Christmas Day, 2009

It is very quiet again in our house...Just me, Miggie and Sparky..

Last night, we had some turkey, champagne, egg rolls, pancit( for long life ) and good conversation before the dining table.

One of the stories I heard was about our dog Sparky.

When we left for Maui, Sparky, our 6 month old puppy was picked up by Michelle. He would be under her care for 1 week. One of our instructions was to bring him to the Vet. Which was followed. Except for the fact that it was not Michelle who brought him but her husband, Jonathan.

Michelle knows Sparky's day to day history in our house. That we give him human food instead of dog food. Right after during an intial battle of wills, we were the first ones to blink. So we started giving him human food ( bits of adobo, beef jerky and rice with chicken liver ).

Jonathan told us that at the Vet's office, he was interrogated by the Vet about his food. At first he said "Dog food; pellets. " But then, before the actual visit, my daughter give Sparky some sphagetti..The Vet saw a strand of sphagetti in Sparky's whiskers. "I do not consider pasta as dog food," he said.

"OK, OK, " admitted Jonathan."Actually I am not the real owner. The real ones are my wife's parents. "

"Aha!" said the vet. And he listed a number of THINGS TO DO AND THINGS NOT TO DO with regards to Sparky. Number one of course was to refrain from giving human food..The Vet also said Sparky is very aggressive. He growls at the Vet. He barks at the other dogs. Anyway, the Vet gave him a shot and Sparky whimpered like a baby. The more he barked at the Vet afterwards.

The Vet also said we should take Sparky regularly for a walk around the block. I usually take him in our backyard where he marks his territory, makes a dump, then he makes about 5 or 6 laps around a yard. Then after 5 minutes we would be back inside our house.


When we saw him upon our arrival, Sparky was so thin. But we promised not to give him any more human food. He really got problems when he ate almost nothing but OUR food. His excrement was either too soft or too hard. And he whimpers when his pooh seemed to be hard as pebbles. Holy Crap, I felt so sorry for him when it happened.

Right now, he is already eating his pellets. Michelle said, "If you love your dog, stick to pellets. Otherwise he will get obese, or his system will get shot and he will have a very short life.."

Indeed. So in the beginning I hand fed him with the pellets. Then I stopped and when he gets really hungry, then he empties his bowl of pellets.

Of course last night, he a few pieces of turkey and ham. Of course this would happen only once a year.

Hopefully.

Vic

Christmas Eve 2009

"I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOUR TWO GRANDKIDS FOR GIVING THEIR TIME AND TALENT TO THE LORD. YOU LED THEM TO THE RIGHT TRACK BRO. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO THE FAMILY CIRCLE."

December 25, 2009..Dateline, Toronto..

I switched on my Computer today to find this line sent to me by Polly, a very good hearted friend I met thru the AMB. Then I remembered the events of last night and Christmas 2008.

We cooked the turkey this year. Last year, we had the Christmas feast in Brampton at my daughter's Michelle's house. My other daughter Berna and her family came to join us, with her husband and their two children. My son Oliver and family were there in spirit.

We had the Christmas 2008 get together which was climaxed by a song-and-prayer session organized by my grandaughter Emma. She wrote the short prayers and I selected the appropriate hymns. It was a rather touching event because a) we did not attend Church that time and b) it was a very young member of our family who initiated the program.

It went well, we sang the Christmas Carols with feeling. I used a small Yamaha keyboard for accompaniment. Then I realized that two generations of church singers were there. Michelle and Berna ( who sang with me around the late '80s ) and Mia and Emma ( who sang with me around the early 2000's ).

But last night was a totally different scenario. Around September this year, we joined the choir of the St. Andrew's Presbyterian church where we are presently affiliated. A month before Christmas, I suggested to the Pastor Paul Kang that my two grandaughters would sing one Christmas Carol during the Offering of the Gifts which takes place as the last part of the service.

That event took place last night. There are two wonderful instruments in this church: a real pipe organ and a Grand piano. It was my very first chance to play on a Grand piano, on a Christmas and accompanying my 2 grandaughters again singing GESU BAMBINO. The congregation broke into an applause after the last note died down..

Yes, sis Polly. The hand of God led me again to make music with my 2 grandaughters for the spiritual upliftment of the congregation. And we do it for the Greater Glory of His Name!. Amen, amen!!

A SHORT POEM BY DANNY...

