WHAT IS A BLESSING IF NOT SHARED?
The Success of Thank You for Loving Me Charity Concert
It was a day to remember for the rest of my life, for the success of my birthday charity concert, "THANK YOU FOR LOVING ME" which was held last January 30, 2010 at the Minokamo City Cultural Lyceum. I did not expect that it will be overwhelmingly supported by almost 800 audiences from my target of 300. Maraming salamat, at nakakagulat talaga ang suporta at pagmamahal ng ating mga kababayan, na nagpakita ng pagtitiwala at pagtulong para sa layunin ng munting palabas na ito. Una sa lahat, ang layunin ng charity concert na aking itinaguyod ay para makalikom ng tulong para maibigay para sa rehabilitasyon ng pinsala ng mga nagdaang bagyo, sa bayan ng La Paz, lalawigan ng Abra sa Pilipinas; pangalawa ay nagsilbi itong pagkakataon na magkasamasama at mapalalim ang pagkakaibigan ng bawat Pilipino; at pangatlo ay para maipamalas natin ang ating anking talento at kakayahan, at maipakita din natin ang ating sariling kultura sa mga ibang lahi. Hindi lamang mga Pinoy ang dumagsa sa pagtitipon na ito, dahil marami rin Hapones, Brazilians, Americans, at Chinese ang nakihalubilo sa pagtitipon na ito.
The proceeds of the charity concert amounted to Y240,000, which is more or less P120,000 in Philippine peso, is already a good amount to help the typhoon victims of Abra. P50,000 is allotted to purchase about 300 school bags, with school materials such as pencils, paper, notebook, erasers, crayons, etc., which will be distributed to all Grade I pupils of all the 12 Elementary and Pre-Schools in La Paz, Abra; P35,000 is alloted to finance the 1-year tuition fees of selected 5 poor but deserving students who will be enrolled First Year at the Queen of Peace High School in La Paz, Abra and one Seminarian who is at present enrolled at the St. Joseph Seminary in Bangued, Abra; and the remaining P35,000 is allotted to purchase rice, canned goods, noodles, toiletries including jumbo boxes of used clothes which were also donated by the Filipinos of Gifu Prefecture to be distributed to the less fortunate kababayans of Barangay Liguis, Barangay Udangan, Barangay Benben and Sitio Tayawa-Gongonot, Buli, all in La Paz, Abra, my hometown. All of these will be managed with the help of the parish priest of Our Lady of Peace, Rev. Fr. John Bala, SVD, and Mrs. Feliza Cortez, President of the Parish Pastoral Council.
I remember the words of the Late His Holiness Pope John Paul II, "All of us are all missionaries in our own ways, even in any part of the world." When I was interviewed by NHK Japan TV, Gifu and Chunichi Shinbun, they kept on asking me on what initiated me to organize this charity concert. Yan ang diwa ng isang Filipino, na kahit tayo ay nasa ibang bansa, nakatuon pa rin ang pag-aalala at pagmamahal sa ating mga kababayan lalo na sa oras ng sakuna. At kahit tayo ay malayo sa kanila, ay makakagawa tayo ng paraan para makatulong maliban sa dasal. And what is a blessing if not shared? Kung tayo ay kahit papaano ay nagtatamasa ng konting kasaganaan sa Japan, bakit hindi natin kayang ibalik ang biyayang natatanggap para sa ibang tao lalo na ang mga kapus-palad? It is in sharing that we find in our inner self, the true meaning of Love. AN ACT OF GOODNESS THAT YOU DO TODAY CAN COME BACK TO YOU OR TO SOMEONE THAT YOU LOVE WHEN YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING IT. IF YOU DO NOT SEE THIS ACT OF GOODNESS RETURNED, AT LEAST YOU WILL HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD. AND IN THE END, ISN'T IT THAT WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT?
