The Singing Runner

"You again!"

"Yes, it's me!"

"Will you ever stop, Jay?"

"Yes! Yes of course! I will stop when there will be no contests!"

That has been the yearly script of fellow toastmasters when they see me as a fellow contestant. Not until this year, the script changed!

"Jay? You are joining the humorous speech contest, with a confused-oh-no-why-kill-me-now look!" That hurts! But despite that, here I am, I stand in front of you as a humorous contestant.

I have installed CCTV's in all corners of the room. Those who will laugh like crazy will have 3 gifts: a lifetime friendship, a case of San Mig Light, and a month-long supply of Starbucks coffee delivered at your doorstep!

My motto in life, even if you're not asking, is Live Your Passion. But after this, I fear, you will tell me, "Leave your Passion, Jay". Leave as in, "Close the door, when you leave."

I joined toastmasters because I heard from an unimpeachable source that toastmasters have singing contests. Growing up, I always sing alone, on my own, and never invited in singing contests. And so, this is the perfect opportunity. That's what you call, if opportunity does not knock at your door, I was the one who knocked and forced opportunity to enter the door. True enough, my first singing contest is, with toastmasters, and a national level at that. But of course, in times like that, I was just appointed. And I have a feeling, it was because Sai Culanag or Dexter Dano were not available that time. It was in Antipolo Midyear Convention. I placed seventh among seven contestants. But its okay. After all its my first time! My very good friend, Winston Churchill, said Never give up. Never, ever, give up! I was so elated when I got invited to sing in a church wedding, of a very good friend. Wait...I said invited?...Well, I offered myself to sing. I practiced daily. I tried to reach the high notes of Martin Nievera. I vocalized. But on the wedding day, The CD stopped when I was about to sing these lines. Now that I have you for my own. As God is our witness, never let go. Feel the love grow...I practiced that...over and over again. And the CD was stopped! That is why, I sing it here. Now my practice is put to use.

On the days, where I am not speaking or singing, you will find me, running. And I will never forget my first 21-kilometer Milo Marathon. I was running, gasping for air, sweating under the 8 morning sun, when I heard this: wang...wang...wang. It was a patrol siren following me. I wondered. For sure, I am not the first runner! What is this? And then I heard people, in a loud conversation, saying, "There, there is the first runner! The champion!" And they were clapping their hands. The patrol man, who was already beside me, with his radio in one hand said, "I am with the last runner of the race, Roger. I am with the last runner of the race, Roger." I wanted to disappear at that moment. I wish I can just press one button to open up the ground, eat me up, and disappear forever. Still not giving up, I said to the man, "Sir, can you just stay a little farther?" And he replied, "No Sir, my task is to accompany the last runner!" And then he radio'ed again, "We are still very far, Roger. We are still very far, Roger." And that drained all the hopes in me. My pride is gone. So I humbly made a request to the patrol man, "Sir, can you offer a ride for me going back to the hotel?" He answered, "I can bring you to the finish line Sir! We've got free ice-cold milo there." I answered, "I'm already tired, Sir. I wanted to rest." Polite way of saying, "No thank you. My pride is more precious than your ice-cold Milo!" I may have not finished the race, but I have saved seven pesos for my fare.

Life is one big, crazy adventure. We need to be crazy to live life.

The crazier you are, the happier you will be.

The louder you laugh, the more that we will be friends!

Macmac's First Exposure

February 14, 2013 - I held my newest toy. I named it Macmac.

Photo courtesy of Daister Marie Decinal.

Inspired by the biggest crocodile in Puerto Princesa, I gave the name Macmac to my new travel buddy, my Nikon D5100. Macmac's first public exposure was yesterday at MO2 doing what I love to do - my greatest talent!

The Art of Performing

NEVER GIVE UP YOUR DREAM

The winning of Angeline Quinto in the talent search, Star Power, sends one message: Never give up your dream!

I admit I am a fan of singing contests. And I think you will not wonder. If it does, you don’t know me yet. For those who know me, if I explain it, it will just be sheer redundancy. So I will leave it that way.

