He wrote his first hymn for services at the Jesuit-administered San Jose Manggagawa parish at Barangka, Marikina, with the intent that it could be easily sung and learnt by ordinary Filipinos.
[1] His more famous hymns include a setting for the Tagalog text of the Gloria, "Papuri sa Diyos", "Magnificat (Ang Puso Ko'y Nagpupuri)", "Maria, Bukang-Liwayway" (lit.
On 4 January 2008, he was found lying unconscious in a hallway of the Loyola House of Studies in Quezon City and physicians later determined that he had suffered another stroke.
[4] In 2024, the Jesuit Communications Foundation, as tribute to Hontiveros’ 100th birth anniversary, organized a three-hour concert “Luwalhati sa Diyos: The Legacy of Father Honti” at Ateneo de Manila University’s Henry Lee Irwin Theater.
It featured Bukas Palad Music Ministry, Himig Heswita, Pansol Choir, Tinig Barangka, and the Young Voices of the Philippines.