Singing is in the soul

Since Sunday the town was buzzing with the Saturday show at La Salle Coliseum by the well known Lettermen.

I was asked, "How did you like The Lettermen?" I said, I always like singing, songs, and singers. But I missed the show.

I saw last Saturday in this paper the repertoire of songs The Lettermen would sing and I said, these are the songs of yesteryears, the songs of my youth.

And I was told the Coliseum was fully packed. It was well publicized. And it's the same story in Manila, Cebu, and Davao.

Singing is in the Filipino soul. This just shows, in comparison, we have a better sense of rhythm, of timing, a better sense of feeling the beautiful sound and emote the lyrics of beautiful old songs.

Shall we not be proud of that?

***

Many years ago, I recall the famous Jesuit historian, Fr. Horacio de la Costa wrote a beautiful essay and said something like, the tie that binds and the bond that ties the Filipinos is their songs. It's in their soul.

They argue. They may disagree. But when they sing, they are one in the unifying power of songs.

The "Manang Biday" of the Ilocanos, the "Dandansoy" of the Ilonggos, the "Usahay" of the Cebuanos, the "Sarong Banggi" of the Bicolanos … when sung create a regional identity but a oneness in the Filipino.

A group that lasts, a nation that endures is a group that spends more time in singing and not in arguing.

I was told by Buc-an Yulo that when Chief Justice Hilario Davide retired, his friends hosted a gathering to honor him. Davide, said Buc-an, told the group to do away with speeches where mistakes could be made.

"Let us sing," he said. And sang they did.

***

When I was invited to join the Sunshine Boys, I was told by Willie Mirano, the only requirements were you don't smoke, you want to enjoy life by thinking you are still a boy, no one opposed your membership, and you are not afraid to sing.

I raised my eyebrows on the last qualification. Willie told me, "You don't have to be a good singer because there is no singing contest. You just don't have to be afraid to sing."

Every member has his signature song, All English songs. I chose to be different and had an Ilonggo song, "Yanang Yuhom Mo." It means that smile of yours.

This song is ours, composed by the late Jose Villaluz, father of Bagguer, an accomplished pianist and a composer himself.

And Bacolod is a city of smiles. It also has a very good story behind on how it was composed.

***

And a brave singer I have been. I like the Boys building my confidence. Every time I sang, they would applaud and tell me, "You are improving." I want to report I am always improving.

There are no arguments in our group. The Boys never argue among themselves except on one thing.

It is on the question on which trio sings better. One trio is composed of Ric Yanson, Pompey Querubin, and Willie Mirano. The other trio is composed of Toti Ramos, Marianing Tuvilla, and Honey Galeno.

They have been arguing ever since and I don't think there is an end to this argument because no one believes the other is better.

***

I like the trend now. Every gathering, there is more singing than speeches. Our two (so far) prospective candidates for Congress for the lone district of Bacolod are good singers. Who of them sings better?

For the mayoralty candidates we better make them sing too. I don't know what songs others will sing. But I know Mayor Bing Leonardia has his "Let Me Try Again."

It is said singers go to heaven. It is Longfellow who wrote "God sent his Singers upon earth, / With songs of sadness and of mirth; / That they might touch the hearts of men, / And bring them back to Heaven again."

Expect the Lettermen, the Sunshine Boys, and all Filipino singers to go to heaven. Said, the Holy Writ, "The morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy."

British novelist and poet Charles Kingsley is known for his poem "Farewell." He wrote to make life, death, and that vast forever a grand masterpiece of songs.

***

The NPC election, though still days away, is getting more interesting.

Many professional news reporters complained to me, "Where is professionalism in media? Are politicians interfering?"

"What are the past presidents doing?"

I said we would rather leave that to individual members to evaluate.*

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