THIS RING HAS MANY MEANINGS

The following article was posted last November 25 at the Notre Dame yahoogroup by yours truly. I'm posting it here in the hope that you take notice of what Thanksgiving Day really means. We may not know it, but, there's so many things we should be thankful for, although ours lives can be very trying at times. And these persons are some that I'm grateful to have known.

TO MA'AM WITH LOVE (AT PASASALAMAT)

Sa darating na Araw ng Pagpapasalamat (dito sa America), ako ay nagpupugay at nagbibigay pahalaga sa ating mga NAGING mga guro sa high school at sa elementarya. Sila na mga nilalang na walang ginawa kung hindi ang tayo ay maturuan ng "leksiyon" sa ating pagkakatuloy sa Notre Dame. Leksiyon, mga quizzes, mga homeworks at marami pang mga surprise o maikling quiz. Kasama na rin ang pagsulat ng tamang bokabularyo at tamang pagbigkas at tamang pag-martsa! Mga guro na walang ninais na tayo ay mapabuti sa tunay na daigdig. Daigdig ng mga duktor, abugado, aktor, mang-aawit o manganganta, politiko at kawani ng gobyerno, kawani sa pribadong sektor at higit sa lahat sa daigdig ng mga mamamayan na may respeto, kagandahan at may pagpapahalaga sa tamang pamumuhay ayon sa batas ng tao at ayon sa gusto ng ating Diyos Ama, Diyos Anak at Diyos Espiritu Santo--at sa ating Inang Maria.

Lahat, maliban sa iba, ng mga gurong ito ay ninais na tayo ay magtagumpay. At ngayon na karamihan sa atin ay nagtatamasa ng kastas ng pawis na ating napag-alaman noon sa paaralan, hindi ba dapat lamang na pasalamatan si Sir at Madam at si Sister kaya? Nguni't, dadapwa't, subalit, ako ay humihingi ng patawad sa ating mga ginawang hindi kanais-nais dala na siguro ng ating pagiging mga wala pang mga alam.

Gaya nang pagpuna ng paglalakad sa isa sa mga titser, ang pagsagot ng pabalang sa isa at sa marami, sigurado ako, nating pagsuway sa tamang asal. Grabe pa, aking inaamin ngayon, ang pagpapa-iyak sa isa nating guro-madre! Gayun pa man, hindi sila natinag na magturo ng tama, na isipin lamamg ang ating kapakanan at sa huli ay maging mga nakatapos sa mataas na paaralan. Sa mga gurong ito, ang ating tagumpay ay tagumpay ng mga magulang natin at tagumpay na rin nilang mga pangalawang mga magulang-guro. 

Sa darating  na Nobyembre bent-siyete 2008, ako'y nagpapasalamat, ng trenta-sais na beses, sa ating mga guro--kasama na rin si Prof, si Dean, si Coach at mga mabubuting mga kamag-aral. Na lahat ay nagbigayay ng kulay, saya at kabuluhan (at hirap na rin) sa ating buhay. Isama ko na si Daddy at Mommy--Inay at Itay, Papa at Mama o si Father at Sister-- dahil sa kanilang walang sawang suporta at pagtustos sa aking mahabang pag-aaral.

Mabuhay kayong lahat! Mabuhay tayong lahat! Mabuhay ang Pinoy! Salamat sa buhay! Salamat sa Buhay Pinoy! At pasasalamat, kahit papaano, kay Gatpuno Andres Bonifacio na ngayon ay araw ng kanyang kaarawan.

Thought For You

Noon, lahat ng mga babae ay magaganda.

Ngayon, hindi lahat ng magaganda ay babae!

translation: Before, all the women are pretty. Now, NOT all the pretty are women.    

