I’m writing this blog post as my way of giving thanks to God for the big favors my eldest son received in the past year.

When I first learned about ABRSM, I dreamt of letting my eldest son take its certificate courses. But we were not able to find a teacher right away who could help him get his ABRSM certification. When we finally found one, his schedule was usually busy and we were not able to apply for that year.

But I did not give up hope. I kept looking and asking piano teachers. In 2018, we found a piano teacher who is both a member of the Piano Teachers Guild of the Philippines and who can help my son prepare for the ABRSM exam. To cut the long story short, that year, my eldest son got to take a piano practical exam for ABRSM for the first time and he passed with distinction! To pass with distinction is the highest level a student who takes the exam can get. He took the Grade 2 piano practical exam.

We were overjoyed because the ABRSM is a world-recognized music curriculum for aspiring musicians. It is also regarded as one of the top conservatories in the world. Because my eldest son passed that exam, his dream of becoming a world-class pianist came true in 2018!

Yanthy’s ABRSM Scholarship

Last year, 2019, it was our first time to get a homeschool provider for our two older children. We were independent homeschoolers from the beginning. Thus, our education expenses in 2019 greatly increased. We could not afford the ABRSM music exam and training because we have already channeled our resources in getting a homeschool provider.

But I didn’t want to give up on finding a scholarship for my eldest son so he could continue his music training. If I could not afford to provide him the best education he deserves or he needs, I would still do my best to look for options to provide it to him through other people or through institutions or agencies. I searched the internet. I asked around. I kept praying.

Then, one night after the evening Mass, I asked one of our fellow parish workers who is in charge of scholarships in our parish. I asked if it is possible for my eldest son to apply for a scholarship for his music training. I felt that there is a chance that our Parish Priest and the committee would approve my request because my eldest is the pianist in our daily evening Masses and 4 PM Sunday Masses in our parish. He has been serving as a pianist in our parish for at least 4 years now.

To our delight, our Parish Priest, Monsignor Melchor David, who is celebrating his birthday today, approved our request!

I shed tears of joy upon hearing the good news!

I knew that it was God who made this possible through our Parish Priest and our fellow parish worker, Emilie. God made a way when there seemed to be no way! God heard my prayers for my eldest son!

I immediately checked the requirements, rates of the exams and deadlines. I also informed Yanthy’s piano teacher right away and asked for her availability for lessons. We submitted the requirements and paid the fees.

Yanthy started his music training again in September of 2019. He trained and prepared for his exam until the first week of December. His exam was scheduled for December 6, 2019.

Everything went well until his exam date.

Yanthy’s ABRSM Piano Practical Exam Day

What a day it has been!

This day marks the culmination of Yanthy’s main music lessons for the year! He has completed his training and preparations for his ABRSM practical exam for piano for Level 3 or Grade 3. He was supposed to take his practical exam at the Creative Arts building of British School Manila.

It has been a stressful ride to his exam venue.

We left home early, or so we thought.

We targeted to arrive at 4 pm because Yanthy’s exam was at 4:38 pm.

But traffic was at a standstill near our village! Of all days when this would happen, it happened on the day of Yanthy’s exam.

What was originally at 4 pm ETA, became 4:30 then 4:45 and 4:51 pm.

We started to panic!

For a moment, I entertained the option of riding a habal-habal with Yanthy but dismissed it right away. Hahaha “Our lives are more important than this exam” was the first thought that countered that thought in my mind! Hahaha Sigh!

That would mean he would miss his exam time slot!

Do you know that the examiner for Yanthy’s exam comes to the Philippines from the UK only once a year? That there is only a specific time slot for each student?

The school closes at 5 pm.

I was also afraid that the examiner would fly out that same day.

We’ve prayed the 3 o’clock prayer and the rosary.

I have texted and PMed our prayer warriors. I thank God for all of them!

I have asked for prayers from the Saints including Saint Cecilia and Saint Dominic Savio.

Metro Manila traffic can really make us more prayerful, especially on important appointments like this!

I called the British Council in Manila. I informed them of our predicament. When the ETA worsened, I called again but found out their office is only until 4 pm.

Good thing, my son’s piano teacher gave me the number of the school. I called the school and found our their office is only until 4:30 pm!

Good thing the call was redirected to the security!

I got to talk to the guards and asked for help to relay our concern to the examiner or the person in charge at the venue where the exams are being done.

We finally got out of the service road but traffic was again painfully SLOW with a capital S at C5 leading to BGC!

I called the guards again when it was already around 4:49 pm and we were still between SM Aura and Market Market and I’m not sure where the CCA building is inside the school.

Praise God that the guard instructed us to use the gate at the 38th street so that we can see the building right away!

We got to the venue finally!

The person supervising the exams asked the last student to take Yanthy’s slot since he was already there.

Yanthy was the last student to take the exam!

Praise God he still got to take his exam!

Praise God that he had roughly 5 minutes to warm up and practice before his exam and he got to vocalize as well.

Praise God that the examiner said that he was very good after his exam!

And praise God that we got to the venue safe, we got home safe and early enough so we could all go to Mass and Yanthy and I got to attend the Holy Hour. Yanthy was also able to serve as the pianist for that evening’s Mass and Holy Hour!

I was teary-eyed during the Mass and Holy Hour. I praised and thanked God for His mercy and graciousness on Yanthy!

It was a photo finish!

I thought that if Yanthy passes his exam and passes it with distinction again, it would really be obviously because of the grace and mercy of God!

He was rushing, almost jumping to go out of our vehicle and sprinting to the building.

We were afraid he would not be able to take his exam after many months of preparation!

Actually, one of the reasons we got to leave the house later than planned was because my youngest son, Geordan, had a minor medical emergency. He hurt his finger on the brake of his bike. =( For a while, he was crying nonstop and hugging me only. Of all days, indeed, it happened that day just when we were leaving the house!

But God delivers us from all our troubles. So, even though we had so many challenges or troubles that day, God delivered us from them all! Hallelujah!

Passed with Distinction for the Second Time

The person supervising the exams at the school informed me that the results will be out most likely the following week. But the certificate will be sent the following year because that will come from the UK.

The same thing happened when Yanthy first took the ABRSM exam. We received the exam result in December. We received his certificate in January of the following year.

We waited with excitement. We fervently prayed for Yanthy to pass and to get a distinction again if God wills it.

And he did!

I cried happy tears again when I received the exam results via courier the week after his exam.

It was really God who made that possible!

God made it possible for him to pass even though the circumstances during this exam day were far from ideal.

But as my husband pointed out, God allowed the challenges to happen so that it would be obvious that it was God who helped Yanthy pass the exam.

It has been a wonderful gift from God to our family, not just to Yanthy, that he got this scholarship so he can still prepare and take his ABRSM certification exam. It was God’s gift that Yanthy passed the exam with distinction again!

It was nice to receive the results before Christmas. I told my son that he got an early Christmas gift from God.

I’m so grateful to God for these answered prayers!

To God be the glory! He truly delivers us from our distress! We give back the glory and honor to Him!

Are you also facing a big challenge in pursuing a God-sized dream or any dream for that matter? Don’t give up! Keep fighting for that dream and ask God to lead your steps.