Without the slightest exaggeration, last Saturday's Parang in a Pot & Christmas Extravaganza, held by the teachers, staff and parents of St Joseph's Convent, Port-of-Spain was exhilarating.
It was the first time ever that the renowned institution had organised a fund-raising event of this nature and it was a tremendous success, with school principal Anna Pounder being kept as busy as the proverbial bee.
The school's courtyard dotted by food stalls, classrooms were converted to traditional bazaar attractions like Hoop-la, Punch Board and Spin the Wheel. But, the real draw for the evening was the lively parang competition.
Setting an example for their charges to follow, the teachers and staff were the first performers on stage, doing a couple numbers before exiting with a witty spin on Ninja's popular parang soca but with the refrain, "we parang the wrong school."
The evening's first guest artiste was nine-time national parang competition Los Alumnos de San Juan. Feeling unwell, 11-time national parang queen Alicia Jagessar was unable to perform but this did not diminish the excellent standard of music produced by this group. Lead vocals were assumed by Lauren Durai.
Seven parang groups from the junior school were the first to face the judge's panel which included June Nathaniel, Robert Persad and Peter Ray Blood. They were followed by five senior school groups.
Not unlike parang competitions among adults, currently in progress nationwide, the school's courtyard was alive with music and audience participation. Most of the classes were appropriately attired in traditional Christmas wear and there was sustained audience participation as students, parents, teachers and guests cheered their favourite performers.
After the competition, the large audience was treated to a performance by Marcia Miranda.
At the end of the evening, champion among the juniors was Hermanas de Parang (Form 1N), and the senior school winner was Las Poinsiettas (Upper Sixth Nat Sci). For the award of Best Soloist, tiny Form 1N student Dominique Akal upstaged her elder schoolmates as, doing lead vocals with Hermanas de Parang, she sang her way into the hearts of the judges and all in attendance. Winner of the Best Costume award was Las Tapas Picantes (Upper Form Six Spanish).
Runners-up, in the junior category were Las Parranderas de 1K (Form 1K) and Las Chicas Dinamicas (Form 3L), and the seniors runners-up were Las Tapas Picantes (Upper Form Six Spanish) and Los Vecinos (Form Four Mixed).
For a first attempt at fund-raising, St Joseph's Convent has established this venture as an annual event on its calendar, joining established school fund-raisers held by St Mary's College, Fatima College, Queen's Royal College, St Francois Girls' College, Bishop Anstey High School, Lakshmi Girls, Holy Name Convent and Belmont Boys Secondary.