I first had a taste of their inspiring performance when the kids rendered a number during the launching of Catholic Mass Media Award at St. Peter’s Auditorium in August last year. A month later, I had the chance to see them perform at the Plenary Hall of Central Bank here in Davao in a show titled “Tagumpay”. In both instances they never failed to warm my heart.
The kids I’m talking about belong to a performing group called Songspell who’s got a four-year old as its youngest member.
The Songspell foundation as the group is legally known, started from an inspiration by Nelly Castro, Songspell’s Musical Director. Nelly, inspired by the successful performances of her two child proteges (Ana Basa and Kia Ledesma) in the musical production of “Les Miserables”, thought of starting a musical workshop. That single seed of inspiration grew and bore fruit as the number of children who came for training increased.
The first workshop consisting of 22 students had their initial musical rendition at Kristin’s Restaurant. The performance drew a lot of attention and inquiries from people who became interested to enroll their children in the foundation’s training program.
Since March 1996, the foundation has conducted three summer and school year workshops. The children come every day during summer while on school year workshops the kids meet only on Saturdays from 2:00 to 5:00 PM.
Speaking to Lita Olaguer, the foundation’s treasurer, I could feel the sense of commitment not only in her but also among the other members of the foundation who are actually the parents of the children. Lita shares with all simplicity the struggles and the hopes of the foundation to train children in the area of performing arts. According to her Songspell Foundation envisions to discover, develop, enhance and promote the musical abilities of Davao children who will provide excellent performances to various communities. This is precisely the reason why the foundation put up a scholarship program for poor but gifted children.
I guess Lita at this point feels a bit consoled that the foundation appears to be gaining ground. The children have already a series of performances to their credit. Those performances have all been enthusiastically received plus the fact that the kids have also been invited outside Davao. They have already performed in Mati and in Bohol. The children understandably are very enthusiastic. They are setting their sights to further places. In the States, perhaps? Who knows?
The foundation boasts of 56 students at present. The group meets at Woodridge Clubhouse for its weekly session every Saturday afternoon. This time, their weekly sessions are spiced up by their anticipation of an upcoming concert in Samal, to celebrate the Garden City’s anniversary of cityhood on March 6.
The kids will cap their yearlong workshop with a recital titled “Best of Broadway” on April 17 at Woodridge Clubhouse in Maa. Aimed to showcase their God-given talents, the children will sing, dance, choreograph and direct their performances.
Sunday, February 28, 1999
Sunday, February 21, 1999
Love Beyond Death
The idea of the afterlife has always hold a fascination among so many of us. So many writers have written experiences of those who have claimed to die and whose soul has gone to a place that looked like heaven. So many books on this subject attest to this great interest of people on the topic of life after death.
What Dreams May Come is a film that explores the subject of love after death. Are we going to be united with our loved ones whom we have lost in life? What will become of a loved one who committed suicide? How far one would go to find his loved one? These are just some of the questions the movie tries to answer as it leads the viewer into a blissful three dimensional experience of the heavenly realities and the suffering of those thrown into hell.
The $70 million dollar movie digitally transforms painted canvasses into heavenly vistas of colorful flowers, flowing waters and beautiful gardens. The Hades’ scene reminds me of Dante’s description of the underworld. Did I see one scene similar to that of the “Spoliarium?”
Although the film treats the subjects of heaven and hell as closely as any ordinary Christian would know his catechism; the viewer should also be critical enough to distinguish that the film is a fantasy romance and not a theological treatise on the last things. The film also touches (although superficially) on the aspect of shaping one’s own destiny which on one hand raises a lot of questions on the viewer.
Starring Robin Williams and Anabella Sciorra as Chris and Annie, the movie is based on a novel of Richard Matheson by the same title. The story explores the great love that exists between Chris Nielsen, a pediatrician, and his wife, a painter and art curator named Annie. The couple lost a daughter and a son in a car accident. Four years later, Chris himself was killed when a car ran over him while trying to help a victim of another car accident. Annie, unable to come to grips with her pain committed suicide. In the afterlife, Chris learned that Annie is dead but cannot join him in heaven because of the nature of her death. Chris went on a quest to find Annie. Literally, he went through heaven and hell to search for his loved one. In the end, the great love between husband and wife brought them back together.
The movie points out that it is the person who creates his own hell and forgiveness and love are two strong bonds that can help that person out of that particular state.
Chris’ love towards Annie leads us to the reality that true love encompasses time and boundaries. A far greater reality is that the love between Chris and Annie is but a blurred reflection of the great love that God has for us. Jesus embraced death because of love, he went to hell, and now waits for us in heaven to be with him forever.
