Ang Kahapon, Ngayon at ang Bukas…

December 16, 2008

Abejohn Obordo

Bawat isa sa atin ay may nakalaan na swerte sa buhay.kadalasan may mga bagay na humahadlang sa ating mga pangarap. Gustuhin man nating  sumuko at huwag ng isakatuparan itong mga pangarap. Lingid sa ating kaalaman na ang mga bagay na ito ang maaring magbigay daan para matutunang maging  matatag kahit sa ano mang mga pagsubok sa buhay. Minsan sa ating akala, ang ginhawa sa buhay ay ipinagkait,  subalit alam ba natin na lahat ng tao ay pareho lamang ng mga pinagdadaanan? Ang swerte sa buhay ay bunga ng pagsisikap at pangarap na nais nating makamtan. Bawat isa sa atin ay may mga nais sa buhay at bawat kabiguan ay hindi sapat na batayan upang tayo ay sumuko. Sabi nga sa awit  na Maghintay ka Lamang…

“ ang kailangan mo’y tibay ng loob kung mayroong pagsubok man ang liwanag ay di magtatagal at muling mamasdan ikot ng mundo ay hindi laging pighati’t kasawian ang pangarap mo ay makakamtan basta’t maghintay ka lamang”

             Isa lamang akong musmos ng marinig ko ang awiting ito at hindi mawala sa aking isipan sa tuwing ako ay humaharap sa mga pagsubok sa buhay. Alam ko na ang lahat ng tanong ay may kasagutan at hangganan. Ang buhay ay tulad ng isang gulong na minsa’y nasa itaas at minsa’y nasa ibaba, sa iba naman ang buhay ay weather weather lang yan. Ano man ang pananaw natin, tayo po ang tanging huhubog sa ating bukas.

          Isang araw sa sandali ng aking  pamamahinga,  binuksan ko ang TV at isang nakakaantig na kuwento ang aking napanood. Ito ay salaysay ng isang bata na pinagkaitan ng ginhawa sa buhay, sa kanyang murang edad lansangan ang kanyang tahanan. Hirap at pighati ang kanyang naranasan dahil sya ay pinagkaitan ng pamilya at magulang, walang pagmamahal at pag aaruga sa murang edad. Halos hindi ko lubos maisip kung paano nya itinaguyod ang kanyang sarili na mamuhay ng kawalan. Sa edad na anim  ay wala ng kumalinga sa kanya, binuhay ang sarili sa pamamagitan ng pamamalimos at pagbabanat ng sariling buto. Hindi siya nawalan ng pag asa at patuloy nilabanan ang bawat pagsunok. Isa lamang sya sa milyon-milyong kabataan ngayon na nasa lansangan at lumalaban sa hirap at hamon ng buhay. Naisip ba natin ito kung paano sila nabubuhay? Marami sa atin ang dumaranas ng kaginhawahan sa buhay subalit bakit hindi matapos ang ating mga pangangailangan?  Hindi natin masisi sa ibang tao ang kapalaran ng isa’t isa sa atin subalit kung tayo ay magtutulungan ay hindi malayo na mabibigyan natin sila ng kahit na karampot na tulong. Sana sa bawat subo natin ng masasarap na pagkain,pag higa sa malambot na higaan at  pamumuhay ng marangya, ay sumagi sa ating isipan ang ating mga kababayan na lugmok sa kahirapan. Halos hindi ako magkamaliw habang nakikinig ako sa hinaing nya sa hirap ng buhay, hindi naman daw sya sumuko na mangarap pero talagang masasabi nya na isa sya sa pinagkaitan ng gnhawa sa buhay. Sinikap na magkaroon ng pamilya subalit pilit namang pinag pinaglayo ng tadhana.

           Naging aral sa akin ang buhay ng batang ito, alam ko na hindi habang panahon ay nasa ibayong lugar at kumikita ng malaking halaga. Paano kung dumating na ang panahon na tayo ay wala na rin sa bansang ito, Sana hinay hinay din po tayo sa lahat ng bagay lalong lalo na sa mga material na aspeto ng ating buhay dahil ang lahat ng ito ay pansamantala lamang. Pahalagahan din po natin ang ating mga mahal sa buhay dahil sila ang nagbibigay ng lakas ng loob at inspirasyon sa atin para sa patuloy na pakikibaka sa ibang bansa.. Sa bawat halagang ating naibibigay sa kanila, tuwa ang dulot nito. Ito ay patunay lamang na ang kapalit ng luha at pawis ay hindi nasayang. Hindi madali sa isang kagaya natin ang mamuhay sa bansang banyaga na halos lahat ay salungat sa ating paniniwala. Marami rin sa atin ang hindi pinapapalad sa pangingibang bansa, dumaranas din ng hirap at saklap sa buhay pero ito ay nagaganap sa bawat takdang panahon. Patuloy lang po tayong mangarap at wag magatubiling humingi ng saklolo sa maykapal. Isipin natin na sa bawat pagsubok na dumarating sa ating buhay na hindi po ito ang katapusan sa mundo. Ang bawat bato na ating nadadaanan sa buhay ay mga bagay na hindi natin dapat  kalimutan samakatuwid ito ay dapat nating balikan dahil ito ang magbibigay sa atin ng inspirasyon na patuloy na lumaban.

