Spirit
::: Nothing but Gospel House :::
Sunday, May 18, 2008 | 3pm to 8pm only


featuring
BenjoMarquez

A relationship with God was what got me through my bout with cancer.  In May 2006, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.  This is cancer of the lymph nodes, causing an immune system failure.  I had to undergo 4 cycles of chemotherapy and 17 treatments of radiation. 

My cancer experience definitely got me closer to God.  There was just an amazing intimacy that God made so real throughout this very trying time.  I think more than the physical aspect of healing, my soul-- which had been lost for so long-- finally found its way back.  I would cry tears of joy because God made known to me that He is alive, and that He loves me, that He is here with me, that I have a hope and a future in him, and that He would provide for all my needs—medical, financial, and emotional. 

The only reason that I know I’m still here is because I need to witness about Christ.  We have been given the message and what comes with that is an obligation to spread the Word. 
I don’t believe that God only talks to certain individuals.  He loves us all—equally.  Perhaps the reason why I’ve had these encounters with Him is because I’ve asked.  I want to encourage everyone to continuously seek Him.     

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Kitchie Nadal

Kitchie Nadal has conquered the Female OPM niche, paved the way for a number of guitar-wielding alternative rock maidens and has proven that being a talented rock musician need not be translated to sex, drugs and alcohol. And while exhaustingly keeping up with the dogged demands of the success she’s earned, she’s stuck to her main priority and graduated with a double major in Psychology and Education. This is the kind of fire that even the nastiest critic can’t fan out. It’s a spiritual blaze that has taken root at the very heart of her being and it’s not fading anytime soon, not ever.

Her album has reached double platinum status with over 60,000 copies sold and at the recently concluded 18th Awit Awards, she won in two major categories: Best Performance by a Female Recording Artist and Best Ballad for the song she wrote and composed, the compellingly bittersweet, Wag na Wag Mong Sasabihin. Two incredible feats for a young woman relatively new in an industry oftentimes known to eat its young.

Her phenomenon, which encompasses all age brackets (She also won a Kid’s Choice Award from the Nickelodeon channel this year), could be theoretically pieced together, as in an abstracted puzzle where one can get close enough to make out the entire picture, except it keeps dissolving into an even deeper sort of enigma.

What we do know is that she evokes a mesmerizing connection with the people because of the simple honesty of her motives. Her songs speak of an unshakeable desire to share the truth, to wake up those who have fallen asleep with lies. It’s this sincere message coupled with her love for catchy beats and poetic words that make even her stunning physical beauty irrelevant compared to the legitimate beauty of her songs. And it’s not a stunt, nor an image. It’s Kitchie as she is, and it’s what commands the people’s unyielding admiration.

As of now, Kitchie is fully booked until the next couple of weeks with a show in Toronto, Canada coming up. She also has a special CD set to be released, a repack of her first album containing new songs plus all her music videos in VCD format. She’s composing again, collaborating with various artists and continuing to perform in different regions of the Philippines. And though she is aware of her sudden popularity among tabloid blind items as well, Kitchie is still opting to remain silent. She knows that these are the inevitable downsides to fame and with great relief, finds solace in her spiritual sanctuary. “I’d have stopped singing and performing publicly if it’s only my love for music that keeps me going.” She reflects, with the quiet assurance of a child who knows she’s secure where she lies. “But it’s God who gives me strength. You can’t have a stronger ally than Him.”

Like we said, it’s going to take more than hurtful tongues to fan out Kitchie’s flame. With a fuel like her faith, expect the fire to radiate even further. Even the coldest critic could use a little warmth sometime.

www.kitchienadal.com