Thursday, December 15, 2005 3:36 PM
Ever since I could remember, my parents always played Handel’s The Messiah on Christmas Eve. I recall waiting in anticipation for the piece’s most popular chorus, Hallelujah. Sometimes, my dad’s timing would be impeccable, the Hallelujah would reverberate through the house from our player at the exact stroke of midnight (most often, it would be just a few minutes too early or too late). Nevertheless, I have known Handel all through childhood as the man who had composed a musical masterpiece that might as well be sung by Heaven’s Angels themselves. The “Haaah-llelujah! Haaaah-llelujah! Halle-he-lujah!” beginning of the chorus created the perfect imagery of Angels praising as seen by the shepherds on that night our Savior was born. It is then with great pleasure to invite you to a night where a longtime childhood dream of singing this piece will come true:
VENITE ADOREMUS
A Christmas Concert
Featuring excerpts from George Frideric Handel’s masterpiece The Messiah by the University of Asia and the Pacific Chorale, (winner of the International Choral Festival of Sacred Music, Preveza, Greece) and the Pundaquit Virtuosi Orchestra (resident Children’s Ensemble of CASA San Miguel, Zambales)
with
Fiona de Ocampo, soprano
Jose Emmanuel Aquino, tenor
Paul Aquino, bass
Conducted by Arwin Tan
Dec. 17 (SAT), 7:30 p.m.
Villamor Hall (U.P. Main Theater)
University of the Philippines– Diliman Campus
Tickets range from P150 – P200
For ticket inquiries, contact Ms. Cherrie Mae Serranillo at 637-0912 loc. 290, 0926-3135590 or 0922-5352157. This project is for the benefit of CRIBS Foundation and UAP Varsity Teams.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005 11:51 AM
truly amazing
Given that it's Christmas season (and my birthday just went by), it's that time of the year where most of us look back and ask, "what have I done this year exactly?"
By the 31st, I should be able to make a more concrete tally. For sure, I will be putting the Greek experience on top of the list. I plan on visiting Europe again someday but I don't think it will be the same as traveling with a group and singing to a foreign audience... Although I long to do more of that too!
Last night, the chorale rehearsed with the Pundaquit Virtuosi Children's Orchestra. Wow. Wow. Wow. I am still mystified, someone pinch me please. There's nothing like it! I think the hair on my neck is now having cramps from chronic goosebumps last night.
Monday, December 12, 2005 11:14 AM
it was my birthday last friday
I had a fabulous time, dah-lings. Totally fabulous. Never thought I could sing in mass the next day with a hangover. (I like the last picture, gosh, mukha akong santo).
Thursday, December 08, 2005 12:21 PM
brassieres anyone?
A lady brought a lot of Wacoal brassieres to the office and promised 20 per cent off. It was all a frenzy. The Accountant, despite my warnings, laid out everything on my desk and started picking out the ones she liked. I keep whispering, "JJ is in his office, he might step out." But no, everybody just wants to check them all out. The desk looked like an underwear stall in Divisoria.
I was exasperated since nobody was paying attention. What else can I do right? So I joined in and started leafing through brochures and digging through cups and straps. Twenty per cent is twenty per cent.
And as predicted, JJ comes in and catches all five of us holding a bra each. We laughed in embarassment, but he was unfazed. "Madami na akong nakitang ganyan..." Then he goes back into his office.
Given how "cool" he was about it, we should have sold him a bra to bring home to his wife. I think that would score a ten in the office weird-o-meter.
Monday, December 05, 2005 11:51 AM
oops, i did it again
Last May I went to my godson's birthday party only to find out that the party is still one week ahead.
Yesterday, I drove like a maniac to Christ the King Parish for the 10:30am mass that the chorale was supposed to sing in, only to find nervous little orange-and-green kids at the choir loft. For five seconds, I thought I saw my life flash right before my eyes to signal my impending death. (I think one can seriously die of embarassment). But then I realized if ever I'd drop dead on the spot, the last thing I'd see would be little carrots. Not something I look forward to remembering in the after-life.
Needless to say, the chorale will be singing in Christ the King Parish next Sunday. Please come.
for unto us a Child is bo-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-horn
Handel should be really thankful he's dead or else I'd become a convicted murderer. But despite the ho-ho-ho's and the ha-ha-ha's of his very elaborate choral creation, I am dead set on spending nights in front of the computer and listening to the noteworthy files. Heck, I am willing to get yelled at by the Choirmaster just not to get booted off the cast.
On the 17th, we will be having a very classical, nay traditional, Christmas concert featuring the great masterpiece, Handel's Messiah.
OH MY GOD!!! WE ARE SINGING HANDEL'S MESSIAH!!!
Can you tell how uber-excited I am? I think this will be the best Christmas ever. The Hallelujah chorus has been my favorite since my very first Christmas because my dad plays it on the record at the strike of midnight of Christmas eve.
AND NOW I AM GOING TO BE SINGING IT!!!!
Oh. My. God! Thank. You. So. Much!
Friday, December 02, 2005 5:24 PM
For the weekend, I leave you a YM conversation between me and my boss.
me: ey can i schedule "Bo" on tuesday morning? i know it's the iiap but when JPE talks, we can talk to him outside the function room
JJM: Ok.
me: great
me: never really talked to a french gay guy, or to a french guy for that matter.
JJM: He's not gay.
me: but you said...?
JJM: Be careful..you might just get the best french (blank)...... you've ever had from this guy.
Bo's real name is Thibault.
Thursday, December 01, 2005 7:50 PM
I told you I love my boss before right? We have this love-and-hate thing going on, it's very professional I assure you (none of the twisted kind fortunately for me). We got into chatting about his unfortunate happening on a Cosmo issue in a sauna. Then he asked me:
Has the pinay gone wild?
I actually don't know how to answer that question. All I know is that if all the stuff in that magazine is true, that the women in this country are becoming aggressive when it comes to sex and relationships, well, that is that. I can see why though, women in this country have long been imprisoned with the Maria Clara stereotype.
Sorry, beloved country, I'm never going to be demure. Not in a million years. No matter how much I'd try, never gonna happen. I'm going to a loud mouth for the rest of my life.
But has the pinay really gone wild? Well, let's just say that in the end, it's really a personal choice. The matter of it being a national catastrophe, well that's something the future will have to debate on.