AN AUTUMN REUNION

Yesterday afternoon till the night, Nette's high school classmates had a mini reunion at Yorba Linda, hometown of ex-President Dick Nixon, Orange County. The affair was held of Rollie's townhome's club house which was ours for the whole day. And it was lots of fun because one of their classmates visited all the way from Australia. May mga pasalubong pa pati ako (an Assie baseball cap, boomberang keychain, a koala stuff toy and a mouse pad. (Looks like I was part of the family receiving them. Ang saya kasi he was so generous and I guess he was happy too for seeing their classmates having been away since 1984. And, would you guess he was also once a Notre Dame grade school student, but later, transferred to Binan's Santa Catalina de Sena H.S. And of course, welcome also ang mga asawa at mga anak. Super busog and lasing (akala mo naman malakas nag-beer) ako. Kulang lang ang karaoke, kasi nga excited sila mag-chika muna. Kaya okay lang. I got to talk to two of them (in the picture). They were that friendly. And this coming December, they will hold the party in our house. That was talked about last night and everybody was already looking forward to this.

I get to be closer to guys than my own classmates. That's because this I have known for at least 3 years while the Notre Dame Class of '72 for less than 3 months. I hope this will change in the coming year. But, I have close contact with Sam who I share some common things. He also a heart survivor like my wife. You could say I'm mapili because I like friends who are also good like me. The saying goes, "Boys of the same hair stand (flock) together." And that's my weather report on today's autumn months.

ALZHEIMER'S WALK 2008

This year's walk which Aegis Living (DP) participated in was held at Cal State Fullerton campus in Orange County. It was tiring because we were there at 6:45 am and left after noon na. The band was good and the main event was the fundraising raffle of the Smart Car, which was won by a Pinoy couple. The wife was jumping in joy and couldn't believe her luck, the husband followed her. And who wouldn't be happy to have a car for $50 that has a 65 MPG. Some get lucky, some get unlucky and almost fooled. Cause when I went to our booth, two of Nette's co-workers had just bought 2 tickets when I told them the car was won already. The guy who sold them the ticket, the raffle was to be drawn at 12, but I pointed to him the woman who won it.

So, he hurriedly went to the stage was told I was right. And the officemates got their refunds. Well, I guess the reason the man was able to put the tickets in the raffle drum was he was nakiki-tsika with my wife. Funny, I thought. 

A DAGGER AND A FAN

It's still November that's why the reason for the costumes if you can call them as such. Or you say we're going to a party, but there's none, just in our house and some trick or treaters. We give them  candies instead of asking them for tricks cause they'll just wrap around our trees in the front of the house a lot of toilet paper rolls. Later, it will be Turkey'sgiving Day, but, we still don't know if we're having a turkey of chicken.  

JACK O LANTERN

Or you could say Jack O' Nette, Jack O' Jun and Jack O' Gino. From here Oceanween, Happy, Happy Halloween to all of you.

THAT INFERNO IS A NO-NO!

As I approach our house that's the only time that I was convinced that the fire wasn't in our area. By not much--about five miles across the river. But, if you look at these pictures, you would think that it's our backyard already. Everything is still standing around our house. No dark clouds, no smoke dusts, no bad smelling air to spoil the rather cool weather. We're lucky the wind  carried them into the ocean way, just like it did last year during the county-wide 5-fires that lasted for almost one week. There's no way to predict these from occurring, no way we can say we won't be hit. All we can do is pray and be a little prepared. God bless those who help themselves. If you do good things that He says, you will be save and good hands. Are you in good Hands? I hope so. So, don't worry as I do. We get to live another day. Good deed as good deed does, as Forrest Gump would say.

It is now 11 pm, the fire have scorched 1,200 acres and more than 1,000 persons evacuated from the Juliet area inside  Camp Pendleton. Update on the fire will be posted next.

I'M ON THE WAY HOME, HONEY!

It was about 5:15 pm when I heading for home driving past Highway 78 that I saw the thick smoke billowing into the sky. As I drive nearer to the house I could see it become bigger and bigger. I thought, I hope the fire wasn't IN our neighborhood. One mile away from the house, I realized that the fire indeed was far and our house is safe. From the new Ceasar Chavez Middle School and the new public park at the back, I could see the wide extend of the brush fire that was raging inside Camp Pendleton fanned by the high humidity and Santa Ana wind which was predicted to happen in the Inland Area. I guess the meteorologists were wrong again. The fire was just near the coastal boundary and it's cause is officially known yet. But, it would spread through the night and hoping the winds die down. If not, a lot of people we'll have to evacuate and thus have a long night ahead. I hope they're safe.

IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING?

Only last August, Kuya, Ate liz, Nette and I went to hear Mass at this Mission and we were all in awe with the place. It was serene, quiet and quite an amazing place to visit. The background were perfect then, but came today, it was like a surreal feeling of what was really happening. In fact the fire was about 8 miles away up north. And the fire was spreading fast into the night. But the church is safe, thank God, for it sits across the San Luis Rey River. And if you can see, the Mission is still the King. Towering over the fire and undisturbed with the flags showing the westerly wind that prevented the church to be enveloped by the dark, big smoke. Can that be called, "Holy Smoke"? Pardon the pun. It's really a blessing for us that fire is far away from our house. That we can thank God for.

THE FIRE, THE SUN AND THE MOON

Last Thursday at 3 in the afternoon, a wildfire started in the Camp Pendleton training area, as shown near the intersection of Highway 76 and Frazee Road. That's the streets we take in going home. Then, we were not worried because it was contolled as the evening came and contained the next day. That was good I said to myself, but, I was wrong because today at just about 3 pm, another fire started at the same area and this time it was bigger and spread farther into Bonsall and houses were evacuated and relocated into the El Camino High School relocation center. I was driving home when these shots were taken. What's unique about the situation is when I saw the fire in the north, the sun in the west and the moon in the east. How can this be? Is Mother Nature telling us something?

Paradise Will be Lost (Temporarily)

In the twenty-one years we've been living in North County, San Diego, we have seen and felt what it is supposed to be like in paradise, if there's really a place. From the north, there's Oceanside and going south, there's Carlsbad, then Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar and Carmel Valley. Weatherwise, locationwise, there's no shortage of beautiful places to go like in the pictures shown here. These were taken in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, the southern part of Encinitas, that stretches in part of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) 101.

Taken on a cliff overlooking the ocean, last Septmber,
these houses in the background are worth millions each, while a railroad bridge crosses the lagoon in the foreground. The Chart House, below, is a favorite seafood restaurant, so much so that even when there's a storm and flooding around the building, there are still many guest dining, just to see the ocean waves splashing into the tempered window glass. And if I have dream house, this lovely house is just the perfect one in just the perfect place. (I could already see myself looking into the ocean with the sunset with a pina colada in my hand. If that ever happens, I can consider myself like Adam and my wife, like Eve, before they lost it all. But, sometimes paradise can be lost, even temporarily, as you will see in my next post entry.

THE BEST OF TIMES, THE WORST OF TIMES

On September 11, 2008 we remembered the victims of the single most tragic event in American history. Many lives were broken, many pains were suffered by this very unnecessary and evil act perpetuated allegedly by one evil person (Muslim or otherwise). I can't fathom how the families of those who died are coping now. But, in this worst of time come out the heroes--cops, firemen, medics and plain office mates. These brave and hardworking men and women who toiled to right this wrong. Still, it's a very painful feeling when August finally ends and comes September.

In all of these sadness comes joy, at least for me, also to Nette and our friends, Nanie, Agnes and Carrie. And that is when I got the call from Arnel, on September 26, that we would really was going to see him and the Journey perform live in concert. To think that last August, I gave up of ever going to see one of their concerts this year. But, that month was saved by the excitement of my niece's wedding and seeing my family again, also. I'll treasure those happy moments with them.

And when October 1st came and having seen the Journey sing their songs of hope, encouragement and just plain corny feelings expressed in, of all media, rock and rock style, I couldn't ask for anything more. Because the memories--sounds and sights of them, especially, of course, our Idol--still lingers in my thoughts. Tanong nga ni Aggie kung high pa raw ako hanggang ngayon, when we chatted tonight. And I answered without hesitation:"Yes!" But, their US concert tour ended October 5. So that was it, I just have to wait for the Summer of 2009. And indeed I will wait to continue the journey.

