Titas de Bacolod: December 2015

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Behind the Scenes - December 29, 2015 : Linda Yulo's biggest surprise

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

The expression on her face was priceless. Linda Yulo looked so shocked that tears were welling up in her eyes when she walked into the room and was greeted by loud shouts and cheers of “Happy Birthday” from her friends and loved ones gathered there.

Days before, Linda's kids secretly contacted her close friends, inviting them to a surprise Hawaiian Luau birthday dinner for their mother at Sugarland Hotel in Bacolod City. They were all sworn to secrecy and amazingly, everyone kept their promise. On her birthday, Linda's husband, Emy, and their kids brought her to Sugarland Hotel ostensibly to have a simple family birthday dinner. She walked into the darkened room where everyone waited breathlessly.

Suddenly, pandemonium broke loose when the lights were switched on and everyone laughed over Linda's shocked reaction at seeing all the Hawaiian wahines greeting and hugging her.

It was the happiest, loudest birthday celebration ever with excellent food, upbeat music and the noisiest group of well-wishers ever assembled. Emy Yulo looked so pleased seeing how happy his wife was. There was an impromptu program where guests gave their best performance in singing and dancing, kuno! Even the beauteous Marlene Villasor sang a beautiful Spanish song.

I'm sure Linda would never forget this riotous birthday surprise ever. This just goes to prove how much this wonderful lady is loved by her family and friends. Linda, Happy Birthday!*

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

The Little Boy With A Big, Big, Heart

People, Places

Warning : Do not read this without tissue paper or a handkerchief in your hand!

Throughout the last half of 2015 I have been thinking of how to put down in writing this incident which surely had to be chronicled. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Now, Christmas has arrived and has set the stage for me to tell the story.

I followed this from July 7 when I read it on Ricky Monfort's Facebook wall. On that day, Ricky posted that a tragedy had struck their family in the United States. His Tito Freddie and Tita Maryanne's family, including their grandchildren, were off to visit their Uncle Errol, one hour away from Seattle, Washington.

On the way, the rented van they were riding on was rear-ended and the crash seriously injured their 8-year-old grandson Owen. Despite several hours of trying to revive him, Owen did not make it.

As the 8-year-old Owen expired, his parents made the decision of donating his organs. Owen's heart and liver came in time for two needing recipients. It could be no less than a miracle for those who were to receive them.

In life, Owen was a boy with a big, big heart. Last year, while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on TV, a St. Jude's Hospital commercial came on and his mother, Tami, made a comment that she needed to donate. Owen turned to his mom and asked, "How much are you going to donate, Mommy?". His mom said $20. Owen said, "I will donate $20 too"!

What a generous boy! Thus, it comes as no surprise that even in his passing, Owen gave of himself that others may live.

Owen's mom wrote this a few days after Owen's passing:

"No one else will ever know the strength of my love for you. After all, you're the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside."

At 9:24pm on July 5th, our precious sweet beautiful boy Owen earned his wings and became an angel up in Heaven. Last night, we hugged and kissed him for the last time...until we meet again. To honor his kind, giving and generous soul, Harold and I made the difficult decision to donate his organs. Our amazing little hero saved 2 lives last night with his heart and liver. To save another family from feeling the pain and sadness that we feel is what we needed to start our healing journey.

We are overwhelmed and full of gratitude with the outpouring of love and support from our community. We appreciate all of your phone calls, texts, Facebook posts and messages. We are amazed at the generosity and selflessness of each and every one of you.

We are so proud of our son for everything that he has accomplished in his 8 years of life. We are so blessed and honored to have been chosen to be his parents. Our Gracie Goose, who came out of this tragic accident unscathed, has become such a brave little girl and our "saving grace."

Owen,
Mommy, Daddy and Gracie love you so very much. We will miss you like nobody could imagine. Rest in peace my sweet baby boy. Until we meet again...

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Follow me on Twitter @TitasdeBacolod

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Briton who sold Lumpia and Turon passes away in Bacolod

Blog, People

Bryan Reano, the Briton lumpia and banana turon vendor whose touching story of how he left Paris to be with the love of his life, Rosalinda, passed away in the morning of December 22, 2015. In numerous interviews, Bryan said that the reason why he left his comfortable life in England was really his love for Rosalinda.

