As New York City slowly adjusts to the new normal after the frenzied apex of COVID-19, I have become more grateful for the simple things that make life lighter and easier. My mantra in life: counteract those stress triggers at work with my joy triggers in everyday life. For my well-being, I seek out those things that release my “happiness neurotransmitters”.
A few days ago, a song from a long time ago played on the radio. Julie Andrews crooned about her favorite things in “The Sound of Music”. As the governess to Von Trapps’ children, Julie/Maria sang of “raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens” as those things that soothed and comforted her.
Disclaimer: I don’t have the talent of Rodgers and Hammerstein with their genius lyrics. One of these days, I will be able to decide what rhyming pattern to use: alternate, enclosed, couplet, or mono-rhyming. Maybe, my lyrics will somehow flow naturally. For now, forgive me for my inadequate writing skills but I tried my very best.
A few days ago, a song from a long time ago played on the radio. Julie Andrews crooned about her favorite things in “The Sound of Music”. As the governess to Von Trapps’ children, Julie/Maria sang of “raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens” as those things that soothed and comforted her.
Disclaimer: I don’t have the talent of Rodgers and Hammerstein with their genius lyrics. One of these days, I will be able to decide what rhyming pattern to use: alternate, enclosed, couplet, or mono-rhyming. Maybe, my lyrics will somehow flow naturally. For now, forgive me for my inadequate writing skills but I tried my very best.
Here are some of my favorite things:
Crunchy mango peach pie and purple ice cream
Music from the Reo brothers, they’re a dream
Ceramic mini-cows and Bob Ross paintings
These are a few of my favorite things
My mother’s hugs and “taho” from a passing vendor
White sands, cool breeze, Boracay in full splendor
College classmates fumbling in our Zoom meetings
These are a few of my favorite things
Humans of New York make me both laugh and cry
Fall colors and glorious rainbows in the sky
Getting lost in my sketches and my writings
These are a few of my favorite things
HUMANS OF NEW YORK (HONY)
Who would think that a photoblog of New Yorkers with their own fascinating stories would captivate us and the world beyond. In 2010, photographer Brandon Stanton somehow convinced ordinary, non-celebrity New Yorkers to reveal something special and intimate about themselves.
Some of the stories resonated with me and others gave me a glimpse of a life completely different from mine. The interviews garnered a lot of attention and pretty soon, Brandon traveled the world to share cultures and experiences of a different world, but in many ways, the stories also showed that all humans are also very similar. Humans of the world ache, bleed, laugh, suffer, and cry just the same. Humans are more similar than they are different, after all.
Crunchy mango peach pie and purple ice cream
Music from the Reo brothers, they’re a dream
Ceramic mini-cows and Bob Ross paintings
These are a few of my favorite things
My mother’s hugs and “taho” from a passing vendor
White sands, cool breeze, Boracay in full splendor
College classmates fumbling in our Zoom meetings
These are a few of my favorite things
Humans of New York make me both laugh and cry
Fall colors and glorious rainbows in the sky
Getting lost in my sketches and my writings
These are a few of my favorite things
HUMANS OF NEW YORK (HONY)
Who would think that a photoblog of New Yorkers with their own fascinating stories would captivate us and the world beyond. In 2010, photographer Brandon Stanton somehow convinced ordinary, non-celebrity New Yorkers to reveal something special and intimate about themselves.
Some of the stories resonated with me and others gave me a glimpse of a life completely different from mine. The interviews garnered a lot of attention and pretty soon, Brandon traveled the world to share cultures and experiences of a different world, but in many ways, the stories also showed that all humans are also very similar. Humans of the world ache, bleed, laugh, suffer, and cry just the same. Humans are more similar than they are different, after all.
The stories tugged at the heartstrings and made me laugh and cry. Other stories opened my eyes to the atrocities here and abroad. And then, there are wonderful humans who inspired me and gave me hope that it’s still a wonderful world out there. HONY spawned hundreds of similar blogs; I must admit that I dream of having my own nursing HONY.
In 2015, a 14-year-old boy named Vidal from a Brooklyn, spoke about his school principal as his greatest influence, Mrs. Lopez did not give up on her students and persevered to bring hope and a chance for success for the kids in her poor neighborhood school.
https://www.facebook.com/humansofnewyork/photos/a.102107073196735/865948056812629/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/humansofnewyork/photos/pcb.4575980015809396/4575971645810233/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/humansofnewyork/photos/pcb.4209069569167111/4209058372501564/?type=3&theater
REO BROTHERS
Music runs in their family. Out of nine siblings, four of them started to play and sing together the songs of the Beatles and other feel-good songs from the 60’s and the 70’s. Recently their youngest joined the band. The REO Brothers hailed from Tacloban City, Philippines. The band members: RJ, Reno, Raymart and Ralph. REO comes from their first initials and their middle and last names- Evasco Otic.