Watching television when I was in school was never an issue. I have the freedom to switch on our TV set, any time of the day and any time of the year. I could not remember any house rule that said, No TV when its 7pm or No TV when its exam days. And I was very happy about that including my sister.

Having confessed that, I have religiously followed a lot of singing contests on national television. And I know a lot of singers, now popular, coming from these talent searches.

Ethel Booba whose name before was Ethel Gabison is a product of Sing Galing, a videoki contest hosted by an Ilonggo Allan K and Ai-ai delas Alas at ABC 5. People may not know about it but she is a certified belter. She can nail effortlessly Barbra Streisand’s “People and leave you with your jaw dropped.

Sarah Geronimo is a grand winner of the talent search, Star for a Night, hosted by Regine Velasquez. She won over Angeline Quinto in that contest. I will not dwell much on Sarah G. because you might know more things about her than I do. After all she is tagged as the next big thing.

When Star Power presented their big catch of hopeful singers after a nationwide series of eliminations, one face seemed very familiar. I am talking about the reticent lady who prefers to be just on the side, Angeline.

When she was little, I already watched her in the Singing contest, tagged “Sing Ala Regine” at MTB, ABS-CBN. I must say, she really sounded like Regine minus of course the emotional maturity when Regine sings. But the tonal quality, belting technique, phrasing, emphasis of the e and i, climaxing, were totally that of Regine.

She also joined, “This is it kantahan” hosted by Bayani Agbayani at GMA 7 but she lost.

Until Star Power was created hosted by Sharon Cuneta that she proved to be the voice to reckon with. Among the songs that she hammered very well were Habang May Buhay (her song in the finals of Star for a Night), Through the Fire, I don’t Wanna Miss a thing, and Ikaw.

It was during the grand finals that she really spewed fire. It appeared to me that she wants to tell her audience, this is my stage! The songs are mine! Belting is just a walk in the park. Her vocal calisthenics was showcased in her rendition of, “What Kind of Fool Am I”, a foreign song arranged by a Louie Ocampo for Regine Velasquez. Her singing of “I don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” revealed that she does not fear any note in a musical piece! And those attributes gave her the wings to fly inside Ynares Center that made her deserve the title, Pinoy Pop Superstar!

Angeline’s success is a long ride. But she persisted. And now she tells the story of a young lady with a lesson in life that giving up your dream is like giving up your life!

This Is The Moment Duet

The Wedding Singer

A month ago, I was invited to sing in a wedding and I was having second thoughts. Uh oh! I know that by now one of your eyebrows streaked upwards. But yes. I became reluctant even though singing is the first word in my vocabulary.

May 1, 2010. Nine days before I turn 26, I became a wedding singer. For the first time!

If you know so well how I have close affinity with music, then you are truly a friend. Most of my testimonials in social networking sites have one thing in common. That is, I sing most if not all the time. My life would be a blur without it. Ever since.

I even have a friend who complained and remarked, “Jay this is already exploitation.” This is when I cajole if not coerce them to sing like a choir with me in blissful illusion of being a choir master. I would excitedly arrange their voices and sing the way it should be sung. If they can’t sing according to my plans, the practice goes on. That’s how I exploit them as what a friend had said.

A month ago, I received this text message. “Jay, ma wedding singer ka!” (Jay you will be a wedding singer!). I replied, “Who’s going to march the aisle?” She replied, “I am getting married”. And that’s how I was invited.

Thoughts filled me in a second. They are lurking in all directions. I, as a wedding singer. Is that even conceivable? So I typed in the keypad, “Hahaha!” This cannot be. Maybe in the reception venue but in the church.” But she was too persistent where “No” is not an option, and so I said yes not knowing what comes next.