Rosalinda needs help for Bryan's burial expenses. His body is now in St. Peter's Chapel in Alijis, Bacolod City. Thank you Bryan, for making a mark in this city. You will be remembered. RIP.

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Bacolod's own Carla Gomez tells the story this way:

BACOLOD CITY—Two Filipino favorite snacks—“lumpia” and “turon”—have been given a twist by a foreigner who has settled here and are now selling like hot cakes.

Bryan Reano, 61, a British national, and his Filipino girlfriend, Rosalinda Labajo, 58, can sell at least 200 pieces of spicy beef lumpia (native spring rolls) and turon (fried sliced banana rolled in “lumpia” wrapper) in less than two hours in the downtown area and Burgos, 6th and Lacson streets.

“I love selling. I go to shops, the hairdressers’, anywhere to sell. I meet all kinds of people every day. That’s the fun of it,” Reano said, unmindful of the sun’s scorching heat.

Before moving to the Philippines, the Briton worked as a waiter in some of the top restaurants in Paris for 15 years. He met Labajo, then a fish broker at a port in Barangay Catabla, Talisay City, online and fell in love with her.

“She (Labajo) made me laugh so I sold my house, my car and everything I owned and came to the Philippines,” Reano said.

Reano arrived in Negros Occidental province in February 2012. He spent all his money having a good time with Labajo on Boracay Island in Aklan province and at Mambukal Resort in Murcia town, Negros Occidental.

The couple went into the fishing business and bought two motorized bancas. But there were not enough fish to catch in waters off Catabla, also in Negros Occidental, due to pollution, Reano said.

When Reano fell accidentally and broke his left leg, he and his partner had to sell the boats to pay for hospital bills. He had to stay in bed for six months and was not able work for more than a year.

While taking care of him, Labajo thought of making turon to sell at the fish port in Talisay. With only P100, the two started selling turon at P3 apiece and would earn P80 a day.

Reano suggested selling spicy beef lumpia to augment their income. At first, Labajo was hesitant because it might not suit the palate of Negrenses, but Reano was persistent. They sold the lumpia at P20 apiece in the market, and it became a hit.

“In five minutes, it was gone,” Reano said.

What makes the food delicious is the spicy sauce, which some people order for their crispy “pata” (deep-fried pig trotters), omelet and French fries, among other dishes, Labajo said.

In their turon, Reano added sticky rice and homemade fruit jam with the sliced banana. The jam is made from the fruit in season—orange, jackfruit, pineapple or lychee.

Customers love their version of the snack, which the couple sell at P10 apiece.

Reano and Labajo start their day at 3 a.m. to start chopping the ingredients. Their simple division of labor: He cooks while she wraps the turon and lumpia.

It takes five hours for them to finish cooking, Labajo said.

Reano has also come with up lumpia varieties so their customers will not grow tired of their products. These include spicy seafood, chicken curry, Hungarian sausage and spicy beef lumpia. They also sell “siomai” cooked with different herbs along with their turon.

They do not use salt, sugar and monosodium glutamate in their products. “We try to be as organic as we can. The secret is in the spices and herbs we use. It’s magic,” Reano said.

He also makes sure they use very little oil for cooking. They also use lean beef.

If they could find a financier, they would love to open a restaurant in Bacolod. But in the meantime, Reano enjoys what he is doing.

He has no plans of going back to England, especially because he has found Labajo and has made a lot of friends in Negros Occidental. “I’m going to die here in the Philippines,” he said.

He has learned to speak Ilonggo from people he met in the streets. “In the Philippines, wala obra, wala kaon (no work, no eat),” he said.

Labajo sees Reano as a loving, responsible and caring man. If there is one thing she has learned from him, it is never to give up on a relationship no matter the difficulties that they encounter.

Reano said he considered himself lucky being able to find someone like Labajo whom he described as “kind, generous, honest and hardworking.”

“But if you cross her, watch out,” he said.

He hopes to inspire the youth in the Philippines. Anyone can make money if they are willing to work hard, even on the streets.

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Follow me on Twitter @TitasdeBacolod

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Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Behind the Scenes - December 22, 2015 : Garden Club's Christmas Party

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

The Negros Occidental Garden Club put on a grand show during their Christmas party, held recently at the ballroom of the Bacolod Pavillon Hotel. Weeks before the event, club members had been rehearsing diligently with songs and dances for their own presentation. And all their efforts paid off on the night itself as the audience showered them with cheers and rousing applause.

