Gated village La Loma and opening doors

THIS weekend, except for those of us running off to Hong Kong or to the beaches, is for visiting our dearly departed. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 1 and 2, are Todos los Santos and Todos los Muertos.

They say that even ghosts vote during elections. And it may be true, and even legal… if you refer to some of the residents at La Loma North Cemetery.

My Deep Throat source tells me that Mayor Mel Lopez cleared all informal settlers from La Loma. But they returned under Mayor Lito Atienza, who tolerated the vote bank. Going one step farther, City Hall even established a barangay.

Which is why you may find in Comelec records of voters who gave their address as La Loma Cemetery.

There is even a thriving enterprise in La Loma, a beauty parlor close to the mausoleum of Fernando Poe. Perfect friseur for Halloween?

I do not know the status of the barangay under Mayor Erap. Nor do I know for sure if a resident dressed as Manila’s Finest with a fake badge still collects monthly 200 dues from informal settlers.

BIR Commissioner Kim Henares, however, desists from collecting property tax from the La Loma cemetery residents, because it may give them quasi-legal status on their stay.

FEEDBACK. I have written about Joaquin “Chino” Gutierrez, the first Filipino to qualify for the Joseph Joachim International Violin (JJIV) competition in Hannover, Germany, late this September. Readers asked how our 25-year-old violin virtuoso fared.

FIRST, THE BAD NEWS: Chino did not make it to the 12 semi-finalists. Here are some reactions culled from Belinda Olivares Cunanan’s blog:

“Chino’s non-inclusion among the 12 at JJIV was met with disbelief, especially by those who watched livestream broadcasts of the competition in Hannover, such as Rosa Maria Panlilio who found his rendition of the Beethoven and Wieniawski hairraising, moving her to tears.

“Rosalinda Orosa hinted at possible politics among the jurists, which Sr. Anunciata, head of the St. Paul’s University of Manila Music Conservatory, shared. There is always the subjective factor among the jurists in every competition, as well as how each of them views the pieces the participants play.

“Ingrid Sala Santamaria said that Chino’s qualifying among 35 over 200 entrees from around the world ‘was/is fantastic enough… the experience is invaluable… and ‘It will make Chino a stronger player.’”

NOW, THE GOOD NEWS. The following is Chino’s first person account to Belinda of how he felt about the competition:

“I did my first round on Tuesday, September 29. This included the Bach Chaconne, Yssaye Sonata No. 6, and Joseph Joachim Romanze, which was compulsory. That went without a hitch. The second round was on Thursday October 1. I did the Beethoven Sonata No. 1 and the Wieniawski variations on an Original Theme, with my pianist, Rohan de Silva. I am exceedingly happy and proud of my performance in that round, The Beethoven Sonata highlighted one’s sensitivity as an artist in the context of playing Chamber Music, and I think Rohan and I had perfect rapport throughout the Sonata that night. That’s perhaps why Tita Rose Panlilio fell in love with it and was moved to tears.

“As for the Wieniawski, I was very happy with the way it turned out. This particular piece has an extremely high level of difficulty, loaded with potential technical pitfalls. Playing it is much like traversing – or, in this case, running through – a minefield at top speed. Plus, you have to be graceful and lyrical while doing it. My Mom was up in the balcony while I was playing, calling on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Mary, Undoer of Knots, to grant me perfect notes for the Wieniawski. Her prayers were granted, as all my notes and grand leaps on the finer board were ‘spot on’ from beginning to end. It was a performance to remember, and I am happy that I have something like that recorded for posterity.

“Still, my mom and I kept telling ourselves not to expect anything. So when the announcement of the semifinalists came and my name was not mentioned, I did not feel devastated. I knew I had given a performance that was hard to beat. That, to me, mattered most. I was able to test my mettle alongside other fantastically gifted violinists and discovered that I could hold my own. I felt that I was being taken very seriously and that I could hold my own. But once we enter a competition, we go into it fully aware of the subjective nature of judging. That is something I accept as a given. In the end, it all boils down to the judges’ taste.

“I want to thank you, and all our friends, as well as the priests and nuns who kept me in their prayers all this time. I am sure the Lord heard your prayers – my bow didn’t slip, my fingers landed in all the right places. I didn’t forget my notes. I didn’t make a fool of myself on stage and embarrass my country in the process. However, the Lord, in His goodness, knows that, despite all my efforts, this is not yet the time for me to win a prize. I am willing to wait and work even harder for that day to come. The journey goes on.

“God bless Ms. Offie Bakker and Lyn Gamboa for coming up with the idea of raising funds for a new violin for me. I find it very exciting. One cannot stress enough the importance of having a good instrument when joining these international competitions. fine instruments.

I hope and pray that something comes out of their campaign, and that I can have a better violin in time for other competitions.”

Chino Gutierrez deserves a Stradivarius!

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