                Wag po nating kalimutan ang kahapon, buong tapang na harapin ang ngayon at wag mawalan ng pag asa na antayin ang bukas

The Fall and Rise of Em-em

JP Cunada

By JP Anthony D. Cuñada

 

When God takes away something, he has another ready in exchange.

For Abe John Obordo a.k.a Em-em, was not a case of God taking his talent away from him much more a case of he has no talent at singing at all?

 

This is how it happened.

Em-em joined a singing competition, The Singing Idol Songfest. If he only had a chair to stand on to reach the high notes. But there wasn’t any because the chairs were occupied by the audience.

 

Disaster struck. Abe John “Em-em” Obordo did not join a singing competition again.

 

As a popular science TV show says: Disaster doesn’t just happen. There are series of events that led to it.

 

For Em-em, the series of events are the following:

 

February 2004 he arrived for work in Kuwait. May 2004 he joined the Circle of Performing Artists in Kuwait (CPAK). During one of the cultural presentations sponsored by the US camp in arifjan Kuwait in celebration of the Philippine independence in June 2004, where he rendered a song number. At least one person liked it. He invited Em-em to join the contest.

Em-em was flattered. He joined the singing contest. And the next thing was: disaster.

 

And this is where our story begins.

 

Em-em was born in Roxas City on February 20, 1979, to Abelardo Obordo (deceased) and Amelia Obordo, the Captain of her Barangay, in Sapi-an, Capiz, since 1970-present.

 

As a young boy, he was always on stage either dancing the Tinikling and other Philippine folk dances or joining the singing competitions.

 

He almost became a priest when he was accepted by the famous St. Pius X Seminary in Roxas City to continue his high school education. In the Seminary, he was a member of the Pian Presentors, a selected group of Seminarians who performs during important Seminary and Archdiocesan events, for four years.

 

Since the Seminary requires each section (there was only one section per year in his time), to perform during the birthday of the Patron Saint, Em-em choreograph his class’ presentations on his 3^rd and 4^th year in the Seminary.

 

Destined for a life outside the seminary, he pursued his studies at St. Anthony’s College in Roxas City taking up Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy.

 

After a year of adjustment, Em-em began to shine again. This time as a choreographer and at the same time modern dancer, playwright and director in college. And all of his works won the grand prizes.

Now, Em-em was very depressed.

He loves to sing. Previous experiences on stage have been rewarding. How can a performance in another country, albeit in front of mostly the same people (Filipino), go wrong?

 

He formulated theories to explain why it happened, but in the end, he came to this conclusion: I am not meant to be a singer. I am not meant to be in front of the stage.

 

If he could not be in front, could he be at the back? Yes, but our story does not jump there.

 

First, Em-em had to wander, smell the Kuwait air, let it blow away the pain of a wounded pride and shattered ego.

 

And maybe attend a birthday party?

 

Yes, he attended a birthday party.

 

And his world was never the same again.

 

Enter a renowned Filipino senior Journalist of The Daily Star newspaper, and organizer of events that involves Filipinos. Em-em met him at the birthday party. An acquaintance that encourages em em to be a part of his production and much to his surprised that this guy knew more than what he expected when it comes to handling productions and talents.

 

Fast forward to the first Karaoke Duet Challenge Em-em handled with the group, Arts and Music Enthusiasts of Kuwait, he and his friends formed. The Gandang OFW beauty pageant (Choreographer, October 2004), Karaoke Duet Challenge (Asst. Production Manager, September 2005), Gandang OFW (Stage Manager, October 2005)

 The voice of Christmas (Production Manager, December 2005).

 

The list goes on and on. With every new show his popularity grows. Now, he is a sought after choreographer, Production and Talent Manager.

 Then on February 2006, he managed and choreographed the Diamond Show and Haute Couture Fashion Show involving models from different countries by the internationally acclaimed designer Nohad Abdullah (www.nohadabdullah.com).He choreographed and directed the Mutya ng Pilipinas Kuwait in March  2006.

 Member of the production staff in April 2006 The International Photo Competition honoring the late Kuwait’s Amir.

