Music and Friendship

I surely love music... but these past 3 years, I've been particularly enjoying classical guitar. I don't play it (though I hope I could someday). I just listen to it-- John Williams, David Qualey etc. I discovered the relaxing, soothing, calming effect of this music through a former student who, himself, is a classical guitarist. He would visit me often in Canlubang and then here in Makati after I have transferred and he would play pieces from the classics to contemporary... it would be as if I am watching a concert performed only for me. I would listen for hours to the music of Bach, Pachelbel, Michael Jackson, Henry Mancini... and lately from this friend's own compositions.

But shared within these sessions of music appreciation were our personal concerns, daily struggles and unanswered questions to many of life's surprises. In between songs and pieces were our sharings of stories, problems and experiences both good and bad. And I realize now that those meetings weren't just jamming sessions after all, rather they were times of friendship forged by our common desire to simply listen to and create music.

I will definitely miss those live guitar concerts performed along our corridors or stairways. Maybe it would take some more years before our parlor and dining hall will be filled again with the soothing sound of strings since my former student and friend has just left to follow his dreams somewhere--but the music of friendship remains... played and re-echoed in every prayer and hope that we have for the good of each other.