But after October 1st came the collapse of Wall Street triggered by the greed and false sense of being of some to what Americans should really be. The excesses of some citizens of this great country--the urge to keep up with the Joneses, as they say. And by their recklessness and foolishness to have it all, to know it all, it ultimately comes to all of us, globally, who will pay and suffer for it. The US government will not be able to solve this problem as one knowledgeable source I talked to said. And to think it started to grow slowly six years ago and nobody was payin attention. All of them wanted some of the goodies of course. Some believe Uncle Sam can fix this mess, but, I believe only the GOD-father and the SON can do the job. All we have to do is pray FAITHFULLY, DON'T STOP BELIEVING IN HIM, BE GOOD TO YOURSELVES AND CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.

And what do we do about those careless Chinese who allowed this "Got (Tainted) Milk! hysteria grow to such monstrosity. Should Uncle Sam do some spanking to his favorite or most favored nation. It's interesting to see how the Eagle battles the Tiger. To wit:"The eagle can fly, but, the tiger cannot eagle." All the tiger can do is crouch! And what does that do? So, does that mean the Eagle will win. Abangan Ang Pagdapo ni Juan "Journior! HOHOHO! I mean: Hehehe! Or maybe Someone's (or Something's) Good Waiting For Me (Us)? And make me feel good again. Winning the lotto wouldn't be bad! I just have to work more on my "The Secret" formulate! LOL. I hope I have lighten up your life.

JOY AND PAIN IN MY HEART (At The Concert)

After having our tickets checked by the attendant we walked inside the showroom lobby where the concertgoers were happily talking to each other, comparing notes about latest in their idols' happenings and some were looking into many Journey souvenir items like t-shirts, posters, CD albums, canvas bags and even key chains. If you noticed Nette and I wore black attire, sabi nga kasi ni Nette pang-rock ang mga ito. And she was right, there were many wearing black, some of them even with the Revelation CD graphics which I have one having given two of them to two my friends in Manila together with the CDs of which I had bought 10 already. Still waiting for us to enter thru the main door, we saw the group of 20 persons as part of the "Meet And Greet 5 Star/4 Star" ticket holders. These fans paid $350 and 250 each just to see, meet and pose for pictures with the Journey members in a room just besides the hall, before the show started. In fact, a wall to our left only divided Arnel and us and still we cannot give him our thank you card. We felt hopeless about it. Hopeless more so because in front of the door was burly and well-muscled security guard, i think he's Indian, who looks like the very tall villain in the James Bond movie, guarding against any neurotic or hyper-ecstatic or just plain drunk fans who might enter and hurt any of the band members or even Arnel. I said this because there are Steve Perry fans who believe nobody, even if he's better than SP, has the right to be the lead singer. Arnel (AP) have proven he can on the many European and US concerts and tonight he'll sure prove it again. Even if both singers have P (for Power) in their names, A is first to S's voice. Finally, we were ushered to our seats. And we couldn't believe we were to be so near Arnel and yet so far, but, that where we were was more good enough for us.

Now, another waiting starts. We were seated to the right side of the stage at around 7:15 pm for a show to begin at 8 pm. Well we thought that's a short time to wait, a short time to look around as fans continue to enter and take notice of the different and diverse kind of the new Journey band audience. And they range from the very young to the old, male and female gender (but I'm sure I'm right there many of the latter), and the sosyal and jolo crowd. But, everybody were finally getting along, except for some who found their seats a little nearer than what's printed on their tcikets. Kung makakalusot lang! (I know what you're thinking. They were not Pinoys!) Still no Journey but there lots of other rock group music coming out of the speakers as 15 minutes pass 8 pm and the hall wasn't filled and the concert was supposed to be sold-out. (with half of the seats empty?). But about 8:20 people started to fill in and some were whistling for the show to start. The stage and band hands came out making final sound, lights and equipment checks. The mikes, guitars and drums were ready.