When Geoff Eigenman visited Kuwait for the Fashion Show of the clothing line Human, Em-em was the choreographer and talent coordinator.. One of the production staff for the Launching of Malaysian Tourism in July 2006.

 Then he bcame the production in charge of the Malaysian Food Festival and Cultural Presentation was held in September 2006. He was the Production Manager when Side A band had a concert in Kuwait in December 2006. He directed the Black and Red Party, a dinner on Christmas Eve party and Fashion show coordinator in December 2006. Member of the organizing committee for the PSSST in December featuring the SIDE A BAND from the philippines.

Production staff in the night of the champions (a tribute to the Filipino singing talents ) in January 2007. And a series of Latino parties wherein he was the production manager in the early quarter of 2007..

When Regine and Ogie accompanied by Lovi Poe held a concert in March 2007, he was the Assistant Director and Production in-charge…GMA 7 kapuso catered all the Filipinos in middle east a basketball exhibition featuring PBA stars and artists from the Philippines he was a member of the organizing committee and the production manager of FACES (Filipino arts and cultural entertainment services) in April 2006.

 

As I said, the list goes on and on.

 

Yet, all those he did while keeping his job as a Receptionist and Masseur in one of the best health club in Kuwait.

 

Now he and his friends dream about putting up an event management company which will handle shows and gather Filipino talents. They also look forward in organizing an Actors Guild in Kuwait to produce plays shown in schools.

 

Blood is thicker than water, as the saying goes. And home is always the place where the heart is.

 

Despite of all his success in Kuwait, all he could think about is his motherland.

“It is more meaningful to share talents in your own (country).”And as to singing? “I’d rather sing on my own.” Em em said.

 

So, it was more of the fact that Em-em has no talent in singing rather than God taking his talent away. But God does have a substitute.

 

Doesn’t He?

 

Abe John, Filipino creative and artistic show director

By Ricky(Amir)Laxa

 

Abe John Obordo, a relatively new show director who dedicates to carve up with his prized time and share his talents with the Filipino community in Kuwait by sharing his artistic expertise on directing shows and events for charitable causes, has been of the most sought show directors in the Asian community.   

 

Em-Em is Abe John’s nick name that became popular to the Filipino community in Kuwait in short span of time. His extensive experience and knowledge in directing shows and events earned him not only popularity but the confidence of event coordinators and producers to handle prominent occasions, which were organized by Art and Music Enthusiast of Kuwait and The Hiligaynon Community of Kuwait. Obordo joined one of the Filipino cultural groups upon his arrival in the country. He was soon noticed because of his exceptional and remarkable performances, which were showcased at Camp Arifjan and Doha. 

 

“I am a simple man with simple dreams and art has always been my passion. Time has always been the restricting factor that limits my capacity to help in other events and money has never been an issue. The Filipino community is diverse and my services have always been available for those who require them. I find satisfaction and somehow, a way to spend my spare time, which would be beneficial both for me and others,” stated Obordo.

 

Currently, Obordo is working on two major projects in Kuwait; The Black and White fashion expose, which highlights on diamond and fashion show to go on stage on the twenty fourth of this month at Al Watya Complex in Kuwait City and The Hiligaynon’s cultural celebration at Arraya Ballroom on the tenth of March. Among the most prominent events, which Obordo will take part as production manager this year would be a hair show, which will involve prominent salons from Britain, Latino Caliente and national search for international photo competition which will involve local and foreign photographers focusing on the former Amir’s generous works. All events will be partly sponsored by The Daily Star and The Al-Watan newspapers.

 

Obordo was born in Capiz, acquired his primary education with highest honors and made his way to Roxas City to pursue his secondary education. Obordo was introduced to art during this time; he was engaged in performing as folk dancer, singer and choreographer. He has been nominated and won as best director three times in different categories and trained several cultural groups that earned numerous awards and prizes. Obordo graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Physical Theraphy at St. Anthony’s College of Roxas City and worked as therapists for short period of time till he was hired to come to Kuwait. Obordo works for one of the most prominent male gyms in Jabriyah and balances his time between his work and community services.

 

“I would love to work for local dance groups that backs-up local recording artists in Kuwait particularly music videos. I had the opportunity to meet some of the most prominent artists, politicians and members of the royal families through my work. It is always a privilege for me to be able to share my talents and watch my creation unfolds during the actual performance. I am looking forward to be a part of the international photo competition, which would be dedicated to His Highness the former Amir,” added Obordo. “I hope that more expatriates would be able to share their spare time in services of their respective communities and take active roles in creating awareness and preserving their own culture and traditions during their stay in foreign soils,” ended Obordo.