I am Jonah Matthew Enrile, my family calls me “Jonas”, most of my friends call me “Jon”, some call me “Jonah”, and my students call me “Teacher Jon” or “Sir Jon”. My music journey began when I was 12 years old when my mother enrolled me in a nearby piano school within our community. After I learned the basics of note reading and other lessons for beginners, I started practicing more often. But it
only lasted for a year as I found a mentor who built the foundation of my piano skill. Teacher Precy Diwa taught me a lot of techniques including sight-reading and other advanced lessons. I enjoyed her mentoring as much as I enjoyed playing the piano and expressing my feelings through this musical instrument. Then one summer, she decided to train me to teach her beginner students to play the piano. That was my first time doing piano lessons with kids who have zero knowledge of playing the piano and reading notes, and I find it fulfilling. The feeling of imparting the knowledge you have to someone brings me so much joy and satisfaction. As I advance further my skills with teacher Precy, I also allotted more time practicing to learn new musical pieces by myself. One of them was “Gone” by Jim Chapell, which my Mama Weng requested me to play before she left for Canada in 2004. Coincidentally, teacher Precy shared with me an original piece of it. I studied it myself and did a lot of practice. It was the first time I dedicated a piece of music to my mom and nothing compares to the joy of seeing your mom so proud and happy. Time went by and I had to decide what college degree to take at the University of Sto. Tomas. I wanted to pursue a degree in Music but due to the pressure from my family, I had to take a science degree. Anything but performing arts. And so, I took up a B.S. Information Technology. But it did not stop me from playing the piano. During those years, I still practice at times and join teacher Precy’s Summer and Christmas recitals as a guest performer so I can inspire her students. I landed a job in the IT industry as soon as I graduated from college. I initially worked as a software developer but soon shifted to a software quality engineering job. Years have passed but my passion for music is still burning. I had opportunities to play piano here and there – from birthdays to wedding events and even in small concerts. I still managed to practice playing a couple of music pieces. But I felt like something was lacking and I thought of things that I needed to do to satisfy my desire for music. Then in 2018, an opportunity opened up for me. I took a diagnostic test at the UST Conservatory of Music and performed in an audition conducted by Prof. Anthony Yu Say. I got a remarkably high grade on the diagnostic test and passed the audition. And I was one of the lucky students to be assigned under the tutelage of Professor Anthoy Yu Say. After two years of being a college music student, I decided to create this page so I could reach out to more people to inspire them with my music. And most of all, to share my skills and knowledge with those who want to learn how to play the piano and learn some theories behind the music. I am very happy and grateful that I am still able to continue to pursue my passion. I won’t stop until I finish and succeed in my studies in music. I want to make my family, especially my Mama Weng, proud until I finish what I have started and what I have always wanted to do in my entire life – sharing my music, performing more music with my Mama Weng, and becoming one of the greatest pianists in the world there is! So, to you who are currently reading this, please don’t stop pursuing your dreams. You may not be certain when but once you reach them, the joy and fulfillment will be incomparable. So please pursue your dreams while you still can. We only live once so do the things that you love and make you happy. Take it from an IT professional who understands how sad it is to not do what you really love to do and how a burning passion that cannot be pursued becomes depressing. I thank God for all the opportunities and signs he has been giving me all this time. God is always there guiding me to where I should rightfully be. I also pray that may He do the same guidance to all people who wishes to pursue the very same passion that I have until now. A passion that never dies and continues to burn more intensely day after day. May we all have a blessed journey of our own, in Jesus’ Name, Amen!
