Expressing Love through Singing



Carmelita Tiongson-Manzanares of Los Angeles, CA, participated in Landmark Education's Team Management Leadership Program. (TMLP). In the program, she had the opportunity to create a project which made a difference out in the world, called a ?team game in the world?. What Tiongson-Manzanares created was a singing, musical event among senior citizens and residents from nursinghomes and skilled facilities. Their children and grandchildren had the opportunity to watch their loved ones put on this music recital.

Carmelita relates that one of the hardest parts of the project for her was to create milestones for specific, measurable results, for the project, since she wasn't sure how it was going to turn out. She had a vision of people being alive, inspired, whole and complete that made sharing it easy and clear. She had a powerful, free flowing conversation with Grace Lengkeek, the activity director of Artesia Christian Home, who jumped in and made Carmelita's project her own.

Carmelita knew that singing relaxes people, but was even more powerful was that singing relaxed the minds of the elderly to the degree that they shared their powerful and moving life stories. Before the event took place, she was sharing her vision with a resident named Salermo. The man left, and hurried back with a dusty guitar. He serenaded Carmelita, and then told her of courting a beautiful woman named Nellie in years past.

Shortly before the event, Salermo was admitted to the emergency room. As soon as he returned home, Carmelita invited him to the event again. Wanting to see unity in his family, she proposed that his family give him a ride to the event. When they were unable, Carmelita picked him up herself. He proved to be an astounding entertainer. He sang three songs in his own language and told spellbinding stories.

Others sang and sang, even those who were said to have dementia. A legally blind woman showed off her knitting and pottery. They sang whatever songs came to mind, such as Row, Row, Row Your Boat or anything else. One mother didn't know the words but sang anyway in an operatic voice.

The event almost didn't happen. The day before the event, Carmelita wanted to cancel it when one facility couldn't make it happen. Her coach Meg supported her to deal with the reality powerfully and go through with it, knowing that it would make a big difference to whomever came.

Carmelita reports never having experienced so much love and generosity in her whole life ? It was like a miracle to her. Other people stepped in and provided support and ideas. One of them is looking to take the plan to other homes.

Three generations had the opportunity to sing to each other, honoring each other through music. For Carmelita and the other participants, it was a real opportunity for love to come home and be expressed.