BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon
New singing talent makes history for Baguio school
(Maurice Malanes writes this week’s column)

An eleven-year old singing talent has made history for a public school here in Baguio after she recorded an album of songs, which made her teachers and parents proud.

“In the history of our school, she is the only pupil who achieved something like this,” says Geraldine Domagas, Grade VI adviser at the public Doña Aurora Elementary School here. “She has a special gift and we are happy to help her develop this and share her blessing with others.”

Domagas was referring to one of her pupils, Leah Faith Guevarra, whose 12-song CD album recorded last November continues to attract interest not only among other public schools but also among parents and some church parishioners.

The songs, which talk about faith, hope and love for God and others are “made for the Lord’s glory and honor,” says Leah Faith, who looks up to Gary Valenciano for his Christian praise songs.

The songs were composed by Michael T. Suan, senior pastor of the Light of the World Christian Center, a religious group of which the Guevarras are members. The songs were recorded and produced in Baguio but were reproduced in Manila. Domagas and Leah Faith’s mother, Golden, are tapping schools and churches as markets for the new album.

As incentives for teachers at the Doña Aurora Elementary school, 10 percent of the sale goes to a class fund and five percent goes to the school’s drum and lyre band, which is participating in the Panagbenga or Flower Festival dance parade on Feb. 28.

Whatever little earnings left, Golden says her family with the support of relatives and friends, will again produce a second edition of the album. But Golden says what is more important is the message that her daughter’s songs seeks to impart to the youth. “Here is a child who, instead of spending her free time on unwholesome activities, continues to maximize her talent on something that can teach us a lesson or two to uplift the youth’s spirit and hopefully orient them with values and some words of wisdom,” she says. “I have one dream – to one day have a duet with Gary Valenciano in a concert,” says Leah Faith, who has consistently won various awards for her school, including one from the National Music Competition for Young Artists or NAMCYA.