Anniv pics

Photos courtesy of choir mate Bing.

- - -

SLC's Anniversary celebration @ San Lazaro Hospital Pediatric Ward...

'Dr. Jollibee' doing his rounds

flanked by the kids-at-heart!..... and yeah, the balloon has to match the shirt! ;P


this was supposed to be a 'wacky' shot with Fr. Jun

and here's a more decent one

same cast as last year...
but we're open for applicants
;)

5th

Happy Anniversary, St. Lazarus Choir!

5 years and counting! I'm on my 4th year with the bunch!

Unlike our previous anniversary celebrations where we just gather and have dinner at some fancy place, we decided to do something different this year. We figured we want to make other people happy and share some of our blessings. So we arranged for a Jollibee Party and off we went to the Pediatric ward of San Lazaro Hospital.

It was heartbreaking seeing kids who were really sick (mostly of pneumonia), babies stuck with tubes connected to oxygen tanks and parents watching over their children. But somehow, seeing those kids smile and laugh at the Jollibee's (the mascot) antics, i felt that we were doing something good by spreading some cheer to the children even for just a few minutes.

*sigh*

I wish all those kiddies get well the soonest.

After the party, we sang in the mass at 5:30pm. Was it just me, or did we just sing with a little more heart this afternoon?

Whatever it was, it was all good. It was for God's greater glory.

da return of da comeback!

After almost a month of absence, I'm once again rushing to the Shrine of St. Lazarus to attend the mass and sing with the choir for our monthly 1st Saturday slot. So there i was wearing my orange uniform, trying not to cause a stir as i take my seat just before father Jun stood up to deliver his homily.

I felt a bit awkward. That time i felt like a stranger to the choir. But i tried my best to sing even if the long absence and lack of practice made my voice lose its usual high pitch. I struggled song after song.

When the mass has ended we stayed there a little for a little chikahan. Some approached me and asked how I've been. We were all catching up on some things among ourselves. Slowly, the feeling of strangeness disappeared. The familiar feeling of belongingness was there again.

"It's so nice to be back," i said.
"Oo nga, antagal mo nawala," was their reply.

So i told them the things i've been doing lately --the postgraduate studies, the overtime work, some trips out of town, and my recent preoccupation with baking.

And that's when i took out the cookies i baked the night before for them to sample. Yup, they liked it and they placed orders for some more.

It's so nice to be back!

San Lazaro Fiesta

As they say, "the show must go on". So despite my stuffy nose and constantly parched throat, i still had to sing the responsorial psalm for yesterday's celebration. We had no choice. I didn't have an alternate for such "emergencies" and we didn't have extra time for an alternate to practice.

Unfortunately, i ran late for our slot. I arrived just in the nick of time but i wasn't able to sing. Apparently, Robin got so worried that he asked Krisha to take over. Oh well! Things happen.

But just when i thought i have failed, Robin told me that i would take over in the afternoon slot. I was not spared. But that was fine with me coz i really love singing.

Some scenes up at the choir loft:

this dude caught some snooze time
to recharge before our next slot in the afternoon.

Elevated

The St. Lazarus Shrine was full of people last Monday because the Holy Mass (and the 4th Novena Mass) was celebrated by none other than the Archbishop of Manila, Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales.

the streamer and the newly landscaped area in front of the Shrine

And for the first time, the choir loft was finally opened to accommodate the St. Lazarus Choir.

View from the top.
We used to occupy the 5th & 6th rows at the right side.

there's Cardinal Rosales during the Communion

It felt good to be up there for the first time and sing our hearts out even without the microphone to magnify our voices. The acoustics at the loft was excellent.

We'll be up there again on Sunday, the Feast Day of St. Lazarus. See y'all there!

Ash Wednesday....

We rise again from ashes,
from the good we've failed to do.
We rise again from ashes,
to create ourselves anew.
If all our world is ashes,
then must our lives be true.
An offering of ashes,
an offering to you.

