Travel through words, photos, and music.
Lola Mila loves you!
Lolo Frankie loves you!
Nonna loves you!
Tita playmate loves you!
Mommy and Daddy love you!
To the charming, smart, little girl who drives our everyday life crazy but fun, who’s addicted to Hello Kiity, Elmo, and iPad Photobooth, happy birthday!
We pray for your good health, safety, and happiness as you journey through life. Mommy and Daddy are here for you, always and in all ways.
Gott segne dich, mein Schatz!
Mommy and Daddy 🙂
Thanks to TVCs, this has been my daughter’s current favorite.
She then rushes towards me and kisses and hugs me, saying the very same lines:
Thank you, Mom, for believing in me.
And I wish to say the same to my own mother.
I have to thank her so very much for being there for my family every time we needed someone to lean on. She and my sister, actually. They have been very supportive of us and whatever we’ve been doing, and we trust them to take care of our little one when my husband and I can’t. Thank God for mothers!
Happy Birthday, Mommy!
;
;
~ Touringkitty
…and it’s still surreal!
Here is the video clip of the announcement of winner of the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing back in August 2007.
Check out Touringkitty in the video, my dear lucky charm, the Hello Kitty wand given by my now dear husband.
Let me take you to Arezzo for a few minutes with these pics:
All choirs were given a few minutes to soundcheck. This was when we were waiting for our turn. One is trying not to be too nervous!
This was us after singing our competition set. And just look at the people who came and cheered for us! Some Madz Alumni came from overseas, Filipinos from Italy, Italians from nearby Provinces where we had concerts in, and even Spanish friends!
Sir Mark receiving the trophy, with all calmness and composure. While his singers were rowdy, shouting, thus losing our voices as we came back to Manila the next day!
This was us after the announcement of winners. We partied on the streets of Arezzo, in full costume, screaming our hearts out of joy and thanksgiving for the wonderful and once in a lifetime opportunity, twice for some members who won the same award in Tours, France, in 1997.
This competition capped our three-month journey in Europe. A few days after a quick pit stop in Manila, we flew to the US for another six-week concert tour.
That was my third tour with the Philippine Madrigal Singers in Europe. And that will probably be the most unforgettable.
To my sectionmates Liaa, Rhina, Karlene, Mavic, and Bianca, they say being a soprano in a choir is tough job, and I think it is. Continue to share your music to God’s people.
To the power altos Kuya Chris, Ate Pearl, Ate Melody, Ate Julie, Gladys, you’re all great singers and soloists and I admire you all!
To the tenors Sheen, Weng, Leo, JC, Aldrich, sing on, guys!
To the basses Itay Emman, Enrico, Kuya Jo-honey, Kuya Philip, Melvir, Marvin, your voices gave depth in the circle. May your voices continue to resonate for Him wherever you may be.
And to our dearest Sir Mark, we are so so proud of you! You taught us to work towards excellence yet still be humble of what we achieved. Thank you for believing in us. Thank you for believing in me! I never dreamt of this, but you trusted me enough to share the music we’ve worked hard for many months before the EGP.
Five years passed and it still seems like yesterday. The nervousness, the goosebumps, the sweaty hands, making sure I will give the exact pitch at the beginning of each song, making sure they hear the pitch!, and the big sigh of relief after we’re done with our set.
Most of all, in our little way, we represented the Philippines. It brought us great pride to be singing and carrying the name of the country in such an important competition.
Our country must have been bestowed by the Lord with such great and talented singers, that we are just lucky to share it to the world through the Madz. And what better way to celebrate it is by bringing the competition in our own homeland, via the Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival Manila 2013.
More about the competition on the next post!
~ Touringkitty
Photo credit: All photos from the UPMS Multiply Website
I first knew Ate Rina in college. As a voice freshman, and a clueless one at that, I look up to the soprano voice majors at that time. She was a diligent one, that’s why we look up to her. Her being friendly also endeared her to many. She used to sing with the Ateneo College Glee Club before she focused on being a solo performer.
Fast forward to today, she has blossomed into one of the good young Filipino sopranos. She’s been active in performing ever since college, and was fortunate to study abroad to home to further hone her craft.
She has performed before at the CCP but not in a solo engagement. She returns to the CCP stage next Wednesday, August 29, 7:30PM at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino for her Recital Debut. Assisting her on the piano is one of the best accompanist, my piano teacher in college and a Principal Sponsor for our wedding, Augusto Espino.
Full Press Release is on this site:Â http://culturalcenter.gov.ph/page.php?page_id=596
She will also give a Voice Masterclass on Thursday August 30, Saturday September 1 and Tuesday September 4. There are still slots available for August 30 and the 31st will open if we fill up the 30th. So sign up now! Or come as an observer. It will be really interesting to watch how she will work with the budding singers of today.
Ya, I know. I remained a chorister but still an opera singer by heart.
~ Touringkitty
Well, technically, there won’t be a party unlike last year’s McDonald’s birthday bash, which she truly enjoyed. But I figured, I can still give her a simple party at home.
So this weekend (and hope this colds don’t progress), I will attempt to DIY party decorations at home, put up the same tarpaulin we used last year (good thing I didn’t put any number or date, so we can use it like forever!), and cook Aria’s favorite foods – pansit (which she calls spaghetti), dory fish (which she sooo loves), cookies, and have a special cake made for her. I’ll set the party on the next holiday before her birthday.
I’m set on doing Hello Kitty as theme. The kid adores the cat, haha. So time to order cupcakes from my cousin who prepared the cupcake decorating activity last year. She did Hello Kitty toppers before so this one’s easy peasy for her.
Now should I invite her playground friends? I think so. But this has to be discussed with the husband.
It will be a simple party for the little girl. Something to celebrate two years of her life in this crazy world. It has been fun so far. And we can’t wait for more adventures to come her way.
~ Touringkitty
Wow. It has been ten years, Papa. We still miss you.
Eulogy for Papa Mario
Papa’s Necrological Service
August 10, 2002
In behalf of my mom Luz, and my sister, Myk, we want to thank from the bottom of our hearts, all those people who were there during my father’s stay here on earth.
Who was Mario Mendoza Macanaya when he was still alive?
As a son to his good mother, Enriqueta, he was very close to her to the point he became a spoiled brat.
As a brother, the youngest in a brood of 9, he was always affectionate and would always want to get the attention of everyone else.
As a friend, he was giving and had good public relations, sales and marketing skills. He was named “Don Mar” because of his being very open to other people.
As a father and husband, he was a good father to two children and husband to my mom. But there were events in life we all didn’t wish to happen, that brought tears, sufferings and pains.
Upon his death, on the day of his 47th birthday, the joys, pains, happy and sorrowful events that he would have experienced in this world has ended.
At this point, in behalf of our father, I, my sister, and my mom, would like to ask forgiveness from the people whom he had unintentionally done wrong. We hope and pray that you would forgive him and let us all pray for his soul. Also, I hope that my father has forgiven the shortcomings of other people to him.
We also would like to thank those who helped and extended their sympathy. To my dearest titos/titas/cousins, please do not shut your door on the three of us that my father’s passing will make us closer to you more than ever.
Dear God, thank you for giving us Papa Mario.
To Papa, thank you for all those memories. You know that we’ll always love you, the three of us, I know this is God’s will and I know that you’re happy and blessed, more blessed than any of us here on earth. I hope you’ll always watch over us. I’m glad now that you are at rest in God’s loving arms.
Papa, we’ll always love you, forever you’ll be in our hearts and minds – promise.