LIZZA STREICHER- OUR YOUNGEST CHILD.

-----------------------------------

I knew from the very start when she was still a small kindergarten age child that she would be different in many ways from her older siblings.

For one thing, she came into our lives when the older ones were already years ahead, and thus she became number five in our family.

Still, her coming had not tarnished what she was to be to her parents, me especially.

As I review the events that she ventured at a young age – her swimming meets where I had too drive her to different places, competing, always competing and at times winning but she did not mind. It was the competing that fueled her drive. And speaking of drive, when she finally finished her college at that Jesuit school, without so much as by your leave, she up s and flew to Utah and worked there.

We flew over to see what kind of place it was and it turned out to be a celebrity hotel Lodge especially during the winter months where movie actors and lovely ladies spent their time in indulging their sport – skiing!

Shortly after that short stint, she and her boyfriend decided to seek greener pastures as they say and drove with a broken fifth gear of her Mazda to Coeur d’L Alene, Idaho to seek a better job.  They arrived in Coeur d'alene with their 4 month old black lab, with no place to stay and no job but after camping for four days, they secured a job and an apartment. 

She got the Front Desk clerk position while her boyfriend worked in the  Concierge Department of the Coeur d'Alene Resort.  They were very successful, their attempt.  Lizza for promoted to Reservations Manager shortly after and Patrick got promoted to the Concierge Level and went on to other positions and they both, in fact stayed on for a while and eventually got married in a Catholic Church in Coeur d'Alene.

As luck would have it, she decided to take on a sales job with a large territory and Pat took on a job in Spokane. So, she finally left CDA employment and got a job with a pharmaceutical firm based in North Caroline, and Pat worked with a nice position with the Spokane Utility Firm.

Knowing the temperament and drive of this daughter of ours, after fifteen years, she opted to separate from Pat for irreconcilable differences and left the home. 

After 2 years of being on her own, she met another man whom she married 2 years later, Greg.

But we as parents were delighted when we finally met Greg and soon attended their wedding in Spokane, WA.  Needless to way, she is very happy many times over, for what she couldn't find in her first marriage she found and with great satisfaction and joy in this marriage that she had entered.

We are proud of Lizza, our youngest daughter, who knew what she wanted in every phase of her life and sought it with gusto. We pray that their union will last forever.  

Hi Tony and Chita,

      Wow! What a dissertation, so well articulated ! I can tell you the feeling is mutual . From the first time we met in church , I knew you were the Filipino couple with whom I wanted to be acquainted . So when Kate told me about you, I  asked her to introduce me to you right now. And I was right - we have good chemistry right from the start - that was why I asked Tony to give a talk to our Asian American group about Philippine culture. Remember the 4 of us singing some Philippine songs with my guitar? That relationship just blossomed from then on. My siblings feel very comfortable with the two of you around , reminiscing on the olden days. Yes, we look forward to our annual get- together on my birthdays in November of every year. 

     The honor is ours when you join us in these celebrations. You have a great family yourself and I can tell the closeness of your family knit, just like ours. Mabuhay tayong lahat! Thanks again for the birthday greetings. 

      Gene and Kate

Gino's Email	8:10 PM (18 hours ago)
to me, Genaro

A message from Butch Dalisay, Sept. 6, 2017

Hi, Tony, I was about to go to bed when your message came in. It’s good to hear from you after some time—I’m glad to hear you’re with family in San Francisco, though sorry to hear about your medical problems. We’ll all get there—well, not all of us, and I’d be lucky to hit 80 (I’m 63 now), although I do try to watch my health as much as I can.

Beng and Demi are fine—we had a chance to visit Demi for a couple of weeks last July. I’m back in university administration as UP’s VP for Public Affairs, my old job from 12 years ago, and not something I sought but when UP calls, it’s hard to resist. 

These are very trying times for the Philippines again, as I’m sure you’ve read about; too much killing going on, too much vulgarity in high places. Our daughter wants us to move to the US but I still have work to do and battles to fight here.

I gave a speech at the Palanca Awards last week (attached) that you might want to look at. It’s my own appeal to young writers to keep writing for truth, freedom, and justice.