URAY BASSIT LAENG*...



Christmas is a wonderful time of the year.
Christmas is a time to celebrate with family, relatives,
and loved ones.
Christmas is also a time to give thanks
to people we appreciate.

When I was a little boy,
my mother told me that it is better to give than to receive,
“Uray bassit laeng” she quoted.

When my parents migrated to United States, they strived and made sacrifices
to earn a living.
My parents ensured that our relatives in the Philippines would remain connected,
so every Christmas me parents sent either a “Door to Door” box or some money.
“Uray bassit laeng.”

Tomorrow is Christmas, and it is important to remember our family, loved ones, and relatives who are in the Philippines by giving something;
“ Uray bassit laeng.”

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

---Danny Nitcha


*the closest translation in English which I can think of is EVEN THOUGH HOW SMALL IT(THE GIFT) IS...

***************

Yes Danny, I remember publishing this piece of yours in a poetry form, in one of my early Blogs. I have not seen you yet at that time. During the debut of one of Vicky Tejada's daughters, I saw you at the reception, but we did not talk..I may have that video tape of the party in my VHS collection. But Vicky pointed out to me then that you are one of her cousins from LA..

Then I saw you briefly on stage at the Auditorium during one of the Fiesta dances.

So much water have gone under the bridge since then. But, I will always remember you as that very dynamic emcee with a nice voice, sporting an American accent. I missed the shindig in Las Vegas, but I know there will be more to follow..

Or I might give you a phone call in case we will drop by Cali next year...

Til then, Merry, Merry Christmas to you and your family, and do remember me to Leonard and Vicky Tejada..

A LOOK INTO HALEAKALA'S BIG MOUTH

Ascending Haleakala..


Emma: "Look up in the sky, it's a bird!.."
Miggie"."It's a Plane!!"
Me: "It's SIOPAW MAN!!!"...


It is so cold up 10,000 ft. above sea level..You got to snuggle as closely as possible...:)

DATELINE MAUI. Dec. 7, Monday..Today is our last full day in Maui. And the best is always reserved for the last.

Marcie went back to work today. She was off ever since Dec. 1st so she can meet us at the airport and bring us around everyday from the 2nd up to the 6th. Rex worked in the Post Office ( it is the busiest season for the Postal workers what with the Christmas cards coming and going and also the letters from kids going to Santa Claus to the North Pole. So on Monday, Dec. 7th it was his turn to bring us around and he selected Haleakala as our destination.

We left our boarding place at around 8:30 am, then we made our first stop at a Station to check the views and visit the bathroom. We checked also how a silversword plant looks like ( there is one in the slide show). It could grow only hereabouts. It is all white ( no chlorophyll) with a long pointed stem that looks indeed like a sword.

Then we proceeded to the mouth of the crater, and tried to get as close as possible to the edge. Those afraid of heights need not dare to peer into its depths. You might get dizzy and just bring out whatever you had for breakfast.

There were also lots of tourists, most of which whom were Japanese. The air is so thin up there that there are several warning signs asking people with bronchial or heart problems not to dare run fast or briskly climb up the ascending lest they would pass out..

The scene has a look of Grand Canyon, although Grand Canyon must be hundred times bigger or colourful.

The government is also constructing an observatory ( and I heard with a satellite tracking station) not far from us. Admittance is restricted for obvious reasons.

For a Hi Def video of the crater, click the following link.A nd watch the video in full screen..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruaRPFdXFko

Yes, the girl on the right looks real pretty.. She is just very shy..She keeps hiding from my camera..:(


( lifted or captured from the video itself..)

You can print this photo and keep it in your wallet...:)

SHARING SOME E-MAILS...

Manong,
Here are some of the places my husband and I will be taking you. If you want to read more about these places, google the Maui Visitor Bureau.
Marcie

HANA
The road's 600 hairpin turns and numerous one-lane bridges will take
you through lush rainforests, along deserted beaches, and into some of
Hawaii's most spectacular untouched nature. You'll find many
opportunities to stop and explore, so you may wish to pack hiking
clothes and a swimsuit. The drive to and from Hana can be done in about
3 hours in either direction. Of course the more you stop to sight see,
the longer it will take.

At the end of one of Hawaii's great driving adventures, one finds the
tiny, magical town of Hana. As much a place as it is a state of mind,
Hana hasn't changed much in the century since it was linked to the rest
of Maui. Wander its tiny streets, stop at the general store for snacks,
or find a sunny spot for an impromptu picnic.

