Independence
Day in Alhambra

NEW YORK CITY. They call this the city that never sleeps? Not for me and my companions and co-passengers on the Jetblue flight from Los Angeles to this city. We just had enough energy left to reach the residence of my niece, Peachy and her husband, Gino Tadiar in Brooklyn and a quick supper before falling into the sleep of the just. That’s how stressed we, Allan and Lourdes Gomez and I were from the flight.

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Oh, the actual flight was ok, unless you keep comparing the service with that of our own Philippine Air Lines. What made the trip so exhausting was the fact that it was delayed by about three hours plus the extra hour we had to wait for coming to the airport in L.A. very early. And what was the reason for the delay? Would you believe? As announced by airline staff, the plane lavatory was out of order! Another announced later that it was “broken” and had to be fixed yet. Just imagine the anxiety of those who had important appointments or had to catch connecting flights.

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We finally boarded (another plane, I understand) since the darn lavatory was still “broken”. More than three hours of fixing couldn’t solve the problem. It seems to me this Jet Blue planes are being sabotaged by their lavatories. Because of them I don’t think I’ll ever recommend this aircraft to anyone I like. I always had problems with it all the time I have taken it. And that’s another story.

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Meanwhile, I celebrated the U.S. Independence Day in the city of Alhambra with my nephew, Sonny Ramos, his wife Mae, their sons Pierre and Masonne, mother-in-law Vicky Ladia, and their church community. The group held a potluck barbecue in the backyard of Sonny’s home and it was a very lively affair with a great variety of Pinoy dishes. Everybody was in high spirits but I noticed that there was no hard drinking among the men. I was told they couldn’t do that or they’d have trouble driving home. The police in the U.S. have no sympathy for those “driving under the influence,” even if it’s the Fourth of July.

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As we were driving to Alhambara, I asked Allan (Gomez) how many kilometers away it is from Riverside City where he resides, and was shocked to learn we were going to a party more than 100 kilometers away. But I was not sorry I went as I met some new friends, talented ones, like Melvir Ausente who is from Bacolod and a noted conductor and singer here. A graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Music, he is now with the Los Angeles Chorale, as well as the L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra.

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There were also Dr. Robert de la Paz and his wife, the former Gladys de Asis of Ilog.

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When it was time for the fireworks, several partygoers rushed to the city park where they said they would lie down on the grass to get the best view. The aerial show lasted for 30 minutes. By the way, I met several people there who said they keep in touch by reading the DAILY STAR. And they also said they were so thrilled when the Bacolod MassKara was declared as champion of the ABS-CBN competition, “It’s Showtime”.

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Meanwhile I am writing this in New York where we arrived close to midnight and were fetched by Gino (Tadiar) husband of my niece Peachy, daughter of my brother Pros, where we are staying. Allan and Lourdes have left for Washington D.C. to tour the place, while I am staying put to attend the wedding of Dana Corral, daughter of Danny and Meya Corral, and granddaughter of the former Florinda Ramos and the late Dr. Hugo Corral of Bacolod.*

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