I tried to recall my music database if I have a song for a bridal march. Then the song “Ikaw” popped in by Martin Nievera. I sang along but failed. The vocal is just too demanding. If I force the issue, I will just sound like a hungry pig. So I felt giving up. But somehow along the way when I saw the painstaking preparation of a rush wedding, I said to myself, I don’t want to add to the burden of the soon to be couple. So I carried the burden to myself and sought help to some musically-inclined friends. Many suggestions came up.

One night I was browsing my dusty Compact disk organizer and get hold of a CD for wedding. It was already late night so I decided to play it while I lay myself in bed, lights off, and wait ‘til I fall asleep. Track number ten started to play and that’s how hope flickered in me and now excited for tomorrow.

Days rolled by with each line become part of my memory and the melody make a soft, soothing sound in the silence of the night.

And by the time that the music and lyrics meet in perfect harmony, that was the time that I became the official wedding singer!

The Piano Man

Music does not run in our blood. As far as I know. My parents are no good singers or instrumentalists. Although I have an aunt, my father’s sister, who is part of a church choir for many years until now, I consider her an outlier. I am still convinced that the verity of my first statement is beyond question.

When I was 8, I was belting (or so I thought) “Sayang na Sayang” by Manilyn Reyes which at that time reigned the airwaves. I don’t have yet my low tonal quality or what my voice mentor called baritone voice. Kids are no falsetto singers. I am not an exception. However, when I sing in the house, nobody listened to me. And nobody told me I sang well. Or even clapped their hands. Or even smiled when they passed by me. Or any gesture that can be considered ‘nice” in the face of a child, to show even a little appreciation. In other words, when I sing, it’s about me and my own world. So I grew up thinking, singing is not for me.

Until high school days when school programs and presentations were common events that my classmates always volunteer me to sing. Of course they were not successful. At the end of the day, their incessant pleadings do not convince my already made-up conviction that I am no singer. Although my classmates heard me sing million times in my unguarded moments anywhere, they cannot hear me on stage.

At the age of 23, when I was already working,I took what I consider the road less traveled. Finally, I was joining a singing contest, company-related that is. Things were different now. I cannot refuse to my boss or should I say in general viewpoint, we loose the power to refuse to our bosses. I represented my department in the first round of elimination. There were three who joined that week. I sang “Hanggang” by Wency Cornejo and placed 1st. Was I too direct? Hahaha! Then came the finals night, where all 6 winners in the elimination rounds will compete. I sang “You” by Basil Valdez and placed 4th. Meaning to say, I lost. I drank three bottles of Red Horse until the last drop after the contest.

The next year, I joined in the same contest and almost the same order of events took place. The little difference was that I sang “Say That You Love Me” by Martin in the elimination round and “Hanggang” in the finals night. After the contest, I did three bottoms up of Red Horse plus a lesson in hand not to sing “Hanggang” in a Singing Contest if in case I join again, which at this point is very vague.

The opportunity to sing just keeps coming to me that I sang in the Midyear Conference of Toastmasters held in Antipolo City. It was a singing contest with a twist. All contestants were given the songs (five songs for male and five songs for female) to practice. At the time of the contest, that’s when we will know what to sing. The songs were, “This is the Moment, Kailangan Kita, Say That You Love Me, She, and She’s Out of My Life” Among the songs, I prayed, “Lord, let it not be “she’s out of my life”. When I was on stage, I sang the line, “And I don’t know whether to laugh or cry”. Now you know God delays some prayers. The result will not surprise you. Journalism tells me not to write the obvious.

I thought in my solitary moments (which by the way is overflowing to the brim in my life) to try other outlets of music other than singing.

I have a colleague who owns a grand piano at home. It was a birthday gift to her by her dad. She used to play well as her father wanted her to be. One day she suddenly revealed her early plans for 2010 including piano lessons once again. And I said to her, “Count me in”. Hopefully, nothing comes into the way. Who knows, I am really meant to be a Piano Man.

