The Lorna I know and love

Babeth's note: A few months ago, former Population Center Foundation colleague and friend Elsie Kalaw, Lorna's kid sister, wrote to ask if I could contribute something about Lorna, who is celebrating her 75th birthday today, to a one-copy tribute book. I didn't hesitate. I wrote this piece immediately while the subject's demeanor was fresh in my mind. Welcome to your diamond years, Lorns. You're more precious than that gem. Lorna Kalaw Tirol will always be unforgettable in my book. Firstly, it’s because she shares the same birthday on January 24 as my father, Enrique Cariño Lolarga Jr. Like him, she is soft-spoken, gentle, thoughtful—but don’t cross their paths on matters of conviction for they can be brutally harsh. It’s the Ilokano streak in him, it’s the Batangueña in her. I guess we both were/are Daddy’s girls. Secondly, Lorna is the editors’ editor like her good friend (and mine) Rustie Otico. They’re eagle-eyed about the veracity of data, wary of grammatical and syntactical errors, but the writer’s style, or flair, is retained. I felt honored when she invited me to write for Sunday Inquirer Magazine which she edited in the 1990s. Apart from giving me assignments, she approved my story pitches. One time, she said over long distance, “I wish you’d come back to Manila (I was living in Baguio then as a fulltime housewife) so you can cover the art events.” That was confidence-boosting praise if I ever heard any. When I held a solo exhibit of paintings at Baguio’s Café by the Ruins, she sent this message which I continue to store in my blog brooksidebaby.blogspot.com: “I am endlessly amazed by the diversity and breadth of your talents and your generosity in sharing them with others less gifted.” Thirdly, there is Lorna, the heart and soul of her home and family. No wonder my former boss, Vicente G. Tirol, worshipped her and loved her to bits. He liked her rellenong bangus so much she’d prepare it for him even if she was tired. My first sight of Lorna was at the launching of Nick Joaquin’s children’s books—she was cuddling one of her two sons of toddler age. This love of children has extended to her grandkids and even my own. Since my daughter Kimi was a baby, Lorna would send her books for Christmas. Then the practice continued when I had my first grandchild Kai. Lorna knew how to pick titles because these books eventually became my little ones’ favorites, their pages repeatedly turned, the images and colors constantly admired. Fourthly, there is Lorna, the little known and under-appreciated amateur singer. I heard her once say that her dream was to be able to do the lounge act Michelle Pfeiffer did atop a grand piano in the film The Fabulous Baker Boys. The song was “Makin’ Whoopee.” Very un-Lorna image if I think of her as a dyed-in-the-Theresian-blue colegiala! But why not? Her son Paulo recorded her on Spotify singing the beloved Bacharach-David anthem “Alfie.” Next to Cilla Black’s version, Lorna’s comes second and Dionne Warwick’s a distant third in my book of likes. Fifthly, Lorna has a generous streak. When my husband Rolly Fernandez, a bibliophile and Filipiniana buff, learned that she was packing Vic’s books in boxes for giving away, he asked if he could have a couple, sight unseen. She said yes immediately. The boxes found their way to Baguio, and Rolly delighted in Neil Simon’s memoir, among others. One time, I shared my poems with Lorna. She wondered aloud what it would be like to have a poem dedicated to her. That wish lit a spark in me, and right away I drafted this verse which saw print in my limited edition book Big Mama Sez: Poems Old & New. I quote it in its entirety: Open Like the Mind For Lorna Kalaw Tirol who wondered what it would like to have a poem dedicated to her “An open mind is like an open window. It lets the fresh air in.”—Mike Hernacki most times we just need the refreshment of unfettered views those times we don’t need anything not a thing to frame them with not grills, not jalousies which are the worst–they stifle what should freely float as for blinds that you pull up at first light & bring down at eventide those times they are barriers to break i don’t know about you but i would rather live with sheer curtains or those made of beads, rolled paper & small bells that talk & tinkle as you walk through them or are as still as you on airless afternoons yes, we can agree to just set up two chairs, maybe even four, but with a view of the possibilities of the infinite

Girlfriends' night

I've traveled miles to attend First Draft meetings, and even arrived once from an overseas trip, woozy from jet lag but still able to listen to my wise elders with some mindfulness.

Karina Bolasco and I are the "babies" in this group of women who write and like to share their works by reading them aloud for critique. I write "babies" because after me, the next lady is in her mid-60s. The eldest is forever 84.

