Today, as I babysat my #maharlikala2023 he was crying a lot. I recalled that advice and pray, I did.
My infant grandson wanted to sleep but couldn’t because he was congested and wheezing. I put him on my chest and somewhat on my shoulder and prayed fervently for Our Lady of Guadalupe’s intercession to Lord Jesus to lift up his discomfort. I wrapped his back with the healing cloth.
I simply surrendered and laid my worries, upward to the heavens. The white dove appeared again, a reflection on my ceiling.
An hour later, he was sleeping so soundly. When he woke up, 90 minutes later, he was all smiles. He was babbling again. Gracias Virgin of Guadalupe and Jesus Christ for healing my grandson. I witnessed that miracle today!
The effervescent, warm and welcoming Loida remembered my husband and I. What I liked about her was when she saw a long line of folks, she asked Belle who bought 50 copies and brought 25 to be signed, Loida requested that for every 5 books she signed, she wanted one person from the long line to come up.
Lora Nicolas Olaes read from the liquidity crisis chapter of Loida’s book and one more that escapes me. She then answered the questions.
One pertained to how she raised her biracial children. She said she does not look at them as biracial, instead she teaches them values of do your work, show respect to everyone, and determination.
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, a New York-based national organization founded in 1974, protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans. By combining litigation, advocacy, education, and organizing, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) works with Asian American communities across the country to secure human rights for all. What compelled you to be one of the co-founders? ———— NaFFAA National Federation of Filipino Americans Associations promotes the well-being of the four million Filipinos and Filipino Americans throughout the United States. NaFFAA envisions a unified Filipino American community that is culturally, economically, and politically empowered and engaged. Its vision is to serve as the voice of all Filipinos and Filipino Americans by uniting, engaging, and empowering diverse individuals and community organizations through leadership development, civic engagement, and national advocacy. Caring for others is a running thread in your well stitched life anchored in moral alignment. What compelled you to be socially conscious to co-found NAFFA?)
She had an acronym: goal setting, obedience to a code of ethics and determination no matter what, the first letters constitute GOD.
The last question came from me, read page 131, followed by how do you keep an expansive heart?
Loida’s answer was her friend told her to read St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians describing Love is kind, Love is patient, Love does not keep a record of wrongs. She said that she changed love into Loida, repeating it to herself: Loida is kind, Loida is patient, Loida does not keep a record of wrongs. She told her husband he could do no wrong.
It was short, sweet, efficient. The library at CSUN preordered 25 copies and they were all sold out plus 50 folks who attended also brought their own copies to be signed.
I love Filipinos – when they like your character and personality as an author, they buy more than a dozen to give as gifts to others. In Loida, they talked lovingly about her and one person bought 50 copies. I bought 3 copies, 2 copies to give to my spiritual mentors: Fr Rodel and Fr John.
It was a nice reception of cheese board, roasted vegetables, fresh fruits, bibingka bites with egg and brownies and cookies.
“About ten years ago, I sat at a table with some colleagues to discuss producing an evening of music with Tia Carrere. The idea was to feature her in a one-woman journey of songs that she loved singing, that she wrote and that she could have fun performing. Well, last night at Herb Alpert’s Vibrato, that vision came to fruition.
Much to the delighted surprise and immense enjoyment of the audience, Tia simply dazzled!!!…performing a repertoire of songs from Blondie, the Pointer Sisters, a quick nod to Bobby Caldwell, some Hawaiian classics and a few original songs she wrote. Backed by a tremendously talented band (props up to Tina the trombone player!) who also provided some backup vocals, Tia performed the evening’s set list showing off her natural vibrato and effortless ease in jazz, pop and American standard tunes.
She ”sultried” her opening Sarah-Vaughan classic “Whatever Lola Wants” which, of course, led to her rendition of the Pointer Sisters’ classic “Fire” (competently joined by the entire audience yelling that one word during the chorus!). Inspired by Linda Ronstadt’s version, she “torched” through the Gershwin standard “I’ve Got Crush on You” and echoed that charming appeal when she performed Irving Berlin’s haunting “What’ll I Do”…..then, she did a complete 180 and “slow funked-up” the Carpenters “Close to You” with an arrangement that absolutely killed!
Thankfully for this audience member, Tia performed (probably for the first-time ever at Vibrato!) some Hawaiian songs from her Grammy winning CD;’s (she won the Grammy for “Ikena” in 2009 and a second Grammy for “Huana Ke Aloha” in 2011). For brief moments during the evening, we were all transported to paradise as Tia sang “He Nani”, “Hanalei Moon” and even the famous “Aloha Oe” (which she performed in “Lilo & Stitch”) but which also holds much significance to the Hawaiian people.
I almost fell off my chair when the band came back from break and started playing a Calypso-inspired rhythm only to have Tia come out and get the audience (and few of the wait staff!) dancing to Blondie’s “Heart of Glass” (whomever did THAT arrangement needs a shout out!). THAT was followed by the Dobbie Brothers’ knockout “Listen to the Music” in which Tia mini-morphed into ‘Cassandra’ from “Wayne’s World” (she rocked out on that vocal!)
But my most unforgettable musical moment came she performed her original song, “I’m a Junky for Your Love”, a modern day torch song about the angst of insanely loving someone, which included a sampling of Bobby Caldwell’s “What You Won’t Do For Love”….just stupendously performed! As the penultimate song, Tia sang “I’ve Never Even Told You” from the ‘Batman’ soundtrack, something I’ve never heard her perform prior.
With Tia, as I’ve learned over the years, expect the unexpected! Her talent is limitless, her personality and stage presence is thoroughly enjoyable, and her voice is solid, playful, strong and soaring! Much mahalo, “sistah”, for giving the audience a warm-hearted, enthusiastic, and convincing journey through your musical wonderland!”
Thank you Ted Benito for allowing me to post your review.
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.
My nephews did a great job of remodeling their midcentury house into a model home with most spaces utilized. They are now my pro bono design consultants for a house project. They have great synergy of input, improvements, creativity and they verbalize what’s in my heart and mind. My heart says yes to their inputs! They bring light and joyful energy to Sunday morning brunch.
I made blueberry pancakes that look like crepes but light and flavorful with blueberries, bacon glazed lightly with maple syrup, fresh fruits of grapes, strawberries and dragon fruit, Pinoy fruit salad and a frittata with leeks, mushrooms, red pepper and cabbage.
My nephews requested a light simple breakfast. Thank you so much J and J!
