My first job

as early as 8 years old, i'm already earning my own money. summer vacation of 1989, my childhood friend sharon, encouraged me to join this musical group. with mama's approval, i walk into an audition and on that same day i was accepted.

the group is divided into two, the senior group (college students and some are already working), and the junior group (to which i belong, grade school to high school students). we are two in the junior group who play the bamboo piano but after several months, she back out. and the pressure was on me! i tell you, our musical director and conductor is strict...very very very very very strict. lahat na ata ng sermon inabot ko. i experience during performance, i was crying because he was shouting and saying foul words at me. but i thank him for that. na-disiplina ako. it has molded my character and has a big part on my human being. natutunan kong dalhin ang grupo, dumating sa takdang oras (sa lahat ng ensayo at pagtatanghal), tumugtog ng nanggagaling sa puso, at ipakita at ipagmalaki ang galing ng pinoy lalo na sa mga banyaga. natutunan kong hindi nakasalalay ang mahusay na pagtatanghal sa palakpakan ng tao o sa kanilang pagtanggap sa aking ginagawa. when i know that i have given my best and have given justice to the song, then that's it!

my first performance with the group was when we had concert at the qc circle. and the list goes on..

- concert at the park (paco park)

- every linggo ng wika, we perform at ateneo de manila grade school

- suki kami ng picc, unforgettable was the miss universe pageant when charlene gonzales answered the high tide or low tide and the opening of disney channel in the philippines (we performed together with the philippine philharmonic orchestra under the baton of mr ryan cayabyab)

- who can forget the chiba festival and our performance at tokyo disneyland (i was only 16 years old then and that was my first international trip. dahil dito, muntik na ko matanggal sa college of accountancy and law kasi i did not take the midterm exams. good thing, my accounting professor gave me a chance to take a special exam. afterwhich, i got my classcard and got a passing grade. thank you, maam!! won't forget you!)

- name it! shangri-la hotel (edsa and makati), manila penn, manila hotel, sofitel (westin philippine plaza pa noon), coconut palace, at maraming pang iba. our group is always invited mostly in corporate events

- isama pa ang iba't ibang schools - assumption college, la salle high school, aquinas, poveda, etc etc

- pinakagusto ko when our group is invited to perform at a maritime school in bataan. we are using their training ship going to bataan. saya!!

- then of course, every december 24th, tumutugtog kami sa misa sa simbang gabi. that's why i know how to play some catholic church songs

- we also had an opportunity to serenade the presidents of the philippines: cory aquino and fidel ramos (both at quezon city hall), joseph estrada (inside malacanang palace, that was on december 31st. 21 days before he left the position)

- my last performance with the group was when US president bush visited the philippines. while lots of people are waiting outside the streets to see his limousine car passed by, we are all ready inside the palace to welcome him (along with president gloria arroyo, senators, and other government high officials) with filipino music

sayang hindi pa uso noon ang digicam. but i can vividly picture on my mind all the memories (for 14 years) i had with pangkat kawayan.