We used to meet six times a year, but that petered out when each got involved in this or that. But the raison d'être for a group like this has been met--we're all engaged in and committed to writing. And we write not for livelihood reasons alone. To use another friend's term, writing has become a "lovelihood".

Rita Ledesma had been our gracious Christmas host for many years. December is when she brings out her best china, the best cuisine and desserts that she has tasted and now wants to share this delight with us. We exchange gifts (an option) and have a non-negotiable bunutan or mini raffle. This year we missed the company of Mariel Francisco, Melinda de Jesus and Lorna Kalaw Tirol, all fulfilling family duties. I know there's a next time with them.

If my pictures are fuzzy, maybe it's because I look at these women through the eyes of love.

Karina Bolasco and Gilda Cordero Fernando

Chit Roces Santos, Edna Manlapaz and Fe Arriola

Fe and Rita Ledesma

Martin Masadao knits, among his many talents

One of the first knitted accessories that Martin made. I was its proud owner after I received it from Rolly Fernandez's Express Service.

I write this as Typhoon Glenda is swirling above the sea/ocean and readying to hit land. So before the power goes down, I'd just like to give Brookside Baby's space to independent scriptwriter-director Martin Masadao who is adding another hyphen to his description soon, and that is indie film producer. He wrote and directed Anac Ti Pating which won for best film and best actor awards in the 2012 Sineng Pambansa festival.

He recently sent an email to select friends about his innovative way of raising funds for his next film project. The big-hearted Martin is also setting aside an amount for the super-typhoon Yolanda rehabilitation cause.

Like I always say in past blogs, artists are great philanthropists. They will respond with a generosity that no Henry Sy or John Gokongwei or coño millionaire or society matrons with Botoxed faces can ever match. And artists do so without strings (or in this case, yarn) attached. The good artists can be counted upon to sacrifice their total beings for a heavenly cause.

He knitted me a cobalt, or is it electric, blue accessory that I wore around my throat on two consecutive occasions: the opening of Gilda Cordero Fernando's painting exhibit at Silverlens Galleries last week and the Mostly Mozart 2014 Festival at the Philippine Stock Exchange auditorium (renamed Lanuza Hall) just this past Friday. Enough people saw it--the kind of crowd Martin wanted to catch.


With Jacqui Magno, who sang "Hindi Kita Malimot" and "Bridges" at GCF's opening program, manager Anna Ylagan and writer and editors' editor Lorna Kalaw Tirol

Karla Delgado (right), my former editor and a Baguio resident in her childhood, points to a Martina Knittera creation. Photo by Rolly Fernandez

One of my fave shots from that Silverlens evening. This one's with artist Robert Alejandro, all covered in black, his "daring" costume. Photo by Wendy Regalado


Arthur Espiritu holds up his hand-me-down "throat protector" given by the self-proclaimed presidentita of the Arthur Espiritu Fan Club of the Philippines, Northern Luzon chapter. Note his wedding band. Photo by Rolly Fernandez

I told Martin that I couldn't resist bequeathing the piece to Arthur Espiritu who leaves the country again for a six-month engagement in European opera houses (he's on contract there). He has always protected his throat from the cold, whether the cold of faulty air-conditioning or the bitter cold of winter. His soaring tenor is his means of livelihood, after all.

Once he got hold of the neck piece, he called his wife Christine from below the stage to safe-keep it. Arthur also emailed, thankful for the accessory.

He wrote:

Thanks so much again for that memento. I hope that Martin reaches his goals in raising funds. Please extend my warmest thanks and regards.

All the best,
Arthur

I promptly forwarded the note to Martin. See? That's what I like about our cultural ambassadors of goodwill. May breeding sila. The great ones never ever exhibit a sense of entitlement.

Mabuhay ka, Martin! Long may Martina Knittera live!

For orders of knitwear or knitted accessories, please look for Mr. Masadao in Google+, the more subdued social media platform (no offense to Facebookers).

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Friends!

Greetings! Hope all is well with all of you! :-)

I am going to write a script come September, full-length feature film, which means I will be holed up in Baguio City come July.

While writing, I am planning to use the time as well to knit. I figured I will have all the 'free' time and knitting will help me while thinking in front of the pc.

Here's the deal, if you guys have any old sweaters/knit wear (crocheted items will also do) that somehow you can't seem to get let go of or perhaps are attached to but no longer use because probably they're out of style? Send them to me and I will make tastas the yarn and fashion something 'new' out of it! :-)

Perhaps a cowl, shawl, vest, muffler, scarf, purse, bag, whatever!? Design will depend on color and type of yarn. I will personally hand knit the item. I'm thinking of charging 750 pesos, 500 to cover my labor and 250 to be donated to 'Threads For Life'*.

