What a great mini reunion of @Ritarians 1967, with dear classmates Natimarie Pagayucan Elsa B. Azote and Lolita Ortua who chose to travel from Oceanside, Temecula (two hours away), Arleta (one hour away) to watch the siblings’ revelry concert of Nicole David Yalong and Carlo David and a trio special rendition of the masterful source of great music in their family, Mon David.
Grandmom Matriarch (Ann’s mom) requested a photo with me. She then shared her heart is so full of joy, watching her grandchildren perform with family, supportive and United behind them. For an octogenarian to say that life is joyful for her because the family is happy with one another meant a lot to me and were sacred words to me. She thanked me as well for my generous support to the David’s family – I said that their love for one another is inspiring to me.
Nicole and Carlo were quite at ease onstage. They freely shared their experiences and their beautiful journeys of composing music while on a 15 hour layover in Hongkong to start their careers as musicians, they were then single.
It was so endearing to hear them share that because they were together 24/7, at some point they could not appreciate one another to the point that they had a competition of listening to and finding each other’s mistakes. One time, they even had to call their father Mon to amicably settle who was wrong in singing – was that a flat or sharp note?
Fast forward today, Nicole is now married raising twin boys with Jake Yalong whom I saw enjoying watching his wife sing with the biggest smile on his face. Carlo is raising a toddler girl with Hanika Oyco David.
They both had to practice learning new songs of their favorite artists. The ones that resonated and got seared in a special place in my heart were those crafted originally by Joey Ayala, Moira dela Torre, Stephen Sanchez and Stacey Ryan.
I love love love this duo as they sang a repertoire of taking a chance on love, fate’s role in choosing the right mate, and a long standing goodbye to a forever love, dedicated publicly to our classmate, Ritarian Linda Rozales.
Mon is truly a gifted singer that when he joined his children, we cried as he sang Walang Hanggang Paalam: Ang Pagibig natin ay walang hanggang paalam sung and dedicated to our classmate Linda Rozales.
I am quite partial to Nicole’s versatility in being in command of her vocal chords and allowing her voice to move up and down, swaying, swinging, gliding, and hip hopping fast to slow. I have not seen that kind of versatility from her before. It was as if she is blooming in her own style and quite content as a loving wife and mom of 5 yo twin boys.
What can I say about Carlo whose handsomely presence onstage made Mona and Maria swoon over him as we, the septuagenarians Lolas? I told Hanika to watch every concert of Carlo to which Carlo said: “Oh she’s so secure with me.”
The best part is to be greeted by Mon David who is so loving to his fans that 73yo Roy who attended almost all of Mon’s concert all over LA proudly called himself Mon’s jazz wife.
Speaking of Mon’s wife, Ann David is so sweet to fans and so loving to friends that she even brought us her spectacular cassava brulee which was her best recipe that all of us raved about it.
What a beautiful welcome and a spectacular entertainment.
Gardenia has also great entrees and portions. Catch this family’s concert – you will go home so much in love! They embody love that they sing lovingly to their audience.
When I asked Nico, one of the 5yo twin boys, about his mom and uncle singing, he said unequivocally: “I loved it.”
As to the good original painting by Noli Pagayucan – he has a very keen eye and hands that when he looks at a painting, he captures the nuances, e.g. self portrait of Vincent Van Gogh.
I love the original painting that he gave my family. It now hangs in my living room. Throughout the day and night, he also patiently and lovingly took our photos.
