Kristy.ramnarine@cnc3.co.tt
Alicia Jaggassar is known as the first lady of Parang.
The President of the National Parang Association of T&T (NPATT), a talented singer and songwriter whose distinctive voice has won many accolades, spends the entire year waiting for her favourite time of year – Christmas.
While the weeks leading up to December 25 are packed with administering end-of-term tests to her students, rehearsals with her band Los Alumnos De San Juan and performances, family time is given its priority.
“My family sees Christmas as a time to gather and share laughter and songs, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ,” she said.
“It is that one time when all my family members would come together and share gifts and meals with each other to take home especially me who does not cook.”
Jaggassar’s highlight is watching her mother’s face when she wakes up Christmas morning and sees her entire home transformed.
“Santa’s Elves passed”, she would say to her mother looking out for her proud smile.
Three days before Christmas Jaggassar starts preparing her home with family to decorate on Christmas Eve.
“It is all about going to parang and then home to clean,” she explained. ”Christmas Eve I would do last-minute shopping for decorations alone nothing more. I would then return home to continue the transformation.”
Annually, the family celebrates her parents’ anniversary on December 27 with more parang, food and dancing.
“This year with the passing of my father we are not having that celebration,” she said. “My brother would now carry on the tradition.”
Jaggassar lost her husband Wayne Jagdeo, an integral member of Los Alumnos de San Juan, to cancer in 2021.
Christmas 2020 was a tough year for the parang queen who weathered the storms of forced rules on the entertainment industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and her late husband’s cancer diagnosis.
The roller-coaster of emotions set the performer back for a bit.
Jaggassar’s coping mechanism was penning her emotions on paper and creating music. In 2022, she launched her solo career and album at her concert Dare to be Me.
“During that time was difficult, there were many times I sat and could not breathe, the tears just flowed,” she recalled. “I decided to express everything I felt through music.”
Jagassar continues to lead Los Alumnos de San Juan which includes six of her family members.
“I also have some of my nieces and nephews in school groups,” she said. “I consider all my members as family.”
She is contented knowing that the art form has grown since her baptism into parang music some 36 years ago.
“What excites me the most is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ,” she said. “Singing this story to many persons and watching the joy on their faces as a reflection of the way the parang music makes them feel.
“I am driven by my love for God and his people, especially children. I love making people happy and serving.”
Her Christmas wish is to see Parang on all major platforms as an integral part of all our celebrations.
“I would like to see parang in all schools sparking a love for the Spanish language and interest in the history of this beautiful musical art form,” she said. “I want to see all parranderos united as one celebrating an art form that has served us for many generations.
“I want to see a greater level of respect for our art form and more support and recognition for the positive impact this genre has on our citizens and more so our youths.
“Parang as an all year round music from January to December.”
The primary school teacher balances her daily job with rehearsals and performances.
“I do not know how I manage as many days I scream,” she chuckled. “I remain in prayer and I am assisted by my family members and band members. I am surrounded by friends and dedicated personnel who form a part of my support system.”
Her Christmas message: “Remember the reason for the season and fill your heart with the peace and joy that the birth of Jesus Christ has brought to us. Choose to love, choose to forgive. Christmas blessings to all.”
