some postings from across the river

from beyond the river bank...

From: Tang Ignas
Town_City:
Email:
To: All Kakailian ditoy Kalapaw, Mang VIC
Remote Name: c-71-202-142-224.hsd1.ca.comcast.net
Date: Friday, May 30, 2008

Message

Naimbag a rabiiyo amin, kakailian ken gagayyem! Ala, ket napalubusantayon ni MADAM ESTHER. Nagluas idi kalman ket mabalin a nakadanonen ita idiay Pilipinas. Sumagmamano kadatayo iti nangikur-it dagiti laglagip ken anecdota maipanggep kenkuana. Babaen iti panangbayabay tay naanus ken natakneng a gayyemtayo idiay ballasiw ti Karayan Agno, ni Manong Vic Costes ti Asingan Message Board, pinangayedna iti pannakaimaldit dagiti pinutartayo through the blog. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MANONG VIC! God willing, a kas kuna ni Madam Esther, she will be back in two years. We look forward to see her again! .....

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From: mr pogi
Town_City:
Email:
To: Manong Vic/"Mr. Asingan"
Remote Name: adsl-75-6-141-147.dsl.skt2ca.sbcglobal.net
Date: Friday, May 30, 2008

Message

Thank you so much for sharing us here in our kalapaw ti ili, lots of memories from our dear teacher, Madam Esther Hufana, it was indeed a very touching reunion of lasting memory, that each and everyone present that day, will forever cherish and will talk about, years and years to come.Kudos to my ading, Tang Ignas, for sharing his humble home to welcome our madam, and to his energetic leadership in providing Madam Esther the hospitality , her former students can offer.We hope that she's h home safely now,by the grace of the Lord Almighty, and may she will remember us, now that she's our own homeland.To madam Esther, thanks for the joy we've shared in San Jose,Ca, hope there will be more of this memorable special reunion!!!!!!!!!

A POIGNANT POEM, submitted by Arsenia

 

LIFE IS BUT A STOPPING PLACE

Life is but a stopping place A pause in what to be

A resting place along the road To sweet eternity.

We all have different journeys, different paths along the way,

We all were meant To learn some things, But never meant to stay...

 

Our destination is a place Far greater than we know.

For some the journey's quicker, For some the journey's slow.

and when the journey finally ends,

We'll claim a great reward and find an everlasting peace as always.

Anonymous

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The photo above shows the world's smallest church, located in Niagara on the lake. It can only accomodate 4 people, excluding the preacher.  It is located near one of the vineyards in this picturesque town.

It is about half an hour ride from Niagara Falls. It is a small town which does not allow progress to creep in. Reminds me of Cambria. In fact is the Cambria of the Niagara penninsula.

Rain visited the church during one of her visits to Toronto.---#

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

a feedback from a reader concerning the previous photo-essay...

HI Manong Vic,

 

That's beautiful, thanks for sharing.  I always get excited when I get email from you.  Thank you for your time, I'm sure others enjoy every bit of it just like me. 

 

Keep up the good work.  Warmest regards to your family especially to Manang Nitz.  God Bless !!

 

Sincerely,

Gemma Fonbuena-Agius

 

Life as I see IT

Time is an ever-moving pen that writes out the life of every person..

 

When I thought I know everything only then I realize that I know nothing...

 

The search for absolute Truth will bring us to the highest peak and lowest bottom of thinking..

 

Love is the only passion that would outlive the stars

 

Life is an unending circle:when we come to the end, only then have we reached the beginning of yet another cycle...

 

captions and some photos by:

VIC COSTES

Blue Jays vs Royals

Last May 26, Miggie and I went to watch our first baseball game at the Rogers Skydome.

Here are a few shots I took while the game was going on..

The game stadium was originally called SKYDOME  before the Communications biggie Rogers bought it from the Ontario government for a whooping amount of Can $.  From afar, it looks like a planetarium, minus the telescopes. Its dome opens and closes depending on the weather.

 

There is this 3 story high LCD TV which shows some games played by the audience while the ball game is going on. The prizes are gratifying too..

 

The mascot of the Blue Jays..

 

A southpaw at the bat. The Blue Jays' pitcher and catcher are formidable!

Our seats are a few rows away from the players, thanks to  Dr. Jonathan and Michelle Forbes.---#

 

test

The lady with WHAT??

