The year that was....

Ah, we've come to the last day of the year. So much has happened for the past months. I had my best and my worst. Let's take a look at my 2011.




JANUARY
After seven years of courtship, they got married. I got to be a bridesmaid together with my two best friends. Walking down the aisle was a piece of cake. But watching our mentor and motherly friend take every step closer to her groom, tears fell to our eyes.













FEBRUARY
Cheered and screamed for a classmate to win. Supported her campaign and I swear to God she should have made it. Congratulations, she was still our Miss UP Cebu.





MARCH
Experienced my first ever recognition for college. One of my firsts in UP. This certificate is all my hard work.

APRIL
Summeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer! Enrolled myself in voice lessons and had a part time job teaching kids violin at a local music school. Had fun with friends, first and ONLY free summer for my college life. Did I mention that I survived a year in UP? Well, you bet I did!

MAY
Recitals were everywhere left and right. There was my own recital and the recital of my students.










JUNE
Classes resume and I was busy as ever. Elected as the Vice-Chairperson for external affairs meant taking care of CAMS. It was tedious and heartbreaking, yet fun.  Here's a photo of me and the first years with Rachelle Dangin from ABS-CBN.

JULY
My first time to be in a benefit gala. I didn't just eat, but performed and was the photographer of the night. I owe so much to my CMLC family. It was on that night that I felt so close to my students and to my mentors. This picture over here is me with Mr. Anthony Saligue before he left for Europe. One of my mentors in playing the violin.




AUGUST

I am just proud of Pinoy Talent! One of the concerts I have attended this year is "Tayo'y Mga Pinoy", a thanksgiving performance of the Mandaune Children's Youth and Children's choir and the Asian Troubadours. Here's Kuya Jake Gacang, one of my friends in the music industry. He is now a show violinist, touring the world. :)









SEPTEMBER
Turned legal! Finally an adult. But in this world today, 18 is still too young for living a life on our own. Still, I'm thankful for the many things that I have happened to me in my childhood. I didn't have a debut. So what? I was with the people I love. Its another chapter in my life to start.

OCTOBER
Sembreak = fun. Of those days where I just want to spend time with my girls, fall off a huge stuffed toy animal and laugh while getting up. Priceless memories.








NOVEMBER
Changed my hair color. Yes, from black to red brown. And no, I didn't convert myself into a badjiao. I just felt like I needed to change my look. I cut my hair short, didn't style it and dyed it. A big leap for untouched hair.










DECEMBER
I was able to get inside the Cebu Cultural Center and see the Cebu Symphony Orchestra! It was a hell of a night. Don't get me started on the place, it's full of you-know-whats government scandals.






Well, what a year. What's there to look forward? 2012, can you hear me? Let's go!

Orchestrating Symphony

Who would have thought our own place would house an orchestra just like what we see in movies? For the past decades, Cebu has been an avenue for the culture and the arts to flourish in a way that it has placed itself on the map for a lot of things.

From 7 to 87

 In the field of music, we have so much innate talent within us that Rey Abellana together with his other colleagues formed the Cebu Symphony Orchestra or CSO.

Cebu used to have big orchestras like the Peace Philharmonic Philippines (PPP) and the Cebu Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO) which disbanded themselves because of unstable support and the need of the members to transfer for studies in their personal choice of instrument. Yet, some institutions offered music lessons to those interested.

It took Rey Abellana, a former member of the San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra; Francis Balo, a member of the same orchestra; Marc Hamlet Mercado from PPP; Professor Roberto Del Rosario, a renowned conductor and arranger;  and Renato Kintanar to build an 87 member orchestra.

                

“At first there were only 7 members who joined the practices every week,” says Abellana. “Yet, week after week, more Cebuano instrumentalists joined and committed themselves to the orchestra.” He said that the members are those who used to play for PPP and the CYSO. There are also some who used to be on-call members of the said group and advanced music students.

                

They started during March of this year bringing the original name of Cebu Classical Orchestra. The group later decided to change its name to Cebu Symphonic Orchestra during the month of July.

                

According to Leigh Cellano, who used to be the concert master of a certain junior youth ensemble says that being part of an orchestra is such a dream come true. “It was such an honor when  sir Rey said I could still join the group,” Cellano narrates. “It is hard to manage and build an orchestra but those men (Abellana and colleagues) were able to make it!” he added noting his inspiration to music.

