Small yet significant voices

It is said that “Music is the language of the soul.” Similarly, it has been asserted that “Singing is as much an act of worship as is prayer.”

These assertions were among the inspirations of the GKK Servant Leaders (GSL) of San Isidro Labrador GKK at Km. 8 Tigatto, Davao City invest on honing the talents of children and youth in the Basic Ecclesial Community. They have organized a BEC/GKK-based Youth Empowerment Program dubbed as Tigatto Children and Youth Voice Lesson.

For months, children ages 5 to 17 took part in a regular Voice Lesson/Voice Coaching with the goal of refining their vocal prowess to contribute to the life of worship in the GKK’s regular Sunday Masses.

For Pangulo sa Alagad (PSA) Rowena Saludar, Project Coordinator of the Voice Lessons, the endeavor sought to provide an avenue for children and youth to be trained skillfully.

“Ang amoa lang gusto nga matagaan ug pagtagad ang interes sa mga kabataan sa pagkanta. Gusto usab namo nga mapanindot pa ang pag-awit sa mga bata. Ug isip servant leaders sa GKK, we found it essential to be there for them, and to show our love and support,” said Saludar.

“The voice lesson project was also our way of inviting young individuals to actively participate in the BEC and Church activities,” Saludar added.

Ten (10) children and eleven (11) youth took part in the voice lessons under Coach Rhey Sarmiento Erag. Volunteering his time and sharing his passion for music, Coach Rhey relentlessly looked after each of the participants and monitored their progress. For him, being able to pitch in in unifying the GKK made the burdensome task of being a voice coach/trainer to restless children much lighter.

Coach Rhey shares that he “may have started as an invited vocal coach receiving monetary compensation from the project organizers, but as the sessions unfolded, I have realized that what I was invited for was a calling. To see these children and youth offer their talents to God through the music ministry made me a part of their ministry and journey in meeting God.”

“To have made a significant contribution to this GKK made me understand the reason why God provided me with much needed strength and fortitude to surpass the challenges of being a vocal coach for these children,” Coach Rhey added.

As a pinnacle of the first wave of the Voice Lessons and to serve as a recital, the GKK Servant Leaders in coordination with the participants’ parents, staged a “Concert for a Cause for Chapel Improvement” last May 17, 2018 in line with the celebration of the Feast of Sr. San Isidro Labrador, the BEC’s patron saint.

The concert featured song and dance production numbers by the students of the voice lessons.

Asked about his significant experience in the Voice Lessons and Concert, Eujan Vincent Briones Balabat, 14, asserted that the whole experience made him a better person.

“Because I received extensive training on singing techniques, I became a better performer and I was able to face my fear/stage fright. From being a shy kid, I became a confident stage performer. All of my experiences were very memorable because my talent was honed, and I was able to share it to many people,” said Balabat.

Cassidy Angelika Estrera, 12, also shared that having met new friends, being able to offer her talent to the Lord, and having significantly contributed to the GKK’s plans for improvement were among her significant experiences.

“Maski bata pa mi, empowered kayo among paminaw. Pinaagi sa among talento, nakatabang mi sa pagpalambo ug pagpanindot sa among GKK. (Even if we are still young, we feel empowered by this project. Through our talents, we were able to contribute to the development of our BEC),” said Estrera.

The project’s stakeholders – GSL, parents, children, and youth – are looking forward to continue the project and voice lessons with the support of the community and those with benevolent hearts. They are also looking forward to see the improvements in the chapel in the coming days.

Music may be the language of the soul and a form of prayer. But for this humble community, music is a unifying agent that draws the members to actively participate in the life and mission of the Church. (Claide Kinneth Saludar)