We offer you our failures,
we offer you attempts.
The gifts not fully given,
the dreams not fully dreamt.
Give our stumblings direction,
give our visions wider view.
An offering of ashes,
an offering to you....


- - -
somehow, this song we sang during the mass got stuck in my head. i was singing it the whole day. Talk about LSS!

Fitting in...

St. Lazarus Choir

We were told yesterday after the choir practice that we'll be wearing our gala dress on St. Lazarus' Feast Day, which is about a month from now. All of us were shocked. Naye, horrified was the best word to describe the choir's reaction to the news. And mine was the most violent. Hehehe!

Why?

Because it doesn't fit me anymore. Apparently, i started to gain weight last year after our concert in December'06. Although i was still able to wear it during last year's feast day, i had difficulty singing during the eucharistic celebration because the blouse had become uncomfortably tight. And the dress didn't have any allowance for repairs.

But the choirmaster insisted that we wear the dress next month.

Oh, heck! I have about a month to trim down.

Must.do.something.

Saturdate (Saturday Date)

Pardon me. I'm a little lazy to put more words in this post or to compose a more well thought-of sentence. So here goes.....

It's the first Saturday of the month. And like other first Saturdays, the St. Lazarus Choir was scheduled to sing in the anticipated mass. But this day was kinda special because it's the first Saturday of 2008!

What made it more special is that we have a new uniform.

Ponkan na Ponkan!
Never thought orange would look good on me.
hehehe!

Another special reason is that i was out on a date. Well, sort of. It's not one of those formal dates though. But hey, it was nevertheless a pleasant time sharing laughs and laid back conversation over dinner (never mind that it was fast food).

So, there it was. Pardon me if i couldn't put more words here. I'm still trying to quiet down this giddy, giggly high school girl in me.

These are the days....

I'm on caffeine overdose and having an adrenalin rush. Bad combination because now i'm having palpitations.

I have a ton of paperwork to do and the bureaucracy is really not helping me achieve my target for the day.

And i still haven't organized my ideas for a production number for the higher boss' birthday.

And i've been depriving myself of precious sleep for two days already. Blame it on the caffeine. Hehe!


= = =


Yesterday at the choir practice, we were shocked by an SMS we received from a fellow choirmate that another member of ours got admitted at the hospital due to fractured bone when she tripped herself on duty (she works at the hospital).


So before going home, we paid her a visit and found out that she'd been at the hospital since Saturday. She's going home today, and will be wearing that cast for two months.

the gang with (still-smiley-despite-the-injury) Ate Ruby

(Choir)master Robin ransacked the goodies (bantay-salakay, hehe!)

= = =

When i got home, Papa was running a high fever and was complaining of a splitting headache. So i gave him a spongebath (to lower his temperature), sprinkled a generous amount of baby powder on his back (to absorb perspiration) and gave him medicine.

I told my bro to keep watch but i couldn't sleep very well coz i couldn't help worrying about Papa. And when i was finally about to enter dreamland, i was abruptly awakened by bro, asking if he should wake dad up for another dose of medicine. I told him to let him sleep and just give him the medicine in the morning.

I had a hard time getting back to sleep after that. And i was late for work.

Not that i'm complaining. I'm worried, yes, but it's normal to worry (in my case, i panic most of the time) when a family member gets sick.

= = =

I'm already at the stage where i've forgiven dad about his shortcomings and our misunderstandings. And now that things have changed (and he has changed for the better), i just want to spend time with him and enjoy our time together, seeing him smile when i bring home something for him or when i tell a funny thing that happened to me at work.

Even if he's not very vocal about his feelings, I know deep inside that he loves us, his children. I love my dad. And i always pray that God would give him good health so he could enjoy more of what life has to offer.

And for the first time, I told Papa i love him. I think i'm gonna say it more often.