The other rock music stopped and on the two big video screens the band members were shown giving high fives and walking from the backstage to the main stage and the audience made a wild roar, loud whistling and hand clapping all at the same time. It even became wilder and louder when the band started playing their first song and when Arnel hit the first note, the audience stood up, so we stood up also, and from then on we didn't seat down for more 5 minutes. So I said to myself, this is American Rock and Roll, not like the last R&R concert of Blood, Sweat and Tears at Araneta Coliseum during the 1970's. Where I would have thought nobody was watching because I was seated in the general admission, the seats almost empty and hardly no loud cheering I can feel my knees click! The band had to tell us to come down and seat nearer to the stage! But, Arnel Pineda had the audience in the palm of his hands and he could do whatever he wants to by the mere sound of his powerful voice. Into the third song the sound was awful--it was either too loud or under mixed that tended to drown out AP's voice. After more and continuous loud cheer from the audience did the sound got better, the sound man might have finally got over the pina colada he had or else not get paid after the concert! Hehehe! The band performed their Dirty Dozen hit songs and new songs and 3 or 4 songs from their other albums with the trademark Journey sound. And Arnel rendered his own version of what Neal Schon was looking for a lead singer, the legacy sound. Not the SP sound! (I'll add the set list when I find them). But I'm sure the we went nuts over songs like; After All These Years (AATY), OA (Open Arms), Faithfully (F), Don't Stop Believing (DSB), Separate Ways (SW), Wheels In The Sky (WITS) and Only The Young (OTY).

Arnel was in his usual self, bouncing around, jumping from the drum riser, doing his trademark microphone pumping action and running to the left side of the stage to the right side just so the audience can see his face which made them cheer even louder. The Pinoys best cheered when he said:"Mabuhay!" and "See You Again, Teme-cula!" at the end of the show. Well, as for the band, they performed and sung just like in their studio sound, only more LIVELIER and fuller. They were all pro together with Arnel. Neal Schon, the lead guitarist and ex-Santana co-founder, played it as if his hands were on fire, and the one most jammed along with Arnel. Just as Arnel has that souring tenor, Neal's guitar was equally soaring and even weeping at one time. Ross Valory, the 59 year old base guitarist, was perfectly on the spot that his duh, duh plucking is felt strongly as if it's the viewers' heart. Ross was funny to watch, he's always making faces with the audience and the second one whom Arnel also jams along. Jonathan Cain, on the keyboard and composer, plays like a classical pianist and a bluegrass harmonica player. Together with Neal and Ross playing their guitars was a sight to see and hear. Deen Castronovo, the drummer, was not to be left out. Because with his energetic and very timely playing and also with his higher than Pineda's already high solo voice, there wouldn't be the present Journey sound than is a lot better musically than the other versions.

We had the time of our lives, with all the non-stop shouting, howling and singing-along with Arnel and the band. We waved our hands, swayed our hips (later on it didn't take long for Nette to be dancing along also). As for me, I was hitting my imaginary drum set just like Deen's and singing-along Arnel (only with a LOWER key)! Hehehe. The other older fans had a blast too when Journey sung 2 two songs which I don't know the titles and they seems like they were the ones singing them together the swaying of the hands and the full open mouths that says: "I know this song." There were poignant moments during the show. One of them was a couple in the front row kissing each other, also a couple to my right in a locked hug, while Arnel sung AATY with all the emotions only he or anybody who have felt what's in the beautiful lyrics and music score. Of course, one couple did the same when "Faithfully" was sung. And that couple was us. I gave Nette a kiss that she was surprise that I would do in public. Well, there's a;ways a first time. Even if it's in a rock concert. And true, this is our FIRST ROCK CONCERT! And as they say also, we will cherish the love--and togetherness and feeling of joy.