The scene of the party was absolute enchantment with Christmas decors magically transforming the ballroom into a Christmas wonderland. The club members and guests looked so posh and elegant in their fabulous attires filled with glitz, sparkle and glamour.

The show opened with a processional of past club presidents, incoming officers, guest speaker and finally, NOGC president Carissa Maalat, looking so elegant in her bewitching evening gown. May Hanlon performed the doxology with her interpretive dancing of My Prayer. An inspiring invocation was delivered by PP Fe Remitio while Ilde Guerrero gave the welcome remarks.

Everyone enjoyed the festive buffet dinner of epicurean delights specially prepared for the occasion. A young tenor, Ralph Kalvin Dajao, stole the show with his magnificent voice as he sang beautiful arias which held the audience spellbound.

The club officers were inducted by Wilfred Ramon Peñalosa, Provincial Environment Management Officer of Negros Occidental, who impressed the audience with his speech which made us all realize how important it was to take care of the environment and what a wonderful job the club was doing in this regard.

The presentation of each of the six club groups was brilliant and the audience marveled at the spectacular show the groups presented, complete with fabulous costumes and props. Their performance was worth the thundering applause the audience gave. No wonder Maalat was all smiles as she gave her Christmas message, thanking everyone for their superb performance.

Christmas songs ended the program which was followed by door prizes and exchange gifts. Then, it was dance, dance, dance till you dropped!

Saturday, December 19, 2015

You Will Be Proud To Be A Filipino After Watching This

Issues, People

How the Philippines became a haven that saved 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust

Manuel Quezon, the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth, and a group of Americans that included future U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Freiders, the Jewish-American brothers, became increasingly concerned about the treatment of Jews in Europe during the late 1930s.

"They had a shared view of the world, they were men who understood what was happening in Europe," said Russ Hodge, co-producer of the documentary "Rescue in the Philippines." That documentary was screened in the Philippines with the country's president, Benigno Aquino in attendance last year.

Over poker, the men devised a strategy to bring Jewish refugees to the Philippines.

The Philippines Commonwealth remained under U.S. supervision so it could not accept people who would need public assistance. The refuge committee sought highly skilled professionals such as doctors, mechanics and accountants.

By 1938, a stream of refugees arrived including a rabbi, doctors, chemists and even a conductor, Herbert Zipper, who survived Dachau concentration camp and later became the founder of the Manila Symphony.

From CNN, By Madison Park.

YOU WILL BE PROUD TO BE PINOY AFTER WATCHING THIS
Posted by Joel Cudia on Friday, July 24, 2015

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Follow me on Twitter @TitasdeBacolod

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Behind the Scenes - December 17, 2015 : What a Smashing WOW Party!

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

Glamour, glitter and fun were in abundance during the WoW Club celebration of the fourth quarter birthday celebration and Christmas party recently at the Ambience Hall of Pavillon Hotel in Bacolod City.

The party was in full swing by the time Ging2 Puey and I arrived, with the sound of danceable music setting the mood for a delightful evening. The ladies wowed us all with their stunning holiday attire and jovial mood, making the evening so much livelier and festive. Emcee Julie Carbon started the games which had everyone rollicking with laughter. Participants competed fiercely like teenagers to win the beautiful prizes prepared by Baby Bonnin.

By the time the games competition ended, we were all panting to catch our breath from the exertion. Thankfully, dinner was announced and the crowd happily trooped to the buffet where a delectable array of party dishes awaited the hungry group. The birthday celebrators for December were called out front to blow the candles on their huge birthday cake, which was the decadent dessert for the meal.

The ladies wearing the most glamorous gowns were asked to parade before the judges, who chose the six winners: Edith Robillo, Blanche Lemoncito, Viol Caram, Cecile Smith, Mae Hanlon and Dr. Margie Nosce. The ladies sashayed around the room to show off their attire, which stood out among the rest.

After inducting the new members, WoW Club president Prima Pefianco thanked everyone for being so supportive of all the projects of the club. The mood turned wild with upbeat music and the members danced all night till they dropped. What a night!*

Friday, December 11, 2015

I Hope What Happened Last Year Will Not Happen Again This Year

#travel, Places

Screenshot of Rappler's news item last Jan. 2015

My simple blog post for today : I hope what happened last year wherein my nephews and nieces got stuck in NAIA will not happen again this year.

