The Greatest Gift of Love

When I was still with the choir, we were learning some new songs to sing for the mass. One of them was a song entitled "Sa Iyong Mga Yapak." When we were working on our harmony, I seem to remember our choirmaster telling us to feel and understand every word that we sing. Taking that suggestion to heart, we began singing the song and while the sopranos (I being one of them) were singing the words, I almost choked and found myself wanting to cry. It's like a revelation at that time that the song that I'm singing refers to the loving act of our Lord Jesus Christ as he suffered and died for our sins. It's a good thing that there were eight of us in the soprano section and so, my stopping at mid-song wasn't too obvious. Since then, whenever we sing this song during the mass, I try my best to hold back the tears for a few minutes so that the beauty of the song and it's reflective words may touch those people hearing mass. I knew then that this song is truly perfect for Lenten Season. But I'd take it a step further that this song truly reflects Jesus' everyday sacrifice to us whenever he changes the host and the wine into his body and blood. This is one of my favorite and most loved Filipino Sacred Music. Here I share it with you in the spirit of the Lenten Season and in thanksgiving for God's marvelous gift of love and mercy.

By the way, the English translation is a rough one. Pardon my efforts if I have not completely captured the essence of the song. I hope that you'd be touched by the song itself.

SA IYONG MGA YAPAK                                         English Translation

Landas na kay tinik sa Iyo'y inilaan                              A path filled with thorns was intended for You

Bawa't hakbang nito'y dusa't hirap ang laman               Every step is filled with suffering and anguish

Sa kalooban ng Ama nagpasakop kang ganap             You submitted to the Father’s will fully

Buhay Mo O Hesus ang siyang alay na sapat               Your life, O Jesus, was the only offering that’s enough

Laban sa agos ng mundo,                                            Against the grain of the world,

Lumakad ka sa landas Mo                                          You walked the path only you have chosen

Laban sa lakad ng mundo,                                           Against the trend of the world,

Landas na sa 'ki'y nais Mo                                          You walked the path you wished that I would take

Sa Iyong mga yapak, ako ay tatahak                           I will walk in Your footsteps,

Kahit tigib ng luha ang nilakaran Mong landas              Even though the path You trod is full of tears

Pasakit man at dusa dulot ng mundo'y kamtan              Even if the world may bring me pain and suffering

Bawat bakas ng Iyong mga yapak                               Every trace of Your footsteps

Bawat hakbang Mo'y aking susundan                          Every step You take, I shall take it too

Kay hirap Mang gawin kalooban Mo'y tupdin             Though it’s hard to do Thy will completely

Pinili kong sundan bakas ng 'Yong mga hakbang          I choose to follow the path treaded by your footsteps

Ang buhay ko'y laan sa Iyo kailanpaman                     My life I give fully to Thee forevermore

Maglilingkod sa'Yo Panginoon hanggang wakas           I shall serve you, O God, to the end

Filipino Folk Goes International: Paru-Parong Bukid

Paru-Parong Bukid (Eng Trans. Butterfly Field) is one of the more popular folk song in the Philippines that was successfully made into a classic “kundiman” (musical) movie eponymously titled – Paru-Parong Bukid. The movie was produced by Sampaguita Pictures in 1938 top-billed by renowned “kundiman” actor Rudy Concepcion and his favorite on-screen love interest, Rosario Moreno.  via All Philippines

A fellow faculty member told me this joke.
Faculty: Knock! Knock!
Me: Who’s there?
Faculty: Butterfly.
Me. Butterfly who?
Faculty: B-U-TT-E-R  F-L-Y, Butterfly! (repeat 3x) Beeeee-U-TT-ER  F-L-Y, Butterfly!

Not funny isn’t it? Try singing the line to the tune of Paru-Parong Bukid. Listen to the video below as an American Choir sings and interprets this song.

PARU-PARUNG BUKID SONG LYRICS (Learn more)

Paruparong bukid na lilipad-lipad               
Sa gitna ng daan papagapagaspas           
Isang bara ang tapis
Isang dangkal ang manggas
Ang sayang de kola
Isang piyesa ang sayad


May payneta pa siya — uy!
May suklay pa man din — uy!
Nagwas de-ohetes ang palalabasin
Haharap sa altar at mananalamin
At saka lalakad nang pakendeng-kendeng.

Now try singing it, using only one word: Butterfly. Ready? Go! B-U-TT-E-R  F-L-Y, Butterfly... ;-D

Feast of Sto. Nino -- Being a Child of God

Today, the Philippines celebrate the Feast of Sto. Nino (Feast of the Holy Child). It is celebrated every third Sunday in January. This commemorates the time when the Sto. Nino was brought to the Philippines some time in the mid-1500s, when Spanish Conquistadors discovered the Philippines. It somehow marked the beginning and the spread of Christianity throughout the Archipelago. You can find some good insights into this festival through this article: Sto. Nino Feast: A Colorful Philippine Fiesta.

