THE SINGERS AMONG US

I went to a rehearsal of singers last night (May 21), with my Bebe. You already know my Bebe sings, doncha? And that he's an excellent singer too, doncha agen?

Anyhow, this entry is not about him but the other singers in the group. This group has been rehearsing for a show for OFWs in time for the so-called Migrant Workers Day celebration of the Philippine Embassy here in Riyadh. It was originally scheduled for June 8 but last we heard, it was moved to June 15.

Here was this bunch of OFWs and some dependents. Nurses, hospital and office workers. Ordinary-looking. Seemingly, the OFW-next-door. If you see them, that they can sing, and sing amazingly well, will be the last thing on your mind.

But there they were last night. Singing their hearts out. At performance-levels even while also clowning around a lot. Not your karaoke-singing, mind you. Stop-in-your-tracks kind of singing. Singing like the true-blue world-class Filipino talents that they were.

The hosts were a family of singers too. Dad Jojo, Mom Tintin and pretty young daughter Angel.

I was really pleasantly surprised at the awesome singers in our midst.

And they would be singing for the Filipino community for free. Because you see, embassy-based activities like the Migrant Workers Day celebration only get a minimal budget from the embassy. The rest of whatever expenses there may be, are borne by Filipino community organizations such as the Riyadh Artists Guild International (RAGI) - a close-knit group of OFWs and their dependents who banded together to be able to present singing and dancing performances for the Filipino community. It is a testament to the tenacity and dedication of the group's leaders and members that they have lasted this long, sans a surfeit of funds.

Just goes to show they're not into for the money (there's none) nor fame (very fleeting, I assure you). Specially not even for the intrigues (this is what these groups face a lot of). It's really for the love of singing (and dancing as the case may be). I mean, it's not a joke to be a performer at these events. You spend for your transportation, your make up and costumes. You excuse yourself from work and other usual activities to participate at rehearsals (which more often than not, are held at times when you're supposed to be relaxing from work already such as on the weekends and after-office hours). You stay up late too, a lot of the time. It's a good thing that RAGI "feeds" its artists; it spends on snacks/refreshments and even on meals. The group president once told me that she budgets at least SR400 for food for each day of rehearsals. And it does not include cost of plastics (spoons, plates, forks, tumblers, etc.).

There's really nothing much out of it except to indulge their passions and get to serve the Filipino community in their own way.