                

For Marie Yntel Beltran, a classical singer and violinist, being part of CSO is a privilege for her. “I’m working with professional musicians and they are helping me to become a better violinist.” She also said that there are new pieces to learn and appreciate.

                 

Abellana said CSO’s goal is to develop local talents in music. They are trying to have a high standard that in a few years time, they will reach the same level as those musicians in Manila. As of now CSO is still starting as they will have their debut concert next month at the Cebu Cultural Center, Lahug.

                

“Cebu will definitely be expecting two to three major concerts in a year from us,” says Abellana. As a group they would want to showcase their type of music in a way that they would be able to bring back the appreciation of classical music.

                

As of now, CSO is being supported by various businessmen , the Cebu City government and the Cebu Provincial government. They practice once a week every Sunday in the halls of the City Hall.

               
In no time, this musical group composed of violins, clarinets, oboes, and more will be the pride of Cebu. Maybe it’s time for us Cebuanos to support our own talent by appreciating the type of music they are playing. Like CSO member Daniel Go wants to put it, “It made me love classical music again.” Maybe we can too, and believe in the talent of Cebuanos.

**Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on December 27, 2011

Singing Carols

I have never forgotten what it was like to sing in front of an unknown doorstep. Hand in hand with my best friends, we were aiming for big coins like the 5s and the 10s. As we stood in front, we would stun ourselves and take time to study the residents' personality then sing. Oftentimes we weren't allowed to finish our songs, probably because we've ruined their peaceful evening. There are some of course, who loved our songs and compliment us for the mini-blending we've come up with our little voices. The best part was the end of the night. We'd gather outside our porch and pour all the coins (and sometimes bills!) we've collected. After the final count, we'd divide them according to our number while my mom and dad brings out hot chocolate and pastries.

As I grew old, the excitement for caroling faded away. We were grown ups, busy with school and coping up with life. I still got to be invited by some of the people who knew my inclination for music. They'd sometimes request for my violin to be brought along,  I didn't mind. It wasn't more of a choice, just a duty to fulfill so they could reach the desired amount of money. The residents this time were different. They'd often give us a cold shoulder whenever the white envelope was handed to them. The thought of solicitation during the season of the Christmas scared them but the stakes were high, bringing the name of an association. There was no excitement at the end of the night, no thrill, no fancies, just plain singing.

Today, I'm confronted with little children who happily sing in front of our house. Some make singing carols a living, while others do it for the spirit of Christmas. I used to imagine what it was like a decade ago. My coins make up for those who sing with a heart, not for those who come back to our house night after night. Dear children, Merry Christmas. Giving it is, as the Lord gave. This is not a job, it's for the hearts of the people to be open. I hope you know the message of the songs, and not think its oh what far it is to wide on a wane horse open sleigh, hey. Happy Holidays!

In the eye of the storm

Nobody knew how it felt to be in the middle of a ravaging tornado nor a super typhoon blazing in the tropics. Not even a slightest feeling of how it is to be in deepest hole in world or in the highest cloud in the atmosphere. Simply put, there are just some feelings that cannot be defined by words.

However, visualization has changed the course of feeling. Crumpled paper can now be established by the brain but not with the senses. 3D images has changed the paradigm of visual communication, at least for now. But being in the eye of the storm? Great, a daily feeling I've been in for over three months.

Being in the center of attention, the barbecue of their grill and the chicken to their frying pan, God knows how it felt. As the outer wind turns and turns, I spin myself around too to go with the flow. Little did I know it was a hard time going out.

But yes, I wanted to be in there for some time. All the perks, the glam and the glitter. The eye made me happy for an achievement without hard work. I thought I could control the storm, but it was overtaking me. I fought my way yet it has been so good at putting me down. The storm has been deceiving the whole community with an aim of ravaging it to their own favor.

Sooner or later, the truth will come out and all winds would calm down. As of now, I'm climbing up the tall walls of the storm seeking to destroy the eye and run for my own life.

** The writer is talking about a real life situation.

Been around the world

I guess it's every woman's dream to go and travel the world. Maybe not just for women only. Our Asian History class even wanted to travel around Asia just to get a feel of what we will be talking about for the whole semester. Sadly, it seems just so impossible with this age (^^) and time. 