I wrote a blog yesterday wherein I shared my own secret to being young, that is having that childlike disposition. This disposition is characterized by humility, healthy curiosity and willingness to know and learn from other people. Children have simple joys in life--you may disagree since a lot of them nowadays would ask for gadgets as presents. ;-) But children perceive the world in a simple way and if we adults do our duty to protect their right to learn and grow, we'd be doing them and ourselves a really big favor. After all, as the song goes, "I believe that children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way."

So, have we taught them well over the last couple of years? I may not be a parent yet, but I have nephews and nieces. Also, as a trainer I encounter trainees in their early 20's. This is the generation that is still on its way to discover their place in this world. As a trainer, I'd make an effort not just train them for the job, but to tell them about how to live life and encourage them to live it to the full.

The song I will feature today is "Kyrie eleison" (Greek for "Lord, have mercy"). It is a prayer being said at the first part of the Holy Mass as a spiritual preparation for the entire celebration. Here churchgoers recall those things they've done that are not in keeping with the virtues of faith, hope, and love. We remember them and seek the grace of God to show mercy upon us and give us another chance to make up for it. Thus, the words of the prayers go: Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. In line with the Feast of Sto. Nino, let us be humble and acknowledge our failures and ask forgiveness from the Lord. Then, we shall do our best to make amends and change our life for the better.

Thank you Mr. Ralph Hoffman for this beautiful arrangement.

First Friday of the Year

Today is the first Friday of the month and the first for the year 2012. It marks the end of the first weekday of 2012. This first weekday of the year for me has been one of rest and preparation for the coming week. For the next two weeks, I'll be having training sessions and God knows maybe even until a third or fourth week. And speaking of God, this first Friday is specially dedicated to him. I've sang many church songs with the choir. The one below is one of my favorites--Ave Verum Corpus.

Ave verum corpus is A short Eucharistic hymn dating from the 14th century and attributed to Pope Innocent VI (d 1362). During the Middle Ages it was sung at the elevation of the Host during the consecration. It was also used frequently during Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

The most popular version is Mozart's composition. Personally, I prefer Charles Gounod's version of the hymn and this is the composition being sung in the video. 

Ave, verum corpus                       Hail,true body
natum de Maria Virgine,               born of the Virgin Mary,
Vere passum immolatum              Who truly suffered, sacrificed
in Cruce pro homine,                   on the Cross for man,
Cujus latus perforatum                 Whose pierced side
fluxit unda et sanguine,                 overflowed with water and blood,
Esto nobis praegustatum              Be for us a foretaste
in mortis examine.                        In the trial of death.


O dulcis, O pie,                           O sweet, o merciful,
O Jesu, Fili Mariae.                     O Jesus, Son of Mary
Pro nobis miserere.                      Have mercy on us!

Ah, what a way to end the first weekday of the year. The weekend has come and there's more time for relaxation and reminiscing and sharing my fave choral pieces.

Sing, Dance, Move and Groove

It's kinda late. I got home late. I start work early and I realize...I haven't written my blog for the day! I don't even have a draft, a definite plan. Here I am trying to figure out what to share with you today. I think of a song that I used to sing with Novo...or what about songs from the other choirs we've met on tours...but what song will I feature today? What choir?

And then while browsing on Youtube, I remember another favorite Filipino choral group. This one of many groups I've come to know and grow fond of when I joined Novo: the University of the East Chorale.

Now, next question: What song? Hmm...there are a lot of choices. I figured it should be a song in which they sang beautifully...and grove to the beat...what could that be? Ah, Mas Que Nada!



O aria aio opa opa opa
O OOOO aria aio opa opa

Mais que nada
Sai da minha frente
Que eu quero passar

Pois o samba esta animado
A que eu quero e samba
 
Este samba que a mistura de maracatu
E smaba de preto velho, samba de preto du

Mais que nada
Um samba come este tao legal
Voce nao vai querer que eu cheque no final

O aria aio opa opa
O OOOO aria ail opa opa opa

I like this video because I get to see their choirmaster sway and dance while conducting. Really! It's one of the reasons why I like watching this choir.

A New Beginning with the Mother of Graces

I couldn't think of any other way to start the New Year than to pause and reflect on the Solemnity of the Motherhood of Mary.

In 2009, while preparing for my trip to Spain with my choir, I did my research on our destination which was Torrevieja. The first thing I sought was a church and I was not disappointed.  Prayer time is important to me. During our European tour (we went to Austria and Germany too), I knew that I could easily find a church. But how I actually found it is even astounding to me. It was my first time to go to Spain, but one could find their way around if they know how to look--asking directions would be the direct way! So my friend and I asked for instructions on how to go to the city proper of Torrevieja. I asked if the church is along the bus route. True enough, it was!

