Himig Heswita Music Ministry: How Lovely is Your Dwelling Place

How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place

Refrain

How lovely is your dwelling place

O Lord, mighty God, Lord of all.

Even the lonely sparrow

finds a home for her brood

and the swallow a nest for herself

where she may lay her young;

in your altars my king and my God.

(Repeat refrain)

Blessed are they whose dwelling

is your own, Lord of peace.

Blest are they refreshed

by springs and by rain

when dryness daunts and scathes

Behold my shield, my King and my God.

(Repeat refrain)

I would forsake

a thousand other days anywhere

If I could spend one day in your courts,

belong to you alone.

My strength are you alone.

My glory, my King and my God.

(Repeat refrain)

How lovely Your dwelling place,

Oh Lord mighty God,

Lord of all.

Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once said that music was the universal language of mankind. If that holds true, then the Himig Heswita Music Ministry uses this medium very well for the Lord.

It was around 1995 that I first read and eventually heard the voices of the religious that composed this Jesuit ministry.

Led by then Jesuit Brother (now a full pledged priest) Manoling Francisco, they have taken great inspiration from the works of another remarkable liturgical composer from a preceding era, E.P. Hontiveros, S.J. in creating worship songs for the contemporary generation.

The song above is a classic example of their earlier works. Based on Psalm 84, “How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place” was written by Arnel dC Aquino, S.J., a Tenor 1 member of the group. I think the vocal solo of the song’s original version was rendered by Bass 2 member RB Hizon, S.J.

The song is very personal to me. How many times during my life’s darkest days have I found peace and solace in God’s loving presence and abode. And it’s not far away in some mystic temple or hidden Shangri-la. As Arnel Aquino S.J. rightly puts it, “the world is God’s dwelling place.” Likewise he adds, “we are God’s dwelling place.”

Fr. Aquino further states:

“Our loving God is in the world which He creates and sustains in fantastic beauty. In the ripeness of seasons, God Himself enters human time and human history in the person of His Son, Jesus in whom He dwells in Spirit. God always longs to be with us. How then can we ever doubt that this God who constantly longs to be with us can therefore make each of us His very dwelling place?”

How many times like Fr. Aquino have I found myself listening or singing the abovementioned song deeply touched and on the verge of tears. He reveals moments he too is filled with emotion as other people also are, in singing his compositions “with such resonance and expression and tenderness all their own.” He wonders how could this be…how music created by others can become another person’s very own? I agree with his conclusion that ultimately, because the Lord resides in us, it is He who beautifully sings to us and everyone who cares to listen or sing along. Through the song, it is the Lord who speaks to us…who sings to us…”to make it your own.”

The CD jacket of their first compilation album inscribed the following description of the ministry’s members:

“Young men preparing for the priesthood who, somewhere in their prayers, stumbled into God in a way they never did before. And, for one brief moment, everything they saw - the beaming face of a child, a sudden rain, an empty chair, a stranger’s wrinkled hands - suddenly shimmered with God. In such a moment, what else can one do but break into song?”

Faced with the reality of God’s loving presence, how else indeed…

I share in their wish that as we listen to the beauty of their ministry’s songs which envelop their prayers, may it also guide you “to stumble into your God.”

Musings of a St. Mary’s College Grade School Alumnus

The recent SMC alumni homecoming had brought back a lot of fond and bittersweet memories in St. Mary’s College.

From 1975 to 1980, I studied 2^nd to 6^th grade in this academic institution.

For me, those were the good old days. No cell phones, no Play Stations, no laptops, no Internet. I only had my teks, sipa, toy soldiers and comic books. Life was much, much simpler then. People actually went out and most children played in the streets, not with electronic gadgets, not in Internet cafes. EDSA wasn’t congested and you could still breathe fresh air in Quezon City.

My family lived in an old wooden 2-storey house in a compound owned by my grandmother in the San Francisco del Monte. St. Mary’s College in many ways was my second home.

If I sound nostalgic, it’s because I am. I’ve always had a sense of longing for my grade school alma mater. After graduation, we were so excited to see the rest of the world. But in time, I began to miss what I had then. Through the years, I’ve always tried to keep in touch with at least some of the people that made my time in SMC memorable.

STRINGBEANS – That was how iconic teacher Cecile Asejo used to describe me in 3^rd grade when she was my classroom adviser at Busilak section. The moniker kind of stuck through out grade school. But for the most part, to many people I thought I was simply viewed as non-descript.

