TONG & RITA & TETRIS

This February, it's the 97th birthday of Rita's Mom. Usually, it's only Rita who comes home, but this time her whole family came - Tong, Rita, Thea and hubby, Ariel and little Simone. Like their usual visits to the Philippines, the Salgado's have their hands full with activities. Golf was in Tong's mind whenever he can get on with it, otherwise he and Rita are heavy on family activities - with Ating in New Manila, Rita's Mom in Marikina and other relatives.

Yesterday Sunday, the Neos had dinner with Tong and Rita at Oni and Bili's house in Greenmeadows. Nore and Fe were expected but unfortunately, they committed earlier to other engagements. Sosyal! The balikbayans were prompt coming to the dinner party and the NEOs as usual, were late. Over dinner, the serious part of the conversation centered on family (Ariel's body tatoos, Simone's music, jobs and ages of the children, etc.), retirement (Tong has an offer to do engineering service in Qatar but I understand he's passing up this one), jobs (Delfa is slated to go to the Gobi desert and then to Laos and Vietnam) and of course the music (Eva Cassidy, Paul Byrom, and what else - the NEOs!).

The NEOs had just performed at Tetris debut in Makati two days before. You guys remember Tetris - she was one of the original NEO gals. She is now 18 and a Rihanna look alike! For everyone's info, Tetris is presently into drama and is a member of the Repertory Philippines. For her party, the NEOs did a token performance of four songs. Of course, Tetris sang with the group to the amazement of her classmates from Assumption. But those who seemed to really enjoy the songs were the lady friends of Tetris' Mom, Carmen Prieto (friend of Alex). At the end of the party, the NEOs got a shock when some of these ladies asked where they can get hold of a NEO DVD! Yes Virginia, they are willing to pay money for it! There was also an immediate invitation to sing in a reunion party of one of the ladies (of course, this was after we mentioned that Neo's don't charge friends.) Talk about making one's night! Oni had finally obtained the 4 part voice for Steal Away, that distinctive acapella song by the Celtic Thunder. The NEOs are thinking that the song harmonics of Steal Away is not so simple, but Tong wasn't inhibited when he heard it. Iba talaga ang CAFASinger - walang kamatayan! Alex is still deciding whether his range is best for the Alto or Tenor part or the Soprano in falsetto! (Alex has discovered the IPod and is now practicing at every opportunity.) The resulting voice lines done by a new arranger are surprisingly individualistic and calls for alternating melody line on chorus and second voice on verse as the song hops from key to key. Oni was saying that once the Neo's get the song down pat, no one else will likely be able to duplicate it easily. If any of the CAFAs are interested, I can email the voices to you.


And so, another CAFA get together is done. If for nothing else, everyone is still keen on that second concert in the States. Bess and Ely, we need to think about it already since the months (and soon years) are passing by. Fe, Pearl, Harvey and other concert patrons, your Reunion Concert DVDs are ready for pick up.

FIRST QUARTER CAFA BIRTHDAYS

It was Nore's birthday last February 7, but she generously involved the other Birthday guys in the celebration. These were Oni (January) and Didi & Alex (February). The celebration was held at Lynn and Rene Sunico's rest house cum vegetable farm in Alfonso Cavite. A two-hour drive from Manila, the farm lot site is practically part of Tagaytay hence, the party was blessed with the cool breeze and lush vegetation of the area.

Family and family friends, the Fine Arts bloc and of course the NEOs graced the occasion. As usual, the food was great. The plentiful dessert was a Diebetes Festival in the words of Francis R. Santos. Even as everybody had a feast, the running video of Claire and Alex's grand wedding was playing throughout. The video captured the great moments of the wedding including the reception decor, the bridal entourage introductions and including Didi's exuberant dancing. The Neo's heart-rending Sunrise Sunset song was also aptly recorded. (the video showed a closeup of a tearful bride and groom as they listened to Nore's sentimental favorite of a wedding song).

The rest house has complete amenities with a wrap-around terrace. It had videoke facility in the living room. The Neo's plus Francis, Didi and the other musically inclined guest thus took the opportunity to give vent to their golden voices in song. During the break, Alex twitted Oni to sample some of his original song compositions that he had been working on. Oni said that that would be the first public presentation of the songs and so he would expect that the privileged guests would at least indulge him by promising to buy the CD when it comes out! (if ever...)

Apart from the usual rooms, the rest house has a loft where guests could bunk if necessary. This gave the idea that perhaps the CAFAs could one day plan out an overnight excursion to the place. The Neo's were so at home in the environment that before leaving, they told the owners (Rene and Lynn) that since the Neo's might takeover their private bedrooms, they could also bunk in the loft if they want.