Out of Tune.

Many people here in Manila have this certain expectation that if you are from Cebu, you can sing like Dulce, or Vina, or Pilita. That might be true -- that many Cebuanos could sing as well as these famous singers, but there's always exception to the rule. That's me.

When I was a little girl, I used to love to sing. You know, those songs they teach in school -- "Father Abraham has seven children..." But each time I did, I was always told that I sound like I was reciting a poem. My meaner Aunts would say: "Sus, pagka-yabag!"

But I was a silly girl and I didn't believe them. In grade six, I volunteered to sing during girls scout camping. Of course, everyone was stunned and mentally confused because I was, well, out of tune. Haha. But that wasn't the last they heard me sing. I auditioned for the Christmas choir and sang infront of everyone. LOL! My music teacher didn't want to hurt my feelings, so she still let me join. But, she very gently told me to just lip sync.

In highschool, I volunteered to sing again in music class while my teacher played the piano. She didn't tell me I was out of tune. Instead, she said: "You are singing the second voice." LOL

But I was determined to sing in tune and enrolled in a voice class at Salonga. My teacher was kind of frustrated because even on the second meeting, I still could not sing do-re-mi right. That bad.

As I grew older, I've become really shy about singing. I'm no longer that silly little girl who thought she could sing. I know for a fact now that I do really sing out of tune. *belly laughing*

But I'm not giving up. I once promised myself that I will sing in tune. One day, I will.

. . . . .

Photo: My nephew Eunie who, fortunately, didn't take after me -- he could sing very well.