Yesterday was the birthday of my youngest sister, Minnie. She is now living and working in Alberta, Canada. She moved out of our home in BF Paranaque to pursue a career and some independence.
In the summer of 2005, Minnie visited us in Saigon and was able to meet up with Patrick Velez. Both have not seen each other since the 70s. It was a reunion for both cousins. Maybe, next time Patrick and Minnie will meet in the Big Apple and watch the “Lion King” on Broadway.
Or maybe, Chief and I get to visit my sister in Alberta?
Until then, happy birthday loving sister!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Presence Lost in 9/11
Nearly the presence of 3,000 men, women and children were lost in 2001 when four commercial planes attacked different locations in the United States. Today, those events are called 9/11.Chief and I were in our 1st Greenhome at Tran Nhat Duat, District 1, Ho Chi MInh City when CNN broke the news that the World Trade Center had crumbled to the ground, the Pentagon had been attacked and a third plane crashed in the fields.
We had just returned from work and couldn’t believe what was happening across the United States. We quickly thought of our cousins who were based in New York City and stayed up all night glued to CNN.
Much have been written about the men and women who died that day, specially the members of FDNY and NYPD. Documentaries and even a movie had been made in their memory. Am sure more entries in thousands of blogs on-line have paid tribute to these heroes.
Yes, the passengers American Airlines Flight 11, United Airlines Flight 175, American Airlines Flight 77 and United Airlines Flight 93 are among these heroes, together with the other men and women on the ground and the buildings struck by these planes.
They represented over 90 nationalities across the world. Even today, people, including rescue workers suffer from lung disease brought about by extended exposure to dust from the WTC rubble.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
West Side Story
Last Sunday afternoon, Chief and I went to watch the local version of “West Side Story.” I really don’t remember watching the 1961 movie version with Natalie Wood
Richard Beymer and Rita Moreno. But I do remember that Fr. James Reuter, SJ had done versions of this popular Broadway production in St. Paul College, QC. I think Nano Regalado, a Mass Comm student, played Maria.
But this Sunday afternoon, Chief and I were watching this production with mom and Miguel. We had gotten four tickets, courtesy of Jeannie Javelosa. She was also taking her parents to watch this play, but unfortunately, we didn’t see her at Meralco Theatre.
Personally, I had mom go with us as she really needed to be brought out of the house and enjoy life more. Work had been tying me down lately, even on weekends and I wanted to spend more time with my mom. Dad had died in June 2001 while Chief and I were in Vietnam. Plus, spend time with Miguel too.
I had told Miguel to wear jeans as initially he was wearing shorts. Hehehe. I told him that it was a formal program, with people dressed up for the event. When we got to the lobby, I said, “Tignan mo iyon mga tao… walang naka shorts.” Really just to emphasize what I told him earlier. In fact, Cecile also asked me to wear a shirt with collar. Hehehe.
West Side Story is a musical collaboration of Leonard Bernstein (music), and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics). Did you know that it was based on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet?
The story tells the rivalry of two gangs in Manhattan’s West Side during the mid-50s. I think it was specifically set in Hell’s Kitchen? Not sure. But my cousin, Patrick, had brought Cecile and I around that block when we were in the Big Apple last December 2007.
Won’t tell the love story of Tony (played by Christian Bautista) and Maria or the tragic ending. Ironically, some of the audience laughed towards the end as they heard the sound effect of gun shot.
Probably the most popular song out of this musical is “Maria.” I whispered to Miguel that he should take note of this song. As the musical moved forward, we heard other songs like "America," "Somewhere," "Tonight," “Cool” and "I Feel Pretty." I remember I heard Jack Nickolson hum that tune in the 2003 movie "Anger Management."
The 1957 Broadway production ran for 732 performances and earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Musical. “The Music Man” eventually went to get that award in 1957. It did win an award for choreography.
In 1961, a movie version was directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. Did you know that Robbins, who directed the stage version, was fired because the movie’s budget had gone overboard? Still, the film won 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture.
This local stage version probably won’t win any awards or get a lot of praises, but it would surely help strengthen the ties between parents and children who shared the music and the story of Tony and Maria. I know Miguel will look back years from now and probably hum one of the tunes from West Side Story.
Richard Beymer and Rita Moreno. But I do remember that Fr. James Reuter, SJ had done versions of this popular Broadway production in St. Paul College, QC. I think Nano Regalado, a Mass Comm student, played Maria.
But this Sunday afternoon, Chief and I were watching this production with mom and Miguel. We had gotten four tickets, courtesy of Jeannie Javelosa. She was also taking her parents to watch this play, but unfortunately, we didn’t see her at Meralco Theatre.
Personally, I had mom go with us as she really needed to be brought out of the house and enjoy life more. Work had been tying me down lately, even on weekends and I wanted to spend more time with my mom. Dad had died in June 2001 while Chief and I were in Vietnam. Plus, spend time with Miguel too.
I had told Miguel to wear jeans as initially he was wearing shorts. Hehehe. I told him that it was a formal program, with people dressed up for the event. When we got to the lobby, I said, “Tignan mo iyon mga tao… walang naka shorts.” Really just to emphasize what I told him earlier. In fact, Cecile also asked me to wear a shirt with collar. Hehehe.
West Side Story is a musical collaboration of Leonard Bernstein (music), and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics). Did you know that it was based on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet?
The story tells the rivalry of two gangs in Manhattan’s West Side during the mid-50s. I think it was specifically set in Hell’s Kitchen? Not sure. But my cousin, Patrick, had brought Cecile and I around that block when we were in the Big Apple last December 2007.
Won’t tell the love story of Tony (played by Christian Bautista) and Maria or the tragic ending. Ironically, some of the audience laughed towards the end as they heard the sound effect of gun shot.
Probably the most popular song out of this musical is “Maria.” I whispered to Miguel that he should take note of this song. As the musical moved forward, we heard other songs like "America," "Somewhere," "Tonight," “Cool” and "I Feel Pretty." I remember I heard Jack Nickolson hum that tune in the 2003 movie "Anger Management."
The 1957 Broadway production ran for 732 performances and earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Musical. “The Music Man” eventually went to get that award in 1957. It did win an award for choreography.
In 1961, a movie version was directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. Did you know that Robbins, who directed the stage version, was fired because the movie’s budget had gone overboard? Still, the film won 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture.
This local stage version probably won’t win any awards or get a lot of praises, but it would surely help strengthen the ties between parents and children who shared the music and the story of Tony and Maria. I know Miguel will look back years from now and probably hum one of the tunes from West Side Story.
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