I’m back, sorry to every one for my not responding to your postings. I have been busy getting my business back on track… kind a little shaky ups and down but I hope it would be fine., Business is a gamble and taking risks…Business gambling (the only gambling I know ) is not the same as Casino or Poker… Business is slow now a days, due partly to last year's calamities..
To Manong Vic, I browsed through your journal and I read the entry from Ambassador Rudy Dumapias. Nothing to worry about and no need for any apology. However the apology is very much appreciated… it’s my or our pleasure to be recognized as one of your friends and acquaintances. Sir, your words are true… I did talk with my dad and he appreciates everything and he was happy to hear from you. I realized that parents need our attention, not just the material things. It is not too late to give both to them, especially my dad… Since he retired 3 years ago I sensed he feels bored, tormented, and alienated. That is why some of our old folks want to go back to the Philippines after they retire … Main reason: their money ($ pension) can afford 5 or 10 maids, and they could hang out everyday in the old neighborhood. How about here in the US? As I have said they feel tormened. We tried to convince them to return home but their answer is No, They said they are not comfortable there anymore. Anyway thank you Ambassador Rudy Dumapias for the lessons you shared. I made my dad happy when I talked to him telling stories and shared memories, I made him smile and I gave him the printout from your article and the ones from manong Vic… my mom read it all to him. Sir Rudy D. my parents want to show their appreciation to you for your concern.
Manong Vic, my Mom love your writings. She told me to print more stories for her and that’s what I did. My mom is one of the frustrated journalists. She only finished 2nd year high school but I was relying on her to correct my English even when I was already in College. This is what she always say to us, "if only I reached College probably I finished my dream to be a journalist. Too bad we were poor before and that I was orphaned when I was young."
Well, it’s too bad nobody among us (her children) got her talent… but I hope her genes will spread out to her grandchildren.
My dad will be scheduled next week for the amputation of his left leg, caused by his diabetes. We hope he will be fine and may God help him.
God bless you too and your family.
Always,
Arsenio.
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Thank you for your kind words and thoughts..Good luck to your Dad, and I pray to God he will be OK...Here are some Asingan Trivia, and I will keep on writing other ones as I recall them..
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YEARS AGO IN ASINGAN
Years ago when the weather was balmy, people of all ages gathered in the town plaza to fly kites.. Up in the sky you would see kites of various colors, shapes, sizes..On the ground would be the proud owners, holding on to the stout strings of their kites, giving it a tug every now and then and socializing with the other kite enthusiasts..The multicolored paper covered fliers etched against a deep blue sky is breath takingly beautiful. Sometimes ( but very rarely ) there will be a "kite fight" Combatants would try to ram each other's kite until one is completely stripped of its paper covering.
Some kites had fancy designs and fancier tails.It provided a chance for Asinganians to hob nob with each other. Nowadays, you could not fly a kite anymore in our town plaza.
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During town fiestas, barrios would build small bamboo and nipa huts somewhere in the plaza..They would be exhibiting some unique crafts or agricultural products. I remember one time seeing a huge SINKAMAS on display there.It was bigger than a human head. There were also displays of other vegetables in peculiar shapes which attracted many visitors. I think there was also judging of these barrio displays. Crafts from Elementary students were also on display..Those were the handiwork of Gr. 5 or Gr. 6 pupils who took Industrial Arts classes in the Dupac Intermediate School.(This is how the school was called during our time)
The Rizal Academy at one time sponsored the Troop 52; (a Boy Scout school brass band used in school PMT Pass-in -Reviews) to join the Town beauty Parade..The troop 52 may not play like the John Philip Sousa Band but they could provide decent band music considering that the players are all high school students.
Part of the events tosee during the town fiesta was dumb bell calesthenics performed by Elementary pupils. I was one of them although I considered this exercise before as a sheer waste of my time.
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The other local brass band consisted of the Senior musicians: Mr. Tabion, Mr. Badua, Mr. Guillermo and Mr. Sison..( Please correct me for possible mistakes in the names ).I know Mr. Guillermo played the trumpet. I believe the rest (except for Mr. Sison who played the snare drum or the bass drum) played the sax and the trombone.They would assist the local funerals which took place almost everyday..They would also assist the dawn masses playing a piece called the DIANA ( pronounced Dee-a-na )..I still know the tune by heart and it was the harbringer of the Christmas season in Asingan once it start waking you up at 3:00 am in the morning together with the pealing of thechurch bells.This took place every 16th of December.The choir then was accompanied by talented keyboard organist until a certain year when the organ was abolished ( maybe by the big earthquake which really crushed the s---t out of it when it brought down the whole church ) Accompaniment now is done with powerful amplifiers with equally powerful speakers playing canned music.
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Many years before Karaoke became an international fad, I and a group of music lovers in Asingan were already practicing this music novelty. I remember Isaac Directo Jr. ( one of our friends with Julie, Susan, Mildred - the Delmendo sisters ) who was a good singer singing in the local circuit. By local circuit I mean the non - paying gigs in town like school programs, barrio dances, etc. Junior, (his nickname) could sing like Sir Paul McCartney and during one of our week - end trips to Binalonan to join the Saturday night Pauper's Club amatuer singing contest, we made friends with the local band called THE CIRCULARS. Those guys could really play like the Beatles, or the Animals or Herman's Hermits., One time, we recorded Junior singing YESTERDAY on the now obsolete and quite heavy reel-to-reel tape recorder in the practice hall of the band. I had to lug that monstrous mother f-----r from Asingan to Binalonan and back. During that time only a few people in Asingan had cars and we could not bum a ride from any of them. So we had to take the public transportation all the time, coming and going. Anyway, we used Junior's rendition of YESTERDAY during one Asingan school program. He sang with the recording while lip synching. The audience were amazed. They said it sounded like a Beatles recording..Well, duh! it was a RECORDING (including his voice ) but they just did not know it at that time!So later on as his services became more in demand, he had to find other songs to sing to be accompanied by a canned (recorded) orchestra. During those days, local sound systems were still using those 45 rpm records. Many of these have orchestral or rock band music suitable for singing along. Thus Junior found his orchestral back-up in some of those 45 or 33 LPS..This took place in Asingan many, many years even before the word KARAOKE was thought of..
P.S. --The only way to learn how to write is to keep on writing no matter what..!It is true I went to Journalism school but I learned writing before and after Journalism school..Happy to know you are back in circulation, we miss your postings too, you know...
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