life.
Tulihaw, which was derived from the Philippine Oriole bird with distinct voice, was adopted by the Yanson sisters as their music ministry. Pastor Rodolfo Yanson was a well-known minister of the gospel in Negros Occidental towns. He was not only a glib-tounged preacher but an accomplished violinist and guitarist. His wife Filipinas was a piano-organist-accordionist and the young girls Faith, Mercy, Charity and Hope were the back-up singers. Hundreds of believers and unbelievers flocked to the nightly evangelistic meetings that won many lost souls to Jesus Christ in several Negros Occidental and Iloilo towns particularly in Passi City where many out-of-town churches were planted.
Tulihaw saw its first baptism of fire, so to say, in 1992. From CPU music auditorium and halls of churches, schools, hotels, convention centers, and other social and religious functions, the bookings to perform concerts were unbearable.
Yanson's sisters songs were mostly in Ilonggo or Hiligaynon and Tulihaw tapes were sold like the proverbial hot cakes and orders flowed like living waters as Filipinos, poor and rich alike, love to hear and appreciate Ilonggo songs like "Pispis nga Bokaw", "Dalawidaw", "Iloilo ang Banwa Ko", "Bulahan" to mention only a few Ilonggo favorites. The four sisters already participated in song fests.
Today, June 12, at the YMCA Forum Hall at 6:30 p.m. the Tulihaw singers will give a concert in celebration of the 110th year of Philippine Independence at God's Power Fellowship Service. Songs of yesteryears will be rendered by Faith, Mercy, Charity and Hope. Faith is presently a piano lesson instructor, Mercy is the Human Resource Development Director at CPU, Charity is a nurse at DOH region VI and Hope is a voice, piano and organ tutor. The Jover ace singers regularly perform in churches and evangelistic meetings in Western Visayas gratis et amore.
Faith learned music at Silliman University and later with American music teachers. She devoted her music ministry as her father's wish as her mother was her music teacher.