Rest assured that whatever I make for you will not be replicated for others. Sana you can take a 'before' pic of the item you will give me then we take another 'after' pic of whatever I will knit. I will maximize yarn of your pre-loved sweaters, ergo, you will not get only one item. (I can knit coasters, placemats, iphone case, etc. from leftover yarn).

Payment will be asked on delivery of knitted product. Let me know if you guys are game! Tulong nyo na yan sa akin. (500 will most probably go to cigarettes and beer! While writing manuscript! Haha!)

For those in Baguio, you may drop off your sweaters at Rm. 209 Laperal Bldg. Session Rd. Mon - Fri from 9am to 5pm and Sat fr 9am to 11am. For those in Manila, let me know via text or email when and where to pick up your sweaters.

Thanks very much. If you'd be satisfied with end product I would appreciate endorsement to your friends via word-of-mouth.

I think they would make personalized Xmas gifts, dont you think so?! :-)

Best Regards,

Martina Knittera!

P.S.

Threads For Life is a fund-raising initiative of our dear friend Marta for Yolanda effort. TFL sells pre-loved clothes, shoes, bags etc and all proceeds go to Yolanda. The 250 from the knitting project I will donate to Yolanda as well. :-)

A feat, indeed

I've always loved the innocence in editor Lorna Kalaw Tirol's voice. Her soprano never slid down to the voice of experience. I've just written to her to tell her how fortunate and blessed she has been in love and in life.

I'm so glad she indulged my request to sing at my husband's and my silver jubilee in '09 with her and Vergel O. Santos's rendition of Rodgers-Hammerstein's "Something Good."

Listen to Lorna's recording of "Alfie" accompanied by her youngest son Paolo, a songwriting student at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.

Just copy and paste this link to another tab, and listen to Lorna's heartfelt version of this Bacharach-David pop classic: https://soundcloud.com/paulophonic/alfie

Photo of mother and son from https://soundcloud.com/paulophonic

Dots and caps

It's nice to come home to Baguio and do some hugging: me hugging Kai/Butones while she hugs her new book, given by another lola from Antipolo whose thoughtfulness is bottomless--Lorna Kalaw Tirol.

Baguio in January is lovely--sunny with lots of hints of fog. Sometimes, the cold can get a bit much, but not for Butones who can still wear half-sleeved tops and a knitted owl cap to warm her head, while Booboo, back from the lowlands, is bundled in her turtle neck sweater (Luisa Igloria, wherever you are, thanks for the nice bottle-green sweats) and her favorite flowery bonnet knitted by a woman from La Trinidad, Benguet.

Instagram photos by Kimi Fernandez

Open Like the Mind

for lorna kalaw tirol who wondered
what it would like to have a poem dedicated to her

most times we just need the refreshment
of unfettered views
those times we don't need anything
not a thing to frame them with
not grills, not jalousies which are
the worst--they stifle what should
freely float

as for blinds
that you pull up at first light
& bring down at evetide
those times they are
barriers to break

i don't know about you
but i'd rather live with sheer curtains
or those made of beads, rolled paper &
small bells that talk & tinkle
as you walk through them
or are as still as you
on airless afternoons

yes, we can agree to just
set up two chairs,
maybe even four, but with a view
of the possibilities
of the infinite

--Babeth Lolarga

Photos from Heather O'Hara's Quantum Grace Facebook page and another FB community page

Hangad's songs for your secret, sacred time

From the inbox today came this announcement. The soon-to-be launched CD is worth listening to. Or worth the look-see when the album is launched on two days in September at different venues. I've seen these earnest kids perform five or so years ago when the mom of one of the members, Lorna Kalaw Tirol, brought in Hangad to serenade Karina Bolasco who had turned golden girl. Members of First Draft were there to celebrate the occasion with her with the usual dining, reading and sharing. That meeting remains fresh in my memory because there was live choral music for a change.

____________________

They don’t call themselves a choir or even a singing group. They are a group of young people, most of them professionals and a few college students, who sing to glorify God and to draw people closer to Him. They call themselves Hangad.

Next month, Hangad will mark its 20th anniversary with the release of a new album that explores and celebrates prayer as a deeply personal, one-on-one communication with God.

The CD, the group’s eighth, is titled This Time with You. It contains 16 songs, 15 of them original compositions by the members, that span a broad range of themes, emotions and musical styles, including a mix of a capella vocals and various instruments (piano, guitar, flute, saxophone and strings).

