LET'S TALK IT OVER

The Sunday Service was delayed this week which led the group to cancel rehearsals. It was slightly disappointing on my part for I was so eager to finish my goal choir piece for this month but unfortunately I didn't happen this week. Oh well...

The group had a meeting at my garage shed instead. MSC President JP discussed the activities that are lined up for this year. Part of the agenda were the possible Fiesta Mass service in San Vicente Pampanga, The "Visita Iglesia" on Holy Thursday, the annual summer excursion and other stuff. 

MSC's Vice President Adie and Treasurer Jeybi (JP's Brother) were also there by his side for support. There was also a discussion about the group funds that are usually utilized during the MSC's major activities. The contribution of the elders were slightly modified this year. Aside from the weekly contribution of Php20, the elders (including me) must now shell out Php100 additional during the 15th and 30th of the month. So far, there weren't any adverse reactions from the people involved in this slight modification. 



The last to be discussed was the birthday blowout of Adie and Cocoy that is to happen later in the evening of that day.  More about that on the succeeding entries. 

ONE YEAR PLAN FOR 2011

Sunday, January 30, MSC had its first Assembly Meeting held at Tito Oyet's place in Maysan. The aim is to come up with different activities that would be laid out for the whole year in order to further rev up the group spirit.

Dining al fresco at Tito Oyet's beautifully tended garden with simple home-grown food such as salted eggs, steamed tilapia, rice and veggies was a great idea! One knock-out food group that I really liked that night was the authentic burong hipon from Pampanga. Stinky but pure joy for me and our other kapampangan buddies! Brewed coffee was served as well in lieu of Beer that night.

I was quite disappointed by the number of members who came out that night. But we proceeded with the meeting nonetheless. Fortunately, most of the people present were the "BIG BOSSES" of the group. Meaning, these people already have the "know-how" in handling the group through years of experience.

As expected, our newly elected (sort of mandated) President precided the meeting. He wholeheartedly shared his bold plans for the group. He tried to put in activities that would somehow help break the group's weekly, boring and tiring routine.  Mark, on the other hand, MSC's previous Vice intently listens and contributes his own views.

A huge calendar was laid down on the table courtesy of the host to help in scheduling the proposed activities for each month.

-MEMBERS' BIRTHDAYS
-UPCOMING LENT ACTIVITIES
-MASS ASSIGNMENTS
-SUMMER ACTIVITIES
-PARISH AND BARANGAY FIESTA
-CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES were some of the things discussed.

Too bad, Meanne, our Secretary was not able to come. So Jeybi, our new Treasurer took notes of the proceedings. He also discussed some concerns about the group's funds and where and what he thinks is ideal to spend it.

A whole year of activities... A mixture of serious work and fun. Would that ever help the group in uplifting its morale? Or will it just wear out the members instead? Makes me wonder...

As a bonus, this is a picture of our host for the night, Tito Oyet in his fresh, hunky and matinee years! Enjoy!!!

CHRISTMAS PARTY MEETING

On December 12, Sunday,  the officers and some elders of MSC decided to go for another food jamming session after rehearslas, this time at Starbucks Marilao, Bulacan, along the North Luzon Expressway.  

The core wasted no time for this was also the perfect chance for us to talk about our upcoming traditional Holiday fellowship. We chose to have it post-yuletide since most of the members have their own company/family parties as well. What's  essential is the aim to celebrate the birth of our Lord, the day of our salvation whenever it may be. ☺ 

CHRISTMAS SONGS GALORE

Hello again, everyone! We were given new songs to be studied for the coming Christmas season this year by our Parochial Vicar after the General assembly we had just this afternoon. And I need your full support on this so we can be able to finish studying the songs ahead of time.

The songs are arranged in unison. And I have no plans of making it SATB. We'll just settle for plainly the melody for now. We don't have the luxury of time to study in different sections, as in SATB because the song pieces were given at such short notice. Im sure everyone would agree with me on this one.

PRIM AND PROPER

This photo was taken during Meanne's Wedding at the Manila Cathedral last May of 2009. Ate Josie and daughter Angie were still here in the Philippines then...

