"What's the buzz ... what's a happening?"

My earliest memories of hearing music is when we were living in New Delhi, India. Mid 1970s in our bungalow made of red bricks in a tree-lined village. I was about 5 or 6 years old and my sister was just a toddler. 

We had a tiny garden and a porch area in the front of the house with a black gate made of black bars so people outside could see this area. But it was a gated community so we were in a safe and secure neighborhood. I would ride a small bicycle with a side car (sister in the side car) within this tiny area and I remember being as happy as I could be. =)

Inside, my parents had this record player with speakers blasting the "Jesus Christ Superstar" vinyl album. It was loud and often on repeat mode that to this day, I can still remember some of the songs by heart.

Back in 1970, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber released this rock opera album with lyrics by Tim Rice. Later, it was turned into a Broadway musical. It depicted our Lord, Jesus Christ in a very different light. He would preach and minister to his flock by singing songs, no dialogue at all.

During that time, it was considered a blasphemy. And I remember quite well when a colleague of my father at the Philippine Embassy dropped by our house, she berated my mother for playing such a blasphemous album. But did my feisty mother listen? No way!!! In fact, she made it much louder and told the nosy colleague to mind her own business. :D

So that early exposure to my very first musical made me appreciate other musicals as I grew older. I saw "Les Miserables" (my jaw dropped at the scene where Inspector Javert jumps to his death!) and "Cats" (large "felines" purring near your seat during intermission time, terrified me!) several times when they were staged in Singapore in the early 1990s.
I watched "The Phantom of the Opera", "Miss Saigon" (sans Lea Salonga), "Sunset Boulevard" and "Starlight Express" in 1995 when my mother, sister and I visited London. 

Last year, I won two tickets to "The Phantom of the Opera" musical which was staged at the Solaire Resort & Casino. It was an Australian production and it revived my love for musicals and brought back so many memories.

But my ultimate favorite has always be "Jesus Christ Superstar". In fact, I have a tendency to listen to the whole album during Lenten season. No I don't find it blasphemous, at all. I am quite secure in my Roman Catholic faith and nothing will make me question my strong belief.

Here is my favorite version of the song Gethsemane performed by the great Ted Neeley in the 1973 Jesus Christ Superstar musical:

Easter Monday

Tis the day after Easter, in this part of the world - the enhanced community quarantine has been extended until the end of this month.

Frankly, I am doing alright.

Except, I'm missing craving for my favorite frappe and a donut because it is very very hot.

But I am doing alright.

I have worked from home for more or less a decade now.

So I am home all the time. Only difference, the hubby is also home.

It does take a bit of adjustment, for me.

I am used to having our tiny space, all to myself.

From 8 A.M until 9 P.M, every weekdays.

But I am doing alright.

We have enough supplies to last for about 10 days.

We have a roof over our heads.

We have our own separate offices.

But I DO miss my parents.

We see them every weekend.

Now resort to communicating through video calls.

But I am doing alright.

It feels a bit strange NOT to hear mass on Sundays.

It was equally difficult to observe the Holy Week.

The Holy Father Pope Francis saying mass in an empty Vatican was solemn and also quite sad.

But I am doing alright.

I leave you with a stunning performance by tenor Andrea Bocelli on Easter Sunday at the Duomo in Milan, Italy.

In 2000, my sister and I revisited Milan and even went up on the roof top of the Duomo for a great view of the city.

Seeing him sing there brought back so many memories of a period in my life.

I call my days of wine and roses.

A time when I was a carefree bon vivant.

But I am alright.

Bataan Day

This year, Araw ng Kagitingan falls on Maundy Thursday, and for a practicing Catholic, it is a day of contemplation and solemnity for me.

This post is to honor our brave fallen soldiers who valiantly fought for our freedom. Day of Valor (April 09) commemorates the fall of Bataan in World War 2. The Allied Forces consisting of around 78,000 Filipino, Chinese and American soldiers surrendered to the Imperial army of Japan on the dawn of April 09, 1942.  Annually, the Araw ng Kagitingan ceremony is held at Mount Samat. I am posting pictures of the Mount Samat National Shrine war museum's extensive collection.

I also salute our modern day heroes who are working very hard to fight this pandemic - our health workers. May God continue to bless and guide you in your efforts to heal the afflicted and contain this pandemic. 

Mount Samat: Shrine of Valour

September 26, 2019: After we checked out from Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar (overnight staycation), we headed to Mount Samat in Pilar, Bataan.

Backgrounder: When D said he wanted to go to Las Casas for his advanced birthday treat, I googled local attractions within its vicinity. My search revealed museums and small markers signifying the importance of the place during WW2. Plus Mount Samat, a 545 meter mountain which was the site of one of the bloodiest battles in our history.

In early 1942, Allied Forces (American troops) fought the Japanese Imperial Army in the Battle of Bataan. I absorbed all information with gusto - the Shrine of Valour, its Memorial Cross, its museum + the zigzagging road to reach it.

Then I got afraid: can our 23 year old classic sedan survive the steep climb? For days, I kept hounding D, pestering him about it. I would also flip flop on whether we should include Mount Samat in our itinerary, at all. He studied the terrain, the mechanics of the gears for steep climbs and he reassured me it is very feasible. I was ecstatic yet still apprehensive. 

After a quick lunch at some roadside eatery which served okay food at cheap prices, we followed the sign leading us to the Memorial Park. At first, we were on the national highway,  a well cemented two lanes road. Once we turned left, the paved road was within a densely forested area, we encountered a small slopes here + few sharp curves there. We reached some steep climbs, my knuckles were white from holding very tight. I got dizzy looking at the numerous zigzag patterns on Waze so I switched my phone off. I was too nervous and held my breath the entire time as I felt the sharp turns, the steepness of the climb.

At some point towards the final stretch, our car was making noises I've never heard before, but she (yes, our car is a female) shouldered on. When I saw the white gate, the checkpoint at the entrance, I finally let go of my firm hold. We were praising our little car, when we parked I literally kissed its dashboard from relief. My anxiety level was at its highest but we made it to the top. Yoohoo!!!!

It was around 2:20 PM, a very bright, sunny and warm Thursday afternoon. There were SUVs and our tiny car was the 3rd one present at the parking slot. I had my umbrella, my portable fan, my cooling towel. I was ready for another climb, this time on foot.

Path to the base of the Cross

Look at those rocks! Quite difficult to step on and walk.

A daunting 448 steps zigzagging footpath which is said to be made of rocks from Corregidor, stained by Japanese blood. It felt like cobblestones and it was rough on my ballet flats, I had to stop several times to catch my breath even as the view from up there was quite literally breathtakingly panoramic. Two people in their 50s, drenched in sweat,  yet in high spirits finally made it to the top. =)

We stopped a bit to catch our breath and take in the view. The Memorial Cross is 95 meters tall with the Cross arms at 30 meters wide. At the base of the Cross, an 11 meter tall sculptural slabs designed by National Artist Napoleon Abueva depicting some scenes from our rich historical past.

Artist Napoleon Abueva's design

From the base of the Memorial Cross, there is an elevator to take you to the viewing gallery situated in the arms of the Cross. There is a row of chairs in the middle and from the small windows you can see a panoramic view of the entire Bataan peninsula. 

We spent about 10 minutes there then it was time to return to the cobblestone like pathway yet again in the blazing sun. Our target was to explore the marble colonnade designed by Lorenzo Castillo. An open space which includes two bronze urns, the altar of Valour and three panels of large stained glass windows designed by Ceno Rivera.