Take care, my friend, and talk to you soon. All best to your family as well!

Butch

On 8 Sep 2017, at 11:49 PM, Tony Joaquin <tony.joaquin@gmail.com> wrote:

Yes, Butch, this message is long in coming and I must apologize. First off, as an 87 year old Pinoy American (I turned this number on August 24th, 2017) old age with its array of health issues have been bothering me.

For one thing I have been in kidney dialysis for over two years. Then they attached a pacemaker a year ago, go regulate my heart rate. However, I can still drive a car, believe it or not, because Chita is not ready to drive in the freeways around Sacramento, however she can manage to go around the inner streets to shop and enjoy some social activities and driving by herself to these events.

But enough of that, and let me just reiterate my undying admiration of you Butch and your magnificent and  highly informative column which I try not to miss if I can help it. In fact, I have shared quite a few that you have written with fellow writers here in San Francisco and elsewhere - Filipinos living outside our mainland who admire fine writing in the English language.

I also hope that things are well with your wife Beng, and daughter Deby who lives in San Diego.

I realize that most of the time your extremely busy schedules prevent you from replying to messages such as this and I understand. Butch. Just the thought that you have read it makes me glad I reached out to you.

As far as I am concerned, your regular quality output in your columns is quite admirable, and you stand out as one of the leading Filipino writers in English that I have come to emulate and be proud of.

My best to Beng, and Deby Butch.

Cheers!

Tony Joaquin

--

                                                                                                        

                                                                           

--                                                                                                                                                                                      Click here to Reply or Forward 8.71 GB (58%) of 15 GB used Manage Terms - Privacy Last account activity: 1 hour ago Details

RHODA BERBEY'S BIRTHDAY GREETINGS 8-24-17

I've been buried with work while fighting some cough and colds so this is a tad late, Tito Antonio Joaquin. I want to greet the fine man whose emails I read first and foremost each day. Thank you for your wisdom, your wit, your humor, your insatiable quest for knowledge, your interesting stories, your beautiful voice, and your incandescent spirit. You are a remarkable man -- a Renaissance man.
Thank you for being my dad's beloved male buddy (and partner in crime ;)) during this last years. You added much depth and meaning to his life. The power of a meaningful friendship can never be underestimated. Remember --- we're not quite ready for you to "graduate". Keep failing and let dad monopolize his post-grad glory up there. Keep connecting, keep emailing, keep writing, keep reading, stay curious. Keep sending those quotes -- they're an energy source for many. I don't know where you find them, but you seem to have an endless supply of the best adages -- many of which I could truly imagine to have come from you directly.

Happy Birthday to my erudite Tito Tony! Stay sharp and healthy!

My wife's message on my birthday, August 24th, 2017.

Chita Joaquin‎ to Antonio Joaquin

August 23 at 8:16pm ·

God bless you. Bless you for all those times you kept me on the right path, bless you for being my confidant, my best friend, my better half, my soulmate, and being the love of my life. Bless you for the children we had and for our future together. Bless you for loving me in a special way. You are a blessing made just for me, May we spend many more wonderful years together. Happy, happy burthday and may God continue to bless with good health and happiness. I love you.
— feeling blessed with Antonio Joaquin.

Joshua Batino - on my 87th birthday

Joshua Batino

I dedicate this video to one of the most inspiring, motivating and loving people in our family. A father, an uncle, a grandfather and a mentor to all those who look up to him. They say as you live your life to the fullest, you'll have incredible stories and memories to share to the young ones. Let's just say I was one of the young ones back then who now is incredibly honored to have the one and only Antonio Joaquin as his uncle. He is an incredible writer, through his stories...His love for his family will forever be an inspiration to all family members. Tito Tony, from the bottom of my heart, I wanna say thank you always appreciating me, loved me for who I m and acknowledging me. Two years has passed since I've last seen you though in my heart your words of wisdom and encouragement will always remain. Which is why I devoted myself into making this birthday tribute for the one day in a year where you get to be reminded of just how much your family and friends adore and love you!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TITO TONY!!!!! I give you all the glory in the world because you deserve every ounce of it!!!! I LOVE YOU TITO TONY, HAVE THE BEST BIRTHDAY 💛💛💛

-2:36

Write a comment...

