A BAYANIHAN SPIRIT AND HEART

"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never , ever the same."- Flavia Weedn

INTRODUCING HANA GOMEZ AND CORKY TRINIDAD AND FAMILY
EBB-E TALK: I didn't see Hana again after high school graduation, but I have never forgotten her. I was looking for her class photo in the yearbook but she was not there. Puri reminded me that Hana and Lita didn't graduate with the rest of us because they toured with the famous Bayanihan Dance Group. I will always remember her winsome smile. That kind of smile that won my hearts over the years. I know that Bayanihan dancers were trained to smile non-stop while dancing, no matter how tired they were.This week blog is a recollection and review about Puri's friendship with Hana. It's a beautiful friendship. I wish I had known more about Hana and her husband earlier. Corky was very talented and had also a passion for art. My husband and I often vacationed to Hawaii but we had no idea the Trinidad family lives there. I am thankful for this articles written by Puri. Her writer's magical touch is just inescapable.

PURI'S PERSPECTIVE#1-Daughter of a young widow, PWU alumni Sinforosa Azores of the baronial Azores family of San Pablo City, youngest of 4 other Philwomenian sisters and a brother, a product of JASMS, Hana was our envy for living across the street behind PWU on Pennsylvania St. She did not have an excuse of getting caught in traffic for being late which I assume she never was. Although she took Nursing at PWU her life was wrapped in Music and Art. Early in her marriage to the legendary Corky Trinidad, they migrated to Honolulu where Corky was offered an Editorial Cartooning job by Honolulu Star Bulletin. They never left the island and it was the perfect world for them. A casual breezy place, an informal setting with no pretenses where folks roam around in flip-flops. A special spot where artists like Hana can nurture artistic leanings in a leisurely pace. As a team the young couple started Pamana Dance Company. Another former Bayanihan dancer Seng, Teresita Principe Montes supported her. Both their children were dancers including my daughter Yvonne who lived there then. They performed locally around the different islands as well as in Europe. Although it was a family affair production wise, it had generous support from a strong Board of local Individuals, as well as Charitable and Corporate entities.
Besides being well known, it had an offshoot hobby that became Hana’s trademark. Her Parols. The parols made of thin Japanese paper used in the rural suites of the show, kept ripping , so from frustration, she had an eureka moment. She thought of making parols made out of fabric and lace that lasted for years. Mine are 25 years old and I still hung them up not only at Christmas but for all seasons since they come in different colors other than red. Her creativity produced quite an inventory, she cant keep up with the demand. She had Parol shows both in Hawaii and in Manila. Then came her Papier Maches from San Pablo. She painted and dressed up mache reindeers and cupids in Holiday fare. My Christmas trees are incomplete without them underneath and as Holiday greeters by the door year after year. Hana worked for Ben Franklin, an Arts and Crafts company which she naturally enjoyed that provided her tools and supplies as well. As a retiree, she still works as a volunteer there teaching the elderly and young ones on how to crochet and do other crafts. Day and night she crochets complicated stitches beyond a novice like me. I am beneficiary to her handiwork which I treasure.
Hana, Lita, Sylvia and I were Ballet classmates under Leonor Orosa Goquingco, National Artist and other teachers before we joined Bayanihan. Both Hana and Lita were on the first World tour of 1958 to Brussels World Fair and where they wowed dance critics in Broadway. That was the launching pad of succeeding Bayanihan world tours up to this day.
Hana has 3 daughters, 2 sons and 2 grandkids. Her children are all musical. Pia, a young Mother studied Music & Voice and sings professionally, Flip majored in Music Composition and also sings. Larry, also a cartoonist is now with Honolulu Star Bulletin like his Dad.
Hana vacations in Sambat, their sprawling family compound, a part of which they developed into a Resort in San Pably City called Kay Inay but had a recent name change to Casa San Pablo. They have a website.

THE TRINIDAD FAMILY
PURI'S PERSPECTIVE#2: Hana and Corky together can take you to paradise anywhere anytime. When I visit them in Honolulu, I don’t bother going to outer islands if they are not around. Its not fun. They are a team that can make you laugh in stitches until you cry. His followers ask for autographs anywhere he went. He is not just a local folk hero but a universal hero. