FROM SUPERMAN TO A CHINESE CHORAL CONCERT

TORONTO,Ont.-- June 28, 2006 ( From my Toronto Diary )

Today is the official date for the return of Superman to our earth ( via the movie houses all over the world  ). I was one of them who purchased an early ticket at the Paramount-Imax theatre in downtown theatre. Nothing like the biggest screen to watch a rare spectacle like this one. Besides I have been a fan of Superman ever since I learned how to read American comics long time ago.

At 11:30 am, I purchased my ticket at the fast lane, one of those ATM like machines at the Paramount Theatre lobby. I was opting for the 12:00 noon show ( the earliest screening ) but the computer coughed out a ticket for the next show which is 12:30 pm.I saw a long line of patrons lined up in front of the box office with a live ticket seller. Many were wearing the blue Tee with the familiar ( and copyrighted ) Superman logo.

The theatre is the biggest right now in Toronto. Took an escalator going up the auditoriums and since I had an hour to kill, I bought a hot dog and a drink for a ridiculous price of 6$. Those food concessionaires are crooks for gouging out Seniors' hard earned pension.

After the movie, I agreed with the critics and its ratings of 4 stars. There were a few minor inconsistencies about the Kryptonite effect on the Super guy, but the story, intelligent script and tremendous special effects compensated for them. I am giving it double thumbs up!

From the Paramount, I walked down through Duncan  to Queen street. At the City TV building there was a terrible noise, screaming through high powered sound systems..Yes, it was an outdoor concert for a rock band.Young peoeple many in black outfits, were enjoying the show. Took a few shots, then I moved on and passed through Nathan Philips Square in front of Toronto City Hall. There was a exhibit of Thailand in various  tents lining the man-made lagoon of the square. Took a  few shots again and moved on.

At 5:00 pm, I took the Queen Streetcar to fulfill an appointment with Miguelita. I took a picture of a vine inside the library that grew up to the ceiling, like the magic  beanstalk..

Then we went up for a meeting at the Ralph Thornton Center on the 2nd floor above the Library premises. The only reason I came was the free supper. To make my attendance legit, I consented to be a member of the Center. Annual fee is 1 loonie ( 1 Canadian $ ). I got my membership card.

When I entered the auditorium, I found out several uniformed Chinese Canadians in the sparse crowd. Turned out they were members of a choral group that regularly rehearse in the premises.

The meeting took place: not much discussion or deliberation of the agenda. No need for it; everyone was hungry. After the adjournment, dinner was announced. It was a simple buffet and for someone who had only a hot dog and a pop for lunch, it was mmm as in yummy..Then the director of the center approached me and requested if I could play a few selections on their brand new piano. I said yes, even interrupted my meal( had lots of appetizers beforehand anyway ) and played a few oldies on the music machine. One of the Chinese  singers came at my back while I was playing and he sang  "Santa Lucia.."He did not know the words, but he sang out the tune in a clear tenor.

Then came their turn to sing ( and my turn to resume my meal ). They were good! And they sang in harmony which  really takes hard work to learn and perfect. They performed 4 songs in Chinese, and before each song, 2 singers would explain the lyrics. One lady would explain it in Mandarin and a gentleman would say the same thing in English. All the four songs were sang in Mandarin.

The next performers was a  ensemble  called Upper Canada Brass. They were also good!It was a group of 5 players:2 trumpets, a trombone, a French Horn and a Tuba. After their last piece, we bade good bye to the Director of RTC, cause we still have a long way to go and it was already 8:00 pm..

When we reached 19 Dixon, it was pouring cats and dogs. Luckily the bus stop is just in front of our house. We just made a run for it across the street.

I entered the living room and smelled flowers. Surprise! The fortune tree we have in a corner bloomed! I believe this tree blooms only once in 5 or 10 years! We had this plant since 1983 and this is just the 2nd time I saw it bloom. It has the smell of a Rosal ( Camille ) flower.

It was not a bad day really, and I thanked God for it. On Friday, my 2 kids with their families will visit their sister in Ottawa--##

CONGRATULATIONS TO CAITLIN AND PATRICIA!

GRADUATION DAY

(sung by the BEACH BOYS )

There's a time a for joy
A time for tears
A time we'll treasure through the years
We'll remember always
Graduation day

At the senior prom
We danced 'til three
And there you gave your heart to me
We'll remember always
Graduation day

Though we leave in sorrow
All the joys we've known
We can face tomorrow
Knowing we'll never walk alone

When the ivy walks
Are far behind
No matter where our paths may wind
We'll remember always
Graduation day

**********

Caitlin is a regular singer at the St. John the Evangelist, Weston, Ontario with my grandkids Mia and Emma. Patricia is Caitlin's younger sister. All four almost grow up together. Up to the present, they are still close friends.---#

 

PHOTOS FROM MY GRANDAUGHTERS' DANCE RECITAL...

The dance recital took place at the Lester B. Pearson Theatre, Central Park Dr., Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

The event took place June 25, Sunday from 3:00 to 6:00 pm..

 

 

FEEDBACK FROM GEMMA

Hi Manong Vic,

 

Angelo (Gildo) is my classmate when I was in elementary school.  He is young to be very sick but anyway my thoughts and prayers are with the family, I hope he gets better now that his wife is home.  Please keep us posted with his condition.  Take care and God Bless.

 

Gemma

GILDO and BING

ANGELO ( GILDO) Sampaga has practically grown up in our house especially when my dad was still around. They have a strong physical resemblance so they developed this strong bond. As what my father did to me, ( he "spoiled" me rotten ), he gave the same treatment to Gildo. He would bring him to places like Urdaneta, Dagupan, etc. When I got married and settled in Los Banios, my dad and Gildo visited us every now and then.

Knowing of his fondness for electronics, I gave him a tube tester from Radio Shack as a gift when I was already in Canada..Years later when I came home for the fist time in 1986, he told me the tester was still working and it helped him in many of his projects and home repair jobs..

The passing years can do so many things to a man. He got married to a pretty girl from Urdaneta; they had 2 kids, Marlon and Ailyn. Met the two in 2003 ( with another cousin Jasmine ) during the last Balikbayan trip I had. Marlon, I found out is just the carbon copy of Gildo when he was of his age. He visited me in our ancestral house just beside their house and we would talk about various things. Even my brother Donato grew fond of him. In him I saw a great potentiality if he would just grow up in a good environment free from the various problems that beset most people in Asingan.

A few months after we came back to Toronto, we heard that Bing left for Saudi to work. We emphatized with her because we know the great need for most of us to go abroad to find a better life. In my case, we came together as a family. In the midst of the usual hardships that confront you as a new Immigrant, somehow you have your family to console and inspire you. When we learned that she left Asingan, somehow we were concerned. And of all places to work ( Saudi ) we were quite worried because of the horror stories we heard from there..But then, we can not prevent somebody to leave for abroad if there is a chance..Months later, we heard that her employer is a very good family. We were able to breathe easier.

Then came another blow. Early this year, we heard that Gil got terribly sick and he has to be hospitalized..But how? And Bing's contract was still to expire on September 2006. The worst that could happen to a separated couple is to know one is sick and there are thousands of miles between them..Now, there is no parent who would look after Marlon and Aylin.

Financial help was sent to Gildo from us in Canada, but in some cases money is not the answer.

But God never abandons His people. We heard that Bing is coming home..Did she break her contract? Can she still go back? We do not know..Again came the nagging question: how will anyone survive in Asingan with no work?

But the happy news came from a phone call from Bing to my sister here in Toronto. She came home with a round trip ticket given free by her employer. Her employer, it turned out is one of the kind people in Saudi and it seems they like her, so they want her to come back..

I can just imagine the tearful reunion they must have had..Not seeing her 2 kids for almost 2 years..And seeing her husband who is already very thin. Gildo told my sister he felt forsaken by every one in Asingan. My sister promised Bing to help them with the hospital expenses. While saying this, Bing broke down and cried.

Well, at least Bing is back. It is a good start. She will go back to her old job on August 2006. There is still lots of time to catch up and spend with her family before then.---#

The Canine Surfer ( 8 photos )

more photos ( previously unpublished )

TREES

TREES

 

I think that I shall never see, A poem as lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest, Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day, And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Joyce Kilmer

COLLEGE DAYS..part 1

COLLEGE DAYS AT UST

JUNE TO OCTOBER, 1958...

Manila is a nice place to visit but staying there longer than a week end  is different. Especially if you are a College student without much money and sometimes you do not even have two nickels to rub together.

Looking back now, about 50 years later, I try to sift the grain from the chaff, the good memories from the bad. The memories are there like various video clips stored in a huge warehouse called the brain. I can replay a certain video clip at will, especially a segment which brings joy in remembering. But for each happy episode there seems to be an unhappy one. I try to repress the unhappy ones, which is virtually impossible..It will always be there but if there is any use for them, it will be just to use them as a reference point, relative to the life I have now at the "present tense." Whatever problems I have now would pale in comparison to the problems I had before when I was still in the Philippines at that time...

There is no comparison between the University of Sto. Tomas and my old high school alma mater, but when I get homesick at the end of the day, I feel that Rizal Academy was the best school in the planet. I began to regret my studying habits because if one did not study in high school then the same thing will happen in College. The only consolation I had was the rest of my classmates were in the same boat as I was. They seem to feel we were just wasting our time attending those subjects like: HISTORY OF THE FAR EAST ( Gawd, we had to memorize those Chinese names which are no easier than the Japanese or Korean names..Or Hindu names for that matter. The best times for me are the 30 or so minutes before the start of the class, when I get to know some of my classmates ( and befriended some of them ).

One was Edgardo Concepcion. He speaks Tagalog but he said he came from Dagupan City. He can only understand the Pangasinan dialect. His dad owned the Concepcion Optical. He liked me because I am good in drawing and when I am bored, I usually make sketches of the famous movie stars at that time..James Dean has just met his death in a highway in Salinas California and many Filipino youth idolized him. I would make a quick sketch of him, show it to him, then he would say.."Can I have it?" Of course I always say "yes"I made numerous pencil sketches of Jimmy Dean and I gave them all to him.In College, especially Freshman year, you have to have at least ONE good friend.

In June 1958, James Dean was a movie icon in the Philippines I saw GIANT ( his last movie ) in the beautiful AVENUE THEATRE near the corner of Azcarraga and Avenida Rizal.

The loud mouth in our class is an Indian guy named Gordit Singh. He had glasses, a dead ringer to Buddy Holley and he can talk fluent Tagalog. I think he was born in Manila of pure Hindu parents ( plying most probably the 5-6 trade ). The Hindus in Manila then were called BOMBAYS.

So one day Gordit asked me some silly questions, while some students were in hearing range..He needed an audience.

"You know" he began.."Pangasinan is the stinkiest dialect in the Philippines.."

"Why?" I asked.."Okay", he started.."What is the Pangasinan translation of linugaw?"

"Binulbol*.." I answered.."All the other Tagalog students started to snicker.

"See what I mean? Whats the Pangasinan for ' Ano yan?' "

" Anto tan**.." This time his audience broke into an irrepressible laughter..I did not know much Tagalog at that time..The bell rang, and every one scurried to their seats like trained rats.

From that time on, I never stayed close to him before class. I just hang out with Edgar and some other likable guys and we would always talk about the current movies being shown in the first run theatres. Of course, I always saved some money to buy a ticket for one movie on a Sunday. Because of my love for movies, I dropped my ROTC subject ( which takes place on a Sunday morning ) because it interfered with my movie watching.

Besides, I really hated ROTC. I hated the officers who seem to be putting down the Platoon of privates all the time. But one has to finish four semesters of this useless subject in order to get a University diploma.

Around the middle of the semester, I already decided the course is no good for me and would never return to the UST to finish the whole year..#

 

( to be continued )

*Bulbol in Tagalog means pubic hair

**Anto tan, added with K becomes Kantotan, which in Tagalog means sex intercourse..

SANTA CRUZAN PHOTOS IN SAN DIEGO, CA..

I am printing a few of the photos taken during the Santacruzan Parade..For a complete view of the numerous photos, copy and paste the URL mentioned in the letter...

Thanks,

the Editor

 

Mabuhay,

For those interested, I have publish some of the photos I took at
COPAO's Philippine Faire this past week end.  I was only able to
attend on Saturday, so unfortunately I don't have photos from Sunday's events.

To view them please go to http://snoopydude.com/photos/philippinefaire/

If anyone would like copies of any of photos in High Resolution,
please let me know and I'll be happy to send them to you.  If anyone
wishes to reprint them for media purposes, permission is granted
provided you give credit to either Joseph Roley-Arzaga or Snoopy Dude
Graphics and Web Design.

Sincerely,

Joseph A. Roley-Arzaga

SEASCAPES ALONG KAMEHAMEHA ROAD

Any first timer to Hawai'i ( like Miguelita and I ) is always treated to a "tour of the Island", O'ahu Island that is. In this  trip that took place Thursday, May 25, we were accompanied by 2 townmates Anthony Pico and Lily Antonio Pico. Anthony and Lily are from the Mainland ( good 'ol USA) and they came to Hawai'i  for some personal/business purposes. Both of them are retirees and believe it or not, Hawai'i is a good place to retire. Just be aware that real estate here is expensive and the standard of living is also high. Thus it is a common knowledge that residents here have to have 2 or more jobs in order to live comfortably. Well, it is the same thing in the Mainland anyway.

Anyways, that morning, we went from Honolulu through the Kamehameha Hi-Way, making a few stops on the way to take some photos.

The views are magnificent, especially on such a gorgeous, sunny day. Rugged mountains on one side, the foamy beach on the other. The sand is not dark colored. A couple of fishing rods came along with this trip. Plus a sumptous lunch prepared by our host.

At about 12:30 pm after passing thru Waimanalo ( a booming community on the eastern tip of O'ahu ), then we stopped at Chinaman's Hat for lunch.---#

continuation is in the Hawaiian Diary; just click http://journals.aol.ca/mabait42/HAWAIIANDIARY/entries/210