Women of Charity

In one of the concerts, I remember a song being dedicated to a special guest. I likened this special guest to two wonderful people I met in 2011--Mel and Gene.

On February of 2011, I met Mel (not her real name) together with my new found friend Queenie (not her real name and subject of yesterday's blog). Like me, Mel loves to read books. I envy her in a way because she works for a publishing house and she has access to books of various genres. ;-) But more than just a book lover, she is a lover of people. Mel belongs to a special group whose purpose in the community is to pray for other people. She is active when it comes to outreach programs--taking orphans to an amusement park, soliciting and distributing medicines for the less fortunate ones in public hospitals, giving gifts to senior citizens, street children, and orphans to name a few during Christmas...and so much more!

Alongside Mel is another great person who serves with her in these outreach programs. Gene (not her real name) is the perfect antidote to a bad day. She always has good, positive, and joyous things to say and share. She's funny in her own way, especially when she sends you messages via cellphone that confuses you sometimes. :-) But she always attends to her friends with love and concern, asking about how their day went by, what makes them happy...in a word--she cares.

In a world that's filled with greed, cold hearted, and selfish people, it's comforting to meet many people out their who'd go out of their way to serve and be happy with what they do--like Mel and Gene. Here's to you Mel and Gene. This song is for you.

Paraiso (arranged by Fidel Calalang, Jr.)

Return to a land called paraiso
A place where a dying river ends
No birds dare fly over paraiso
No space allows them to endure
The smoke that screens the air
The grass that's never there
Refrain 1:
And if I could see a single bird
What a joy!
I try to write some words and create
A simple song to be heard by the rest of the
world
                                                                                  

I live in a land called paraiso
In a house made of cardboard floors and walls
I learned to be free in paraiso
Free to claim anything I see
Matching rags for my clothes
Plastic bags for the cold
Refrain 2:
And if empty cans were all I have
What a joy!
I never fight to take someone else's coins
and live with fear like the rest of the boys
 

Chorus:
Paraiso, help me make a stand
Paraiso, take me by the hand
Paraiso, make the world understand
That if I could see a single bird
What a joy!
This tired and hungry land could expect
Some truth and hope and respect
From the rest of the world
Repeat Refrain 2
Repeat Chorus

I was still part of Novo when this was sung. Unfortunately, the one who owns the camera is also a singer in this video. So the camera remained steady. :-D I hope you liked it though!