The power of music

Bambi Yngson, incumbent director of the Negros Press Club and manager of Super Radio was shot yesterday in Sagay. The culprit is allegedly connected with the Land Transportation Office. The other details we still did not know while writing this column yesterday. One thing we are happy about is that Bambi has survived the shooting.

Press groups will soon meet to take up what to do to give justice to a beleaguered colleague.

Friends sounded apprehensive the incident might lower the morale of local press people. On the contrary, I said, this raises their adrenalin. This will give them more reasons to work harder and become braver. History has shown that violence against media people never fazed them.

If they did, there would have been no more media people, considering the Philippines is the second most dangerous country to live in for journalists, after war-torn Iraq.

Christianity became more vigorous during its early stages on account of the persecution. It rose from the blood of its martyrs.

Media is not different. From the blood spilled by its practitioners has germinated and grown a more vigorous press.

Bambi Yngson must be comforted with the thought that his colleagues are behind him.

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We have too much politics, too much other activities but not enough cultural activities that promote music and literature. Poetry reading was held recently at La Salle. We are happy a concert by the Manila Symphony Orchestra will be held on Sept. 5 at the Sanctuario de La Salle.

Tuesday night we had dinner at the residence of Monet and Yoly Kilayko with media friends and the guests of Monet from Manila, Prudential Guarantee and Assurance Inc. Corporate Treasurer James Coyiuto and wife, Cristine.

The concert will feature the internationally well known Helen Quach conducting the Manila Symphony Orchestra with Cristine on the piano. Ms Quach, Saigon-born of Chinese parents has conducted orchestras all over the world.

Ms Coyiuto, on the other hand, has won national acclaim as a pianist in many concerts. Newspapers have paid her tribute as a "performer of solid training, unerring musicality, emotional responsiveness and technical mastery; virtuosity at its utmost coupled with soul wrenching lyricisms…. an exhilarating experience."

Her concerts at the CCP earned for her the titles "Pianists' Pianist" and the "Poetess of the Piano."

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It's about time we develop the love for true music, the classical music by the Masters, the three Great B's for one, Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms. On Sept. 5, Ms Coyiuto will also play Edward Grieg.

I am not a singer nor musician but I love classical music. I have a great preference for the soulful works of that Russian genius Tchaikovsky. Many of our beautiful songs were adapted from Thcaikovsky's masterpieces.

Monet, vice-president of Prudential in Visayas, and Yoly are selling the ticket because the concert also coincides with the 20th anniversary of Prudential here.

The concert, I understand, is intended to raise funds for ecology and reforestation in Negros.

I enjoyed the night at Monet and Yoly Kilayko's. I was there seated with the media girls Lucy Lizares, Twinkling, Buddai Piccio, Ms Javelosa, Ivy Visitacion, and Ducky Leonardia. Twinkling and Buddai are all Ninfa. But many know Ninfa Piccio as Buddai.

Ms Javelosa complained I was so silent. I reasoned out, what can the only man say in the presence of so many a beauty? Men are supposed to listen, not talk. Frankly, I learned plenty by just listening. One thing sure, we will be there in full force on Sept. 5.

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We must all love music. Was it not Carlyle who wrote "Music is the speech of angels." It is the universal language of mankind, added Longfellow.

And the Bible said, "When the morning stars sang together, all the sons of God shouted for joy."

In Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice," it is said, "The man that hath no music in himself,/ Nor is he moved with concord of sweet sounds,/ Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils."

The power of music.. Greek god Orpheus with his music, could make the trees or even stones move. But the best is the story of the "Pied Piper of Hamelin" in our grade school books. A stranger came to Hamelin, a town in Westphalia which was invaded by rats. He offered to eradicate from the place all rats for a consideration, to which the people agreed.

The Pied Piper blew his pipe and all the rats went out to follow him up to the river where they drowned. Later the Pied Piper came to collect but the people would not pay.

The Pied Piper blew his pipe again and all the children came out and followed him until they entered a cave where they were no longer seen except the two left behind, a blind and a lame boy.

The power of music, and a lesson to pay your debt.

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Welcome to Fr. Felix Pasquin. He was installed yesterday as Rector of the Cathedral.*

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