On the matter of credentials.

My Musical Journey.

I don’t really like tooting my own horn. In every advertisement I write promoting my piano studio, I ask readers to watch the student videos to give them an idea about the quality of my work. But I suppose when you’re trying to whore your services to the public, enumerating the things you achieved is necessary. After all, a résumé is required when you’re applying for a job, is it not?

The very first piano award of my life came from the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) in 1989, Category B. I was given an Honorable Mention. If you consider that my piano pieces prior to my entry at the UST Conservatory consist of arrangements by Digna Agra Roxas, Edna, and that green book with lots of classical pieces by composers I didn’t know, getting a place at a national competition isn’t so bad. Because of this the Conservatory considered me an honorary winner in its 1990 Concerto Competition and featured me as one of the soloists in its Sapphire Anniversary Concert Series in 1991.

My next award came in 2002. Why the long gap? I got burned out. NAMCYA took its toll. Let’s have a bit of a flash back.

My classes at UST during my freshman to sophomore years would start at 7am. To get to UST on time from my place, I’d wake up at 5am. To prepare for the competition, I’d be at school practicing until 10pm. I would usually get home around 12 midnight. Stress and exhaustion would have me sleep at 2am. Biological clock got screwed, so school attendance suffered. I’d enroll, drop out, enroll, and drop out again. In 1994, I decided to just stop school altogether. My current piano teacher (who’s also a good friend), Najib Ismail, is the one instrumental for bringing me back in 2001. He nagged me unceasingly to finish my Bachelor’s degree - even offered to teach me for free. He also asked the help of a previous piano teacher - the late Dean Erlinda Fule - to get me a full scholarship, which was granted, courtesy of Mr. Edmund Ty. I will be forever grateful to these three extremely generous individuals.

So 2002 saw me get the prime ribs, este, the first prize in the UST Piano Etude Competition. The following year got me the third place in another Piano Concerto Competition (still at UST). Being a lot older, I was more able to handle the stress. I was also careful and didn't push myself too hard. I graduated, finally, in 2005.

I also did a bit of performing here and there. Prof. Ismail had me play at Paco Park in 2004.

After graduating, I participated in a concert paying tribute to another former mentor, the late Prof. Marina L. Escano, in 2007. A video of my performance can be viewed here.

The same year also saw me take part in the first “Back to Bach” Concert with friends, teachers, and colleagues.

Even my 2-year teaching stint in Bahrain didn't pass by without me playing somewhere (ahhhh…to be older and calmer, ahaha!).

I'm about to finish my Masters at St. Paul. The only thing left for me to do is have a graduation recital, which is easier said than done (pieces like this is no walk in the park. More like stumble, graze your knees and elbows, pick yourself up, slip, fall flat on your butt - you get the picture. >_>). Apparently, I'm in the running for Summa Cum Laude, so I need to graduate in 2015 if I want that honor conferred on me. I'm aware that this title would look fabulous on paper. It's something anyone would want to type using a size 72 font and in bold! However, considering my repertoire, I fear that if I push it, Summa-Cabilang Buhay would be my lot, haha!  Ah well, I can only do my best.

And there you have it. What did I tell you? I so dislike tooting my own horn that to be able to do so, I also had to subject you to a long, sob story of how I got to where I am now.

Thanks for bearing with it, though.