Renato Lucas, the celebrated principal cellist of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, performs a solo.

The album will be launched at two free concerts on Sept. 3 at 2 p.m. at the Chapel of the Eucharistic Lord, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, and on Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Santo Nino de Paz Chapel in Greenbelt, Ayala Center, Makati City.

Accompanying the album is a words and music book containing reflections and prayers written by Hangad members, and the complete vocal scores of the songs on the CD.

This new album recalls Hangad’s origins as a choir for Days with the Lord retreats at the Ateneo High School in 1991. Since then, the group has produced five music videos besides its eight CDs and has performed in numerous inspirational and fund-raising concerts around the country and in the United States.

In 2006, Hangad won the Awit Award for best inspirational/religious song for “Pieta: Oyayi sa Paanan ni Hesus” in the album titled Easter Journey.

This Time with You is a joint production of Hangad and the Jesuit Communications Foundation.

For more information, readers may check out Hangad on Facebook or visit its website, www.hangad.com, or write to mail@hangad.com.

Ruing My Zipping All Over Town Days

I woke up Thursday morning last week with a runny nose and a heavy head. I recognized the symptoms: the common cold has again set in, and its commonness, to mean regularity in visit, has shown cracks in my imagined invincible shield.

In Baguio, this minor discomfort is easily licked by an old family "recipe" shared by Padma Perez: a healing foot bath that calls for lots of lemon juice squeezed into a pail and mixed with pounded ginger. Pour hot water. Add drops of lavender oil (optional). Then soak your feet until water cools (depends on how hot you can stand it). While soaking, wrap yourself with a blanket. After the soak (or when the water cools), dry your feet, and go to sleep.

Simple but hard to duplicate in Manila where I step out of the shower, towel my body dry, then quickly begin to feel the beads of sweat forming on my forehead and around my neck.

A cold is inconvenient because it has become expensive to treat, and my doctor is perplexed why it has become a regular visitor in my life. She has ruled out dengue or a viral cause. She listens to my lungs, pronounces them clear so pneumonia is ruled out,too,but she's not taking chances so yesterday, she sent me down the lab for my second x-ray this year.Ohh, all that radiation, and it doesn't show on my face.

A cold is inconvenient because I wind up breaking appointments due to body malaise and weakness. Worse part is when I cancel plans in my cultural calendar of sorts. I like sharing in my friends' triumphs, watching them get acknowledged as another book is published or a life's career recognized.

Wednesday I watched an emotional Mario Miclat go up before the mike at the Shang to thank his family and circle of friends who saw him through the writing of his novel, Secret of the Eighteen Mansions. Although classified as historical fiction, it raises the curtain on the weaknesses and mistakes of the Maoist underground movement and reveals the top Party members' frailties. Many characters are thinly disguised, including the Chairman who goes by the initials AG (short for his nom de guerre Amado Guerrero, no doubt). Many friends feared for Mario's safety and the Chaiman's capacity to exact vengeance as they read pages of his draft but cheered him to go on as the time was ripe for these revelations. Now if AG makes patol to a work of fiction, he's even more deluded than we think.

Thursday was Edna Zapanta Manlapaz's turn to be feted. A beloved teacher at the Ateneo, she is one of two professors (the other being Soledad Reyes) who had the vision to see the need for and value of archival space for women writers' documents(expanded to include visual artists later) through the university's Library of Women's Writings.

Tuesday before that, Edna had hosted our bi-monthly First Draft dinner meeting at her La Vista Home. I was uncharacteristically late as I had just motored from Makati where another batch of girlfriends parted after a long, gossipy lunch. Gilda Fernando threatened in her text to finish all the sugar-free desserts if I didn't show up.

Edna always knows how to prepare an elegant table and a good spread from lemon coolers to just desserts. I missed Rita Ledesma's reading of her essay, accompanied by Lorna Kalaw Tirol's singing of song phrases from the manuscript. But Lorna was prepared for an encore to cap the evening. When she asked us what song we wanted to hear, Fe Arriola piped up, "Alfie."

And so the theme from the movie "Alfie" was in my head to console me on the afternoon I missed the festscrift for Edna. As sure as I believe, there's a heaven above, and this cold will be whipped before I miss out on any more vital cultural fare.

Photo by the blogger shows Lorna Kalaw Tirol (right) and other members of First Draft, Fe Arriola, Mariel Francisco and Karina Bolasco.