IAO VALLEY
Head into the heart of Maui and visit the natural and historical
playground of the Iao Valley. Surrounded by volcanic ridges and bisected
by a lovely mountain stream, the valley is the perfect place to escape
the warmer temperatures of the coast and ponder the creation of the
spectacular Iao Needle. The Iao river has fresh clean flowing water
straight from the mountain. Perfect for swimming. You can also find
Pres Kennedy's profile carved on a lava rock on the side of a mountain.
This was created by nature, not manmade.

MAKAWAO AND UPCOUNTRYTake your time driving home to explore the relaxed charm of upcountry
Maui. The paniolo (Hawaiian for "Cowboy") town of Makawao is lovely –
home to real, working cowboys and some of the island's best art
galleries. Not far away, the fragrant fields of the Alii Kula Lavender
farm are both educational and relaxing. And for gourmands, the Surfing
Goat Dairy in Kula is a must – and the farm tour is as delightful as
the award-winning cheeses.

KAANAPALI/LAHAINA (WEST SIDE)As the day fades into one of Maui's legendary sunsets, make your way to
the famous Puu Kekaa (or Black Rock) of Kaanapali Beach. This legendary
landmark is home to a nightly cliff-diving ceremony, a practice that has
been taking place since 1963. The perfect way to kick off the night's
events. We will watch the sunset on the west side of the island.

HOOKIPA
In the afternoon, you should head to nearby Hookipa Beach. Not only is
the setting spectacular, it is widely considered one of best places to
windsurf on Earth. Whatever time of year you visit, the nearly constant
trade winds promise you'll see some pretty amazing This is now a world
famous wind surfing beach.

****

Holding an Asinganian reunion here in Maui seems to be an intersting idea. Sometimes it is refreshing to be able to get away from the noise and hectic pace of the city. Being able to see Mother Nature at her greenest garb would recharge the spirit.It is like seeing the world again during the dawn of Creation..
---vic
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello Manong Vic,

Sorry for the late reply. I just came back from out of town medical conference
and opened my email this morning and was surprised to see your birthday
greetings with my favorite songs. I have been looking for these songs for a long
time but I do not know their titles. I remember during my childhood days in
Asingan, our relatives and guests at home usually play these songs on the piano.
This is one of the best birthday greetings I ever had and I certainly enjoyed
it. Thank you so much and hope to see you in Asingan this coming fiesta April,
2010. I have heard a lot about you and your wife. I believe she is related to
Tia Alice Hufana.

Munding Vitug

Hi Munding,
The pleasure is all mine. It is very nice feeling to be able to get in touch with other town mates through the Internet.

Those two pieces are really my favorites and I heard them played by talented Asingan pianists ( e.g. the late Fe Diaz Acosta, Raul Manalili, Alicie Rabago, and some others whom I may not know at present )..

I hope to be there next town Fiesta, 2010, God willing.

Thank you!

Vic,

OUR CHRISTMAS EVE TRADITION

I usually have the Christmas eve off. I would spend the entire day preparing dinner for approximately 50 family members. We celebrate Christmas Eve as a big group, and saving Christmas Day only for immediate family members.

Everyone come over to our house to fully enjoy themselves. The foods are bountiful. The drinks are non-stop. I would even tend the bar upon request, of course. I usually order a whole lechon from a Filipino store. With the lechon my sisters and I would prepare lots of vegetable dishes. These veggies would be from local farmers. Believe it or not, the vegetable dishes would be the first to go. Desserts would consist of puto, tupig, suman, patupat (a recipe from my grandfather from his San Carlos plantation) and my daughter’s cream puff that she will never reveal the recipe! Of course we also have spears of the sweet Maui pineapples. This is not a pot-luck party.

My attire would be in shorts and red blouse with an extra long red sequined Santa hat. My husband would be in T-shirt and shorts with his camera around his neck ready to shoot all the photos. As soon as one guest arrives, the party begins. I feel it wouldn’t be fair for the early arrivals to wait for the late guests. The gathering would be out on the lawn with chairs all over the front of the house. The bar would be situated around the corner with the appetizers next to it. The buffet table would be set in the garage. My daughters would decorate the garage. My husband would decorate the front yard. The back yard is reserved for our two Golden Retriever babies, who would watch from behind the chain link fence with their toys in their mouth, as if to say, “play with us.”

