Crowded House

Our older girls’ school, The Sycamore, held their very first Music and Arts Festival last week. It was entitled Crowded House. Featured were their art work, which were mostly paintings, and each grade level’s presentation. They said it was first a small idea that blossomed into a full production. I love how the school and their teachers encourage and cultivate the kids’ creativity, while teaching them important life skills.

It was held in Victory Alabang, and so it was not my kids’ first time to be on that stage. Danae and Noelle have danced there at least a couple of times before as part of the VBC praise dance team and for special numbers in church events, but what they did last week was a first for both of them. Though Danae has sung with a group of other kids there a few summers ago, and she sang Sunday Morning with her class last week, it was her first time to be a co-host. She actually surprised me when she told me that she volunteered to do it! She co-hosted with Sophia, her classmate, and Carlos, a 10th grader. Noelle, on the other hand, sang Moana’s How Far I’ll Go with her class and the 3rd grade class. They were only 7 (part of why we love The Sycamore is the student to teacher ratio), and each had a solo!

I am so proud of all the kids. The Festival showcased the talents of many young artists. The opening prayer that was done in interpretative dance, the song numbers, the poems, the original music, and the play. Not to mention all the preparation that went to making it all happen successfully — planning, props, logistics, script among other things. I think it’s safe to say everyone was blown away by the excellence of the 9th graders’ play, Touch Me Not. It was an adaptation of Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere. It was apparently their project for English and Filipino. The acting was so believable, while none of them had any theater background. My mom said they were all so good that they could probably put up a small theater company! The whole event was a success, and I am sure every parent was happy.

I am most proud, of course, of my girls. Yes, they performed well, but more than that, they showed so much courage! I don’t think I was ever as brave or as confident as they are. I am no singer and you would never catch me singing in front of a crowd using my own microphone haha. Noelle did, with feelings and without any hint of shyness! I would probably be squirming and not smiling at all if that were me (yes, even now at my age haha). I am not a host either, but with a simple script I might be able to pull it off. However, I would never volunteer myself to do it hahaha. Danae was comfortable on stage and she spoke very well. Not only that. They enjoyed it! King’s genes at work, methinks. Definitely ten times better than their mother. Thank you Lord!

They both constantly practiced at home. They were determined to deliver a good performance, so we endured a loooooot of singing and monologuing the past few weeks…well, okay, that’s not entirely accurate. We have girls, so it’s been this way ever since haha. Just more so recently.

Some things we reminded them about….Commitment. We commit, we work our best, and we see it through to the end. Prayer. We can’t do it without Jesus. Nervousness. It keeps us on our toes, to rely not in our own ability, but on the grace of God. Worship. Everything we do for His glory and not our own is worship unto Him.

Congratulations Sycamore teachers and students! Congratulations Danae and Noelle! You make us proud. You make us grateful. May the Lord continue to direct you, mold you, and keep you in awe of His love and goodness. May you always seek to honor God in all you do. May you be good stewards of the talents and opportunities that God continually gifts you with!