Oh, little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by.
— from a well-loved Christmas song
On Dec. 22 as those silent stars go by, Mitch Valdes will be starring in a solo concert titled Songs from the Heart at Christmas in Bethlehem in Manger Square right where Jesus Christ was born.
It’s a dream come true for Mitch who has included in her “bucket list” a trip to the Holy Land made possible by Arlina Onglao of Journeys of Faith, Inc., the travel agency that has been organizing pilgrimages also to other holy places (Lourdes, France; Fatima in Portugal, etc.) these past 12 years.
And to think that the two ladies didn’t even know each other — until now.
Mitch is hesitant to call it “divine intervention” that she and Arlina have crossed paths. She’d rather consign it to a series of many coincidences in her life. But Arlina is convinced that an “unseen hand” made their paths meet, and happily so.
Early last year on Tina Monzon-Palma’s ANC show, Mitch casually mentioned that included in her bucket list was a trip to the Holy Land.
“It just came out of the blue,” recalled Mitch, “because I don’t usually tell people about things which I consider personal.”
By a stroke of fate perhaps, Arlina saw Mitch and unwittingly served as Mitch’s fairy godmother.
“I’m a busy person and I don’t usually watch TV,” said Arlina. “But at that time, I happened to tune in to Tina’s show and I kind of heard a little bell ring.” By coincidence, Arlina turned out to be a big Mitch fan. “Fate really brought us together, or Somebody more powerful than fate.”
To make a long story short, Arlina said that she sought out her friends who knew Mitch to relay an invitation for Mitch to join a pilgrimage to the Holy Land that she has been finalizing. A few weeks later when they finally met, Arlina told Mitch that she was challenged by her business partner (not a Filipino) to enlist a Filipino singer to sing for the tour group at Manger Square where international chorales usually perform.
“I suggested that since I would be there,” said Mitch, “why not open my little show to OFWs living there, and other pilgrims besides. Might as well expand my ‘little show’ to a full concert because that’s what I do best — perform, di ba? If I can do anything to make that journey memorable, why not use my God-given talent, di ba?”
Why not, Arlina agreed.
“The concert will be open to the public,” added Mitch.
Arlina used to work at Philippine Airlines (marketing department) for many years before she joined a travel agency and later formed her own (Journeys of Faith). The pilgrimages she organizes include from eight to 88 members. “The more, the merrier,” she said.
Included in Mitch’s Bethlehem concert are three of her favorite Christmas songs — O, Little Town of Bethlehem; Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas; and I’ll Be Home For Christmas — plus Filipino Christmas songs and other non-Christmas songs (like Bette Midler’s In My Life).
The pilgrimage is good for two weeks but Mitch said that after her Manger Square performance, she will separate from the group and go on her own.
“I told Arlina that I’m joining only the Jesus Christ-connected part of the tour; basta kung saan lumakad si Jesus, doon ako. I also want to visit The Wailing Wall.”
In the last two years, Mitch said that she has been through a lot of challenges that led her back to praying.
“I want to be physically where Somebody was as a gesture of thanks for turning my life around,” she said. “Three years ago, I thought I couldn’t resolve the challenges and in moments (of desperation) like that, you look up to Him and cry for help. The trip was originally planned for October but Arlina decided to move it to December. Iba pala talaga when you cry for help. In my case, dadalhin ako sa Holy Land. ”
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.
(Note: Arlina Onglao may be contacted at her Journeys of Faith office in Quezon City at these numbers: 929-0144 or 929-0155; or +63917-561-6440, +63999-9935580 or +63917-8148127.)
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