SULADS STORIES

CHILDREN’S HARMONIOUS VOICES IMPRESSED SKEPTICS

by Neil M. Tagarao

Basak Mission School

December 1996

 

At the start of our class on November 3, 1996, only a few pupils knew how to sing.  They can sing only a few of our songs just in unison.  It took me three weeks to adjust to their voices.  However, during the last week of November, I was able to determine whom I will put to sing which part.  I prayed hard that God would help us and I was so grateful He answered my prayers.

I introduced the children to Christmas songs and religious songs in preparation for caroling.  I was amazed at their development and courage in practicing.  They even demanded that they practice singing up to 11:00 p.m.  Then at 4:30 a.m. they woke me up to practice singing again.  The learned so fast.  With lovely melodious voices they sing.  Sometimes I wonder if it is an instinct.

We started caroling December 16, 1996, in our very own Sitio Basak.  The parents were very impressed with their children singing with such beautiful blended voices.  Many said, “We never heard such lovely songs before.  Perhaps without the SULADS our children would not sing like that now.”

On December 17, we went to Barangay Tawas, Kitaotao, Bukidnon for caroling.  People were staring at us and looking down on us as the poor children were walking down the highway without slippers.  The quietly went away when we approached them.  But then we started singing at Captain Witaia’s house.  When they heard the children singing with such lovely voices, they started coming to see who was singing.  Their eyes were widely opened and staring at the children.  They were so impressed.

A prejudiced store owner didn’t want to entertain us, he only guided us by pointing to a neighbor’s house.  There we sang.  After we finished singing this store owner invited us to come and sing for him.  Many neighboring stores and houses were asking us to go to sing for them.  Even the Baptist pastor was so impressed.  They are no longer prejudiced against us.

The same experience happened when we went to Barangay Buda.  People were impressed.  Children were scouting us as we were caroling each house.  A printing press owner did not welcome us.  He seemingly, he looked down on the children.  I persuaded him to listen as the children sang “Rise Again” and  “Someone is Praying for You”.  He was so amazed at the singing of the children that he invited us to come again for recording.  His prejudice was broken down.  Praise the Lord!

December 18, we went to Barangay Sinuda to carol.  A lady was obviously crying as we were singing “Someone is Praying for You”.  A few days later we heard that she told someone, “This is the first time to hear carolers praying for me.”

On December 18 we also went to Kipolot, Quezon, Bukidnon to attend the Association Rally.  The children were the guest singers of the program.  They were blessed by the songs the children sang and the children were blessed by the Christmas gifts they received. 

We are so thankful to God because our project at the school needed materials and now this can be realized.   “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”