Tuesday, March 30, 2010

amazing grace

When I came back from my first vacation last Feb 3, nabanggit ko kay fwend kong Edgard na nakita ko sa in-flight music channel ng Qatar Airways yong first album ni Susan Boyle. A couple of days later, heto at binigay na nya yong mp3 copy nong buong I Dreamed a Dream album. Little did I know that one of the songs in there will be significant in the coming days. Dahil nga in less than a month, babalik pala ako ng Pinas to bury my Mom.

During the wake ni mother, gumawa ako ng slideshow ng mga pictures nya. Sort of a tribute to the last few years ni madir lalo yong mga pictures nya nong pinapasyal ko sya sa mga mall at restaurants when she was still in Sta Rosa. The days when she was smiling a lot more than usual dahil lagi kong pinapatawa. To make the slideshow more dramatic, syempre kailangan ng musical score. And there’s nothing else more fitting but Susan’s rendering of Amazing Grace.

Nilagay ko si laptop sa ibabaw ng casket ni madir para may napapanood ang mga nakabantay sa kanya lalo sa gabi. Kaya lang mahina ang sound nong unit at wala akong speakers na mahagilap (nasa Mindoro po kami, remember). Kaya inagaw ko muna ang headphone ng pamangkin kong ginagamit nya sa PSP. Kaya pag may lalapit at manonood nong slides, they had to put on the headphone. Imagine you’re in Odyssey at meron kang isang music CD na gustong i-try before buying? Parang ganon. Well, at least everybody liked the slideshow dahil naramdaman yong background music. Besides, sinasamahan ko ng kwento yong bawat picture kaya mahaba-habang kwentuhan ang inaabot, tanggal ang antok ng mga naglalamay.

Nong inayos na namin sa simbahan ang schedule ng interment, sabi ko sa Ate ko na i-request sa church choir the same song. Sagot ba naman ng Manang sa admin office nong simbahan “Ano Yon”? Aba, hindi ka taong simbahan kung hindi mo alam yon! Naalala ko tuloy ang sabi ko kay fwend Edgard na tatawagin ko si Susan Boyle para sya ang kumanta sa requiem mass!

Pagpunta namin sa office ng funeral service, sinabi ko rin sa kanila na gusto ko yon ang i-play sa hearse during the procession. Wala naman daw problema as long as I have it in mp3 format! ‘Sosyal’ sabi ko sa sarili ko. Nasa malayong probnisya nga ba ako ng Mindoro at mp3 na ang labanan!

Eniweys, nasunod naman lahat ng request ko. Nakarating at narinig si Susan Boyle in a far-flung place na ewan ko kung may nakakakilala naman sa kanya. Kasama din syempre ang favorite kong si Josh Groban whose To Where You Are and You Raise Me Up echoes in the wind habang marahang umuusad ang karo. At syempre, mawawala ba naman ang walang kamatayang Hindi Kita Malilimutan ni Basil Valdez na ewan ko ba naman kung bakit naging theme song na yata ng mga prosesyon sa libing.

Pagdating ng simbahan, binulong sa akin ng Ate ko na alam daw nong isang choir member yong Amazing Grace. Buti naman, sabi ko. Or else talagang ipo-protesta ko itong simbahang ito at hindi alam ang isa sa mga pinakamagandang gospel song. At yon nga, towards the end of the mass, narinig ko na yong request ko. Kaso lalaki yong kumanta at pang-pop ang boses kaya hindi masyadong effective. Okey lang sana kung medyo mala-Boccelli ang timbre o kahit Jed Madela na lang. Besides, tipong hindi nya kabisado ang lyrics kaya may mga parteng pinapagulong lang para lang makaraos. Ah well, at least nasunod ang gusto ko.

Looking back, I think it was a mistake on my part. Na yong gusto ko ang nasunod. Hindi ko naisip kung ano yong gusto ni madir. Dapat pala naipakanta ko sa choir at naisama sa musical scoring nong kanyang prosesyon ang super-favorite nyang Sa Baybay Dagat. Although problemang malaki kung saan ako hahanap ng choir na alam yong kantang yon. At mas malaking problema kung saan ako kukuha ng mp3 version, if ever na meron!

Going back to Amazing Grace, just in case na maligaw dito yong choir member, heto ang saktong lyrics nong kanta. With this, hindi ko na rin kailangang i-explain kung bakit ito ang ginawa kong theme song ng pamamaalam ni madir sa mundong ibabaw. Coz I know that she’s within God’s Amazing Grace right now.


Amazing Grace
John Newton (1725-1807)
Stanza 6 anon.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

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