The REO brothers are a revelation. Check out their Youtube channel and you will be impressed by how many non-Filipinos have become their staunch and ardent supporters. Blame it on nostalgia; blame it on the love of the Beatles and the good old sounds of the Bee Gees, Beachboys, Cliff Richard, Dave Clark 5, the Turtles, Earth Wind and Fire, Eagles, Simon and Garfunkel, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Blame it on their tight harmonies and virtuosity in instrumentations. I believe that it this band’s reverent adaptations and mastery of the songs written way before their time that ensured their internet success and an ever-growing audience of admirers internationally.
It’s the Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda that caused them to lose their home in Leyte which then forced them to transplant themselves to Manila. Raymart spoke about swimming in seawater while the storm raged for two hours. The devastation and hopelessness of the post-typhoon wreckage must have horrified them.
In 2015, a 14-year-old boy named Vidal from a Brooklyn, spoke about his school principal as his greatest influence, Mrs. Lopez did not give up on her students and persevered to bring hope and a chance for success for the kids in her poor neighborhood school.
https://www.facebook.com/humansofnewyork/photos/a.102107073196735/865948056812629/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/humansofnewyork/photos/pcb.4575980015809396/4575971645810233/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/humansofnewyork/photos/pcb.4209069569167111/4209058372501564/?type=3&theater
REO BROTHERS
Music runs in their family. Out of nine siblings, four of them started to play and sing together the songs of the Beatles and other feel-good songs from the 60’s and the 70’s. Recently their youngest joined the band. The REO Brothers hailed from Tacloban City, Philippines. The band members: RJ, Reno, Raymart and Ralph. REO comes from their first initials and their middle and last names- Evasco Otic.
The REO brothers are a revelation. Check out their Youtube channel and you will be impressed by how many non-Filipinos have become their staunch and ardent supporters. Blame it on nostalgia; blame it on the love of the Beatles and the good old sounds of the Bee Gees, Beachboys, Cliff Richard, Dave Clark 5, the Turtles, Earth Wind and Fire, Eagles, Simon and Garfunkel, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Blame it on their tight harmonies and virtuosity in instrumentations. I believe that it this band’s reverent adaptations and mastery of the songs written way before their time that ensured their internet success and an ever-growing audience of admirers internationally.
It’s the Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda that caused them to lose their home in Leyte which then forced them to transplant themselves to Manila. Raymart spoke about swimming in seawater while the storm raged for two hours. The devastation and hopelessness of the post-typhoon wreckage must have horrified them.
It is also the benefit/ concert for the same Typhoon that the boys wowed the audience in the music arena filled with big stars and yet, it's this band from Southern Philippines that brought the house down with the only standing ovation for the night. The calls for encores resonated throughout Araneta Coliseum. The boys were visibly touched by the clamor for "more"; the audience members were on their feet dancing and singing along. That is a milestone that will forever stay with the REO brothers.
RJ (Ronjoseph) serves as the leader of the group. The brothers were self-taught but by all accounts, RJ taught his brothers how to play the guitars, keyboards, and drums. In doing so, he established himself as a master of these instruments earning praises from professional musicians around the world for his dexterity, agility, and multi-tasking ability. He is the musical arranger of the band. A musical genius; what can he not do?
RJ (Ronjoseph) serves as the leader of the group. The brothers were self-taught but by all accounts, RJ taught his brothers how to play the guitars, keyboards, and drums. In doing so, he established himself as a master of these instruments earning praises from professional musicians around the world for his dexterity, agility, and multi-tasking ability. He is the musical arranger of the band. A musical genius; what can he not do?
Reno is the king of falsetto. From behind his drums, he becomes Barry Gibb with his falsetto and Ringo Starr with his goofy, affable charm. Barry on drums is a surprise. His screams are melodious and exciting. He makes drumming looks easy, but don't be fooled. Many a drummer swears it's hard to sing and play at the same time.
Ralph on bass guitar is suave, cool, and the Rich Little of voices. He does Paul McCartney one day, then croons like Michael Buble with a swagger, sizzles like Elvis, then drops his voice really low like John Turner. He is a chameleon who can switch voices easily. He's an old soul, err, many souls trapped in that young man's body.
Raymart is the spokesperson of the group. He’s also the one with that incredibly chiseled sharp jawline that makes ladies swoon. As he plays his rhythm guitar, his face is so expressive and his voice impressive that you would probably forgive him for any and all sins. He is riveting to watch, his emotions on his face draws my attention every single time. Close your eyes, and you will hear John Lennon.
Roymark is Brother no. 5, the youngest of the siblings takes the keyboards, probably to relieve his brother RJ from his multi-tasking. He just joined the group but is already showing great promise.
The REO brothers are gaining more fans every day. The band performed in Madison Garden, in Tokyo, Australia, Hawaii, the United States. I can just imagine the group's joy when they performed at the Cavern Club in the United Kingdom. The REO brothers are destined to greatness. They survived the typhoon, because they are meant to give joy to music lovers everywhere.
Beatles
The Ballad of John and Yoko
Your Man
BeeGees
Beatles
The Ballad of John and Yoko
Your Man
BeeGees
