I have just come from the Vietnam International Choir Competition where I sat as a member of the jury.  The competition was held at the Hoi An Convention Hall, in the city of Hoi An in northern Vietnam.  

It was a week full of fun as we listened to about 1000 singers comprising 30 groups from 11 countries.  The international jury itself was very diverse, with members coming from Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Hongkong/China, Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia.

I am so proud of my fellow Filipinos who are champions in three categories: Sacred Music, Children's Choirs, and Folksong.  All in all the Philippines won 6 Gold and 3 Silver medals.

This week I am going to Baguio for the summer competitions in piano and other instruments of Yamaha,  Then next week I will be in Singapore and Indonesia to give choral and voice workshops.  The week after that, I will be guest conductor and speaker at the Osaka International Chorus Messe in Japan. 

In between the hectic daily schedule in Vietnam, i was able to squeeze in writing two new arrangements for choirs in Holland, and Indonesia.  What I need, though, is a lot of sleep :)

I felt very sentimental this afternoon, as I re-wrote Paring Pilipino (Filipino Priest) for my friend Jasper.  He is going to be ordained into priesthood on the 25th. 

I used to let him render illustrations for books I did for the United Nations.  Now I will kiss these same hands that I asked to work for me a couple of years back.

If you happen to have a friend who is being ordained as a priest, I would like to share this piece that I originally wrote for Bishop Juanich in June 2002, and now which I re wrote and orchestrated for "Father" Jasper.

You may find the pdf and midi orchestra file of Paring Pilipino in the catalogue page, under Sacred Filipino.

God bless :)

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the text reads thus:

Ikaw ang Paring Pilipino
You are the Filipino priest

hinirang mula sa bayan mo
chosen from your hometown

tinawag ng Diyos upang mamuno
called by God to lead

sa lipon ng mga Kristiyano
a multitude of Christians

Ikaw ang Paring Palaweno
You are the Priest of Palawan

sandigan naming mga tao
bastion of the people

sa 'yong halimbawang taglay ang karunungan
as a model of wisdon

at kasikapan upang aming puso'y
and diligence, that our hearts

iakay mo patungo sa pagmamahal ng Maykapal
you may guide towards God’s love

at sa bawat sandaling kami'y malilihis
on the occasion that we go astray

nar'yan ka upang magsilbing tanglaw
you are there as our beacon

Ikaw ang Paring Pilipino
You are the Filipino priest

hinirang mula sa bayan mo
chosen from your hometown

tinawag ng Diyos upang mamuno
called by God to lead

sa lipon ng mga Kristiyano
a multitude of Christians

Ikaw ang Paring Palaweno
You are the Priest of Palawan

sandigan naming mga tao
bastion of the people

at sa bawat sandaling kami'y malilihis
on the occasion that we go astray

nar'yan ka upang magsilbing tanglaw, Paring Pilipino
you are there as our beacon, the Filipino priest