My intentions were pretty clear for my trip to NPM. Sure, I wanted to sing every day, attend workshops and hear music. But there was an opportunity here that I couldn't pass up. When looking through the convention materials, there seemed to be a focus on Asian and Pacific Rim music ministry. Here I am, an American-born Filipino and I know very little about what it means to be Filipino, let alone a Filipino Catholic. It was time - time to really start connecting with who I am and from where I came. Everything good I've done with the church has been through music. It seemed to me that this was an opportunity of a lifetime.
The convention catalog mentioned two events in particular. The first was a concert showcasing the liturgical music of Asia ad the Pacific rim. The other was a keynote address to be given by Father Ricky Manalo, a well known composer who has written many of the songs sung in church. The subject of his address was One Church, Many Cultures. I felt that by attending both of these, I could learn how to connect with my heritage in a ways I've never experienced before.
I was very excited and couldn't wait to get down to business.
The opening address was given by Dr. Steven Warner addressing the question, "How do we engage the generations yet to come in this life-giving song?” This was fuel for the fire that would burn inside of me the entire week. He spoke of unity and of the goodness that could come from the work we all do in music ministry. He made me say to myself, "Follow the music and let the spirit carry you." After his keynote address, that's exactly what I did.
I read in the convention booklet that there was going to be several meetings occurring called sectionals. They were to be kind of an open forum to hear people speak about the needs of certain areas within music ministry. One of the sectionals was supposed to be for Asian and Pacific Rim ministries. I figured, sure, I'll head over there and sit in on this. Maybe I can get some good ideas for connecting with my roots. I'll listen in, take some notes and hear what people with experience in this area have to say. Maybe I can ask someone there if they've ever heard Ricky Manalo speak before.
I look into the meeting room and there are, maybe, ten or twelve people in the room. I figure, "Hey, Filipino time. More will show up." I enter the room and the guy up front says, "Welcome! Come on in. We're gonna get started pretty soon. What's your name?" I shamefully admit my own prejudice here because the first thought in my mind was, "Hold up - he has an American accent. I thought Ricky Manalo was leading this. Maybe he's going to be late." In a sense, I guess I thought if he didn't show up, at least the other leader would be an Asian immigrant of some kind. But keeping to my promise to let the spirit carry me, I introduce myself. Now imagine my shock and surprise as they leader introduces himself as I walk closer. "Hi, I'm Ricky. Won't you come have a seat up here."
We ended up having around 15 people in this meeting. Father Ricky asked us to form a circle and introduce ourselves. Thankfully, I was seated to the left of Father Ricky - because he started the introductions to his right. However, I realized while the introductions were going around that I was starting to feel very out of place. First, of the Filipinos who were there, only Father Ricky and I were born here in the United States - this may have given me some comfort, but he was published composer Ricky Manalo and I was still the same Jerome I was that same morning. And then during the introductions, the self-doubt hit even harder as each person said what they did ... music director in a parish for 10 years, music director for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, classical pianist graduate and music director, former concert pianist and music director, OCP composer Brother Rufino Zaragoza, featured Vietnamese soloist, director of worship and music and accompanist ... As it was getting closer to my turn, I was very aware of my mouth - in particular how DRY it was. It was a bit anti-climactic, I thought, as I introduced myself - "I'm Jerome. I'm a handbell choir director at my church. But I'm a computer programmer by day."
But you know what? I was welcomed. We spoke about the pastoral needs of Asian and Pacific Rim parishoners. We spoke about music (of course) and sharing our diversity. It was special - it was so special. As time wound down, I was so excited to share what I had learned with my choir director and others I had planned to dine with that evening. I gathered my things and Brother Rufino spoke up. "I almost forgot! We want to invite all of you." He gave a reminder to all of us about the "Harmony in Faith" concert the following night mentioning that a majority of the people in the room were actually IN the concert. I felt honored to have shared that space with them and was looking forward to attending the concert.
My evening of cultural curiosity was supposed to end there. I was to meet Judy, the director of music and liturgy at my church, and Dennis, my friend from college who is also a director of music and liturgy, to attend some other concerts that night and maybe grab a bite to eat. Father Ricky mentioned that if anyone wanted to sing with the Filipino choir, they could always use more voices. At that moment, I felt the spirit kick me directly on the back side. "I would love to try. I don't speak Tagalog very well, but I can pronounce it. Could I just come practice with you? If it doesn't work out, I'll drop out, but please let me try." Okay, maybe I didn't SAY all those things, but I was thinking them. I said I would meet them for rehearsal and see how it works out.
So there I was ... on a Monday evening ... learning, singing and playing music for a concert the following night ... in a language I didn't speak fluently ... in the city of Plainfield, IN ... at a church I never even knew existed ... with people who I had no idea were destined to enter my life ... and, most mind boggling for me, with Father Ricky as our accompanist.
I met some really wonderful people that night. There are a few whose names I don't remember, but those I do remember will never be forgotten ... "Hello, I'm Agnes", "I'm Maria", "My name's Jojo", "Ah, yes - I'm Manuel", "Hello - Ariel", "Oh, hello, I'm Marlon", "I'm Ricky also - like Father Ricky" ... we made some great music that night ... I learned as fast as I could and I kept up well enough not to embarass myself. It was good too. The thing is - I can feel it, y'know? I'm already different from what I was that morning.
... But man oh man, I wish I spoke Tagalog!
Print | posted @ Wednesday, July 18, 2007 7:39 PM