Harana

We had the privilege of hosting a harana last Wednesday night in my parents' home. Traditionally, a harana is a serenade performed as a means of courting. However, the term has come to describe any form of music presented with a gift-giving spirit in the setting of a private residence. Alongside fellow church members, relatives, co-workers, and neighbors, we spent the evening enjoying the harmonious blend of ~20 young voices turn our living room into a concert hall! And this musical magic was pulled off by the "Ambassadors", an internationally acclaimed choral ensemble from the Adventist University of the Philippines. They are about 1 month into their 3-month U.S. tour having visited the San Diego and L.A. areas and stopping in Bakersfield for the week before moving on to Fresno, Visalia, Michigan, New Jersey, and New York.


Warming up for the harana


Warai-Warai -- a Tagalog song about a Visayan community known for their "tough chicks"; featuring Carmi Flores




Sabbath performance at Hillcrest SDA Church


During each of these stops, the members of the choir have been hosted by families who have opened up their homes to provide meals and a cozy place to sleep. Carmi Flores & Redeem Ebora are the 2 lovely young ladies who have been staying with us. You might think this would be a bit untimely with us trying to get stuff ready for a new baby, but Carmi and Redeem have actually been quite helpful in keeping Maxwell entertained throughout the day. It's almost as if we inherited instant babysitters! And in between performances, it's been fun to share ordinary (and extraordinary) life with such pleasant company... see the slideshow for some Kodak moments!