Ever After

I’ve always fancied fairy tales. It talks about beautiful places, people, heroes. princes and princesses the list goes on and on. Adventure is always in the story. Themes would always include heroism, love, forgiveness and family. It’s the kind of story that you would want to delve into because of its endless possibilities. It’s as if you’re invincible to pain, death, anger and harm. Happy ending always ends the tale.

I remember when I was a child I would jump up and down in excitement hearing the phrase “once upon a time…” That phrase would bring back happy childhood memories of my papa reading to us late at night or my aunt mimicking the voices of the characters.

I guess when you grow up, when you feel like you got smarter and wiser to be fooled by such stories that you also become invincible to hearing happy stories. I guess its because you know the reality you’re living in. But that’s what I miss the most. Being amazed by good deeds, dreaming of adventure, waking up in the morning wishing I was in a castle. But life goes on. We realize there is no prince charming to save you from a burning castle, a fairy godmother who would grant you three wishes for the day or that with a snap of a finger all your house’s mess would suddenly be in order.

I miss imagining what happens after “they lived happily ever after”. Did the prince and princess have children, were they together for the rest of their lives or did they grow apart? That’s the thing about fairy tales. There’s always a happy ending. No matter what the protagonist goes through, no matter how powerful and conniving the evil witch is, fate always seem to get things in order. Just how a happy ending should be.

Bukas Palad's New Album Christify

Last Saturday, my family and I watched a concert of the Bukas Palad Choir. I’m literally a fan of liturgical songs and I believe that these meaningful songs play a huge part in the mass. These are songs that empower you, inspire you and brings out emotions that you can’t express. Mass songs played a huge role in my life not only because my late father used to be a church choir organist, but it’s also because those songs gave me a lot of strength during the low points in my life. Anyway Bukas Palad opened the program with the lively “Let Your Praises Be Heard”. I love that song. It made me dance for joy because I felt God’s love right then and there. After a brief introduction the choir sang the immortal compositions of the Jesuits. The first note of Sayo Lamang gave me the chills. I was listening to such beautiful music that it made me cry. The lyrics was so deep and real, added with the accompaniment of a beautiful melody, I just cried. My mom who was seated next to me was also crying. The first part of the concert featured the popular songs while on the second part, they sang songs from their new album Christify. (I bought the CD and the music sheets by the way!) Anyway, one of the choir members said that Christify was about how we could live our lives according to the will of God. He said that giving praises to God does not end with the recessional song, the true challenge begins there. I love all of the songs from Christify. My favorites are Kailan Pa Man, Miserere, Magnificat and Sa Tahanan ng Poon.

My mom usually says that singing church music is twice as good as saying a prayer. Maybe it’s because you get to praise, pray and sing to God at the same time. I met some of the members after the concert and I can’t help but say thank you to them. Truly they have touched many people that night in many ways that they can ever imagine. How wonderful it must be to be a part of something so amazing! After the concert, I was so inspired that I one of the lines from the song “Amare et servire” which they sang kept on playing inside my head. In omnibus Amare et servire Domino.” In everything love and serve the Lord. That’s what I will do exactly. From this moment on, I will do everything for the love and service of God. Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!

A gift from Papa

Last night my siblings, my boyfriend and I watched the world renowned violinist Uto Ughi. Uto showed brilliance with his music. I remember sighing after I heard him play Beethoven's Spring Sonata and his last piece the meditation. I was literally clapping out loud. Many people came to watch the concert but we got our tickets for free. It was such an experience to share that moment with the people I love.

Anyway last night was also my late Papa's birthday. He would have been 46 now. While we were waiting for the shuttle, my sister whispered "Uto is right behind us". Apparently Uto together with his also exceedingly gifted accompanist that night Alexander was waiting for their ride home. I couldn't stop myself from approaching them and asking for their autographs. Uto and Alexander did not hesitate to give us their autographs. They were very friendly and they were even praising each other for their respective performance that night. My boyfriend took our pictures. After that moment my boyfriend told us that he saw Uto carrying his violin with the strap branded Garnieri. Whew! Uto plays with a Stradivarius and a Garnieri by the way. Tow of the finest violins in the world for its rich tone! These violins are so rare that one time a Strad was auctioned it was sold for about 3 Million dollars. I would die to have just one but Uto has two! I believe his violins were made during the 17th century. He deserves it anyway.

It was a gift from Papa. Because we were the only ones who got their autographs and pictures. Everyone was waiting for them at the lobby but apparently they left right after the performance. We were fortunate enough to spot them at the artist's entrance. After our heavenly moment with the two great artists their car was just on time to pick them up. Other people who saw what we did, did not have the chance to get their pictures with the artists. We were so lucky. I feel somehow guilty though because I was in Cloud 9 that I forgot to take the camera from my boyfriend so that he could have his chance of having a souvenir too. I remember him telling me again and again how he admired the pianist during the performance. Sorry hon. I'll make it up to you.

After that we immediately called our mom to tell her our winning moment. I knew my mom was somehow emotional that night because he missed our Papa. Six years after my father's death, sometimes moments like that still happen when you just remember him and you cry because you missed him. Anyway I know Papa did something in heaven that's why God made this whole surprise to us.

Thanks Papa for the gift. We love you and we miss you!

Keep an eye on all of us okay?