Everyone is advised to bring a grab bag gift valued anywhere between $10-$20 and it has to be a unisex gift. These gifts would surround the 8’ Christmas tree decorated with white flowers and silver accents. The tree is located in the corner of the back living room.

During the party the karaoke machine would be on and anyone who wants to sing would just have to grab the microphone. The children would sing Christmas songs. The adults would sing whatever they (think) they can sing. We have some good singers and some really, really bad singers, but this is all in good time. For some reason they seem to think that they sound good when they’re drunk! It’s amazing what alcohol cam make you do!

My husband would usually say the grace. We call him the Reverend in the family. I have to tell you a story about him later. Right after the grace we would sing one Christmas song before partaking in grace.

When everyone has eaten and rested a bit, I would begin the game called gift stealing. By this time all of the gifts are now under the Christmas tree. I would create a number per person. Put all the numbers is a bowl. Each person would pick a number. The first person would pick a gift from under the tree, any gift. The second person may either take the first person’s gift or pick another gift. If someone steals your gift, you get to pick another gift, but you cannot steal from anyone. The last person would have the opportunity to choose whichever gift he wants or take the last gift from under the tree. This is fun especially when the gifts are very nice that people would want to take it from you.

I also have a singing contest. The score would be according to the karaoke machine. The winners from the children’s group would receive $20 cash. The adults would receive a $25 gift certificate from a local market.


After the games we would take family photos. First we would take photos per family, then everyone. We would take a serious photo and a “crazy” looking photo. We have a lot of fun. The party would end around midnight. At midnight my girls would open one present each. Everyone would then go home only to meet us again at 3 o’clock in the morning for our visit to the dormant volcano. Some guests may sleep over. --#

Marcie Tesoro

CHRISTMAS DAY IN HALEAKALA

ON CHRISTMAS DAY, DECEMBER 25, my alarm would be set at 2 0’clock in the morning. I would pack any left over food from the night before. I would fill a large thermos with hot cocoa with marshmallow for the kids and hot coffee for the adults. In the back of the truck would be the food, coolers and grill to heat up the food later. We would bring pillows and blankets in the car. The men would drive while the wives and children would sleep a couple more hours. We would dress very warmly. During the drive we would listen to Christmas songs and if I’m not sleeping, we would talk stories. Sometimes it would snow up at the Haleakala Crater and so the road would be closed. The cars in Hawaii are just not fit for driving in the snow. During times like this no one would be able to go all the way to the summit because of the snow.

If the weather cooperates, we would be able to drive all the way to the summit of Haleakala. We try to be there before the sun rises. We would wait in the car where there is warmth and the coffee and cocoa. Before getting out of the car, we would bundle up, open the doors and run to the guest center where everyone is waiting for the sunrise. It would be completely dark and cold. You can hear everyone wishing each other merry Christmas. You would see many flashlights.

Just before the sunrises, everyone would bring out all their cameras and get ready to be mesmerized by the beauty of the sun illuminating the crater. The clouds would look like snow. This is the highest point of the island of Maui. From there you are able to see the entire island and on a clear day you would be able to see the Big Island (Hawaii Island). People would often gather, face the sun and offer a prayer, or just savor the moment and the warm rays of the sun, being careful not to stare at the sun for too long. This entire show would take about 15 minutes. Once the sun is out, the entire crater would be visible – on a clear day. One can even hike down into the crater. It would take 2 hours to go down and 2 hours to get back up. If the day is cloudy, there is nothing to see but the clouds looking like snow.

If we can’t go to the summit, we would go to the park right below the summit. On the way to the park are the silversword plants. These plants only grow in Haleakala. It’s a beautiful plant and it’s colored silver. It only blooms once then it dies. This is where we would have our brunch in the cold, cold park. The men would reheat the food and the women and children would take a very short hike, 20 minutes. It’s beautiful there with the huge eucalyptus trees, native plants and flowers and very peaceful. The fresh air is just awesome with the eucalyptus scent! We would pick up pine cones for our dogs, Neo and Trinity, two beautiful one year old golden retrievers. For some reason they seem to enjoy biting the pine cones and taking it apart piece by piece. I don’t know why. We would spend half of the day at this park. It’s called Hosmer Cove. Right after brunch we would drive back home and finally open presents.

