Category: Music


Dec
2011

Tis the season!

categories: Breastfeeding, Madz, Music

I began December on a happy (and literally high!) note!

Lemme say this first (on an E above high C): TOURINGKITTY IS BACK! Yipeeee!

Our family of three plus our new helper/yaya (finally, after months of being helper-less! We had her for a month already) flew to Iloilo, my husband’s homeland (for five years!) for a concert with Koro Madrigal, the Alumni of the UP Madrigal Singers. Well attended, well applauded concert!

It was Aria’s first ever plane ride! So was our helper’s, so we were all excited and nervous! But thankfully, with God’s grace, He gave us safe travels, yummy food, a nice hotel room, good health throughout the trip. You see, my mom was supposed to join to take care of baby while the parents are singing, but unfortunately, she got sore eyes, which my baby also got two days after we arrived in Manila.

Anywho, it was a fuss-free, complaint-free trip with our toddler, who really enjoyed the experience, not to mention, the food. She eats a lot and likes to taste whatever’s in my hands, or my plate. Likewise, being the first-time mom, I was super happy and proud to just breastfeed her while on the plane–she slept through the whole flight! While other babies cried themselves to sleep (yeah I think I’m being gung-ho already about breastfeeding that I do it anytime, anywhere! So breastfeed, mommies!).

This month also is the time for choir performances. I don’t know why but when you think of Christmas, you think Christmas Carols in SATB. And choirs in morning shows, malls, everywhere! Tell me, which choir doesn’t have even one gig outside their usual church service?

So tis the season to promote concerts as well!

First up, the Philippine Madrigal Singers Christmas concert. It’s their Christmas concert/culmination of Madz et al festival/tenth year of Mark Carpio as choirmaster of the Madz. This will happen on December 17, 8pm and 18, 5pm. As an alumna of Batch Carpio 2003-2008, I was invited to sing! So please do watch on the 17th!

I can’t make it on the 18th because of this: the Shrine of Jesus Children’s Choir will sing Christmas songs at Alphaland Southgate Mall at 5pm.

Hope to see you on both events! Touringkitty is really back!

~ Touringkitty


Sep
2011

“Anak” and Breastfeeding

categories: Breastfeeding, Music

Was Freddie Aguilar breastfed?

Watch the video and hear the song here

Noong isilang ka sa mudong ito
Laking tuwa ng magulang mo
At ang kamay nila ang ‘yong ilaw

At ang nanay at tatay mo’y
‘Di malaman ang gagawin
Minamasdan pati pagtulog mo

At sa gabi’y napupuyat ang iyong nanay
Sa pagtimpla ng gatas mo
At sa umaga nama’y kalong ka
Ng iyong amang tuwang-tuwa sa iyo

Anyway, I love the song, especially the first part. I felt the lyrics encapsulated what my husband and I felt about Aria. She became our world when she was born. I sang this song to my daughter a few days after she was born as I was putting her to sleep. But when I got to the third verse, I stopped. I asked myself if I really want to prepare formula milk in the wee hours and let the baby cry out while she waits for us to measure the formula, let the water cool down, etc etc.

I liked Lea Salonga’s fierce version. LOVED the rendition of my most favorite conductor, ninong, and friend, Mark Anthony Carpio of the Philippine Madrigal Singers. I’m not sure though if the arrangement was done by my most favorite conducting teacher, Sir Eudy Palaruan.

Is there a song about breastfeeding? Or maybe you created something that you want the world to hear? Share it with us!

~ Touringkitty