The Best for the Least: Songs From Her Heart

It is 7 in the morning on May 17 and singer Anezka Alvarez is already up, preparing herself to judge the auditions at GK Baseco with other Ryan Cayabyab Singers (RCS) members. In spite having stayed up late the night before,  singing her heart out in a fundraising concert for her ailing father, Anezka still woke up very early this day to honor her commitment to the many GK residents waiting for the opportunity to sing their hearts out to her for a chance to join the performing arts workshop this month.

GK Baseco was only one among 10 GK communities around Metro Manila that held auditions for aspiring singers, dancers and actors, in an effort to discover 100 talented GK residents who would be trained in the performing arts.

The GK residents who passed the auditions are now in an all expense paid week-long summer camp at Ateneo de Manila University. In partnership with the GK Ateneo Heroes Academy, Ateneo performing arts cluster and GKonomics, the RCS will be training GK residents this week, culminating in a Grand Recital on May 28 (postponed to June 4 due to typhoon) where participants will be performing the play “Batang Rizal” by Christine Bellen with music by Allan Elgar.

Anezka who is conducting the voice workshops along with her co-RCS members is excited about the possibilities.

“There are so many undiscovered talents in Gawad Kalinga,”she shared excitedly, remembering the people who came to the auditions from young children to adults.

Anezka, who came home from Ireland in 2007 after a year-long journey to self discovery, decided to stay in the Philippines for good to join the Ryan Cayabyab Singers.  She also had to audition for the privilege to be trained by the maestro and was chosen among 200 auditionees to become one of the 7 members of the RCS group.

“Music is my number one love,” she shares about the beginning of her journey with RCS. Little did she know then that it will be the start of other amazing journeys that will give her life its truest meaning.  

In 2008, Mr. C who is a staunch GK volunteer, took RCS to join WOW GK USA for a concert to raise funds for Gawad Kalinga.

“Before we just sang but now I sing with a purpose.  Every note and melody becomes deeper. It’s for our fellow Filipinos,” Anezka shares.

“It’s just a perfect way to help GK, by sharing our talents,” she says, realizing that not everyone can teach singing.

“We are very privileged that we’re the ones who can share our knowledge of music,” Anezka shares about the training camp for the GK residents.

 “I am happy that God gave me these talents so that I can help others,” she adds, grateful that as a kid she was privileged to receive voice lessons to hone her skills. It  saddens her to think that many undiscovered talents will go to waste simply because they could not afford to go to training. 

“I can do a lot. I realized I can actually help build somebody’s life.  I can help him build his own path to his dream,” Anezka says. It can be done simply by sharing one’s time and talents to those who need them the most.

So in spite juggling a very busy schedule with her career and caring for her father in the hospital, Anezka makes time for her service to GK.

“My heart is in it,” she says, “Naka-instill na sa akin yung sa GK slogan na Walang Iwanan.”

It is now her dream to have a concert with GK residents along with RCS and the first step to that dream will be to train them in the performing arts.

“I hope this workshop will be the beginning of their journey to reach their dreams and become an inspiration to their generation,” Anezka shares, as she dreams for the many undiscovered talents in GK communities waiting for their chance to shine and fulfill their potential.

You are cordially invited to witness stars being born at their Grand Recital on June 4, 7 pm at the Ateneo de Manila Grade School Auditorium. Tickets are at P200.