Published in Interaksyon Lifestyle May 11, 2013
It was a moment to be immortalized in video and replayed hundreds of times in the minds and hearts of the lovers and the other family members, perhaps strengthening their relationship.
Imelda Dimaporo was celebrating her 54th birthday amidst her amigas, children, and grandchildren in the family residence. In the middle of what was already an emotional scene, the haranistas of Harana entered to sing the lady the numbers that her daughter Aminah had selected: “A Very Special Love” by Sarah Geronimo; APO Hiking Society’s “Panalangin”; “Ikaw Lang ang Aking Mahal” by VST and Co.; and the Carpenters’ “I Won’t Last a Day Without You.”
The harana was Aminah and her father’s way way of telling her mother how much they loved her—in a way that nobody else but the family members could understand to the fullest. Music, after all, has a way of communicating emotion and passion, and the selection of their favourite songs echoed what the couple already knew and valued about their relationship.
The harana, the well-known musical courtship tradition generally practiced in the provinces, has been enjoying a modern-day resurrection right here in Metro Manila, due to the efforts of an events group appropriately named Harana.ph. In the past three years since its launch, however, Harana.ph has expanded its services beyond the usual wedding (or romantic) anniversaries to include birthdays, graduation celebrations, and in the next couple of months, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
OFW Ed Guevarra was unable to be present physically with wife Gloria to celebrate their 29th anniversary together. Instead, he did the next best thing: surprise her with a serenade right in her office. A singer and guitarist arrived unexpectedly (or so it seemed, as her colleagues were in on the game) to sing her and Ed’s favourite songs, including “Kasama Kang Tumanda” and “Endless Love.” Gloria could not help it—at the end of the numbers, she broke down and wept.
A surprised Mrs. Guevarra gets a special serenade from her OFW husband Ed Guevarra. Photo courtesy of Jane Soco of Harana.ph.
Regardless of the nature of the event, what is critical to the success of the harana are the power and the poignancy by which the emotions of the one who had asked for it are communicated to his or her object of affection. The setting also plays a critical role. Aside from an office, the surprise harana can be held in a restaurant or right in a loved one’s home.
A visibly touched Mrs. Guevarra is all smiles as she gets a serenade from the artists of Harana.ph. Photo courtesy of Jane Soco of Harana.ph.
Jane Soco, one of Harana.ph’s owners who supervises a majority of the serenades, says that the investment in time and guidance for the pre-production phase is critical to the success of the harana. First, she sits down with the client – a husband, a daughter, a mother – to understand the meaning that they wish to infuse in the harana; that would entail knowing the back story, for example, of how a couple met and fell in love, or how a parent’s sacrifice and devotion made possible a child’s professional success.
Soco says, “The client tells us their story sometimes even without my asking. I take the time to understand the nuances of the relationship, and why this particular event is important to them. I also understand the story behind each song that they select. Then I communicate all of that – the importance of the event, the emotions involved – to the Harana.ph singers.”
She adds that during the pre-event practice of the numbers, “I have to make sure that the emotions are present. Dapat nararamdaman ng singer iyong gustong iparamdam noong nagpapaharana.”
Harana.ph has a revolving roster of about 20 singers, whose expertise, experience, and exposure range from the newbie on the block to the seasoned performers with a name recall among the audience. Some of Harana.ph’s more well-known artists are Thor, Vince Alaras, Darryl Ong, and Brennan Espartinez.
Regardless of their stature, though, Harana.ph’s singers do find this modern-day serenade something of a unique experience themselves. Soco elaborates on the different dynamics between a harana and the traditional concert or club act: “When he sings in a concert or a performance, the singer is showcasing his talent to a lot of people. When he is doing a harana, he is sending a message to one person. The singer has to make sure that the emotions of the client who asked for the harana should be the ones imparted.”
Oftentimes, the so-called fourth wall – the distance between performer and audience – is breached once the music moves the hearts of everyone in the event. “A singer is human, puede siya madala,” Soco says. “In some cases, he starts crying as soon as he hits the first note. You can feel the energy in the room.”
The ability to empathize is one of the qualities that Soco looks for in prospective Harana.ph performers during the regular auditions she conducts to increase their talent pool. Other factors are a good voice, showmanship, and familiarity with several music genres.
“Our singers must have heart,” she says.
Bottom-line, that must be Harana.ph’s secret ingredient – the ability to re-create through music the emotional connection between adorer and object of affection, and express through a third party (the singer) the feelings and passions that cannot be uttered only through the spoken or written word.
Music does not just soothe the savage beast – it opens the inner chambers of the heart, allowing the fullness of our feelings to be experienced by the ones we love.
• To contact Harana, call (+632) 466-5324, (+63) 916-4049501, or e-mail info@harana.ph. To view videos, you may click http://www.harana.ph..
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