If Music can truly heal, then I am lucky to have met people who don’t need an MD degree to cure a hurting soul.

Last November 07, Friday, residents from Pangarap Foundation, a temporary shelter for boys located along the market area of Libertad in Pasay, got a visit, no, not from the usual white-garbed doctors we see and sometimes despised creatures, but from musicians who have a common interest on percussions and world music.

How did this come about? As most of you guys probably know by now, I have been a volunteer for Hands On Manila, and I handle a sports enrichment project (Scoring Points) on one of their partner organizations, which is Pangarap Shelter. Though my project focuses on sports, volunteering in the shelter for close to five years now proved that I can widen my abilities and “horizons.” I was even dubbed as a “networker’” by the shelter’s Program Manager, since I continuously bring volunteers to the shelter. I have also helped them organize and facilitate different kinds of project, including Art Therapy, painting contests, fund-raising, even mock-up job interviews.

Currently, the shelter houses more than 90 residents from all over Metro Manila and nearby provinces. These boys are former street children, around 12-18 years old…no need to describe them as you see them everywhere. They are underprivileged human beings who are made to suffer all sorts of harassment, violence, and maltreatment…sadly sometimes; these children are victims of their own families.

Much have been said and written about the power of Music Therapy. As I am blessed that I have been surrounded with friends who have a continued love affair with drums and world music, and have given me doses of their musical cure; I thought of asking the band, yes Unitiima (an Ilocano term which means the sound and rhythm of the hands) that is, to visit the shelter and teach my boys some drum lessons. Somehow, it is our own little way of contributing to the shelter’s healing and recovery program for the boys.

It was as easy as ABC when I asked the band to join me at the shelter. No sweat in convincing them. The band, led by ShamanRyan gladly obliged, and was more excited than I am at some point on our “brainstorming.” I am not quite certain if ShamanRyan was serious when he said he has a “module” for the drumjam. I was even amazed when he discussed about a sustainability program for the shelter, which according to him, “it’s what our country needs right now.”  That’s a Shaman talking, who am I to disagree?

Aside from my bandfriends, I also invited two artists who are my contacts here on Multiply. However, only one answered on my PM, and this guy’s answer hit me as “uncertain’” since as he said, he already had a previous engagement. But lo and behold, minutes before we start the project on the day itself, I got a text message; “Hi Ma’am, How’s you’re jam going?”…I replied the usual; “sino po ‘to?” Again, a text message, same number; “Hi Ma’am, How’s you’re jam going?” at the end there was Paul Z, his trademark signature. I didn’t know what happened next after that text message, but what I do remember was that I left again my umbrella on the bus coming from Laguna.

It was a total shock for me! Surprises of surprises, Paul Zialcita of Pinikpikan (now Kalayo; meaning Fire in the Visayan dialect) is actually joining us on our project?!  He even said that he cancelled his appointment to “mix up with you guys.”

After some waiting at TsawKing for the rest of the band, Domeng, along with Jug, another friend of the band, finally showed up with their mini-truck; the band’s official ride. Domeng looked “tired.” He told me he didn’t want to teach the kids, since he didn’t even know how to lecture them on how to play the djembe. I did not believe him.

But as soon as I told him that Paul Z was coming and will help us with the drumjam, his face lit up! Krakatoom!

Off we went to Paul’s place to pick him up along with his recycled drums. Domeng said, “Are we actually going to Paul’s condo, is this real?” That moment, my thought bubble was back again my dear children, and it was yelling mad; “Yes Domeng, it is real, as real as my fear of having you caught by traffic enforcers driving your mini-truck without a license and under the influence of you guys know what?!”

Anyway, it was a “smooth” ride, nobody was apprehended or harmed, and all our body parts were intact. Jug and Paul Z enjoyed their back ride with the instruments. ShamanRyan and JR (the YouTube Wonderdrummerboy) together with their beaus were already in Pangarap just a few minutes before we arrived.

The Pangarap residents already knew that I’ll be bringing some friends to join them for their socialization, so the boys were really expecting them. Though we started late, and a drizzle also joined us, the workshop went fine. Paul Z was enthusiastic. ShamanRyan was serious and focused. Paul Z was unstoppable. ShamanRyan was serious and focused.

Domeng, who earlier said that he doesn’t know how to teach, looked like a professor to me when he gave out lessons on djembe and their music. He was a sight to behold, there was silence when he was speaking…all ears were on Domeng. His voice was soothing when he mentioned a quote from his idol; “One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.”

My boys? Well, after a couple of hours of the basics, the beats, and the patterns…I have sensed enthusiasm. Some were serious, others were focused, but most of them were unstoppable! There were boys who clung into the djembes as if it was their favorite toy or pet, never wanting to be away from them.

As I have been asked many times over, my prime purpose in inviting my friends and volunteers to the shelter is still to give the Pangarap residents the sense of belongingness that they were once deprived off when they were still out of the shelter. It doesn’t really matter if it is just a day, or an hour you visited the shelter and volunteered, what matters most is that you showed them that they are not different from anyone of us. Who knows, that hour, or day can be his unforgettable hour or day of his life. Trust me; I won’t be your Inay for nothing! 

Anyway, after the afternoon workshop, Unitiima, Paul Z, and the Pangarap boys wowed the audience as they performed together during the night’s socialization It was a different kind of experience for the kids as they were able to jam with their “Kuyas,” with their new-found instruments. I was like a proud parent watching my boys performing on their first ever recital.

Of course I danced! That wouldn’t be me if I did not show some of my “cultural dancer” moves. I am also glad that I overheard Jug told the boys to “study hard,” because we all know how education affects our whole being. Whoah! But that’s true.

JR, the YouTube Wonderdrummerboy, also joined Paul everytime they were asked by the boys to back them up on their performances; the boys had instant musicians that night.

The very special jamming time with Paul Z, Unitiima, and the Pangarap boys was unforgettable. Though I witnessed different drummers playing, they produced only one heartbeat.

That night, the beating of the drums, the harmony that was conceived, and the music that blossomed, heard inside and even beyond the walls of the shelter echoed messages of understanding, acceptance, and healing. As Paul Z summed it, it was a very positive experience.

JR, (emphasis again on the YouTube Wonderdrummerboy) texted and thanked me for the opportunity. No need to ask further if he had fun on his first Pangarap experience. Got a text message from this wonder boy once again last night asking me; “kelan po balik namin sa Pangarap ‘nay?”

I went back to Pangarap the day after the drumjam, and asked the boys if they enjoyed the activity. One boy answered, “Ate, hindi ako nag-enjoy…galak na galak ako.”

Thank you very much to the generous hearts of Unitiima and Paul Z, as you guys offered your time and talents to the boys at the shelter. Hopefully, this won’t be the last.

Indeed that fateful day proved one thing—that the sound and rhythm of the hands can dash out fire of love and heal the souls of many…including me!