Long Saturday

After days of practice for my solo part, today was the day we sang for the mass at Sto. Domingo Church. This year is the centenary of the Canonical Coronation of Our Lady of La Naval.

Not being a morning person, I was late for the 6am assembly in my most fashionable way, but still a few minutes early for the 7am mass. Hence, was not able to practice with the choir.

But during the communion, I reckon I pulled off my solo part well (based on the reactions of my choirmates). They didn't know I've been practicing at home and vocalizing in the shower that morning before I went to church. Hehehe!

By 8am, the group had to rush back to St. Lazarus Shrine for the special mass in honor of Our Lady of Manaoag. But another choir was there already so we just took time to catch our breath while some opted to slip into more casual clothing as our all-white ensemble was pretty constricting and well, becoming off-white (then dirty-white!) because of the smoke and dust from the commute. Plus it rained the previous night so we had to be careful or else there'd be splotches of brown and black on our dresses.

I was at the office by 9:30am to help an officemate with her son's project.

Kristian's Christmas Ball
(I wasn't able to take a pic of the finished product)

Lunch was at Chowking with Manny and Erik. Good thing these people were at the office for their review session (they're taking up weekend classes to finish their bachelor's degree) in preparation for their comprehensive exams on Wednesday. Otherwise, it would feel lonely at the office with just the cleaning people to keep me company.

Back to the office by 1:30pm to finish the Christmas ball, thus, I wasn't able to attend the Music Ministry's Recollection at 3pm. But I still made it to the anticipated mass at 5:30pm as we were scheduled to sing there.

goofing around minutes before the mass..............and the choirmaster/guitarist/tenor-bass

Finally, home by 8pm.

Looking forward to a day's rest tomorrow.

Have a goodnight y'all!

Revelation

Remember this pic?

And thought I was in China, right?

Or maybe not. I could've been in the US of A where the beer is being exported too.

But I wasn't.

I was actually still in my dear old Manila--at Superbowl of China, celebrating with my choirmates on our fourth year of being a group. My third year actually.

So, there! No more mystery.

;)

Happy 4th Anniversary!

St. Lazarus Choir

Here's to more years of singing and service to the Big Boss up there!

Sana madagdagan pa tayo ;)

Pipol

I got home late last night after attending the 1st Vicarial Assembly which was also attended by members of the nine different parishes under the Vicariate of the Holy Spirit. As with other kinds of gatherings I anticipated the number of people that would be present in the venue--about a hundred or two. But I was surprised when the final count got to around five hundred plus! I looked around to see a variety of people--the oldies, the young ones, all from different religious organizations in their respective parishes. It was overwhelming.

I found it difficult, however, to spark up a conversation with other parishioners because the seating arrangement was done in such a way that people of the same parish stay together in one group. I managed to shake hands with some people though during the meet-and-greet portion of the program, but that was all.

So many people have come and gone before my very eyes. But I'll never forget the smile from one particular person's face the moment he saw me:

PERCY. He's a member of the other choir that my choirmaster manages. We've seen each other a couple of times before on various activities and programs of the St. Lazarus Parish but it was only late last year when we got past the hi's and hello's. It was during an out-of-town gig early this year when we really got to talk and introduce ourselves formally.

Being the introverted person that I am, it's not really easy for me to warm up to other people. But with Percy, it was like a breeze. The conversation we had last summer in Bataan was inspiring and humbling at the same time. You don't usually expect that from younger people. But with Percy, it felt like we've been together for a long time. He's like a younger brother to me.

We seldom see each other since he lives far from me so imagine the excitement of seeing each other at the assembly that afternoon! Sad thing is he had to leave early with his choirmates for a wedding gig, but he thanked me profusely for the letter I wrote for him a couple of days ago.

Man! He looked so cute with that smile I should've hugged him! Walang malisya ha!

Remember Pers, happy thoughts. May you find happiness even from the smallest and simplest of things.

Bless you!