Hi everyone, This is Neda Durias, Mrs. Peñaranda’s secretary and a former member of the Ambassadors. Mrs. Peñaranda requested me to post her message here. God bless. MY WISHES FOR THE FUTURE AUP AMBASSADORS by Minerva Arit-Peñaranda (Founder, AUP Ambassadors mixed group; director, AUP Ambassadors,1971-1990; Adviser,1990-1998; Consultant,1998-2013; Chair, Music Department, 1971-1973, 1975-1994) Just as a deeply rooted tree survives all kinds of weather under the care of a loving Father, so is a chorus called AUP Ambassadors that mutually stands firm and sturdy under the same Father’s care throughout the fifty-six years of its existence. Many people know us merely by our name alone, in association with splendid voices, winning competitions and performing in churches, concert halls and on special occasions. This may be true, yet there is a lot more about us to be known, like our history, our mission, and our ways of reaching our goal. The Ambassadors was first organized by Elton Wallace, an American missionary, as a male chorus in the year 1957 at PUC Baesa, Caloocan, Rizal, then. When I arrived in the later part of 1970, I took over the baton. But members were persistently clamoring for a change of their composition to a mixed chorus. Thus the PUC/AUP Ambassador Choral Art Society, popularly called Ambassadors now was born. Now, I’m thinking that it is more preferable to be called plain AUP Ambassadors as we are popularly called in relevance to our mission at present, that calls for a greater work to do, as the end draws nigh. Members identify themselves in various manners, either by the years they actively joined, which they called batch, or by their director. Sometimes a group or a member may experience to be under two or three directors, like in the case of the winner of the 1996 NAMCYA (National Music Competition for Young Artists) under Dante Oblimar’s directorship. That same group was the one I accompanied on their first trip to the United States, under Ramon ‘Bojo’ Lijauco, Jr.’s directorship, and the majority in this group also belonged to the one directed by Noemi Tanada, NAMCYA winner too, and predecessor of Dante Oblimar. No matter whose group, or batch, or directorship they belong to, I know pretty well that all worked hard, doing their best in their own way to attain the goal successfully. Through thick and thin, each one did rally for the cause and each one had contributed something worthy of praise to their alma mater, and the Lord. The resignation of Ramon ‘Bojo’ Lijauco, Jr. (the latest director of the Ambassadors which won the title Champion of the World in Wales Competition) as a faculty member of AUP has put to a halt the life of the Ambassadors. I hope that this is not permanent. Now that we are far from reaching our goal yet, and now that greater challenges are facing us to work harder to help hasten His coming, I am immensely thinking that an honest evaluation of ourselves and our batch is compelling. This will give us a picture of what direction we might have been going now and in the future. We are supposed to be a representative of Jesus Christ, who was also a representative of His Father while He was here on earth. He is our model. The life He lived while a human being is worth recalling. To mention some, humbleness in service, holy and prayerful, reader of the Holy Book, continuously praising God, and doing His will, among others, are Christ’s character, worthy of emulation. How would we measure ourselves now, in comparison with the One we are trying to emulate, is the question. I wish to ask ourselves. There is yet a little time to improve if we fall short of His expectation. Moreover, I could feel a necessity to go backward to the very start in our approach. Though this seems ironic, what was done in the olden days had proven good results. Members in those days may still have a recollection of what we were doing then. 1. The Ambassadors was under the supervision of the Music Department where we drew financial support, as well as spiritual and academic gain. 2. Active membership ended after graduation to give others the chance to learn choral singing under a music teacher capable in the area. This is the academic purpose which should not be defeated. 3. While concertizing was good, the focus was more on mission. Displaying a Christlike character in behavior and singing uplifting songs were given importance more than anything else. 4. We were committed to reach people of all kinds of economic status in the privacy of their homes, in institutions like the orphanage, home for the aged, hospitals, prisons, convalescent homes and more. 5. We always aimed for excellence but for God’s glory alone. I have recommended this scheme to the Administration for consideration, praying for God’s guidance in their decision. We always say “Once an ambassador, always an ambassador”. At that, we are one family loving and supporting each other and I want us to stay that way. Finally, I want us to remember that the devil is very much aware that his time to deceive us is very limited, thus he works with much more intensity now than ever. I want us to be on guard and to be fully aware of his subtle and crafty method lest we fall as his prey. May we realize that modern cities are around us now. We only need to have courage and strong faith. May we ever thank God for making us stewards of the talent he bestowed to us. May we be like Jesus.
Posted on: Sun, 21 Jul 2013 14:01:05 +0000
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