I can vividly remember the very first harana I attended.  I was Grade 5 then and part of the first batch of JYA.  Titos and Titas wore their beautiful Filipinianas.  Kundiman songs consistently played in the background.  And my Dad recited a lovely poem to honor the couple. That night was significant. In an innocent child’s heart, I prayed, “Lord, I want to have my own Announcement. I want to have my own Harana.”

That prayer was like a seed planted in my heart.  I felt that it was God’s way of leading me to embrace the way of life of community.  He made that prayer a blessing in disguise, and indeed He granted me the grace to fully live out my Christian faith through the community’s way of life.

Through the years, I have understood and desired to know more about the community through teachings and different events of the community.  When I joined North District E, I witnessed concretely the richness of our life together. And through my own experiences in attending several Haranas, serving either as a host and/or a choreographer of a dance presentation, it was simply a glimpse of God’s amazing love and faithfulness through the brothers and sisters who followed our way of life as their response to love and honor the Lord.

Here I am, choreographing and performing for Jojo and Maila's harana

As I pursue the vocation of Marriage, I have seen how my concept of Harana evolved from a simple child’s prayer to that of seeing it as a vital role as I transition to a new state of life. The Harana is more than the singing of Kundiman songs to express love or dancing Filipino Folk Dances to remember our culture and tradition. It is an integral part of our life as singles. It is a venue where brothers and sisters honor the couple for following the Lord and being faithful to our call in the community through our way of life. More than honoring the couple, it is also to prepare them for the vocation of marriage.

The Harana is a continuation of the courtship process, signaling the transition of a new state of life-from being single to that of pursuing the vocation of Marriage. Pursuing my state of life in the context of the community makes it more meaningful and significant. All the more that the prayer I said to the Lord during that first Harana I attended became so real and personal. As young as I was that time, the grace of God worked mightily in my life that enabled me to fulfill God’s call in Ligaya. Through the guidance of my family, my Pastoral Leaders and the sisters and brothers I am surrounded with, I have followed the Lord through our community way of life.

And now, my own harana: November 14, 2009

The night before my own Harana, it was as if I was brought back to that simple prayer I had, “Lord, I want to have my own Harana.” And indeed, I had my own. The preparations made by brothers and sisters and those who were present, were enough to honor both me and Paulo. Truly, it was an overwhelming fulfillment of my prayer. God’s answer to the desire I whispered years back, and now being fulfilled through His grace. A fitting response to the Lord is “Thank You for the gift of community, Thank You for my Announcement. Thank you for my Harana.”

Portia Domingo, NDE