I sincerely hope that the occurrences and media attention we've seen the past months on our airports are more than enough to raise red flags to the Philippines' most popular air carrier to beef up on staff due to the holidays. Otherwise, travelers may once again find their sorry selves in a situation wherein their holiday plans may be messed up due to missed flights and excruciating delays.

If one can recall, no less than Lance Gokongwei had to face our legislators early this year due to the mess-up on December 26, 2014. The Civil Aeronautics Board asked carrier, Cebu Pacific, to explain a lack of counter personnel that led to some passengers being left behind by their flights on that fateful Friday.

Travelers went berzerk not just with the delays but also the switching of assigned gates which were a great inconvenience to the elderly who had to move the entire length of the airport.

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Follow me on Twitter @TitasdeBacolod

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Behind the Scenes - December 10, 2015 : She Tangos at 94!

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

The invitation to the party was intriguing. It looked like a passport with a boarding pass peeping out of the envelope. Inside was an invitation to a “European Tour” of Remedios “Meding” Orola's 94 th birthday celebration at the Grand Ballroom of Sugarland Hotel in Bacolod.

On the night itself, the ballroom was magically transformed by designer Jojo Pastrana into a European-inspired travelogue with huge murals of Paris, London, Vienna, etc. as backdrop for the stage. The centerpiece of each table was a glittering crown adorned with dainty flowers and crystals that glowed with the lights.

Nat King Cole's “Around the World” signaled the grand entrance of the Orola family, greeted by applause from the guests. Suddenly, there she was – birthday celebrator Tia Meding, looking so regal in her elegant gown and silver hair. With a smile and a gentle wave of her hand, she acknowledged the cheers from her friends and admirers.

John Orola welcomed the guests and danced a waltz with his Mom while the other male members of the family awaited their turn. It was a heartwarming sight to see the love that the children have for their mother.

The other children and in-laws offered songs during the program, which was highlighted by a talented local tenor, Nic Tugaff, who sang opera songs ala Luciano Pavarotti.

Dinner was a lavish affair of mouth-watering dishes which everyone enjoyed.

Then it was fun time as the music was too irresistible to resist. Dance aficionados took to the dance floor with a vengeance. Tia Meding showed her love for dancing together with the rest of the Orolas.

What a special night for a special lady. Happy birthday, Tia Meding!*

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Thursday, December 03, 2015

Behind the Scenes - December 3, 2015 : A Rocking Night with the Aussies

Behind the Scenes with Ivy Visitacion

It was a fun-filled evening when the visiting group of 65 graduating Australian high school students of Swan Christian College, Southern Hills Christian College and Ellenbrook Christian College from Perth, Australia, were entertained with a “MassKara Night” by former congressman John Orola in his sprawling backyard garden at Casa Orola, Bacolod recently.

The students and around 27 teachers from the three schools arrived in Bacolod a week ago as part of their schools' project to render community service and to foster a lasting cultural exchange between the young people of Neg. Occ. and Perth.

While here, they traveled in two big buses to Sagay, Isabela, Cabacungan, Tabao, Valladolid, etc. They painted an orphanage building, learned how to dry fish, cook Filipino food, wash their clothes in the river, harvest sugarcane and so many more activities which was a new and novel experience for them. They also distributed goods to the people in the community who deeply appreciated the kindness of the young people from Australia. Aside from these activities, the group enjoyed their outing at the fabulous Paradiso Resort where the huge swimming pool was so cool and refreshing under the hot sun.

After they got back to Bacolod, the girls had a beauty treatment at Ysabella's Salon in time for the party at Orola's place. It was a first time experience for some of the guests to taste the Filipino delicacy “lechon” (roasted pig), which they ate with rice, pancit and other goodies on the buffet.

Then it was party time when the Zen Band began playing. This is the band that represented the Philippines in the Asia Music Festival, and who wowed the audience with their music. This time, they wowed the young Aussies who rushed to the dance floor and rocked, jumped and gyrated to their hearts' content as they cheered the band on. The mood was electric and, pretty soon, everyone was dancing (even John's 94-year-old mom was grooving like a teenager!)

Wotta night! Mabuhay to the young Aussies from Perth!*