It has been almost three years since I last sang with this world-renowned group.
That’s me on the right side wearing a blue skirt. 2007 European Tour, Prague, Czech Republic concert. Taken from www.philippinemadrigalsingers.com
And as I was rummaging youtube to get ideas for a choral arrangement I’m supposed to do, I found this:
I would like you to hear this beautiful song that has been my favorite ever since. It’s included in our 2005 Sony Music-released inspirational album, Acclamation where I was part of. This is not the whole song, there’s a second verse to it. Entire text below:
Sa Iyong mga Yapak
Words and Music: Jose Cerino, Jr.
Arranged by: Sam Guerrero
Landas na Kay Tinik sa Iyo’y Inilaan Bawa’t Hakbang nito’y dusa’t hirap ang laman Sa kalooban ng Ama nagpasakop kang ganap Buhay Mo O Hesus ang siyang alay na sapat
Laban sa Agos ng mundo, Lumakad ka sa landas Mo Laban sa Lakad ng Mundo, Landas na sa ‘ki’y nais Mo
Sa Iyong mga yapak, ako ay tatahak Kahit tigib ng luha ang nilakaran Mong landas
Pasakit man at dusa dulot ng mundo’y kamtan Bawat bakas ng Iyong mga yapak Bawat hakbang Mo’y aking susundan
Kay hirap Mang gawin kalooban Mo’y tupdin Pinili kong sundan bakas ng ‘Yong mga Hakbang Ang buhay ko’y laan sa Iyo kailanpaman Maglilingkod sa’Yo Panginoon hanggang wakas
Amidst all the tension that has happened in the world, I do hope this song would remind us to continue following God’s path and trust His ways. Hope this will be one of your Lenten song reflections.
I miss singing and touring. Now, off to bed. Ooops, I have work to do!
Since there is no 31st of the month, I now declare Aria is six months today! Therefore, it’s time to start her on foods other than my breast milk.
I decided to start her with rice porridge. We had the rice ground in powder form and cooked a little just for her to taste. She took three teaspoons of it and didn’t want to stop!
She's too excited that she wants to hold the spoon by herself
We also tried giving her water to wash off the porridge. She didn’t like it that much, so I gave her breast milk again. And while we’re having lunch, I tried giving her two drops of sinigang soup with my finger. She liked it as well.
The bare necessities: Soft spoon, bowl with cover, and feeding cup with spout
I also tried giving her milk in the cup. She did not like it. Nothing beats Mommy’s breast, I guess. But she has to learn drinking from it eventually.
Posing for the camera. She only played with the spout and the milk splattered all over her chin
We’ll try the rice porridge twice a day for a month, and increase the servings gradually. We’ll also add other veggies and fruits next week. I will try not to succumb to that cereal box and bottled fruit purees.
Weaning the baby into solids is a challenge. This is a good start to introducing you baby into food other than human milk.
Matapos ang siyam na buwang parang nakalunok ako ng pakwan, simula na ng pinakamahalagang yugto sa buhay ng babae: ang maging ina.
Left: Hours old. Right: Four months.
Mga Natutunan:
Manganak.
Inaaral ba yun? Kahit ilang birthing classes pa siguro ang puntahan ko (and for the record, wala akong pinuntahan dahil mahal), iba pa rin kapag nariyan ka na sa delivery room. Kinaya kong manganak ng walang anesthesia (para makatipid), tiniis ko ang labor pains para lang maging normal delivery. At binigay naman yun ng Panginoon at sobra-sobra pa. Pareho kaming malusog na lumabas ng ospital ng anak ko.
Mag-alaga ng bata.
Kasama riyan ang magpaligo, magpalit ng damit at diapers, magbuhat, maghele, makipaglaro. Dati takot ako. As in takot. Pero habang lumilipas ang mga araw, linggo, buwan, dumadali na pala. Malamang, lumalaki siya e. Keri to, ‘teh!
Magtiis.
Jobless. Harang-less. Caffeine-less. Social life-less. Pasyal-less. Kailangang magtiis para sa ikabubuti ng bata. Minsan hindi na ako nakakakain, nakakapagbanyo, nakakatutbras kasi gusto ng batang nakabitbit matapos kumain at para makatulog ng mahaba-haba. Ayaw kasi magpaistorbo.
Magpasensya.
Lalo na pag hirap magpatulog ng bata. At pag umiiyak. Hulaan kung anong gusto niya – gutom ba siya, madumi ang diapers, inaantok, naiinitan, giniginaw, bored, etc.