The Plaza in front of the church

Drawing closer to the church...

This post is dedicated to the Blessed Mother Mary--mother of Jesus Christ. Oh how I'd love to sing and bask in the presence of the Mother of God! I am speechless and humbled before the Gracious Lady. Admittedly, when I took the picture below, I was shaking in awestruck at one of the most beautiful images of our Blessed Mother.

Our Lady of the Immaculate Concepcion, Torrevieja, Spain

An Image of Our Lady taken from the Diocesan Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus -- where I went to church this morning. :)

In honoring Mary, we also honor the Lord Jesus Christ. Her grace comes from her own Son and it is quite impossible to speak about Mary without reference to Jesus Christ. Since we have come towards the end of Christmas celebration, there is one song that I'll always cherish that pertains to the birth of Jesus--O Magnum Mysterium. The version that you will listen to is composed by Javier Busto. There are other renditions of this beautiful song but I like this version because the "Alleluia" at the end just takes one's breath away! The song begins with the choir "whispering"--O Magnum Mysterium--but if you listen closely, you will realize that this is not just some fancy whispering. Without further adieu, in honor of Jesus and his mother Mary, here is the song  O Magnum Mysterium.

Latin text
O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
jacentem in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Jesum Christum.
Alleluia.

English translation
O great mystery,
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the new-born Lord,
lying in a manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear
Jesus Christ the Lord.
Alleluia!

Let Others Shine

"Bituing Walang Ningning" is one of my favorite OPM's (Original Pilipino Music). Popularized in a movie during the 1980's, this song expresses one's love as pure and everlasting to the point of being "outshone" by the one you love. Let the loved one shine and its lover bask in its beautiful light. This is also one of many songs sang by Filipino choirs.

Here are the lyrics to the song. Admittedly, translation is not my strong suit. Here is Novo Concertante Manila's rendition of the song. Listen and be drawn into the melody, the harmony, and the feeling being expressed. When I was still with the choir, I'd imagine a lover putting his loved one in the the spotlight. Trust me when I say that any international audience will be caught enamored in its music despite the language barrier.

 
Kung minsan ang pangarap
Habambuhay itong hinahanap
Bakit nga ba nakapagtataka
'Pag ito ay nakamtan mo na
Bakit may kulang pa

Mga bituin aking narating
Ngunit langit ko pa rin ang iyong piling
Kapag tayong dalawa'y naging isa
Kahit na ilang laksang bituin
'Di kayang pantayan ating ningning


CHORUS 1
Balutin mo ako ng hiwaga ng iyong pagmamahal
Hayaang matakpan ang kinang na 'di magtatagal
Mabuti pa kaya'y maging bituing walang ningning
Kung kapalit nito'y walang paglaho mong pagtingin


CHORUS 2
Itago mo ako sa lilim ng iyong pagmamahal
Limutin ang mapaglarong kinang ng tagumpay
Sa piling mo ngayon ako'y bituing walang ningning
Nagkukubli sa liwanag ng ating pag-ibig

My time with the choir is done. It's time to let other people--aspiring singers and choristers--shine!

A Song To Uplift Your Spirits

I began as a chorister in my early twenties. Singing was a passion that ran through the veins of my family, especially my mom. It has become a passion for me to the point that I'd enjoy singing with the choir for sheer joy and pleasure--without a thought of getting paid for it. Sure, I've had gigs with the choir that were paid, but it doesn't necessarily go to the choristers themselves. It was a passion that's difficult to put in words. If I were to name a song that best describes this passion, it would be As Long As I Have Music.

This song goes out to all choristers, choirmasters, music directors, composers and singers around the world. Here is one of my favorite choral pieces sung by one of my favorite choirs, The Philippine Madrigal Singers.

When the world seems far beyond me
And I have no place to go

When my life seems cold and empty

And I feel I'm all alone

Then a song that I remember

Helps to ease my troubled mind

And I find the strength within me

To reach out just one more time

For as long as I have music

As long as there's a song for me to sing

I can find my way, I can see a brighter day

The music in my life will set my spirit free

When the road is dark and lonely

And I feel I want to cry

When the dreams I keep inside me

Seem to fade and almost die

Then I call upon my music

And it helps to dry my tears

And I know that I can make it

I'll go on despite my fears

For as long as I have music.....

I've had the opportunity to sing this song when I was a chorister. But I first heard this sang by the Philippine Madrigal Singers. Whenever I feel down and needed a boost for the day, this is one song that lifts up my spirits.