Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

"When living with music becomes natural, music ceases to be considered a luxury. If it forms a part in ordinary life, a child can play the violin in his or her humble home, another in the father’s garage, and many other can participate in recitals and concerts no matter where they live, in a coastal village as well as a community up on the hills. Material poverty is being defeated by the spiritual affluence. There is more to it – the latter can provide the physical condition, the ethical principles and the emotional and intellectual tools necessary when overcoming the former." - Jose Antonio Abreu, 2001

WE WERE fortunate to witness NVM Gonzalez play the violin during a visit in 1999. We have never been the same since that visit. Our major celebrations have been marked by live music: my 50th birthday, our 25th and 31st wedding anniversaries -- all because I have a resident lutier, my husband, Enrique, who learned to play the violin in his late fifties. At first, his bowing irritated me as it sounded scratchy, but through his persistence and daily practice which lasted for years, he became a decent violin player. When accompanied by a pianist who modulates the piano keys, their combination results in vibrance, in sounds coming alive, filling up my heart.

I felt the same way when Ed Nepomuceno, on the keyboard, accompanied the Harana Men’s Chorus during their practice one evening. He is the musical director of the Harana Men’s Chorus -- a group of singers who will be singing kundimans at a Valentine Serenade Concert entitled "Songs From the Heart." The concert will benefit the capital campaign of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. The church has inaugurated its capital campaign of $1.9 million to renovate its structures, with 80% of the church members participating and 10% of the funds already collected in its first year. They have five years to fulfill this endowment goal.

I wondered how the Harana Men’s Group was connected with Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Who are some of their members?

Mike Zuniga who sings at Immaculate Heart of Mary Choir, joined this group. He was impressed by their willingness to give their best despite being ‘pagod from work.‘ "He learned the value of kundimans, based on love and commitments from different parts of the Philippines eager to share new Tagalog songs."

Gifted with a sterling voice, he has been the church’s music minister for 16 years. He credits music as turning his life around -- from holding down two jobs and occasional clubbing to a life of friendship and discovery of his heritage and culture, even enterpreneurship. He owns the House of Silvanas’ store located inside Kusina Restaurant in Fountain and Vermont, which was recently featured in the Los Angeles Times. On the day that his store was featured, customers kept coming.

Erwin Andaya has been singing for 20 years. He is a member of the Philippine Madrigal Singers, Singapore Lyric Opera and the Asian Youth Choir in Japan. No wonder he can memorize a song in less than 24 hours and sing it on chord -- either as bass, tenor or baritone. He graduated from the University of Sto. Tomas with a Bachelors degree in Music, major in Voice.