Just the way you are

It’s refreshing to watch the young performers of the “Springtime Melody” concert held last 17 September 2011 at Bertha Brown in Flinders Street. Thank goodness Alyssa Limbo has that relaxed vocal range unlike Charice Pempengco’s “screaming” style of singing.

Sixteen-year old Alyssa being tutored by the Melbourne-favourite Rollie Limun has so much potential that we hope she can focus on her singing and continue to welcome invites from Filo organisations because this is where she will perfect her craft.

I sat in front savouring how the young talents sing, while being distracted by the little kids running and giggling around the venue. Two of them returned holding paper airplanes while the other showing me the moving paper puppet. My daughter, Jasmine sitting next to me watching Alyssa probably mesmerized by her voice and looks. She later gushed, “I like her shoes!” And intermittently, I could see Jasmine practising her numbers then later like a pupil passing on to me the completed task– perfect strokes of 1 to 30. Then Deuterium Band’s male vocalist, Justin Abella just finished singing and went to one corner while his nieces, nephews or could be his siblings gathering to the big man too proud of their Kuya. While the mums like us were left smiling adoring the young performers like Justin, lead guitarist Joshua Condor, bass player Nico Maderazo, and drum player Pio Manalo.

Siblings BJ Trillado and Abigail Trillado gave the opening numbers. Brother and sister Rae and Bianca Santos also performed singing “Mrs Robinson” and “True Colors”. It feels good seeing raw talent and hoping they continue with what they have started. I imagine them practising in someone else’s house and while jamming improving their voice and skills in guitar and drums eventually keeping good friendships. This is a mum or a big sister’s preference rather than seeing them in clubs with tattoo-laden gangs.

And so the “Springtime Melody” is indeed a family gathering. Lolos and Lolas were there, aunts and uncles, friends cheering, couples dating, a dad rocking his infant to sleep, Alyssa’s mum rushing her daughter to change clothes, Alyssa unabashedly fixing her shoes in front of the audience during a technical problem, and Justin mike-testing and was even surprised when he said “hello” and the mike was actually on! And the Tito of them all, Rollie Limun who was also singing and playing the keyboard, the musical arranger, musical director, tutor and organiser of the event showing his best. While guiding the youth on stage and playing the keyboard he was even instructing the technical people on the other side of the room to adjust the sounds. Musical multi-tasking that is!

The 20 plus songs delivered by Alyssa while Rollie singing “The Way You Look Tonight, “I’ve Got You Under My Skins”, “Please Don’t Ask” and “Time After Time” how can a concert go wrong? Then add the oh-so-cute songs of Justin Abella and the other young performers, what a relaxing spring time coupled with a very warm audience.

The baby fat, teeth braces, raw voices of some, the way the performer glide their hands, the paper airplanes, the kids embracing their kuyas after coming down from the stage, the Titos making sure the sounds are in order– you simply wish these would stay the same forever. As the song goes, “There’s not a thing that I would change, cause you’re amazing, just the way you are.” But they won’t as there are more opportunities coming their way as their vocal cords mature and they perfect their stage maneuvers. And so you wish them well. Kudos to the group for having such a nice, relaxing family concert.
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