However, we have resorted to an option of going around the Philippines, or if not, then we'll settle for the least - taking a tour around Cebu City and it's different temples. I've been told there's a Tibetan temple uptown and I've been taking frequent visits to a Buddhist temple back when I was still a part of an orchestra. I don't find it bad at all. In fact, it'll be a great idea. Less hassle plus less expenditure. Yet, there is also one way of taking a "feel" being around Asia or for my case, the world. It's no other than the number one resort for the happy, depressed and mad - FOOD.

Yes, food! The actual things you eat and shove into your mouth can let you experience a flavor of a foreign land. Last Saturday, I was one of the privileged few who understood what it meant when the world flattened. With this, food became easier for everyone to share. Our common food isn't really ours.

UNITED STATES - Casa Verde's BIG BIG BIG burger and fries.

ITALY - Alberto's Pizza

PHILIPPINES - Budbud Kabog and Sikwate

MEXICO - Nachos and Salsa

CHINA - Pancit Canton

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SINGAPORE - Nasi Goren

I've even been to Iran but I wasn't able to take a picture of the Dal Curry and Pita bread from Persian Palate. Point is, with the flattening of the world we have been exposed to another country's cuisine without even us noticing. Still thinking of traveling? I'll let my stomach do the journey. I'm game for restaurant hopping in my own homeland.

Justice for Leftys

I've been a Left-handed or a "lefty" since I was born, I'm so sure of that. I recall my family members positioning a big crayon on my right hand and I'd secretly transfer it to the left. Over and again, we'd repeat the same process until they finally gave up and knew my fate was to be a lefty.

It was hard growing up being branded as a lefty. In elementary school, it was weird me just using my left hand to write and raise my hand. I received scornful looks from my classmates. When I moved up to the intermediate level, I had a hard time writing on an armchair until I reached high school. My friends complained at how our elbows bumped during meal times, and even was not accepted at the most unimaginable places to the point of being labelled as abnormal. I just shrug if all off convincing myself I was normal.

Writing with my left hand

Well, I was, at the very least. Born by a mother, having two hands and feet, and a brain that could count in 5 languages! According to an article entitled left handedness, some cultures find using the left hand as improper. Yet, it IS normal. Sciencedaily.com said that, "Left handedness is not a disease nor an illness." So?

Studies show that hand orientation is developed during the early stage of being a fetus. It is also possible that a gene handed down the line may cause such. Oops, it looks like there is nothing to blame but your own bloodline. No, not the environment, not the influence but your own body birthed by your parents. Actually, a lot people made names being left handed and there weren't abnormal either. Say, like, USA President Barack Obama and the man before him George W. Bush, even Bill Clinton. Don't get me wrong, even Manny Pacquiao does power punches with his left knuckle.

We aren't meant to be treated as the other way just like LGBT's don't. They are just hands for crying out loud and mind that sees things in reverse. It wasn't our fault, forgive us. I wouldn't trade my hands for a normal one and give up my ambidexterity and all the other perks of being a lefty. I'm creative enough to let loose. Who's with me? Raise your left hands up, Leftys!

Badjao Conversion

Girls are self-conscious, or so they say. I guess we've caught them (or us) staring at them mirror for a million times wondering what and which fits us the most. Who can tell better on what looks good on you? For some its the hair that's been the object of attack.

Some opt for hair straightening treatments such as relax, rebond, reborn and what "re"s the salon could think of.  Others may want a new hair cut, believing in faith that old hair throws off the bitter past that was left behind. But for this season, many of us stepped forward to saying goodbye to brown black dark asian hair. New hair color, come to mama.

Badjao family in the water

When a fellow of mine walked the hallway of the school with her new hair color, someone asked her, "Nag pa convert lagi kag Badjao? (You converted yourself to being a Badjao?)". 

You see, this ethnic group known for its excellent diving skills are also known for its signature orange to yellow colored hair. Their longer exposure to the sun makes their hair lose the melanin ending up their hair colour in such.

Badjaos are originally from Mindanao and according to studies, they have reached big cities such as Cebu to try their luck so they would breathe out of poverty. Yet, nothing happens. They still roam the streets carrying an infant to provoke pity amongst street people or sit by the pier and amuse tourists on how they can swim into deep stretches of waters. Even their babies can dive into the dangerous waters of the ocean. They leave their own ethnic culture and living just to gamble their lives with nothing in return.

New hair color, no need for stereotyping

I really don't know what is there in return with an almost orange head, aside from the Ammonia overload that's been on mine for days. As a woman, there is nothing with changing hair color. It may be a metaphoric message being conveyed for some but hair will still be hair, no need for stereotyping.