What Dreams May Come is a film that explores the subject of love after death. Are we going to be united with our loved ones whom we have lost in life? What will become of a loved one who committed suicide? How far one would go to find his loved one? These are just some of the questions the movie tries to answer as it leads the viewer into a blissful three dimensional experience of the heavenly realities and the suffering of those thrown into hell.
The $70 million dollar movie digitally transforms painted canvasses into heavenly vistas of colorful flowers, flowing waters and beautiful gardens. The Hades’ scene reminds me of Dante’s description of the underworld. Did I see one scene similar to that of the “Spoliarium?”
Although the film treats the subjects of heaven and hell as closely as any ordinary Christian would know his catechism; the viewer should also be critical enough to distinguish that the film is a fantasy romance and not a theological treatise on the last things. The film also touches (although superficially) on the aspect of shaping one’s own destiny which on one hand raises a lot of questions on the viewer.
Starring Robin Williams and Anabella Sciorra as Chris and Annie, the movie is based on a novel of Richard Matheson by the same title. The story explores the great love that exists between Chris Nielsen, a pediatrician, and his wife, a painter and art curator named Annie. The couple lost a daughter and a son in a car accident. Four years later, Chris himself was killed when a car ran over him while trying to help a victim of another car accident. Annie, unable to come to grips with her pain committed suicide. In the afterlife, Chris learned that Annie is dead but cannot join him in heaven because of the nature of her death. Chris went on a quest to find Annie. Literally, he went through heaven and hell to search for his loved one. In the end, the great love between husband and wife brought them back together.
The movie points out that it is the person who creates his own hell and forgiveness and love are two strong bonds that can help that person out of that particular state.
Chris’ love towards Annie leads us to the reality that true love encompasses time and boundaries. A far greater reality is that the love between Chris and Annie is but a blurred reflection of the great love that God has for us. Jesus embraced death because of love, he went to hell, and now waits for us in heaven to be with him forever.
Saturday, February 20, 1999
Love’s Awakening
It is a common practice in our communities to use media instruments when praying. It could either be a cassette recorder, a CD, a slide or overhead projector or a video. Meditative music and beautiful visuals are helpful aids to prayer and can help us go deeper in our reflection on the loving goodness of our Creator who made all things good and beautiful.
I have in my possession a video that I have been using for sometime now either for group prayer or individual reflection titled Love’s Awakening. It is a collection of 8 contemporary songs on the theme of love that runs for about 4 to 5 minutes each with accompanying photographs. The work was obviously a product of a deeper reflection and appreciation of the love that is born within us. The opening credits say it all: This film was created by and through love. May its simple message help you to remember the beauty and love that live forever within you.
One of the songs included in that selection was sung by Scottie Haskell. It’s called The Rose. The theme is about love. At the end of the first stanza the line goes: I say love – it is a flower and you – it’s only seed. And towards the end it says: ...far beneath the bitter snows lies the seed that with the Sun’s love becomes the rose.
I like the song very much not only because of its beautiful melody but also of the deeper meaning that lies beneath the words. Yes, indeed we were created out of love, and deep in our hearts lies the capacity to love and to allow that love to bloom with the grace of God.
The month of February is often associated with love and lovers. But I have always wondered why it is only love between lovers that is often given importance during this month. How about the love of parents towards their children? Brothers to sisters? Grandparents? Aunts? Uncles? And friends? These are the people whose little acts of love we experience everyday. Doesn’t their love also deserve to be given attention to even if only a day this month?
I have this experience that happened to me many years ago which I love to share every now and then. I was in a bus on my way to school and in front of me were seated a young lady and a middle-aged woman. I eventually guessed through their actions that they were mother and daughter. At any rate, the daughter went down first. So the mother was left in her seat. However, I noticed that she followed her daughter with a look that could only be defined as love and nothing else. The daughter looked back at her, waved and smiled, then disappeared among the pedestrians. The mother followed her with her eyes until she could not longer see her, then with a sigh settled back in her seat.
That moment left such an impact on me. That was a precious moment wherein I experienced the love of God flowing through the bond that existed between that mother and her daughter.
Yes indeed, love is like a flower, and you and me its only seed. It can only bloom to its fullness if we allow it so.
