Andre Jebbinson, Staff Reporter

Faith D'Aguilar performs in the speech section at 'Tenky ... Miss Lou', a tribute concert in honour of the Hon. Louise Bennett Coverley, on August 8, at the National Arena. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

You would swear it is no other than Miss Lou herself when Faith D'Aguilar assumes her Miss Lou persona.

In fact, during the Tribute to Miss Lou last September, D'Aguilar made the late cultural icon presence come alive in the National Arena.

It is now Christmas, the time of year when many participate in carolling. One such carol is the unconventional Santa Ketch Up Inna Mango Tree, written by D'Aguilar and her sister, Melony Walters.

There has always been the image of Santa Claus coming down a chimney on Christmas Eve to deliver presents to those who have been nice throughout the year.

"Why should Santa come down through a chimney? We don't have chimneys in Jamaica. We thought we should have our own song and he should come down from either a mango or ackee tree," D'Aguilar said.

Forget the sleigh and reindeers; Santa comes in the old Jamaican way with his donkey and hamper, delivering toys in the districts.

The song was written in the late 60s and is still as popular today. So popular that it is now available in the Internet. The comical lyrics and colloquial vocabulary only make the carol more relevant and practical.

Though everyone else sings the carol only in December or maybe in November, it is one that D'Aguilar lives by all year long.

"If I were to celebrate Christmas once a year it would be very difficult for me. It is not just about this one particular day," she said.

She prefers to show her kindness and good spirit whenever she can. This alleviates the stress of being caught up in the customary Christmas madness.

"I do it when I can do it best. I may put up a tree in October or do a ham in March. This is when you find that real people are Santa. He is a person we know," she said.

D'Aguilar grew up Chapelton, Clarendon, and remembers her Christmas as neighbours having love for each other. She is now 56 years old; times have changed and Christmas is more commercialised. D'Aguilar, however, maintains that kindness and courtesy can still make a big difference in people's lives.

Her development

It was part of that kindness, which was shown to D'Aguilar when she graduated from Clarendon College and migrated to Kingston. She was a festival gold and silver medal winner, but it was her work with Miss Lou and others in Jamaican theatre that helped to develop the flair she has.

It was strictly by chance that she landed her first leading role with the Little Theatre Movement (LTM) Pantomime. She had accompanied her friend to an audition for Music Boy. The friend convinced D'AGuilar to try for the part and her natural charm came forth.

D'Aguilar has been lying low and pursuing her antique-collecting hobby, but don't count her out. She plans to make a return as soon as January 2007. She believes Jamaican theatre has come a long way and there is more left for her to do. "God give me talent and I need to share it. I know so much more now than I did then and I want to help other people," she said.

Nobody knows what the future holds, nor is it certain if whether D'Aguilar's flair will continue to be as dazzling, but she is a believer. A fire destroyed everything she had in 1992 and she "miraculously" got right back into the swing of things. She has been tried but her love for theatre has always been her guide.

"My name is Faith and I live by faith. No matter what problem I am in, I will find a miracle," D'Aguilar said.