Korean Concert at SM City Baguio: A Showcase of Musicality and Youthfulness

Right after I dismissed my class at 5:30PM last friday (November 27, 2009), one of my Korean students approached me. He showed me a text message from their Korean classmate who was absent (for the 1st time) that day. The text was asking him to tell me that the texter is absent because he had a concert at 7PM that night at SM City Baguio. He was asking me to have him be excused and that he will present his excuse letter the following meeting. The last part of the message was an invitation for me to go and watch him perform in the concert.

After my last class (5:30-6:30PM), i went to the faculty room to ready my things and go. With a co-teacher, I headed to the bundy area to punch out.

We walked to SM through Assumption Road and then up along Session Road. We arrived early at the venue; to let time pass, we watched the fashion show for a while and then we went to the activity area and sat down...

After a short while, i saw approaching my classmate in the graduate school... He is the owner of Remnant International School, Campt 7, Baguio City. He sat on the chair beside me and we had a lively chat about the concert that is about to begin.

Then four Korean guys came out and took the stage quietly... I can barely recognize their faces... But when the spotlight was lit, it came clear... One of them was my student in the College of Dentistry, and another one is my student this semester. They are going to play the piano and the saxophone respectively.

I thought... "Wow, these guys must be musically gifted!" The first piece was like a birthday gift for me! It was my birthday on the 22nd of november, hehehehe... "Seng il chuk ha hamnida.... Seng il chuk ha hamnida..." (played on piano by Kim Kwang Rok).

Then "Kenny G" played his sax in a way that made the audience feel that they are in a fine dining environment.. Even my co-teacher said... "Sana may mga pagkain na dito." We could not but exclaim, "Ang galing naman ng mga ito."

The music was really great... It was soothing for a tired body; rejuvenating for a weary heart; inspiring for fallen soldier; comforting to a distressed soul. Especially the saxophone sound... Produced by the able and dexterous young musician, Kim Jiwon.

As I was listening to the smooth decibel from the instruments, i could not help but think... "Once in a while, man needs to immerse himself into the world of art... into music.. into the appreciation of aesthetics..." This would enable him to appreciate life more... This would allow him to find an additional dimension of existence... This would lead him to utter words of praise to the Great I AM... This would put him into an environment of calm and peace...peace both with himself, and with his God.