I have in my possession a video that I have been using for sometime now either for group prayer or individual reflection titled Love’s Awakening. It is a collection of 8 contemporary songs on the theme of love that runs for about 4 to 5 minutes each with accompanying photographs. The work was obviously a product of a deeper reflection and appreciation of the love that is born within us. The opening credits say it all: This film was created by and through love. May its simple message help you to remember the beauty and love that live forever within you.
One of the songs included in that selection was sung by Scottie Haskell. It’s called The Rose. The theme is about love. At the end of the first stanza the line goes: I say love – it is a flower and you – it’s only seed. And towards the end it says: ...far beneath the bitter snows lies the seed that with the Sun’s love becomes the rose.
I like the song very much not only because of its beautiful melody but also of the deeper meaning that lies beneath the words. Yes, indeed we were created out of love, and deep in our hearts lies the capacity to love and to allow that love to bloom with the grace of God.
The month of February is often associated with love and lovers. But I have always wondered why it is only love between lovers that is often given importance during this month. How about the love of parents towards their children? Brothers to sisters? Grandparents? Aunts? Uncles? And friends? These are the people whose little acts of love we experience everyday. Doesn’t their love also deserve to be given attention to even if only a day this month?
I have this experience that happened to me many years ago which I love to share every now and then. I was in a bus on my way to school and in front of me were seated a young lady and a middle-aged woman. I eventually guessed through their actions that they were mother and daughter. At any rate, the daughter went down first. So the mother was left in her seat. However, I noticed that she followed her daughter with a look that could only be defined as love and nothing else. The daughter looked back at her, waved and smiled, then disappeared among the pedestrians. The mother followed her with her eyes until she could not longer see her, then with a sigh settled back in her seat.
That moment left such an impact on me. That was a precious moment wherein I experienced the love of God flowing through the bond that existed between that mother and her daughter.
Yes indeed, love is like a flower, and you and me its only seed. It can only bloom to its fullness if we allow it so.
Sunday, February 7, 1999
Communicating Authentically
A friend once asked me to give a lecture on communication. I initially said yes, but I threw the question back at him. Why could he not give the lecture himself? Looking at me innocently, he answered: “I can’t. The only communication I knew is communication gap.” That was a joke, of course, that left us both laughing.
At any rate, that witty remark left me thinking afterwards. I reflect on the quality of communication I have with people around me and I realize how easy indeed it is to create this communication gap. There are many factors that can contribute and nurture this failure in communication. One of these factors is the inability for most of us to listen and to give time to others. Many times I have experienced it myself especially when I am burdened with paperwork and there’s a deadline to meet. Another reason is there are those among us who talk too much and cannot stop to listen. Some people are really blessed with a mouth that can utter words 80 km/hour. These people thrive in this saying: “I talk, you listen.”
There are other factors that contribute to failure in communication but in my own experience the reasons I cited above are the most basic why communication and, consequently, relationships break down. Listening goes together with communicating. They are two sides of the same coin. Unless we learn how to listen, we won’t be able to communicate authentically.
Silence is an important quality of attentive listening. Unless the heart and the mind keep silent while in the process of listening, the person will find it difficult to enter into the situation of the other.
The presence of mass media technology in our midst does not in any way, help solve this problem of failing to communicate authentically. It some cases, the technology even aggravates the situation since it contributes more noise and in some extent even isolates us from others.
At the heart of every successful undertaking (whether it is relationship or anything else) is the ability of the person concerned to communicate effectively with those around him or her.
At any rate, that witty remark left me thinking afterwards. I reflect on the quality of communication I have with people around me and I realize how easy indeed it is to create this communication gap. There are many factors that can contribute and nurture this failure in communication. One of these factors is the inability for most of us to listen and to give time to others. Many times I have experienced it myself especially when I am burdened with paperwork and there’s a deadline to meet. Another reason is there are those among us who talk too much and cannot stop to listen. Some people are really blessed with a mouth that can utter words 80 km/hour. These people thrive in this saying: “I talk, you listen.”
There are other factors that contribute to failure in communication but in my own experience the reasons I cited above are the most basic why communication and, consequently, relationships break down. Listening goes together with communicating. They are two sides of the same coin. Unless we learn how to listen, we won’t be able to communicate authentically.
Silence is an important quality of attentive listening. Unless the heart and the mind keep silent while in the process of listening, the person will find it difficult to enter into the situation of the other.
The presence of mass media technology in our midst does not in any way, help solve this problem of failing to communicate authentically. It some cases, the technology even aggravates the situation since it contributes more noise and in some extent even isolates us from others.
At the heart of every successful undertaking (whether it is relationship or anything else) is the ability of the person concerned to communicate effectively with those around him or her.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)