911

I just came home from school. I was a junior high time. There was nobody at home so I got myself something to eat for dinner and turned on the TV. Browsing the channels, I was baffled by this video being shown on a business channel. "This is strange", I thought. Stuff like this are shown on HBO not CNBC. I stared at the television set for a few minutes more and horrified as I was, I am not sure if I was going to continue eating. The next thing I know, I was teary-eyed, praying that it would end soon.

The images are still in my head right now as if it happened just yesterday. So vivid. So perplexing. It was horrible, unimaginable. Today, as America commemorates the 10th Anniversary of the 911 bombing, we join them in praying for justice and peace. May we let God show his mercy and power to everyone affected by the tragedy especially to the family and relatives of the victims.

                                             Photo owned by BBC News (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-14872517)

Pagtatapat ng Isang Tagahimig

Kung hindi man sasapat ang paghimig,

hayaang buhay ko'y sa 'Yo maiawit.

Hindi ko na lubos maalala kung paano kumalabit sa isip ko ang mga titik na ito. Tipikal na araw iyon. Habang naghihintay na maikabit ang mga pyesa ng bagong kompyuter na binili ay minabuti ko nang mananghali muna sa isang malapit na kainan. Nilabas ko ang kwaderno at isinatinta ang mga linyang patula na nangungulit sa aking diwa ilang minuto na. Para sa apat na saknong, kapos pa sa ibig kong porma upang lumapat sa damdamin ng himig na matagal nang nagsusumigaw sa isang sulok ng aking kaisipan. "Aayusin ko na lang sa bahay." Sabi ko sa sarili ko.

Tulad ng usang uhaw sa tubig ng batis,

Ang aking kaluluwa sa 'Yo'y nananabik.

Nakapananariwang manalangin sa awit ng aking Unang Pakikinabang. Sa tuwing ako'y nagsisimba at ito ang kinakanta ng koro, nanunumbalik nang bigla ang apoy ng paghahangad na paglingkuran Siya. Siya na pinangakuan kong magiging matalik kong kaibigan buhat pa noong nasa ikalimang baitang pa lang ako. "As the deer..." ang himig ng mga paslit na tinig, umaawit na para kang pinaaalalahanang Siya ang una kong inasam bago pa man dumating ang maraming bagay sa aking buhay.

Hindi ko alam kung paano nangyari ang lahat. Naging bahagi ako ng korong sa dalumat ko lang tinangkang sabayang awitan. Nakatagpo ako ng mga taong nagustuhan ang mga himig ko. Napabilang ako sa isang pangkat ng magkakaibigang patuloy na nagpapaalala na sa kabila ng pagdududa ko sa aking sarili, naniniwala ang Diyos sa akin. Napasama ako sa mga taong nagsabing, "Sumulat ka pa nang marami!" sa panahong halos pinaslang ko na ang paniniwalang kapos ang aking kayang ibigay bilang manunulat at mang-aawit.

Sa pagbubunsod ng ikawalong album ng Hangad, maraming nabuksan sa akin. Saklaw nito hindi lamang ang pagiging mang-aawit at kompositor ko kundi maging ang pagiging tao sa kabuuan. Nanood ang mga tao ng dalawang konsiyerto. Nagbilihan ng kani-kaniyang sipi ng album. Ako naman, sa huling nota ng pangwakas na awitin, babaunin ko ang mga pagkatuto sa mga susunod na proyekto. Narinig ko na at naangkin ang mga salita ng Panginoon sa minsan naming pag-uusap. "Sapat ang biyaya ko para sa iyo kaya huwag mo itong pagdudahan."

Excited!

I just got a very good news I have been praying for so long. A friend posted a link naming the short-listed applicants for the 2nd Elements National Singing and Songwriting Camp (http://7101musicnation.com.ph/news/shortlist). I was so happy when I learned this. I was in the office though so I wasn't able to shout it out. LOL. Right now I am just very excited for the audition. We're 60 in the list and they're taking only 30 participants from the songwriting category. I do hope that you'll be praying with me so I may make it to this camp. One more step and I'm in!

Oh Lord You are marvelous.

Kanugon

Sayang.

What word in English corresponds to this exactly? That is how I feel for not writing experiences for the past few months. Yeah I am always busy but it's not worth missing it if you know your stories are meant to be shared.

I wasn't able to write since March. That means I missed narrating my Easter Season activities when I shifted my ministry focus to Hangad. I didn't write about the MAS-MRAP Reunion which is the highlight of my Holy Week.  The Holy Week itself! Oh God this is too much for being late.

Two office team buildings have passed. The singing workshop. The wedding gigs. The start of This Time With You album recording. M two songs in the album. My first recorded solo. The Microsourcing Mardi Gras. The Punta Fuego R&R. My trip to Guimaras Island which marked my many firsts. The workshops Hangad conducted in three parishes already. My first billiard experience. My driving lessons. My new pet Samuel. The psalm I wrote and sing for St. Philomena. The first jingle I sold to a TV show. My first mountain peak. My first ice skating experience. My new friends from Singles for Family and Life. The release of This Time With You cd and songbook. My comeback to serving at the altar after months of recording. The concert last week which was a blast. My new compositions from the melodies springing up while climbing the mountain, staring blankly at the bus window, and while taking my dog for a walk. I also wanted to write about the Filipino language. Also about the current socio-political issues.

Ok. Tonight. I mean Today, September 8. I promise to write all that is worth sharing in this blog. Be it in conversational Filipino, trying hard Hiligaynon or Kiniray-a, casual English or poetic Tagalog, I shall not hesitate to write again. I should have known that an artist's discipline is writing at least a line or two everyday. I have forgotten being an artist for quite a while. It should not happen again.

Life is a celebration. Life is joyful! Ang imo nga kalipayon, imo nga ihatag. (Is this a correct Hiligaynon, Ma?) :p