We have been doing this for years and it has become a family tradition.

--marcie tesoro

from my memory box



This photo in sepia tone was taken around the '60s at the old ASAT auditorium. I was out of school at that time, still figuring out whether to continue my college studies. Somehow, I got acquainted with Genara Isaac ( now Jenny Fernando, alive and well and living near Toronto ). I had all the time in the world then. I had a few months to go before I will go back to College and so I decided to visit her school, Asingan School of Arts and Trades.

At first, we formed a singing group consisting of a guitar and four good singers from her class. One was Teresita Orallo, also Paz ( or was it Milagros?) Gines, Jenny and a fourth one whose name I am still trying to figure out.

I patterned their singing style with a singing group from St. Paul's Manila, a quartette of college girls who interpreted Filipino Folk songs in a very unique way: they would sing two songs at one time, blending the two seamlessly in timing and harmony. One set, example is CHIT SI RIT SIT sang together with LERON, LERON SINTA..Two girls would sing one song, the other two would sing the second one.

So, for the rest of the school year, I was busy training them several other songs ( and other hits of their era: GREEN LEAVES OF SUMMER, GREEN FIELDS, GOODBYE, MY OLD GAL ...)

Then one day, Miss Marrieta Micu ( the conductor in the above photo ) asked me to teach a whole class. Just a couple opf songs which they can sing during a convocation program. I obliged of course because it was another chance to break the horrid monotony of staying in Asingan as a ISTAMBAY. The life was fun while it lasted, that is until I went back to University.

Jenny was like a kid sister to me and sometimes, I would treat her to a bottle of coke and some cookies in a small snack shop with a a real JUKE BOX..That place is in the vicinity beside the residence of Mr. Bautista ( former Principal of the ASAT ). I can not remember now who was the owner of the building or who was the manager of the joint. But I sure remember the juke box there, a symbol of the 50's-'60s life during that time..

Of course, all good things must end, and it did for me that year when I went back to Manila at the beginning of the school term.I started to like my ISTAMBAY'S life and my Mom did not like it..

Years later, I was passing the time in front of my house when a girl passed by and greeted me..It was Teresita Orallo. She told me she and her parents moved to Guam, and she was on her holiday.

"Lucky you, " I said. At that time, I was still studying in University, and some light years away before getting my exit visa from the Philippines..

I also saw Miss Ginez once, and Jenny, well I met her in Toronto. She was working as a caregiver and waiting for the arrival of her husband who was working in Italy..


THE last time I was there in the campus was last April 2009. Everything has entirely changed. I know that there was also a quadrangle there where I presented a Christmas play STORY OF CHRISTMAS during the school's Christmas Program.

On that Christmas season I was already teaching at the Divine Word College in Urdaneta, but on week ends, I sometimes moonlight as a stage director for the ASAT and also for the Rizal Academy---#

I am a Youtube Fan...

YOUTUBE, ANYONE?


Some of us are hooked to Farmville in FaceBook, I am addicted to You Tube. I must have posted already more than a 100 clips, and when I checked the most viewed, I found out that Pangasinan Song, vers. 2 is number one. It contains clips of Dahman's party last Summer. It was held in Tayug, his hometown. His guests from the DC Board were Rain and Osang. Former is from Manaoag, latter is from Mangaldan a nearby town.

A fast rising video clip is Marcie's Locks for Love video wherein she showed how she donated a lock of her very long hair to a Foundation that makes wigs for children below 18 who are suffering from certain illnesses.

I do not know why certain videos get high viewer ratings. I just create certain ones according to some archived materials I have in my Hard Drive or among my old 8 mm. video tapes. The old 8mm. tapes, I found out are still very usable in You Tube. You do not need to go to HD.

What is important is the content of the video. It is WHAT is inside, HOW the idea is expressed and of course, the clarity of the images as well as the over all significance of the message.

For me, this hobby is still a part of the constantly broadening technology called the Information Highway...

the guitar

This guitar is owned by an Asinganian who visited us about 3 decades ago. Her family name is Villanueva. Her first name? Either Aida or Aurora. I met one of them around 1960 when there was still an RCA ( Rice and Corn Admistration ) depot at the back of our house.

This was a government program of the old Macapagal administration when they sold rice to consumers at an affordable price. The government bought palay, polished it, and sold the rice through this national agency.