Oh, speaking of the Piano Man. I was in a hotel last December 26, when I heard of a beautiful sound. It was just too splendid, magical, and beautiful not to notice it. There is something in the piano sound that revitalizes and soothes a human soul. I went out of my way to join him and stood proudly beside the piano. I asked him of he could play one request but he's generous enough. He played 3 masterpieces, “Hanggang”, “Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin”, and “King and Queen of Hearts” of course with me singing like its the greatest performance of my life. I didn’t even notice people dining were already smiling at me. Did I just fulfill a dream? Unexpectedly. Thanks to the Piano Man!

FRUSTRATIONS

“Jay, you are out of tune”. This was the comment that I received from my music teacher in Grade 5. I still carry that until now, struggling to prove, her hearing was abnormal!

I am a frustrated singer. I wanted to be like Martin Nievera. Yes. I wanted to record an album and do concerts. I wanted to become a singer.

When I was in grade five, our music teacher called us to sing, It’s a Small world, one by one, in front of the class. It was like an audition in the American Idol where aspiring singers line up in queues singing their best. Some get into the top 100 while others are rejected. I could sympathize with those who are rejected because I was also rejected by my teacher. Being a child, I could never forget that part of my life, where I was deprived of the thing that I really would want to do.

The first OPM song that I knew how to sing was a personal favourite of my mother. There’s never a day that she won’t sing this Imelda song while preparing breakfast for us. She would always belt the song with the lines, “At kung liligaya ka, Sa piling ng iba, At kung ang langit mo ay ang pag-ibig nya, Tututol ba ako, Kung kagustuhan mo, Sapat na ang minsan, Minahal mo ako.” Being repeatedly sung by her every morning I was able to sing and memorize the lyrics of the whole song.

Since I was a child, I have always been a lover of music. The thing that is uncertain though is whether music loves me too. I have quite a broad knowledge in music. I know some technicalities of music like sharps-when you hit the note higher than required in the piece, flats-the opposite of sharps, vibrato-the resonating sound, and voice classifications like baritone which is in between bass and tenor. I also know a lot of music trivias. Jed Madela, is the first Filipino to win the grand prize in the World Championships of the Performing Arts. Vina Morales is the first Filipino and the first Champion in the Asian Aikon Music Festival. I have been a follower of local music contests. Sarah Geronimo won in the Star for a Night, of which her runner up is Mark Bautista. Rachel Ann Go won in Search for a Star. Eric Santos was grand Champion in Star in a Million beating the petite Cebuana Sheryn Regis. Coming from that show is balladeer Christian Bautista.

Poetically, music is defined as the language of the soul. Yes it is. I have a wide selection of songs in my heart and fellow toastmasters will you allow me to sing some of them? Just kidding. Songs tell a lot of stories. I have always been fascinated of Broadway songs like Somewhere form the musical West Side Story and On my Own from Les Miserables. There are songs that will inspire us and lift our morale called Gospel Songs. Gary Valenciano is know for his gospel songs like “Take me out of the dark, Warrior is a Child, and Natutulog ba and Diyos. The all time favourite genre of all ages, the ballads or commonly called love songs. Songs that come from the heart. Songs of lovers in love. Songs that will hold our breath. Songs that will palpitate our hearts. Songs of the heartbroken. Songs of the inspired. Top of my song list is Martin Nievera’s Each day with you and Brian Mcnight’s One last cry.

Putting my frustration into action, last year, I enrolled in a voice lesson class. However I will not tell you the name of the music studio and my voice teacher. I believe, it will do justice for the both of us. The lessons went on for 2 months. Sure did learn a lot from her but it came to a point where everything is routinely done. I stopped and tried to enrol in another voice lesson class. Sadly, we only had one singing session since her rate was double than my previous studio. I just sighed telling myself, I am not in perfect timing.

In the course of living this life, I have had received comments, destructive and constructive, but one thing remains for sure. I would still live this life surrounded with good music, singing my heart out when I’m in euphoria or depressed. I would still be singing, this is the moment, this is the day, when I send all my doubts and demons on their way, every endeavour, I have made ever, is coming into play, is here and now today.

Fellow toastmasters I still dream that one day I will be able to sing to all of you. Will you?