HERE'S MY "SHARE OF THE PIE" ABOUT MADAM ESTHER HUFANA ....... I could not exactly remember if I had been under Madam Esther. What I know is that she once substituted for our regular teacher. But I knew Madam Esther as the fightingest lady member of the Board of Cavassers in the 1969 local elections (Macaraeg versus Cabanayan) who courageously and vigorously objected to the proclamation of the then leading mayoralty candidate because of alleged ballot snatching committed by his men. She did this despite the grave and real threats to her life and even, allegedly, engaged the leading candidate in a heated verbal tussle wherein she stood her ground and never capitulated. Consequently, no winning mayoralty candidate was proclaimed because of Madam Esther's vehement objections, thus paving the way for the assumption of Ex-Mayor Romeo Ragon of the position, having been the duly elected and proclaimed winner for Vice-Mayor. Because of her courage, integrity, uncompromising stand for the sake of fairness and fairplay and other laudable actions, Madam Esther earned the monicker among our townsfolk, "The Lady With Balls".

---FROM THE Sta. Maria Message Board

Pangasinan Org.

some more photos.....

 

more unpublished photos from the Balikbayan Night...

spectacular photos from the night of pageantry..

1.

2.

 

3.

4.

 

 

 

6.

7.

8.

 

9.

10

(note: Due to the number of photos in separate e-mails, I found a bit of difficulty in  tagging the photos with the corresponding captions.  If Arsenia/Rudy would provide anew the captions, I would be able to insert them.Just use the numbers that I used with the photos. In the meantime, enjoy the photos...

AND...Remember that the Rizal Academy will also hold its own reunion next year, together with the North Central School..

Asingan Town Fiesta 2009 will arrive before we know it..!

Thanks! )

more photos to come!

A Reception for Ms Esther Hufana

photo #1 (Madam Esther's pupils in East Central School)

Seated (L to R) - Arme Olivar-Nicolas, Madam Esther, Josie Claridad-Aquino, Aida Apiado-Tadeo

Standing (L to R) - Albert Tuazon, Lito Nicolas, Reynaldo Arquero, Felix Arquero

 

photo #2 -- Reynaldo Arquero with Madam Esther

 

photo #3 

L to R -- Lito Nicolas, Arme Olivar-Nicolas, Madam Esther, Felix Arquero, Albert Tuazon

 

photo #4

Seated (L to R) - Aida Apiado-Tadeo, Salome Medina, Madam Esther, Cousin Ludy, Bela Tuazon

Standing (L to R) - Villalobos Tadeo, Josie Claridad-Aquino, Lito Nicolas, Arme Olivar-Nicolas, Felix Arquero, Albert Tuazon, Reynaldo Arquero

 

Manong Vic,

 

I am forwarding you the four photos above. These were all taken at my backyard garden prior to our meeting.

 

Thank you for posting them.

 

Reynaldo "TI" Arquero

President, Santa Maria de Pila Association of Northern California

 

 

children and music

Yesterday,May 26th,  I had another session with the seniors at the Village of Humber Heights  residence...

Although we repeat the same set of songs ( we use three song books which I compiled and printed at their in - house printing shop ) each session is always a new experience: for them and for me.

Before I play my last piece, I always face them and tell them how much I enjoyed playing for the past hour those old songs and hearing them sing with me. Their faces would beam with delight..Once in a while I would tell a joke: yesterday I told them about the "Catholic Gasoline*" and midway through the story, a few were already in stitches..

Sometimes, one of them would say: "I hope some of your children inherited your music talent.."

I told them that I taught my three children the keyboard when they were still in their pre-teens. And each time Emma and Mia ( my 2 grandchildren ) come to visit me, I also ask them to sing some songs which they learned when they were still living with us here in 19 Dixon Road.

 

I accompanied Mia in two auditions: one for a children's choir part in JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOUR DREAM COAT. Then when she applied for a seat at the Mayfield School of Arts in Brampton, I was with her again. She was able to get the parts she auditioned for.

 

With regards to Emma, I taught her several songs from THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Her voice range is quite high and with not much effort she can hit a very high C. She is now taking voice lessons plus Irish and tap dancing. Recently, she won some awards in an Irish Dance Festival in Montreal as well as in Ottawa.

 

I also found recently that my " adapted daughter " Susan V. have spent several years learning the keyboard when she was still in Manaoag. From what I heard when she played over the phone one time, she must have gone beyond the 5th or 6th level, Royal Conservatory of Music standard.  She plays the keyboard by sight reading..It is the kind of playing where you do not look at your keyboard but you concentrate on the music sheet in front of you, about 2 or 3 measures ahead of what you are playing. Only those who spent numerous years of piano studies can do that.  I encouraged her to start practicing everyday, because this skill, ( combination of both hands and mind ) need daily practice. One hour daily is enough to be able to sustain the ability of sight reading..