Maraming, maraming salamat, lalo na kay Lei Esta na nagsilbing direktor at si Lester Pangilinan na over-all stage in-charge, sa lahat ng mga staff na nasa likod ng tagumpay ng concert lalong lalo na ang Angels' Voice Singing Youth Ministry na nagsilbing performers ng concert. Sa lahat na tumulong, lalo na ang Phil-Jap Asia Tomonokai, na pinangungunahan ni Mrs. Keren Tsuchida; ang Japan-Phil Homeowners Association na pinangungunahan ng Presidente nila na si Mrs. Jenelyn Kimura na isa din sa mga performers; ang buong AVANCE CORPORATION, na inirepresentante ni Mr. Boyet Ramos; ang Clicksjp.com na namahala sa documentation, ang 3M Company, Mrs. Ana Egawa; Eloy Giguchi na Brazilian translator; Ang Pinoy Youth Republic Band; The Giling-giling Dancers; The Electric Shock Crew; and the Dynamic Hitachi Dancers. Sa aking mga co-emcees na sina Lei, Chel, Roi, Ana, Jenelyn, maraming salamat! Salamat din Kay Honorable Mayor Watanabe ng Minokamo City na kasama ang mga City Councilors at City Goverment Officers na pumunta at nakiisa sa amin.
Congratulations din sa mga nanalo sa Amateur Singing Contest: First, Janeth Watanabe; Second, Sharon Landicho; and Third, Chin Gerbolingo. Maraming salamat po sa inyo! Mabuhay ang Filipino!
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Young Talents of Filipino Performing Arts
February, 2010, one of Asia's largest contemporary dance festivals, the 15th Yokohama Dance Collection, was held in Yokohama. Fresh choreographers and dancers from all over the world gather every year to this possible first step to breakthrough into the stage art world to display their work of art. Zyda Marie Baaya (21) and Erick Somoza Arenas (24) were chosen to the 15 Asian groups that passed through the preliminary selection out of the 133 groups from 8 different countries. The Philippine Embassy and Japan Foundation supported their visit to Japan.
Zyda first started learning ballet under Nila Claravall-Gonzales. Although she took a few years off her lessons, she resumes her dancing in the special arts course of Iloilo National High School. In 2005, she was chosen as a member of Footworks Dance Theatre by Brezhnev Larlar, and in January 2007, became a company scholar of the Ballet Philippines dance school. Zyda met with Eric when she later became a dancer of Saint Benilde Romancon Dance Company. Since then, they worked together as Zyda has cultivated her skills as a choreographer and Eric strives to express his art. Currently, they work independently as stage performers.
The piece they performed was called "Havaianas," and its story is based on their real experience. One day, they went to a beach resort for vacation. Excited by the ocean in front of them, they took off their sandals and ran to the water. At some point they noticed that one of their sandals were gone. It had been stolen. The two started to fight over the pair of sandals that was left on the spot, and the fun vacation becomes depressing. This story was expressed by emotional dance movements, and you would feel as if you were seeing the scene in life.
The vibrant movement, sharp figure, and the delicate expressions fascinated the audience. "There are many performing artists in the Philippines. Being able to be here in Japan as representative of the Philippines, and showcasing my art in an international competition has really been a good experience for me. I hope that we were able to deliver our message to the audience," said Zyda. Eric also passionately said, "Seeing the others perform was a fresh experience. There were many parts to learn from, and it motivated me to improve our arts. I want to work harder to progress to the next step."
Their one week stay seemed to be a productive one. Being stimulated by the other performers, they were able to interact with artists from other countries. The confidence and joy of appearing in an international stage would spur them to their next goal.
Shortly after this competition, the two are scheduled to be performing in shows with the invitation of dance companies in and out of the Philippines. There are great expectations for their future.
In the previous year's competition, Rhosam Jr. PRUDENCIADO (Airdance Company) won the French Embassy Award, which is the highest award, and was granted a 6 month dance education in France.This competition is held annually. I hope that next time, more would come to see the representatives of the Philippines, and enjoy the opportunity to see Filipino talents of performing arts in Japan.
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