Rainy days are here again

It was a hot and sunny day when I woke up. Yeah it was still summer but it's the last week of May. Soon, rainy days will be here again. I was packing my things as I prepare to go to work, ate my breakfast and headed off to work. Then suddenly "drip, drop, drip, drop". It was raining. I couldn't help but to make my face come out of the jeepney's window and marvel at this sight. Rainy days are here again. Suddenly everything became darker. Dark clouds started to fill the city. The jeepney driver even had to open his jeepney lights so that he could see the passengers. One even said"may bagyo yata." The wind was blowing hard and everyone started to complain "wala akong dalang payong!" "Naku wala akong dala na tsinelas" I can't help but to put a smile on my face. I felt so happy that it was raining. Maybe it was because after all the heat and exhaustion for two months, like how it was meant to be, like how God designed it to be. The rain came. It was like it took forever for it to get here but it did.

Maybe the reason why I felt that way is because sometimes in our lives we are face with situations that would make us feel trapped. As if we're never going to get away with it. And that time stops at that moment and we just feel, sad and depressed. Accepting that misfortune is our fate. But the rain reminded me that "it will come" Happy days will come. What I want in my life will come. I was reminded to be patient aand to wait with a hopeful heart. Maybe someday whatever we want will come just when we least expected it.

Thank you Lord for the rain today. If the fulfillment of having what I want would feel like what I felt when I saw the drops of water falling from the sky, then let your will be done. I'm willing to wait...

Lord teach me to be generous

"Dearest Lord teach me to be generous, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds..."

I really love this song. I was just singing at our church choir one Sunday mass when out of nowhere this line came to my head. I don't even know why... Was I feeling the need to be generous? I don't know.

Then I came to realize, I was worrying about my expenses. I would often say when I'm kind of short with my budget "wala na akong pera". This line which my mom hated so much is always my expression when I think of having to pay for a lot of things. My mama would often say "wag sasabihing wala laging meron."

Sometimes we feel like we're giving too much to other people that we don't leave anything or save anything for ourselves. This comes out of our pity. Bigla na lang tayo naaawa sa sarili natin. I would be a hypocrite if I say that money doesn't matter at all. It does matter but it doesn't have to be the top of mind. But reflecting on the song prayer for generosity, sometimes all we could do is to ask the Lord to guide us and help us to be better. What happiness would I feel if someday I would be able to give my all and not ask for anything in return. What freedom it must be! What peace of mind. No strings attached, no holding back just giving all that I am and all that I have. I cling to this thought that someday I would be able to be as generous as God wants me to be. It might take some time...but I'm getting there and I won't stop at nothing.


Here is the song by the way you might want to check this out

Click here

I'm defying gravity!

After months and months of decision making, discerning and practically tossing and turning, I decided to resign from my company and start a new phase in my career. It was so hard at first trying to weigh all my options. But my boss was very kind and supportive of my decision to leave. This was my first job so I was kind of hesitant to leave. I love the people there and I just knew that if I go I would have to start anew.

I would leave people behind and meet new colleagues. I would feel the same feeling that I have when I first stepped into my first office. Somehow I knew things would not be easy but I am certain and somewhat excited to find out what's there for me, what other things could I do or what adventure I'm going to take.

I'm the type of person who's always afraid of taking risks. But I'm not getting any younger. In fact, I'm getting older as time passes by *sniff sniff. But you know what I like it and this time I don't want to live my life with what ifs. I want to say that "I did it." Instead of "I should have done it."

During the time when I was kind of scared whether I was making the right decision, I listen to this song. Defying gravity is from the musical Wicked. This song gave me all the confidence that I need. It gave me so much confidence that I felt like I could do anything...there's nothing holding me back.

Someone once told me that we are the ones who set the limits for ourselves. I agree with that fact though I refuse to stand by it. I'm through accepting limits. My life is too short. And I want to make the most out of it.

There's a great line that I heard from the movie Serendipity wherein a man said “You know the Greeks didn't write obituaries, they only asked one question after a man died, ‘Did he have passion?’” I want to live my life with passion. I want that someday when I die I would say "Here I a God, I did everything I could, I've made the most out of my life...and now I'm ready to go.

I hope you live a life full of passion and taking risks. While you're at it...here's the song I would like to share.

Click here to defy gravity

To everyone discerning

Everyday in our lives we are faced with a lot of decision making. What time to wake up? What to wear? Which road to take? Decisions are like doors. You take any door and it leads you to a place different from everything else you've chosen. Sometimes the door would lead you to where you began, sometimes it would lead you to a position that would propel you towards a better life.

Let me share with you some tips that I find to be very helpful during the times when I don't know what to do, or if I know the answer but I'm just too scared to face it or even try.

Since I'm a music lover I listen to liturgical and inspirational music during these tough times. At this moment I'm discerning about something really important. The song "Here I am Lord" really helped me feel confident that whatever I do, no matter where I am, I am exactly where God wants me to be. The song really helped me gain the guts to face head on all the obstacles that come my way. The song is also about answering to God's call. You would find yourself asking yourself "What does God want me to do with my life?"

Here is the link to the avp of the song. Click here

Life is about taking risks. One way or the other, sooner or later we will be able to find out why things happen to us. I hope you find this song helpful and inspiring. God bless everyone!