Unfortunately, I never went into this level. As soon as I learned how to play by hearing ( oido )  I stopped playing by sight.I did learn how to sight read vocal pieces.. 

Some people are born with music genes. Some don't. And if this skill is developed in early childhood, it will bring the talented child into music circles which would bring self as well as social satisfaction.---#

from Marcie

 

Some thoughts about reunions. 

 

Our reunion went pretty well considering we had only few days to organized,  What we did, we went to a house that we knew(most barangay) then tell her or him to tell everybody in our class 1983 including family in that barangay to come for the reunion.  Response.  Most of my section came but only six came from other sections because they said they don't know me and they are very shy to come.  We had a blast,  had a good time.  I will do it again in our 30th anniversary.  Five more years from now.

 

We had sharing time, everyone had to say  a little story about their life, re. family.  This was a good one since we learned a lot about them.  Someone had six children or still single.

 

Suggestions:  (Two days)  1.  Do some class section reunion only(without family) be done in someone house(pot luck) or at manang Polly's place or any place they are comfortable with.  Then class family picnic- karayan or manang Pollys or any place they are comfortable with. 2.  Parade in the morning(by class) then ballroom dance at night. Music has to be mix not just ballroom music so everybody can dance not just the one with the DI.

 

 

 

a bigger view..Now, where are you, Marcie?

 

Thanks, Marcie..Buena Mano ka..I hope more of you out there will share their vintage photos..

Thanks again...

 

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A photo with Juliet, her Mom, Miguelita and a sweet Asinganian lady during our last holiday in Hawaii...

an e-mail from Juliet Uson...

Manong Vic,

Belated Happy Birthday! I was reading the message board and everybody seems to like the schools re-union to Asingan next year. That would be nice.

I would like to go back also next year. We'll see.

Regards to Manang Miguelita
I miss both of you!
.
Juliet

****

Next Town Fiesta  is a good time  to visit Asingan!..See ya there!

Nice pictures of elegantly dressed-up  people. Fiesta is indeed the time to be elegant with dances and pageantry. It is huge party under the stars with two live  orchestras performing--only in the Philippines I think.I never experienced a similar one here
in California.

text by: Vanessa de Leon

photos submitted by Arsenia..

more photos from the town fiesta

 

There were fireworks..as the King and Queen Danced!

..a close up of the Royal pair...

 

then a  shot from afar...

Next were fireworks, fire works, fire works!

 

Here comes the Royal Entertainment..

The photographer knows his stuff. Inspite of low light conditions, he was able to bring out brilliant colors in his shots...

 

Seated, from L-R are: Mr. and Mrs. Rodolfo Peralta, Mr. and Mrs.  Rufo Mariano,  and a guest. 

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Countdown to Town Fiesta 2009

It was Polly who first suggested to Susan D. Santos ( thru the Asingan Messageboard ) about a Rizal Academy reunion, similar in scope to the school reunion initiated by Arsenia..

Then a few days later, my phone rang and it was Susan. She was asking me whether I want to help out in the RA reunion. I said yes, it was an offer I can not refuse. Using the same phone Julie also asked me if I could also help in the NCS ( North Central School ) school reunon too. Again I said yes not knowing what is in it for me..:)

Anyways, with the RA affair, Dr. Cornelio Manzano will be ( I hope ) the chairman. Like he will tackle the major issues, right Lito? In the NCS affair, Julie told me I will coordinate with Fe Ramos Esteban and their youngest sister Araceli. So again I said yes..These two affairs will be held one after the other during the next Asingan Town Fiesta.

And let us not forget, the group founded by Arsenia will also hold their affair for the second time!

For our townmates, it will be a good thing. It will be a neck-to-neck series of events to watch in our hometown..Something new, for our townmates and visitors to witness..And for us volunteer workers, it is a good way of refreshing our ties to our old ( literally speaking ) classmates whom we have not seen for ages..

It is funny, when two friends see each other after quite a while, they would say a few things, like: "You still look young!", or "You still look the same as when I saw you in our high school graduation.."

Or : "you still have that gorgeous figure inspite of having brought out a dozen kids already.."

Or: "you are still beautiful. What is the secret of your youthful looks?"

Oh you will figure out what to say once you are there in the middle of the action..

And if you uttered something which you are not supposed to, do not panic.You can always blame the San Miguel gin which you have sampled just before you went to the reunion hall..

 

Anyways, my mind is already whirling with possible things to do during the reunion. I also would suggest you e-mail me on what you think would be an exciting but practical event which we should  enact as part of this once-in-a blue moon affair..

thanks!!

VIC

e-mail: Mabait42@aol.com