Manghingi ng tulong.
Noong bata ka, kanino ka nagpapatulong sa homework? Di ba sa nanay mo? Lalo na ngayong may anak na akong sarili, sa nanay ko pa rin ako tumatakbo para tumulong sa pag-aalaga ng bata, at magpaturo sa kanya ng mga dapat gawin.
Mag-adjust.
Hindi na ikaw ang masusunod. Ang baby na na hindi pa naman nakakapgsalita. She’s the boss.
Mag-improvise.
Minsan, gumawa kami ng duyan gamit ang shawl ko at ikinabit sa crib para hindi na mahirapan magbuhat. Gupit dito, tahi doon, tinadtad ng packing tape ang mobile para maikabit sa scrap na tubo, at higit sa lahat, mag-scotch tape ng parol sa may pinto para titigan ng baby pampatulog. Epektib!
Magtanong ng magtanong ng magtanong. At malito.
Maraming nanay, maraming opinyon. Nakakalito kung minsan. Pero natutunan ko rin ang magtiwala sa sarili, sa instinct. So far, wala namang masamang nangyari sa anak ko.
Magpakain gamit ang dibdib (in short, magbreastfeed).
Isa lang ang masasabi ko, WOW! Hindi ko sukat akalaing kaya kong magbreastfeed. Sabi ng iba, masakit, mahirap, matutuyuan ka ng gatas, pero malaki ang pananampalataya kong lahat ng nanganak may gatas. So, go, therefore, and breastfeed.
Magpuri at magpasalamat.
Salamat sa Panginoon at lahat ito’y naranasan ko. Dati, naririnig ko iba’t ibang kwento ng mga nanay – yung mga nakunan, nanakawan ng anak, hindi magkaanak, at namatayan ng anak. Natakot ako, pero naniwala akong ibibigay si Aria ng Diyos dahil may misyon din siya sa mundo. At yan ang dapat niyang madiskubre sa kanyang paglaki. Kaming mga magulang niya aalalay, gagabay, aalagaan siya habang bata. At gusto namin siyang palakihing may takot sa Diyos.
Happiest New Year from the Macanayas and Alcantaras!
Aria’s now four months old. Time flew so fast. She’s reached many milestones earlier that we expected. She can roll over both sides, shriek, hum as if she’s singing, talk as if she wants to say something, and yes, she caught a Christmas cold. I’ve brought her to Christmas parties here and there, and once she smiles or coos at someone, she instantly receives a Christmas gift. Good girl!
But I still have not watched a movie, or a concert, or at least have one alone time. At least I was able to sing twice at church and conduct my children’s choir again. Everyone’s scared to take care of the baby without me because she might cry for food anytime. Yes, four months of breastfeeding her exclusively, no bottle, not even expressed breast milk (except when I tried it out three months ago, after which, I felt guilty). Imagine if we were giving her formula, we would have spent P4,000 a month plus all the efforts in putting it in the bottle. Celebrate!
There were also a lot of singing engagements that I turned down, and still turning down more engagements. I don’t know when will I return to my usual self. All I know is that I will live this unusual life with my little toothless smiley face (who, by the way, is sleeping like a log this morning!).
So, I introduce to you, yours truly, the Queen of all envy!
Like this weekend, I will miss my two favorite choirs in concert. My husband knew I want to watch those concerts. He offered to take care of the little one and leave a stash of milk in the freezer. I didn’t know what to say.
Anyway, please do me a favor and watch these concerts. They’re all good.
The Ateneo Chamber Singers will share the stage with the Gaia Philarmonic Choir from Japan and SYC Ensemble Singers in TATLO: A Choral Celebration on January 8 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. My husband is a pioneer member of the ACS since its inception in 2001 and has sung for the festival when it was first held in Singapore in 2006. Visit www.threefestival.com for more details.
The Philippine Madrigal Singers will be featured in a concert of Sal Malaki and Kit Viguilla-Navarro, both Madz Alumni on January 8 and 9 at the Philamlife Auditorium. I was fortunate to have sung with the group for five years and was part of the batch that have won competitions in Spain, France and Italy. Visit www.philippinemadrigalsingers.com or their Facebook fan page for more details.
Now I wish that concert halls would have sound-proof areas for breastfeeding mommies like me so that while we watch, our little ones can also listen to these wonderful music. Wishful thinking.
