By: RC – 1st Placer in the Pinoy Care Writing Contest
Prague Czechia – Growing up in the Philippines, a nation that consists of a rich and dynamic community, each memory that has been created during my childhood remains as vivid as the actual experience. One element of Filipino culture that I consider my favorite is the social gatherings. I remember waking up early in preparation for a grand family reunion, dressed in my most presentable attire while passing by the table that held the meticulously arranged feast of home cooked meals. A few hours later, people would start pouring through the door, a mix of familiar and new faces, until the entire room is filled with lively chatter and dining.
Propped up by nothing but my short pair of legs, I tried my absolute best to reach the plate of hot-dog-marshmallow sticks situated somewhere along the table’s edge, but my progress was briefly put to a halt by the sudden blast of a Mariah Carey instrumental, accompanied by the hiss and echoes of a microphone’s diaphragm. Little me inwardly sighed at the events that would soon follow, after all it was about to get a tad loud. However, what is a Filipino gathering if not marked with the nation’s most treasured hobby: karaokes and song.
From family reunions to meetup with friends, singing almost always finds its way to the heart of every Filipino social gathering. It’s the special detail that completes the picture of a joyous moment basked in the presence of those you cherish.
Once the guests have cleaned their plates, the host will instantly turn on the speaker set, karaoke machine or any other apparatus they can use to put something together. The rest of the room awaits in anticipation for the brave soul who will step into the center and initiate the much-anticipated section of the day’s itinerary, and I bet you once this person begins singing their heart out, everyone is bound to follow. The karaoke session typically opens with a selection of songs that are widely popular among Filipino circles- namely the classics of the OPM (Original Pinoy Music) industry and a fair share of international songs. It’s not hard to notice that there exists a subtle variation in the genre song preferences within our multi-generational family, and it certainly makes for an extra entertaining karaoke experience.
My titos would always stick to the edgy, hardcore and alternative rock type of songs, which are likely reminiscent of their younger years. It’s a bonus if the liquid courage had reached its tipping point, for their whimsical adaptation of otherwise intimately introspective songs would have the room burst into strings of laughter. On the other hand, my tita’s are the fiery types due to their penchant for taking on the songs that are vocally-challenging. Watching them stubbornly attempt to emulate high notes that lay somewhere within impossible ranges, I began to wonder if Regine Velasques and Celine Dion are their life rivals whom they have committed to beating in musical accolades. And of course, after everyone has had their turn, my cousins and I would not let anyone else drag us down. Pop music is our go-to genre, though not as musically exciting or vocally outstanding in contrast to our titos and titas respective songs choices, it is sufficient and simple enough to lay down the space for a lively performance. Surrounded by our parents and grandparents encouraging smiles, we trot about and jump around to the song’s thumping beat, blurting out a mish-mash of unrecognizable lyrics, and truly losing ourselves in the moment.
But what exactly is the cause for this phenomenon that has engulfed the country like the inescapable heat of the summer season?
The essence of singing springs from a medley of reasons connected to the heart and soul of the performer. Based on what I’ve observed, singing represents something intimate and important to the individual. It could be the cry of a broken heart, a recollection of days gone by or a refuge from the stress of daily life. This abstract definition manifests more evidently in the setting of social gatherings, where our walls are gradually broken down due to the calm and trusted atmosphere of being accompanied by our loved ones, which plays its part in unraveling us to an authentic state. Momentarily, we let all the worries of life fade into the distant background and let the interplay of music and companionship envelop us even for a short while.
In my case, singing also holds a special meaning to me. Of course, I’ve learned to adopt this custom as an extension of the culture I grew up in but in all truthfulness, performing in front of a crowd doesn’t come easily. Confidence requires time to form, but when my hand finds the microphone and the music’s pulse fills my senses, I am instantly carried away by the experience that I forget my bashful tendencies; the stage fright magically washed away. So if you ask me why I value this tradition of ours, I would say it has become an outlet for breaking free from my self-made shell.
I’ve always believed that the musical side of Filipinos is akin to that of breathing, it is a quality that is weaved deeply into the fabric of our culture relative to how breathing itself is intrinsic to the holistic function of the body. It serves as a testament to how we, as a community and as a culture, value passion and sentimentality, demonstrated through the variety of musical works we have produced and preserved in order to share our unique perspectives and express our profoundest emotions, strengthening the solidarity that sustains us as a community against the never-ending cycle of changing seasons and challenges.
Now that I have moved to another country, I am aware that I will have to adjust to a new set of unfamiliar cultures and customs that are largely different from what I’ve grown up in. Though it pains me to say that the loud and powerful Filipino karaoke experience will temporarily be a closed chapter, I am not any less connected to the life and the people that I’ve left behind. Music is an ubiquitous presence, and in it exists the spirit of my beloved home country. It is the music that reaches and comforts anyone from distant lands, letting them know that they are joined by the symphonies that connect our large community together regardless of how far flung they are. And that’s why if I ever sense a desire for the ear-splitting sounds of the karaoke machine and the goofy dance floor routines with my cousins, I would simply wear my earphones and drown myself in the songs that have memories and meaning written into them.
