The ACGC & the EGP

A few weeks ago, I was asked to write a letter to the current touring batch of the Ateneo de Manila College Glee Club (ACGC), competing for the European Grand Prix (EGP) - one of the grand momma's of all competitions. It was to be read to the group on the long bus ride to Maribor, Slovenia.

The last time ACGC competed for the EGP was when I had first joined the glee club as a freshman in college. Preparing for a competition, touring, traveling, singing, rehearsing was intensely AMAZING. Though we had sung our best, and lost - the entire experience in itself was life changing.

Wanted to share my letter here: 

Hello Dear ACGC!

This is Pia, one of many fans from around the world, rooting and cheering for you on this wonderful journey you have ahead of you. 

Quick stats on how I'm connected to the ACGC:

• President from '03 - 04 (or Mamalou's first tour with the ACGC!) 

• VP for External from '02 - '03 (also Mamamlou's first year with the ACGC)

• VPP in '01-'02 (Sir Montet's year with the ACGC) 

• Trainee from '00 - '01 (or Sir Joel's last year with the ACGC and when we competed for the EGP)

Yup, that's right,  11-12 years ago (shet), i was exactly were you guys are now. I had just joined the glee club and was very lucky to be singing with the cast that was would embark on THE trip of a a lifetime: to compete in Marktoberdorf, Germany and then in Debrecen, Hungary for the EGP.

I won't go into the details, but suffice to say, the entire experience changed my life forever, as it will yours. Best. Experience. Ever!

You'll learn how NOT to burn your costume, how to perform at your best even when you're feeling your worst. You'll make the best of friends even though at one point during the tour, you'll most likely want to strangle them. You get to sing the awesomest songs in the most specialist of places and touch hearts you never knew your songs could touch. When you're in that semi-circle and every inch of your body is singing, and you know every single person around you is putting in the same 200% that you're putting in? You'll know that the hours and hours and HOURS you've put into learning and rehearsing is not for naught. Nothing else comes close to that feeling of pure magic. 

So my dear ACGC, be present, be grateful and whether competition or courtesy call, sing with all your heart and soul. Know that no matter what happens, what you have have accomplished is nothing short of brilliant. 

So proud to be part of the history that you guys are blazing onward with today. All my love and congratulations to Mamalou, the tourcom, execom and every single one of you!

Now go kick some serious choral butt!

big hugs from Singapore, 

Pia

The support for the ACGC has been tremendous, magnified even more by the presence of social media. Very different from how it was when we competed over a decade ago! 

It is an hour before they compete and I can picture what is going on back stage. The group, divinely dressed, boys' shoes shining brightly, girls' hair pulled back tightly in a pusod, voices as warmed up as they will ever be, war-paint on, nerves nerves nerves rippling through the group. I can see them holding hands tightly as they pray and give thanks before stepping on that stage. I know though that the minute they step on that stage - they will be in God's hands and they will sing like they have never sung before. 

Listen to the ACGC with me at 10pm (SG time) here!

Thank you JOM for the photos!