I was placed at the cream section Pagasa from 4^th grade to 6^th but at best was middle of the pack – grade wise. I played basketball for the class during Intramurals and chess for the school but wasn’t a star player for both sports. Neither was I a head turner among girls unless I can imagine doing something stupid. Just your average run of the mill Joe. Non-descript.

Still, my years at St. Mary’s College were some of the best of my life. I often share with people that much of what I am right now – the values, religious beliefs, discipline, attitudes, temperament and modest outlook in life I owed it to my stay and education at SMC.

Most people didn’t know that my father used to smoke heavily when he was young. But the anti-smoking campaign talks I attended at the audio-visual room (or simply AVR to many) made a strong and lasting impression on me. I didn’t take up the habit from my father. Not a single stick. Not even a single puff. Why should I?

I remember the glass vial where the inside you find a piece of cotton ball dirtied from the fumes siphoned from a single cigarette. Or how that single stick snuffed no less than 4 minutes of one’s precious life.

One can just surmise how that would translate into reducing a smoker’s lifespan if that person had been smoking for say, 10 years. That loss was something I didn’t want to do to myself nor for my future wife and children. That decision not to smoke I felt brought further positive consequences – none of my three younger siblings took up the habit as well.

In 1995 as an SMC alumnus, I was given the opportunity to go with the SMC school contingent as a facilitator during the World Youth Day. “Tell the World of His Love” was the WYD theme song and for a few extra ordinary days, the earth seemed to have stood still for this momentous event. The SMC contingent saw the Pope John Paul II from quite a distance at the Quirino grandstand. But it was close enough. More importantly was God’s love that consumed the whole nation. No event has yet exceeded the estimated more than four million people that converged in the Luneta Park area for the WYD. Crime dramatically went down during that week of love and oneness with the Lord. Other than Holy Week and days when Manny Pacquiao went into a boxing match did the country experience such widespread peace.

In the decade to follow, I continued to serve my alma mater primarily through the Alumni Foundation, supporting the apostolate to visit the sick RVM sisters, reach out to the poor through our outreach medical/dental missions and supporting fundraising events for our scholarship fund.

I’ve focused on other endeavors since then but I have never forgotten my alma mater. The recent homecoming simply reminded me of something that I knew all along.

SMC has always been a part of me. Wherever I go, whatever I do, my SMC formation will always be there around. Based on experience, that formation has made me a better person.

For this reason, many alumni like me have really put to heart the words of our alma mater song.

Without a doubt, SMC is truly the school we love.

St. Mary’s College High School Alumni Batch 1984 celebrates their Silver Jubilee

Touching base…renewing ties

It was raining cats and dogs that 18^th day of July.

Two of my sons and I have just been to my parents’ home in Project 8 for a quick visit when the rains came pouring down and the gusty winds almost blew away my new golf umbrella.

After finally hailing a taxicab in this stormy weather, we dropped off Sonny Boy at West Avenue for his Karate-do class while Joshua went with me to out ultimate destination – this year’s grand alumni homecoming in St. Mary’s College at Mother Ignacia Avenue.

It was raining cats and dogs that day…but it didn’t deter nor dampen the spirit and determination of the organizers, as well as many of the alumni participants for this homecoming event to happen.

This homecoming was extra special to me. This year, High School Batch 1984 celebrated their 25^th graduation anniversary. Many of these silver jubilarians were grade school batch mates (G.S. 1980) of mine. There was no high school for boys then at SMC so we simply had to go to another school for our secondary education. But I tried to keep in touch with at least a number of my batch mates through the years.

I met most of the silver jubilarians on my way to the chapel – late for the scheduled thanksgiving Mass which I presumed began by 1pm. The Mass had just finished and they were on their way back to the SMC Auditorium.

Batch reunions with my SMC schoolmates have always been a source of joy for me. With much anticipation, excitement and sometimes even feelings of dread, one never really knows what to expect.

Some of my batch mates I recognized instantly, as they recognized me. Some I couldn’t remember until someone popped out their name or so. Some I couldn’t remember at all…and vice versa I suppose. Each name, each face recognized brought back other names, different events, unique memories. At times, it felt overwhelming.

That day, some I remembered only their first names – Liza who now lives in Australia, Fatima (my youngest namesake and whose smiling face I remembered even in grade school, Evelyn (who simply remembered me as a bright student – thanks Evelyn!), Ralyn (who I remember conducts training courses). Others were more familiar faces - Ting Rillo, Joy Salazar, Felicitas Barrozo, Cristy Bascug, Lourdes Dacasin, Cielo Gruenberg, Liberty Bayani, Imelda Yuki, Claudine Felix, Martha Jiao and Consuelo Guevarra.