BURNT MEMORIES

SECOND WIND

Barbara C. Gonzalez

Saturday, 24 March 2007

BURNT MEMORIES

I passed it again this morning, on my way to visit my son in Alabang.  There she stood, the sad skeleton of what was once a simple large building with room for all sorts of offices on the first to the third floors and a car display area for selling cars.  It was called the Mantrade Building, at the corner of Pasong Tamo and EDSA.  At the back, up the stairs to the third floor, was Avellana & Associates, Inc., a Filipino ad agency where once upon a time I used to work.

Now of course everything is gone and what remains is the building’s skeleton.  No more floors.  Those burned.  No more ceilings or roofs, those burned too.  Every time I pass my heart is wrenched, saddened, twisted.  I stop breathing for a little while waiting for my tears to break.  It hasn’t happened.  I have not cried like I should have when the building burned.

Avellana & Associates was the first advertising agency I worked for, before it moved to Makati it was on Roxas Boulevard, at the building that now holds the Museong Pambata.  When you look at that building you will notice three long glass windows on the left.  The center window belonged to my office then, before I decided to quit and lead a domestic life with my children.  After that the agency moved to the Mantrade Building.  It started small and as business got better it grew larger and larger.  First, I worked there part time.   I was slightly unhappy in my private life but did not want to admit it.  So I decided to go back to work part time.  Then I became largely unhappy with my private life and decided to work full time.   We were all on the third floor but the office was considering expansion.  We went to Tagaytay after my relationship broke up and my private life was a mess.  Outside I looked like a whole person.  Inside I rattled like a million little pieces.  Otherwise I was profoundly grateful for my job.  It gave me an alternative to the unhappiness I felt when I stopped working.  It gave me something to do, enough money to advance the support my children required but I had a hard time getting.  It gave me a good life.

When we returned from Tagaytay I was Vice President for the Creative Services Division and our office was moved down to the mezzanine floor.  It still stands, the room that used to be my office at the left hand corner of the building but after the fire it has lost everything.  It is just barely there but when I look to see what’s left, the apparent emptiness of it, memories jump out at me.

Remember?  The Christmas party you went to dressed as a Christmas tree with a star hat that lit up on and off with Christmas tree lights that you forced one of the artists to work on for you?  You moved your home library to the room next to yours, bringing over all the books you had no room for in your new house, which was about one-tenth the size of the last house you lived in.  Remember the sorrow you felt when you came in for work and faced the room alone, the tears that would rise waiting to be shed but you insisted on swallowing?  The children enjoyed this office.  They were still small then.  Sometimes on Saturdays they would come to work with me. 

My son would come to pick me up dressed in those ridiculous little boy clothes I used to buy for him.

If you can’t find me in my office, look for me in. . .” I was telling my daughters, and the youngest said

“Never mind, Mom, we will just listen and when hear you laugh, we will open the door and there you are.”  Laughter apparently marked our lives then.

I loved my days in Avellana & Associates, the entire spectrum of those days.  Some were wonderful, others downright deplorable and miserable.  But at the end of the day we would stray into Totoy Avellana’s office and run into each other, pour scotch and the brandy, drink together and have fun.  We were such a big group then but many of them are dead now.  Boy Javier first, then after many years, Baby Lopa, Bonnie Ocampo, Bolix Suzara.  Months after my stroke, Totoy himself.

I look at the old Mantrade Building.  I remember when it turned into a construction outlet, sort of a mall of materials.  I bought my Italian kitchen appliances for my Calamba home there, somewhat in awe at what had become of the building where once I worked.

Then one morning, I passed and saw that it had burned down, had turned into the scorched skeleton of what was once a simple large building where I worked so joyfully and my heart broke at the sadness of it.  I don’t think it will stop breaking, lamenting over the wonderful memories that live there for me.  I passed it again this morning.   Again my heart broke.

Please send your comments to secondwind.barbara@gmail.com or lilypad@skyinet.net or text 0917-8155570.