By Archibald A. Dalupang

One of the most patriotic deeds a man would ever do is to hoist the flag of his country with much pride and delight to a foreign domain. Being able to walk gloriously, with chin up and chest out, carrying the name of the country Philippines: you will consider this feat as the most memorable moment of your life.

It all started during the linkage night of the ICMEP which was held last February 2009 at Saint Mary’s University. This pact is out of the delight of Dr. Engku Nazri Abu Bakar, PhD, Associate Professor (Decision Science) and Dean of Undergraduate Studies, upon being awed by the performance of the SMUCS during the international conference in the school. Until then, the agreement was formalized demanding the SMUCS to participate and have series of performances in the duration of UUM’s 22nd Konvokesyen on October 1-5.

Having this kind of opportune chance is one-in-a-million, considering that this international engagement will be marked in the History of SMU for sending out the first-ever batch of student-performers to perform and represent the school and Philippines to other countries.

SMUCS however did not sit on their laurels as manifested on their series of concerts held in the school in the months of August and September during the intramurals. These concerts are staged to arouse their funds for the said international performance.

The group, together with the help of some volunteer advisers, MAPEH faculty and some students, learned at least 6 Philippine folk dances that are included in their repertoire. You may be wondering why the SMUCS will have to dance knowing that fact that they are a singing group. Well, As they are now remarked, being the Cultural Ambassadors of Goodwill of the province of Nueva Vizacaya, they will have to be more pliant in reflecting the province’s or even the region’s culture in various manners aside from singing. “Now that we (SMUCS) are Cultural Ambassadors, we are challenged and prepared to incorporate various performing techniques in our performances so that we could effectively portray that Nueva Vizcaya has.” Said Sir Onel (As he is fondly called by his friends, colleagues and students).

With a measly amount of time to prepare, the group took seriously the uptight rehearsals, tiresome days and long hours and even weekends to prepare for their most awaited performance. Drastic measures are made to ensure the professionalism and bench mark of a true international class performance. The group was also able to come up with different sets of costumes and props to heighten the flare of their upcoming performance (compliments to the Magat Women). The touring group of SMUCS who will be going to Malaysia is composed of 21 students (19 performers and 2 photographers/technicians) and four (4) advisers respectively: Mrs. Corazon Abriam, Dean of Student Affairs; Sir Onel; Mr. Allan Guiab of Scholarship and Development Foundation of SMU; and Mr. Ruben Ramuel Ambatali II, Head of the Nursing Dept. of SMU.

On the day of the flight to Kuala Lumpur, the group savoured each moment to capture moments inside the airport and made every needed preparation for the flight. The group even graciously rendered a song or two upon paying at the Immigration Tax section of the port.

Arriving at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the group will still have to fly to Keda (one of the 14 states of Malaysia), to where UUM is located. The “mighty” UUM is situated in a 1,061-hectare rural area that has approximately 22,000 students accommodated in 22 separated dormitories inside the campus. The vast land area is likened to our largest schools in the Philippines.

The group instructed to perform and rehearse at separate dates and different places respectively inside the school premises. And on the same day of arriving UUM, the group was requested to join the procession of all the delegates of the Konvokesyen. That event was held at the stadium of the school in which it can hold up to 18,000 persons. The flamboyance of the program is never to be compared for it denoted a remarkable nativity of cultural collaboration amongst diversities. Though outnumbered, the group was never crestfallen of hoisting the flag of the school and of the Philippines in taking its glorious walk during the procession at the wide stadium.

In each of the performance made by the group, applauses never fail to envelop the place, especially when they sing the all-time favourite and most requested of the people there, the song Satu Malaysia (“One Malaysia”). What really gave relief to the group is to make the Sultan of Malaysia clap his hands out of delight in the group’s performance during the Post-grad Graduation Ceremony of UUM, October 3. And at the final performance of the group, which is the concert proper, the group already showcased the dances and songs that they rehearsed in the past months.

After being able to enjoy the Malaysian food, feel the thrilling chills of the school’s events, savour the moments with the student-guides, candidly perform, and cry in bidding to new friends. The memories that the group has reaped from their stay in Malaysia will be surely be inculcated within the bounds of their hearts. “One thing that is very rewarding about knowing the Malaysians is that we did not feel any form of division between them being Moslems and us being Christians. They treated us like brothers and sisters and they gave everything that we need until the last minute of our stay at their school.” Said sir Onel.

This experience is indeed one of the things that the school has been looking forward to for the many decades of its existence. And this silver-lining will surely be indicative of an augmentation of opportunities that the administration is opting to materialize. The fact that SMUCS soared far great heights through which it was able to exploit its gallantry to other countries, it will someday, somehow may serve as an avenue and vehicle to transform more people’s lives through its benchmark of quality performance and incomparable singing prowess as a group.

 

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