Entrance of colors

Members of SMC H.S. Batch 84 occupy the center seats

SMC Alumni Foundation officers tirelessly man the registration table

Religious of the Virgin Mary (R.V.M.) sisters say a little prayer

Batch 84 members are led by Batch President Ting Rillo-Cabalza

(first row beside her husband Kirk)

The formal program that followed included superb performances from the celebrating Jubilarians from High School batches 1969 (Ruby), 1974 (Coral), 1979 (Pearl), 1984 (Silver) and graduating members of batch 2010.

Marians give tribute to Mrs. Pompeya Naval

A solemn part of the program gave tribute to Madam Pompeya Naval (Dean of Discipline and Spanish teacher) who passed away last in the late evening of June 2. Mrs. Naval was the consummate Marian educator, devoting 35 fruitful years of her life into molding the hearts and minds of countless Marians through the decades. Personally, I knew her though as a fellow Marian Alumni Foundation officer and a very active one at that. To many, SMC has never been quite the same without people like Mrs. Naval. She will be deeply missed.

Dance Number by the Coral Jubilarians (H.S. Batch’74)

Song Number (“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”) of the Pearl Jubilarians
(H.S. Batch ’79) brought the Marians to their feet

SMC “institutions” in their own right –

Mrs. Cecile Temporal and Ms. Cecile Asejo

Batch ’84 President Ting Rillo-Cabalza presents the “Bagets” of SMC

Batch mates dance to a medley of early 80’s songs

Products of the early 80’s, my batch mates saw themselves as “Bagets” (popular term for teenagers back then) who never failed to remember their roots. Ergo, the homecoming theme “Bagets Never Forget”. Their dance number reflected the musical trend at that time which was predominantly punk in nature. Being a grade school graduate, my memories with these jubilarians come from an era four to nine years earlier.

Watching my former schoolmates dance that day seemed…surreal

My definitive years with SMC were the latter part of the 1970s. The significant music back then were flashbacks from the Beatles, a fitting tribute by the Bee Gees, Peter Frampton and other musical artists to their music in the revival of the album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the retro music of Grease, the disco beat of Saturday Night Fever and the R & B of Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall album. This thread of thought in fact deserves a post of its own.

Encore! Encore!

Back to batch 84’s dance number, it simply brought the house down. It was really good to see my batch mates dancing their hearts out (so what if there was a little huffing, puffing and panting!) But more importantly, I salute them for raising no less than P200,000 for the Alumni Scholarship Fund where we gave financial assistance to well deserving Marian students.

Batch ’84 donates some equipment to the school

as received by Sis. Annie Co, RVM

The Marian Scholarship Fund receives P200,000 from Batch ‘84

The venerable members of Batch ‘69

I really thought no one could have topped Batch 84’s performance that homecoming. Batch 1969 proved that thought wrong. Members of that said batch which included Fe Silica Serquina -Arellano and Atty. Lorna Patajo-Kapunan decided to spice up the homecoming with the “mystery” guest during their presentation. Aptly described by Batch 76 member Mayang Sison-Pascual, Lorna “swept the rug” beneath the Marians by bringing along controversial Dr. Hayden Kho as part of their special number. Pandemonium especially among the mesmerized women ensued. I call it a very good PR job if I ever saw one. Hayden who figured in a widely publicized sex video scandal with actress Katrina Halili appeared repentant of his despicable actions. He thanked the Marians for what he perceived was a warm welcome to his presence asking that he be granted a second chance.

H.S. Batch 69’s “mystery guest” turned out to be controversial Dr. Hayden Kho

Without prejudice to the ongoing legal charges against him, let me say that everyone does deserve a second chance. I just hope he uses it very well this time.

Photops with one of the most recognizable faces on campus – Ms. C. Asejo

Dinner time at the refurbished school canteen

The picture taking never stopped….

I had the chance to have a little more chat with some my batch mates after dinner at the newly refurbished school canteen. I thought it wasn’t enough to get reacquainted with everyone. But the new pictures, contact cell phone numbers and email addresses I suppose, would have to do for the time being.

The best reunions are really like that. Bad ones you want to end as soon as possible, never to be repeated again. The good ones, they are always fleeting ….giving you more reasons for future ones.

Bring them on!