Can Filipinos do a Perlman?
Inquirer News Service
HAVE you ever read about the inspiring performance of Itzhak Perlman in 1995? Perlman is an Israeli musician widely recognized as one of the great violinists of the late 20th century. A pride of Juilliard School in New York City, he is a living inspiration to many physically handicapped people who dream of making their mark in the world of music. Perlman is an advocate for the rights of the disabled. He was stricken with polio at age 4.
The magic of any Perlman performance begins with the moving sight of a man on crutches and with braces on both legs, making difficult strides to reach his seat on stage. Those who have seen this sight describe it as touching and painful.
Of his many sterling performances, his Nov. 18, 1995 concert at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall in New York City remains most unforgettable to his fans. As he started playing a piece in the middle of the concert, one of the strings on his violin broke. Time stood still for the audience after the string went off like gunfire. Just as it started to second-guess the man on stage, the audience was taken aback when Perlman closed his eyes and gave his conductor and the orchestra the cue to pick up where he had left off. With three stings on his violin, he defied the limitations of music and continued playing with conviction, passion and heart. Perlman didn't only pull it off; he also rendered the greatest performance of his life.
One could only imagine how the crowd stood in awe. It took a long moment of silence before the stunned audience could unleash ripples of applause. In concluding his performance, Perlman only had this to say: "You know, sometimes it is the artist's task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left."
I remembered this story just as my optimism about my country's future started to show some cracks. Today marks my 10th year in government and I can't help but ask whether I have served my country well enough. The question emerged out of the painful realization that many of our well-meaning efforts in the past have been eroded by the uninspiring developments in recent times.
But Perlman said it right. It is indeed the artist's task to find out how much music can still be made with what he or she has left. Similarly, as Filipinos it is our task to find out how much we can do to help our country get back on its feet. Many of us have given almost everything we've got to the country, but the country's continuing struggle shouldn't stop us from giving whatever we have left. Remember: give, not give up.
Of course, this is easier said than done. But if each and every Filipino thinks and acts like Perlman, we will not only pull this one off, we will also deserve the world's standing ovation.
RONALD A. RODRIGUEZ, Brittany Bay at La Posada, Sucat, Muntinlupa City
