Audition

I was one of the many hopefuls who auditioned today for the re-staging of Miss Saigon, held at the Philippine Opera Haus.

It was a great experience for me, because it was my first audition for something as big as Miss Saigon, and I hope it signals the start of many auditions to come. I was always too afraid of auditioning and I often ended regretting my actions.

I thought that the auditions would be too scary, but I was relieved to find out that all I had to do was to sing, for a minute, in front of a panel of foreign judges. It wasn't too easy, what with the nerves and all, but that was just normal. I sang at my best, and after I finished singing, one of the judges, with a smile, said, "Very good!" He could have said that to almost everyone, but I was grateful to hear it. One would think that as yesterday's highlight, but no, it's Chester's hug that is!

I know that to date, I have not achieved my dream of being a "singer" but I realized just how much I have. My heart goes out to my family, friends, colleagues, and students for being so supportive. I surely (as expected) did not make it to callbacks, but I am so grateful that I was reminded of so many treasures that I have... things that are already within my reach without the need to audition. The messages that my family and friends sent me made me so happy that there are people who believe in what I could do. There are people who genuinely love me just as much as I love them.

Also, someone knows whether he or she sounded great. I know that I sang well, and that, to me, will always make all the difference in the world. I finally stepped out of my shell.

I will always be in love with singing. It will always be my first love.