I wonder how MSC manages to pull off such an act when we get invited to sing at other "famous" churches... How can we manage to present ourselves in a very "presentable" way when we are not at our own local church?...

HOW???

Today, together with the other choirs of the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish, we had our very first General Assembly under our Parochial Vicar, Fr. Nap. My apologies for not being resourceful enough to get his family name.

The meeting was long and very blunt. Blunt, for there were a lot of corrections, criticisms and improvements to be done especially regarding the individual choir's behaviors. That there were even pictures of the choirs behaving badly in church. The issues of Latecomers, chatters and cellphone users during the Holy Mass are of high priority in the discussion! Yes, I felt a bit guilty in those departments for I know very well how my choir behaves compared to the other choirs. I somehow tolerated it over the years and failed to do anything about it when I had all the chance being their present musical adviser.

The choir being part of the LITURGY (which means public service) and in every aspect of it not just confined to singing during the Mass. The whole aspect of the mass must be observed by each and every choir member. For public service should be taken seriously for the common good of everybody and not being treated as a joke. How can we be able to convince the congregation to sing with us when all they see from our "service" rendered is POOR service? Service that encompasses the relationship between choirs and choir mates and the attitude that we display when we are on that wooden Loft inside the church in front of the all these people. I'm talking solely of the behavior and not the quality of singing, my dear choir mates, as far as MSC is concerned, that is! (hehe!)

Well, being an advocate of progress, I am NOW willing to abide by these new rules that will be imposed immediately, according to our Vicar. I am also asking for support from my choir mates so that MSC will set a good example for the other choirs to emulate since we always claim to be the OLDEST CHOIR ever founded in this Parish. It's time to get a bit serious, folks! No more fooling around this time. I pray that through our efforts, God will be delighted. For we go to church not to please the authorities but only God.

God bless us all!

(special thanks for the photo, Meanne)

MSC FUND

This topic has long been overdue... But I'll still post it nonetheless:

Because Christmas is just around the corner, the elders of MSC have decided for the group to have a weekly collection of twenty bucks from each member who have been with us for a certain period of time.

Members who will come late during the Mass and rehearsals shall pay an additional 20 bucks as penalty. Even the members who fails to attend the mass and the rehearsals will definitely not be spared. This aims to teach the members of punctuality and reliability to the group. There were no complains nor violent reactions from the members so the plan materialized on September, 2009!

All the proceeds would automatically be spent during most of our special activities like Christmas Party and Summer Excursions. Our newest "tax collectors" are sinister sisters, Ode and Ikang... Be good and pay up, everyone!

EXCURSION MEETING 2

Hi guys, since there are only couple of days left before our very much anticipated summer (?) getaway, I decided to make another post regarding the meeting that we did last Sunday. My apologies for the delay of this post because of my busy scheds harvesting at FARMTOWN! HAHA!!!

JUNE 7, 2009 MEETING RECAP:

JAYPEE
spoons, forks, disposable plates

COCOY
2 water dispensers, sandwich spread on the second day

JOSIE (truly the nanay of the group)
super kalan (gas burner), electric air pot, rice cooker, chopping board, knives and other kitchen utensils, ice chest/cooler, frying pan and stock pot (kaldero)

IVAN
stockpot

BERNARD
tasty bread

CENTRAL FUND
ice tubes, purified water (2 containers), plastic cups, styro cups and bowls, garbage bags, rice, instant coffee and iced tea

Of course, there are a lot of extra requests from the members to address to:

FRUITS
green and ripe mangoes, pineapples, bananas

PULUTAN (FOOD THAT WOULD ACCOMPANY THE LIQUEUR):
tahong (mussels), tokwa (tofu), peanuts and junkfoods

Reminders to all the members assigned to prepare for all the meals that we'll partake together on our trip as well.

Let's have a blessed and happy trip everyone!

TASTE- ALMOST

Indulge yourselves on this year's menu for our upcoming Summer Excursion in Laguna (again?) on June 12-13, 2009!