The building at the back of our house, which formerly housed the Asingan Theatre was converted into an RCA warehouse, complete with an office and a few personnel. The warehouse manager was a Mr. Tabayoyong from Laoac, and he was responsible to the Mayor Sison of Urdaneta during those years..

Anyway, the RCA served the Asingan people for a while. Several times, a long queue would form at the door of the warehouse waiting for it to open, hoping to buy rice which was rationed ( a few gantas at a time) .

Like any governement agency, all daily sales were recorded on a log book ( in triplicate ) to be submitted to a higher office. Mr. Tabayoyong, the ware house manager, appointed my mom to be the secretary in charge of this hectic and boring job of writing out the receipts and other required papers. My mom and he were relatives, since both of them are from Laoac.

During a church picnic in the Agno river in Sanchez, I met a lady there. She is one of the Villanueva sisters. She is from Dupac. She told me she also works for the agency in Urdaneta. which is a bigger branch. She told me she has a younger sister. My problem now is how to figure out who is Aida and who is Aurora. Anyway, from this picnic episode, we fast forward to several years later..

I was already residing in Toronto for just a few years when my sister- in - law, May Hufana ( younger sister of Miggie ) paid us a visit . She came with a companion, a Filipina nun. She is the other Villanueva sister. Miss Villanueva came to Canada on a visitor's visa since some members of a Religious Order can easily get an entrance visa.

So upon their arrival Miss Villanueva told me she has a sister who worked for the RCA at one time. The information brought me back to that church picnic in Sanchez. She was not wearing a nun's habit. And she was carrying this guitar.

She said she wanted to leavethe instrument with me so she won't be lugging it around in her walks with my sister in law. Both are tourists and they wanted to see as many people and visit as many places possible in a few days' time. She is going back to the Philippines after a few days via Seattle ( the home base of my sis-in-law). She told me she is picking up her guitar before she leaves Toronto.

Well you can tell what happened next. She did not pick it up. I can not remember whether she called or not, but she left her guitar with me..

Since I played the guitar a little bit ( just to accompany singers ) then it was a heaven sent gift ( literally because the last owner was a nun ). I never heard from her anymore up to the present.

But I made use of the guitar extensively at the St. John the Evangelist church. I was already a music volunteer then, and frequently, I used the guitar to accompany certain folk mass songs ( like songs by the MEDICAL MISSION SISTERS from PHILADELPHIA which were quite popular in the Philippines during the 60s. ).

I took care of the guitar. It first arrived inside a homemade sack with a cord for opening and closing up. Several years later, I saw a Gibson guitar case on sale at a Toronto music store and I bought it because I need it to transport the guitar to church. The guitar served several years in Sunday religious services and community get togethers.

My two daughters sang with me for several years, starting when they were young. They sang many of the Medical Mission Sisters hymns we learned from their long playing record. Vinyls were still in extensive use then.

Now my two daughters are married. Michelle have three daughters. She lives in Toronto and my other one, Berna lives in Ottawa. Michelle's eldest daughter is Mia, and she is musically inclined too. She and her younger sister Emma, picked up where her Mom and her sister Berna left in their music service at church. Mia and Emma became church singers too, accompanying me in my music service for the same church..

Last year, I lent the guitar to Mia, now 16, because there are too many guitars in our house. She do not know how then to play the instrument. But she took it anyway.

Within one year, she was able to learn how to play the guitar. I found out later as she showed me her new skill. She knows how to strum the different chords ( major, minor, augmented, etc. ) and she can do a bit of plucking.

"How did you learn how to play?" I asked her.

"Through the computer," she said. Then she she went to Youtube and showed me the several videos that provided lessons in guitar playing.

Last week, she told me she bought her own guitar. "Why," I asked. "Don't you like my guitar?"

"No, not that. It is a beautiful guitar." Indeed it is. It is crafted in Cebu, Philippines. "But I want to have my own. And besides that guitar belongs to you.." I said to myself, not really. It belongs to a Ms. Villanueva from Asingan.

Yesterday, we attended the first birthday party of her youngest sister, Isabella ( or Bella for short ). When they sang the happy birthday song, Bella was also singing. In baby language, of course.

After the party, Mia gave me back the guitar. It is still in mint condition, even if she used it extensively for her lessons. I am so happy to play it again in my house. I could use it in my current volunteer work for the Seniors.

This guitar travelled a long way musically and spiritually, in my hands and in my grandaughter's hands.---#