Arnel Pineda's Journey Inspires Me - Then Sings My Soul

Yes, I finally bought the CD Album of Journey - at Walmart! It's a great deal - the package comes with 2 CDs and 1 DVD for $11.99. My kids are now hooked to it - I mean the songs in it. My son said he can't get the song "Don't Stop Believin'" out of his mind - he keeps on singing it :) (yes son, that's the plan - I want you to know that whatever happens, you shouldn't stop believen')


The "new" Journey Band, which is actually the original Journey with a new lead singer has a soft spot in my heart. I know you already guessed why - because Arnel Pineda, the new Journey lead singer, is from the Philippines. But more than that, I think what really touches me about him is his life story - how he lived the song "Don't Stop Believin'". The Sunday Morning interview at CBS News was quite touching in the end when he talked about his mom (who passed away when he was a teenager). Yes, I was teary eyed watching it when he talked about his mom's influence in his life. Here, watch it too. Make sure you watch until the end (thank you Flipland for posting about this):




Now if you enjoyed that video, you'd be interested to read this post HERE about the actual interview at the American Embassy. For non-Filipinos who are watching the show, they probably were wondering why the heck he was asked to sing by the consul or interviewer. But for those who's been in the Philippines or are from the Philippines, they know that getting a "tourist visa" from the Philippines to the US is so difficult - close to impossible. The interviewer had to ask him to sing to cover his "ukole". If you have not read it yet, I suggest go there at Flipland (yes, click here) and read it.

Here's a photo of the article at People Magazine (click the photo to make it larger):


I love it that people are talking about this. Vicky Courtney from Virtue Alert posted about Arnel and Journey and there you will also find the Youtube video on the Interview at Ellen D.

For a list of my previous posts on Arnel, click here.

And here's the finale - the video and lyrics of DON'T STOP BELIEVING (dedicated to my son G):



Just a small town girl, livin in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin anywhere
Just a city boy, born and raised in south detroit
He took the midnight train goin anywhere

A singer in a smokey room
A smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on

Strangers waiting, up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlight people, living just to find emotion
Hiding, somewhere in the night

Working hard to get my fill,
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin anything to roll the dice,
Just one more time
Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on

(chorus)

Dont stop believin
Hold on to the feelin
Streetlight people

This post is my week's entry on Then Sings My Soul. Go to Amy's Blog for more. Happy weekend everyone!

Mamang Sorbetero and the Ice Cream Truck

One afternoon (last week of school before summer vacation) while G and N were doing their homework, a familiar music played from somewhere. The tune of the "It's A Small World After All" keeps on playing, and it gets louder, and louder, and louder. G and N's neck stretched, like an ostrich, and looked out the window, then the three of us said in chorus "the ice cream truck!"

We were all excited ... and jumping up and down, running back and forth. Then I remembered I don't have any cash - yikes! Good thing N has cash. i told her I'd borrow it for them to be able to buy ice cream from the ice cream man and then I'd pay it later. Deal!

The kids came running down the cul-de-sac. The ice cream truck stopped and they happily chose their ice cream. G chatted with Mr. Ice Cream Man for a little bit and then off he goes.
That particular moment brought a lot of warm memories in me. As a kid, we used to get excited when we hear the bell of the ice cream man we called "mamang sorbetero". It was so much fun. I was so excited to see the same excitement my kids had when we all heard the "it's a small world after all, ice cream truck call" :)

I googled for a photo of a mamang Sorbetero, and sure enough I found one HERE. I am posting it here for you to have an idea of my childhood memories of the "ice cream man":


And then I googled to see if I'd find a video of the sentimental song every child and adult in the Philippines knows - the "theme song" of this post title "Mamang Sorbereto". Goodness, gracious, I found one. (Relly (my brother) and Gem, watch the video - there's something special there for Relly ;)

Here it is:



This post is my participating post for "Fro Me To You" at We Are That Family.

Flashback: High School

My 25th High School Reunion is coming up. I am feeling nostalgic. I thought I'd post a photo of me on my high school graduation:


I also am posting a photo of me as a bridesmaid to my friend's wedding just because I like how I look on this photo:


For more memory flashbacks, visit WE ARE THAT FAMILY's Sincerely Fro Me To You Carnival :)

Like Mother Like Daughter

Nanay (my mom) called today to thank us for the money we sent them. It was bittersweet. Part of me is relieved knowing that they (my parents) are back in the Philippines, back to where they are most comfortable at; but part of me miss them being here....

The photo above is one of the few baby photos I have. I am the second child in the family, I was born 15 months after my older brother. My brother has tons of baby photos - I don't. I used to give my parents a hard time about the fact that I have less baby photos :) ...

My mom and I are different in so many ways, yet we are also the same in many ways. Bottomline, we both love being a mom ....

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Hop on to "We Are That Family" for more Blast In The Past sharings :)