Chicken-Pork Adobo with Quail Eggs, Grilled Liempo, Chicken Sopas, Beef Tapa, Danggit, Tinapa Salinas, Fried Eggs, Lechon Manok and Sinigang na Salmon sa Miso.

I could almost taste the brandy and beer served along with them. Hehe!

EXCURSION MEETING

MAY 24, 2009 GROUP MEETING
These are the details regarding the Summer Excursion that the choir discussed in the group's most recent meeting:

I. DATE: June 12-13, 2009 (overnight)

II. VENUE: PRIVATE POOL, LAGUNA No specific private resort chosen yet.

III. SPONSORSHIPS:
Many of the members whose birthdays are during the months of April, May and June are encouraged (or obliged) to sponsor a dish for all the meals that the group will be having on the excursion. The meals and persons involved are as follows:

A. LUNCH (arrival)

Estimated arrival to destination is about 11:00 AM, just in time for lunch and will be served with a delightful Chicken-Pork Adobo with Boiled Quail Eggs sponsored by May month celebrant, Ivan.

B. DINNER

At dinner time, Gerry Laforteza, (April celebrant) as promised, will be sponsoring Grilled Pork Belly (BBQ Liempo) as the main course and will certainly be pulutan afterwards. My only wish is that Ate Lulu will join the trip so she can make her famous marinade for the pork which is nothing short of amazing!

A Chicken Macaroni Soup courtesy of Ate Josie as "despidida" bash, will be accompanying the BBQ and will be utilized further as an "upper" for the eventual drunks!!!

C. BREAKFAST

Nothing can make anyone's morning bright without Fried Eggs and Tinapa care of another "despidida basher", Angeli!

Broken Promises are a crime to MSC. That is why when Mark failed to bring home Danggit to us from his recent trip to Cebu after promising so, he will have to make up for that by buying some of these delicious dried fish to go along with our salty idulgences!

The last menu for breakfast is Beef Tapa freshly bought from The Farmers Market, made famous and now sponsored by June celebrant, Tatay Boyet! You will surely forget your name after having tasted this dish!

D. LUNCH (Next Day Departure)

Baliwag Lechon Manok (Roast Chicken) starts-off Lunch. Many specified buying from Baliwag Lechon and not from anywhere else! Kuya Arnel welcomes this responsibility with all his heart as well as his tummy!

May month celebrant, Tito Oyet never fails to cook for us his award-winning Sinigang na Salmon Belly and Panga sa Miso as his birthday blowout every year! I can say that this is becoming sort of a tradition. Stop hiding your face and start cookin'!

IV. MISCELLANEOUS

A. ADDITIONAL FOOD AND DRINKS
1. Coffee (3-in-1)
2. Chips and Snacks
3. Ice
4. Purified Water
5. Instant Juices
6. BOOZE!

B. DISPOSABLES

Plastic Spoons and Forks, Plastic and Styro Cups for Hot and Cold Drinks, Paper Plates and Holders (c/o JP) and Styro Bowls for Soups that will eventually be properly disposed in secure Garbage bags!

C. UTENSILS and CUTLERY
1. Knives (3)
2. Chopping Board
3. Ladle (kutsaron) (2)
4. Kitchen Spoons and Flippers (sandok and syanse)
5. Serving Dishes (5)
6. Frying Pan (kawali) (2)
7. Stock Pot (kaldero) (2)
8. Portable Gas Stove, Electric Grill
9. Charcoal (if grill is provided at resort)
10. Ice Chest

V. CONTRIBUTION

A. All self-sustaining members - One Thousand Pesos (1,000Php) each
B. Minors (students) - Three Hundred Pesos (300Php) each
VI. RENDEZVOUS: Hilario's Sizzlers Restaurant
VII. TIME: 8:00 AM

As always, Tatay Boyet will be provinding the transpo and the group will shell out One thousand Pesos (1K) for gas from the collected money.

Any member who will come late, automatically DOUBLES the amount of his or her contibution. May we have a nice and memorable excursion this year. Have a great day!