The band performed more solos, like that of Deen's 'Mother, Father", two by Neal Schon's and Ross Valory's and one by Jonathan. which I though was usual because in their other venues Arnel carried most of the belting. As the show neared the finally encore, we noticed that he was tired and his voice was flat in some of the songs and also the members particularly Deen who I heard missed a beat but was able to catch up. This maybe because they have 2 back to back shows at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles the nights before this. But, they always give their all and we weren't disappointed at all. And it was more than what they were advertised. It wasn't all You Tube hype. They were real and basically don't need front acts. I only wish the stage was bigger for more room for Arnel to do his thing. I do wish a lot, huh? You'd say "One wish at a time muna." The show ended at almost 10:30. And I believe they performed for two hours. By this time Nette and I were half deaf and whenever I tell her something she couldn't hear me because of the very loud sound coming from those enormous speakers just 10 feet to our left.

What wasn't advertised was that Arnel was sick with fever that night. And still was able to sound as if he was still singing three sets at Hard Rock Cafe Manila, at Bagaberde and the Gapo. It was confirmed for us that he wasn't his normal self during the final bow when he uttered hoarsely so:"Not bad for a sick boy!" Wow! Boy! If I were to get sick and sound and act like him, I'd wouldn't mind it at all. I'd rather be sick for a month than be at work five days a week. Then they bid goodbye, Neal and Jonathan throwing guitar picks at the audience and Deen throwing a couple pair of his drum sticks, too. And we gave them a standing, standing only ovation, clapping our hand that I can feel that my palm hardening that they were almost callous already. And they walked back towards the backstage. But, we wouldn't let them go and continue shouting, cheering and clapping for a good 90 seconds until they came back with an encore of SP's "Touchin, Squeezin' N Lovin' which was the most fun and sad part of the show. Fun, because the fans were really having a great time with Boys. Sad, because of me knowing that Arnel wasn't feeling well and I felt guilty to think what's with him why he didn't even bother to answer my messages and texts. And that it will take another two seasons till we get to see him, that time I hope, personally. All I can say is well done boys. You made me very happy not just for a night but for more days to come.

Note: I sorry I didn't have many pictures of the concert because cameras weren't allowed. But, I did get some videos and sounds for home viewing only. My posts are also subject to addition and/or omission as memory becomes clearer as time goes by. So check it back if you like. Thank you.

THE CONCERT OF THE YEAR

Last Saturday, September 26, we picked-up our tickets at Pechanga Resort and Casino glad that finally we have the proofs that we indeed was going to see Journey and Arnel Pineda. Because after having bought Lawn tickets (the fartest from the stage) for $135 last August 1 for their Harrah's Rincon Casino concert on October 3, only to be told the next day that the tickets were reserved and that I'll not be charge in my credit card anyway. I was really disappointed that there was really no chance for me watch them this year and that's bad. And who would know the bad who turn out for the better. I guess if you really wanted something very much, you just have to think hard that you have and you're there already. That they say is the "Secret" in life-the power of positive thinking. Lucky for me and Nette, it worked out. The only missing part to complete this event is that the promoter canceled the VIP Pass meeting. But this didn't dampened our excitement to see the J-Boys.

That was evident, at least for me, when the day before the concert I was choosing what to wear and doing the checklist what to bring like: earplugs, binoculars, Journey's Revelation CD and T-shirt with black and silver ink Sharpie matker pens and Zoo's Gimik CD for autograph signing, digital camera with 3 batteries and a new memory card. And the Thank You card we were hoping we could give to Arnel personally. I wasn't a Boy Scout in grade school but I was a PMT cadet for four years! So, after that I've always like to have things prepared and covered, so to speak. So, on the day of the concert, October 1, 2008 we left home early to be at the casino before everybody else to avoid the traffic like what happened on their other concerts. We arrived at the casino well ahead of time that we still have time to eat a light snack and some slot machine playing and then at around 7 pm we walked in front of the showroom entrance area where we saw some die-hard fans are assembling already and excitedly telling stories about the concerts they've been to and how they met Arnel also. Nette was even given a reproduction pen/ink and crayon poster of Arnel singing created by one artist-fan of his. And that in part made up for that meeting with Arnel that would not take place.