Aiza, Liza wed again

It’s supposed to be a secret but I can’t help congratulating the couple, Aiza Seguerra and Liza Diño, who are getting married “somewhere” (those invited, this one included, are made to swear not to reveal the “when” and “where”), fulfilling their promise to exchange “I do’s” on a beach presumably to accommodate friends and relatives who couldn’t afford to attend the first wedding.

Aiza and Liza were first married at a Christian ceremony on Dec. 8 last year at the Stones and Flowers Retreat House, Sunny Patch Lane, San Francisco, California, with the bride radiant in an off-the-rack Monique Lhuillier gown. This time, Liza will be wearing a gown by Alexander McQueen, the late British designer who did now-Princess Kate Middleton’s gown when she married Prince William.

The invitation doesn’t mention the names of the sponsors but only the time and venue, with a reminder for guests to bring swimwear.

Incidentally, Aiza and Liza are not the first Filipino same-sex married couple. Three years ago, Jonar Sara (member of the singing group Prime Note Ensemble managed by Jush Andowitt who is with GMA International based in L.A.) married Lloyd Garcia, a Mexican. “Jonar is now a legal immigrant by virtue of the marriage,” said Jush. It was Jemela Nettles who processed the couple’s documents. Two years ago, director Jun Lana and producer/director Perci Intalan got married in New York

Same-sex marriage is not (yet) legal in the Philippines.

(Incidentally, Aiza will have a show titled Acoustic Love on Jan. 18 at The Coliseum, Hard Rock Hotel, Singapore, Resorts World Sentosa, and another one titled Pinoy Fiesta 2015 in UAE on Jan. 30 at Zaabel Park Amphitheater in Dubai, UAE, with Kim Chiu, Paulo Avelino, K Brosas and Side A band. In February, she will have a Valentine show probably with her wife.)

The truth about Rosas Pandan

The issue about the real authorship of the Christmas song Ang Pasko ay Sumapit (with lyrics by Levi Celerio, predated by a few year by the original Cebuano song called Kasadya Ning Taknaa by Vicente Rubi) has drawn various reactions, one of them contained in the following letter which I’m printing in full without any comment:

Dear Mr. Lo:

I am Rebecca Lopez Montaño, the only remaining daughter of the late Cebuano composer, Domingo “Minggoy” Lopez who died in January 1981 without having a will. Thus, by operation of law, I became the legal heir and administrator of his original compositions or intellectual property.

I came across your article on “The true story behind Ang Pasko ay Sumapit, other Filipino songs,” Dec. 1, 2014 issue of The STAR. I don’t know where Mr. Ivar Tulfo Gica got his information but he is totally wrong because my father, Minggoy Lopez, is the real author of Rosas Pandan, not Piux Kabajar. The following documents in our possession can speak for themselves:

• Annex “A” — is a photocopy of the lyrics of Rosas Pandan in my father’s own handwriting as found in his notebook which contains also his other original compositions;

• Annex “B” — is a certified true copy of Copyright Registration of Rosas Pandan;

• Annex “C” — is a machine copy of the musical score of Rosas Pandan submitted as part of our application for copyright registration;

• Annex “D” — is a photocopy of the contract on royalty basis for Rosas Pandan between my father and MARECO, Inc. represented by Mr. Manuel P. Villar, the owner.

Rosas Pandan was actually composed as the theme song for the play or zarzuela Rosas Pandan which was written by Mr. Piux Kabajar. By the way, do you know that my father also composed all the songs, music and lyrics, for another zarzuela titled Tirana, written by Mr. Emiliano Gabuya?

As additional information, Rosas Pandan is only one of the more than 200 original compositions of my father, and at least 110 of his songs had already been published by recording companies from Manila and Cebu since the 1950s. But he died a poor man because, like the other Cebuano composers, he, too, was a victim of injustice.

His other original compositions include: Kamingaw sa Payag, Krutsay Sakayanon, Kagahapon ug Karon, Bukidnon, Akong Gugma, Salimu-ang sa Hubog, Hagki Ako, Pag-utlan and many more.

Hoping this clarification will find space in your next column, I remain.

Respectfully yours,

— Rebecca Lopez Montaño        

No. 14 Paseo Susano,

Cadahu-an, Talamban

Cebu City

God bless us in 2015

Here’s a prayer for 2015 contributed by a loyal friend and an avid Funfare reader (from Cebu City):

A Prayer for the New Year

by Henry L. Yu, MD

Lord, with a grateful heart, we come to You today to thank You for all the things that You have brought into our lives the past 365 days of the year 2014.

We bow down and kneel before You, O Lord, and praise You as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, a forgiving and merciful Father that You are.

Grant us the grace of a deeply repentant heart. Forgive us for all the times that we have been so selfish and proud, for the things that we have said and done which may have hurt others, for doing the things which were not in accordance with Your teachings. Pardon us, Lord, for all our sins and shortcomings.

Lord, thank you for the good life — good health, good food, good friends, good tidings, good cheers. Thank you for all the times that You have been there for us through our family and friends who stood by us in good times or in bad.

Lord, we ask for Your graces and blessings as we start another year, and as we continue and go on with life’s many journeys. We offer to You our children: Guide them in their daily activities, never allow them to be separated from You. We offer to You our family: Grant us good health and guide us in our directions and decisions in life. Let there always be love, peace, and harmony in our home. Help us to treat everyone fairly and justly regardless of who they are. Remind us always to have good thoughts, to say good words, and to do good deeds. But most of all, to be humble all the days of our lives as we are all but passing visitors on this earth. In all these, Lord, always remind us of Your love, and from that love, help us to build and live life with You in our hearts and minds. For always. At all times.

Lord, help us to start the new year right, with You as the center of our lives today, tomorrow, and the coming days of the year 2015. All these we ask in the mighty name of Jesus Christ our Lord and God’s Holy Spirit. Amen.

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