College is a choice no matter what

I used to think that in order to be rich we have to finish a college degree so we can get a job or profession where we can earn thousands, maybe millions or even billions. But look at Manny Pacquiao, he didn't go to college at all yet he is one of the richest men in the world earning billions! So why the heck am I in college for?
As I contemplate through what I really want to do with this life that I have over the summer I realized so many things. I could choose between two things: to continue playing the piano as a career or to go to college. WOW. College is a CHOICE no matter what. If you're rich no problem with the expenses going to a university but if you're poor and it is your will to go to college you will find means to send yourself to a college no matter how hard it is. Tendency then for you is that you become the best person that you can be and even better than the others who were well-off enough to go to college with no blood and sweat shed. Going back to my realization. It is a risk to choose the piano over college but on the bright side it is my passion and talent therefore if I will it I can achieve it. However, if I choose to go to college, I can keep my passion for the music and continue it on the sideline, struggle harder and work out sweat and blood but then be a better person. The course that I shall take does not really define what I will do in the future anyway, as what my mom said, "Your course doesn't define what you will do in the future, it is how you respond to the opportunities that passes by your way."
So here I am, in the University of the Philippines Cebu College taking up BA Psychology. Why am I here? To learn from the lessons the university can offer and from the lectures life can give to me. So now ask me, on my first days staying in Cebu, living in a boarding house and studying in the university, what so far have I learned? I have learned that here you have to buy whatever food there is served or you will starve. I have to wash my own clothes, except for my pants and other heavy clothes because it's not allowed to wash them here so I send them to a laundry shop. Next, I have to budget my money carefully, thoroughly and wisely. I have to check from time to time how much money I have as to avoid getting bankrupt. I walk from my boarding house to my school everyday because it is really near and it is extremely preposterous and impractical to ride a jeepney going there. Well, we once rode a jeep going there because it was raining and we didn't have an umbrella. Maybe it's not that preposterous at all at some special occasions. What about in school? Well, the first thing that the university taught to me is that the world is unfair, cruel at times when you don't expect it and frank. No matter what will happen these three things will never change and I don't think that it should even change. These three things are the things that make life enjoyable. These three are also the things that help you become stronger as a person. There might still be a lot more things that I have learned but I would probably eat up my time if I scribble every detail of it. What about you, why are you in college? Are you even in college? What is your choice?

Opening Up

My mom used to tell me that even when I was still in her tummy I was already exposed to classical music. She had this tape recorder and she'd play classical music and place it on top of her tummy.

My dad is also very classical oriented. He could play the piano, acoustic guitar, violin, recorder, harmonica, and cello. And ever since I can remember I would usually wake up to the sound of his playing. I am the oldest and we used to live in a small compartment of my dad's parents' house. There, I'd wake up to the sound of his piano playing. Then my second sister was born. We then transferred to our own house. We'd wake up to the sound of his guitar plucking. Soon our youngest sister was born. We then would wake up to the sound of his violin playing. It was like heaven for us.

I took interest into playing the piano. My parents sent me to piano lessons under the tutelage of Ms. Maxelende Ganade. Ma'am Ganade is the best pianist known and the best piano teacher for me. She is a Bachelor in Music. She translated our provincial hymn to our vernacular. She is one word is simply "AWESOME".

With my teacher, Ms. Maxelende Ganade

So there I was, a six-year-old toddler at 1st grade timidly walking to the piano room to experience the awesomeness of music. Then every year I would have my recital along with the other students of Ma'am Ganade. We get to play one piece however if it is quite short we get to play more than one piece. On my first recital I played two pieces: "Minuet" by JS Bach and "Brahm's Lullaby". I was happy, more than happy. I was overjoyed!

So I continued to study, practice and play. On my second recital when I was in second grade I played "The Swan" also known as "Le Cygne" by Saint-Saens. I stopped playing when I was in third grade because I had a conflict with my schedule and my class. However on that summer I made up the lost time I had for piano. I got a better schedule and resumed my studies in piano when I reached fourth grade. I then played "Solfegietto" by CPE Bach on my recital.

On my next recital I played one piece that changed everything. I played "Souvenir de Filipinas" by Francisco Santiago. It was a grand piece and I quite impressed some of the audience and made my family very proud. I was only eleven years old at that time. When I realized what an achievement I have made I said to myself, "You're going to be a good pianist". On the next recital I played "Fantasia in F Minor" by Mozart. When I was in first year high school I played "Warsaw Concerto" by Richard Addinsel. On my second year I played one of the most challenging piece I have ever encountered, "Revolutionary Etude" by Chopin, an extremely fast piece which concentrates on the left hand. On my third year high school I toned down a bit and settled for a slow, romantic piece, "Clair de Lune" by Debussy. My last recital I played the most difficult piece I have ever practiced, "Fantasie Impromptu" by Chopin.

Although my playing was not perfect, it was outstanding. I must admit too though that I was also extremely lazy when it came to practicing the piano. Haha! But then I did rigorous training when recital days were already near. A few months after my last recital I had a one-woman show on the piano. I had my Premiere Piano Recital starring me, me and moi! Haha! Sounds vain but really, I was already going to college, I would probably forget everything I've learned as college quickly steals all the time for piano from me. So I had my solo recital as a tribute to my love of music, to my ever-patient teacher and to GOD.

For two months in the summer I stayed at home, training at least four hours a day to improve my playing. I prepared nine solo pieces and one duet with my teacher for the recital. I played all the recital pieces that I had except the two pieces that I played when I was in first grade plus "Fur Elise", a piece that I came to love through the playing of my dad. I studied the duet piece entitled "Inday" by Francisco Buencamino" over the summer. I was so nervous so I really had to train even sometimes reaching to eight hours a day. Soon it was finally the day.

On my Premiere Piano Recital last May 17, 2011.

I was really nervous especially that my mom invited about one hundred guests including our family, my friends,  her friends who are locally known in our place either as politicians or artists. But it was fine, I had my friends to ease the tension and lighten up my face.

My friends where my pretty little dainty usherettes. :) Except for JL, the only boy in this pic. :)

I was really happy that I did it! It felt like an opening for me, a new beginning! It was AWESOME. I told myself, "No way I'm gonna let college hinder me from playing the piano". I am taking my college course in UP Cebu and in the place where I stay is a music school. So I'm gonna go there and continue my destiny. And I have my gratitude to my family for shaping me for who I am now especially my mom and dad! :)