News from Bayan-Bayanan Elementary School

Hello Pinoy Jeep Followers,

For those who have been with us since the very first post or who have just joined us now on our journey (don't worry! We've just begun if that's you!), I cannot thank you enough! Whether you've been a part of us through donating, attending our performances, or just reading this blog, I feel fortunate that there are people out there who are watching and supporting us. I cannot tell you how much this means  not just to me but to the whole IP Rondalla community. You will always be our #1 fans!

On a less positive note, I'd like to share with you an e-mail my aunt, Tita Naty, sent to my family about the Bayan-Bayanan Elementary School in Bataan. As you know, our rondalla group is suppose to participate in a day immersion with the kids of the school (some Aeta and some local) and their parents, however, with the school's current situation, we may not be able to see all that we have planned become a reality--especially the tree planting portion of the program. With the permission of my mother and my aunt, I've posted the e-mail for you to read: 

T-shirts fresh off the rack

Hey guys and girls, this week, I designed two t-shirts as a remembrance for the hard work of our teachers, parents, and especially, sponsors, who are making this trip possible. Below are the two designs: one will be for our performance at SM San Pablo City and the other will be for our cultural immersion day in Bataan.

If you would like to purchase or donate a shirt to the Bayan-Bayanan Elementary school students or the Pag-ibig at Pag-asa (PPP) /Central School Rondalla Kids, click on the link below. T-shirts cost $3.75 or $4.75. For those who have donated to either charity organization already, you will receive a San Pablo performance t-shirt for free. To ensure you have the right size, all who wish to receive one must fill out the form. Donors' names will be written on the first T-shirt and teachers, students and parents' names will be written on the latter.

IP Rondalla Hits Philippine News!

Take a look at this article that was printed in the Philippines about our group! Thanks to Tita Patty Yusah and her friend Chelo Banal-Formoso, the editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, for posting this!

Here's the link to the online version...

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/432331/rocking-the-rondalla

Westwood, then...we're off to the Philippines!

Hello Pinoy Jeep followers,

Again, I apologize for the late post! It's been quite a hectic week for me, traveling back and forth from Connecticut to Massachusetts then to North Carolina and back for practice, but luckily, I was able to take a break for this blog. Enjoy!

Just a little reflection from yours truly, Sierra Jamir: Westwood Performance

"He's a Pirate!" Fina

The next generation of Rondalla

"Rosas Pandan" Octavina section

Last Sunday on June 16th, we (the IP Rondalla) had our last US performance at the Westwood High School. Our full two-hour length show began at 6:00 pm and ended at almost 8:00 pm. Having arrived at the high school at 3:00 pm, face caked with makeup, pins protruding from the bun of my hair, I honestly didn't know if I was ready for the show. Throughout week, we had practiced every other day, mastering our 30 or so piece repertoire, dance routine, and on the last day, our stage presence. Nonetheless, we were nervous. Most of us had never been in a real, full-length rondalla performance before--two hours of solid rondalla playing--a feat unthinkable just a few months ago.

Brown University & the Children's Museum

Hello everyone,

Sorry for long inactivity! Finally, vacation has arrived, and long last, this blog can be updated!

This past month, our group has been performing at several locations around Boston as a way to raise funds for our trip happening in only less than a month! So, this post will serve to highlight a few of performances and, of course, to acknowledge some of our sponsors!

Lining up to perform Sweet Caroline

BROWN UNIVERSITY's 

Filipino Alliance's 25th Anniversary

On April 27th, I attended Brown University's Filipino Alliance show to celebrate 25 years of Filipino culture and talent. This was one of the places where the IP Rondalla was asked to perform. Although I couldn't perform due to my school's early sign-in time, I still took the one-and-a-half hour drive down south with my mother to support my fellow IP Rondalla members.
The first half of the performance began at 8:00pm. Students from Brown, Filipino and not, created a unique repertoire including the per usual men in coconut suits, Maglalatik, a poem about the Filipino identity, and a hip hop mashup of Filipino and English songs. IP Rondalla played four songs, including America The Beautiful, a medley of Sweet Caroline and I'm Shipping Up to Boston in honor of those who lost their lives during the Boston Marathon. IP Rondalla's performance won the hearts of all the students in the audience with their glistening costumes and their instruments' unique twanging sounds. I was sitting next to a Brown student who exclaimed to me that he could not believe Fil-Am students had so much passion for their own culture. "It was amazing."