THE DWTL 41ST ANNIVERSARY MASS: A Nostalgic moment

Eight years ago, Jojo Ayson called me up to help out in organizing the first Days with the Lord Anniversary mass that will have all Days communities participate. That time I was tasked to handle the music crew and assemble a choir to sing for the mass. If there was a highlight in a Dazer’s life, to me that was my crowning glory. That time, the choir I assembled were most probably the best singers and musicians from the five Days communities I was very active then:

The Choir: Cholo Mallillin (Ateneo), Happy Lacson & Chinkie Uy (St. Scho & DLSU) Katrina Mangahas (SSC), Jhing Lazaro (SSC), Angela Gomez (SSC), Paul de Guzman (PSBA), Frankie Paqcuing (PSBA), Allan Urbiztondo (PSBA), Ogie Mariano (UP Mla.), Chenee De Leon (DLSU). The musicians:Guitars- Gerry Sison (Ateneo), JR Hernandez (DLSU),Marlon Beluso (PSBA), FLUTE- Jed Pantig & Phillip Annoñuevo (Ateneo) , Marvin Monterfrio (UP Manila) Violin-Jem de Chavez (UP Manila)

Last night was a reunion of sorts as the St. Scho Days with the Lord hosted the anniversary mass. A lot has changed in St. Scho, their basketball court which was the court that produced many WNCAA titles is now a building called Kuni Hall. My good buddy Jed Pantig has taken over the lead in making the music crew of the St. Scho days better than it was. It is always a beauty to see young dazers sit together and practice to be able to sing as one in a choir. I still played the guitar but was quite rusty because of the years of inactivity in staffing for the DWTL. My fingers ached most of the time which was a result of the fact that I rarely play the guitar in the past five years and if I do so it was only during the DWTL weekends. Joining us were my long time singing partner Happy Lacson and the angelic voice of Grace Darvin-Camacho. I believe Happy created a legend in the SSC and DLSU DWTL during her many years of service, but it was Grace that she looked up to and admired in the years when she was a new dazer. It was such a beauty to let the present crop of Dazers hear her very angelic and ethereal voice which is the same all through the years. Unfortunately, she sang the song “TOGETHER” with me! My voice was quite hoarse and had a hard time remembering the chords. Well nobody’s perfect.

Another sight quite moving was seeing old hands Clifford Chua and Nicky Tesoro still serving the Days Community. Their commitment is really something that every Dazer should emulate. Funny thing though, It was just in the homily that I realized that the celebrant was Fr. James Gaa who is also a dazer from way back when I was also quite active in the dela Strada DWTL.

It was a night that was quite nostalgic after seeing so many friends from different communities, Ateneo, PSBA, DLSU, UST, UP and many others. But of course the most important thing that night was the renewal of commitment once again to Kuya Jess to live our fourth day the way he wants us to live it.

See you next year!!!! + Basta Kayo Mahal ko!