Liberating Music from Libera

Libera came. They sang. And they conquered. And I was nowhere to be found. 

   I was just simply ecstatic when I heard the news that they were coming over here to MANILA for a one-night only concert at the PICC. It's LIBERA and I cannot just simply miss that. I got hooked to them when my cousin ERIK gave me a copy of their album. Since I'm a great fan of Pachelbel he pointed out to me that I listen first to the track entitled "SANCTUS". When I heard it, I was amazed at how the rearranged Pachelbel's CANNON in D and added the lyrics taken from the Latin Rites of the Catholic Mass.

   And from then on, I became an avid fan.
   It was just sad I wasn't able to see them live when they came here. I was busy with a client and was assigned for an out-of-town engagement. TATAY MONCH (who I also influenced) even called me up just to ask me if I was going to watch the concert. To cut the story short, he was there. I wasn't.

   For those who do not know them...

LIBERA is a non-profit all-boy vocal group directed by Robert Prizeman. Their name comes from their signature song "Libera," which is based on the Libera Me portion of the Requiem Mass. "Libera" is the Latin word for "free". Most of the boys in Libera come from the parish choir of St. Philip's, Norbury, in South London. The albums, tours and TV appearances the boys do as Libera are in addition to their regular singing as part of the full choir of men and boys at parish choral services.

The boys come from a variety of backgrounds in the London area, attending many different schools, including local state schools, church schools and performing arts schools. Libera recruits boys from any religious denomination and even those with no religious affiliations. Most boys join between the age of seven and ten, however older boys can join if they have the appropriate singing abilities. (wikipedia)

   And the boys never fail to captivate their audience. Tatay Monch recounts that it was already the end of the show and they already left the stage but after a while they all came back. The audience was delighted that they were treated to an ENCORE. But the encore was more than what they expected, after the first few notes of the song was played, the entire hall in PICC roared into a frenzy of applause and cheers - the boys are to sing BAYAN KO. 
   The song was especially significant to the FILIPINOS as it is one of the popular patriotic songs that helped stirred consciousness among the Filipino people. Originally written as a protest song during the American occupation by Jose Corazon de Jesus (music by Constancio de Guzman), BAYAN KO rose to popularity as it is often sung in protest rallies and demonstrations throughout Philippine history - more notably during the funeral of Sen. Benigno "NINOY" Aquino, Jr. and the following PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION where Freddie Aguilar led the crowd to sing the song's chorus. 
   To get a better appreciation as to why I am truly amazed, the video is posted below:





   After the song, the entire PICC came down with a thundering standing ovation from the crowd. Even Tatay Monch forgot he was the MONCHITO and started to scream his lungs out. (If I were there, I might have also lost myself, hehehe). The music felt it came from heaven and played just for us FILIPINOS.
   And I came to realize, if British boys can sing Bayan Ko with such ardour and passion, how much more us FILIPINOS? I doubt that these kids really understood what they were singing compared to us FILIPINOS who know the song since way way back then. How come they can make beautiful music and not us? How come they can sing it and own it like it was theirs? How come?
   I think the answer lies on our own hands. Let this be a challenge to all of us.


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LIBERA enthralled the Filipino audience with a concert at the PICC on October 25 and in CEBU on October 28. 
Visit them at their official website: www.libera.org.uk

LOVE and the Promise of Sunrise

I do not know how to start this post. It seems I have ran out of lines to say but I know there's a need for me to express. So what exactly do I feel right now? First, I'm feeling a rush of emotions I have never felt in my entire life before. It's convoluted and complex. There's both excitement and fear. Totally opposing forces that keeps my heart beating rapidly to God knows how many times per minute. And this scares me. 

   A deep sigh escaped my chest. (*sigh*)

   LOVE really works differently over any other emotion. It's highly unstable and unpredictable but still it is the most reliable of all. It is bound to cause you to experience pain in varying degrees of excruciation but it can also cause you to experience sheer BLISS like no one else felt before. Now, I'm asking, is LOVE worth the risk?  Am I ready to step out of my comfort zone and experience it all over again?

   For most parts, it's the uncertainty that causes the fear. The mind in its brilliance definitely knows how to concoct a mixture of thoughts  enough to poison you heart with all the doubt in the world. These are the very thoughts that make me weak, vulnerable, and totally distrusting. These are the feelings I should learn how to quell. These are the very feelings LOVE should turn the tides on.  I should trust LOVE more.

   But then there is really no right way of feeling LOVE. I could not contain it and mold it the way I wanted it  to be. I know the outcome I want but the road going there is definitely one big question. I just need to have FAITH, learn PATIENCE, and simply rest on our promise.
   There will always be uncertainty because if there is none, surprises wouldn't be surprises anymore. Life would suddenly become predictable and love will be totally boring.  So uncertainty should be the least of my worries. It is MYSELF that I should tend to because the answer to the future lies in my OWN hands. As always in life, there is a CHOICE. 
   And my choice, LOVE is worth all the risk.
   In the film Y Tu Mama Tambien, one of the characters said that "Life is like a surf, so give yourself away to the sea." Somehow, this is how I feel right now. One cannot be involved with LOVE and not surrender everything to it. For if it not, that would be entirely selfish or worse it is a complete lie. 
   As they say, it does not do to dwell on the past, uncertainty, fear, or doubt and forget to live.

   Right NOW, I'm taking the risk. Right now, I'm feeling love, living it, and loving it.

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To YOU, I thank GOD for the gift of you. 

I pray to have many more SUNRISES with you.
I love you. 


No rush, lets take it one day at a time.

Colorblind and loving it...

I recently encountered this song by Britain Pop Idol Winner Darius Danesh and instantly got hooked to it, again. The song (aptly titled Colourblind) was released in 2002 and instantly became a number 1 hit in the UK. It was his first single off his debut album DIVE IN. The album proved to be a huge success and sold over 300,000 copies in the UK alone.

I distinctly remember this song being used by the clothing brand PENSHOPPE for one of their earlier ads. I was instantly glued to the song by its catchy tune and playful use of different colors in the lyrics.

I have to agree with the song that being COLORBLIND is not a handicap or a defect, rather it is an explosion of emotions brought about by different hues and shades of your own feelings.

Definitely, I am appreciating this song more and more each day.

Colourblind

Darius Danesh

Feelin’ blue, while I’m trying to forget the feeling that I miss you

Feelin’ green, when the jealousy swells and it wont go away in dreams

Feelin’ yellow, I’m confused inside

A little hazy but mellow when I feel your eyes on me

Feelin’ fine! Sublime!

When that smile of yours creeps into my mind

Nobody told me you’d feel so good

Nobody said you’d be so beautiful

Nobody warned me about your smile

You’re the light, you’re the light

When I close my eyes

I’m colour blind

You make me colour blind

Feelin’ red, when you spend all your time with your friends

and not me instead

Feelin’ black, when I think about all the things that I feel I lack

Feelin’ jaded, when it’s not gone right

All the colours have faded, then I feel your eyes on me

Feelin’ fine! Sublime!

When that smile of yours creeps into my mind

Nobody told me you’d feel so good

Nobody said you’d be so beautiful

Nobody warned me about your smile

You’re the light, you’re the light

When I close my eyes

I’m colour blind

You make me colour blind

Blinded by the light you shine, the colours fade completely

Blinded by you every time, I feel your smile defeat me

I’m colour blind

I just cant deny this feeling

Nobody told me you’d feel so good

Nobody said you’d be so beautiful

Nobody warned me about your smile

You’re the light, you’re the light

When I close my eyes

I’m colour blind

You make me colour blind.