JEDDAH, 16 December 2005 — Gift-giving ceremonies are nothing new to the wards of the Philippine Consulate’s Filipino Workers Resource Center (FWRC), but this one caused many to shed tears.

Kick-starting the celebration of OFW Month, the group called Serenata not only presented Christmas gifts to the FWRC residents but also serenaded them.

“I could not help myself from crying, remembering how children at home would sing carols during Christmas,” said Fatima, a domestic helper who has sought refuge at the consulate.

“It’s sad that instead of being home with our families or at work, we are here holed up, waiting for the time to go home. We are supposed to be the ones giving; instead, the children are the ones giving gifts to us,” she told Arab News after the presentation last weekend.

Another ward, Mary Grace, was profuse with thanks, saying she forgot her worries “if only for a moment” as she listened to the Serenata, a choir composed of 45 children under the direction of music instructor Sylvia Delos Santos.

The choir members, including three boys, belong to the different Filipino schools in Jeddah, such as Gems, Al Bader, Sunrise, the IPSJ, and Al Hekma.

After an invocation by La Treece Tabbu of Al-Hekma, the choir started the ball rolling with a Latin song about peace, an acapella rendition of Dona Nobis Pacem, followed by the Filipino folksong Leron, Leron Sinta, which was especially arranged for children.

They also sang Sitsiritsit, another Filipino folksong, and completed the presentation with an English hymn, To Fill the World with Love.

Some of the children also got carried away when they saw how the recipients of their gifts reacted.

“I cried because I imagined being in their (distressed workers’) shoes...away from my family for a long time and idling my time away in a refuge. I felt it is not easy,” said Catherine Jane Alcayde of the IPSJ.

Jazel Marie Mendoza of Al-Hekma said: “I was touched especially when I saw them crying. I wondered why they were crying, and then I realized that even if I am just a child, I was able to help ease the burden of some people.”

Soprano II voice leader Joanna Jimzen Tolentino, also of Al-Hekma, said she was happy that the serenade made the FWRC wards, mostly mothers, shed tears of joy rather than tears of sadness. “I realized that through our songs we were able to make others happy,” she said.

Reviving Lost Hope

“Events like this give hope to our kababayans who are supposed to be earning for their families but are forced to seek shelter because of circumstances beyond their control,” said Perlita Panganiban, the representative of the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) who takes care of the FWRC residents in the consulate.

Assistant Labor Representative David Des Dicang, who stood in for Labor Attaché Bulyok Nilong, said in an inspirational speech that most of the center’s current 68 residents are waiting for the resolution of their cases with their employers and continue to need help from the community.

Dicang said help from the community is needed because the government agencies assigned to serve distressed OFWs cannot do it on their own due to limited resources.

The presentation also served as a “baptism of fire” for the children, who are preparing for a concert in February.

“At first I was nervous. When I saw they (FWRC wards) were enjoying, I felt more relaxed…,” said soprano I voice leader Kim Lizette Gonzaga of Gems International.

“I was intimidated when I saw so many people, but all that vanished when I realized that we were bringing joy to others, especially to those who are away from their children,” added Feronie Avila, also of Gems.

After the presentation, the wards were treated to snacks brought by parents and friends of Serenata, such as Al Abrar Diamond Establishment through Hamza Yahya Barhaji and Abdul Rahman Issa.

Leadership Training

Organized only in September, Serenata is the first ever children’s choir in Jeddah. And there’s more to that.

“We are more than just a choral group,” said Louie Bautista, the vice chair of the organizing committee and coordinator of the audition.

“Our members know — and their parents are aware — that we will also train them to be good leaders in our community by sharing, giving and helping the underprivileged,” he said.

Out of 75 children, from 8 to 14 years old, who auditioned, 45 passed and were included in the roster.

Right after the roster was completed, music director Sylvia Delos Santos put the choir to work. Practices were held every Friday, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The practice sessions became more frequent in preparation for the presentation at the consulate.

“Since everything we do outside of our country reflects the image of Filipinos, I intend to build a world-class children’s choir that would promote our country globally, and at the same time, teach the children social consciousness by singing for a cause,” Mrs. Delos Santos told Arab News.

During the Eid break last October, members of the choir wen through a special training on leadership. The one-day training conducted by Desil Manapat, chair of the organizing committee, centered on “strengths and weaknesses,” “leadership skills,” and “teamwork.” The children had workshops, assignments, and evaluation at the end of day.

“We wanted the students to identify their respective strengths and weaknesses as members of the group, and explain the value of teamwork,” Manapat explained to Arab News.

At the end of the training, the children elected their officers, choosing April Banaag as president.

At the end of their serenade at the consulate, Serenata’s president said they were now looking forward to their bigger test, the concert in February, which will be for the benefit of schoolchildren in Balbalasang, a frontier mountain village in Kalinga province, northern Philippines.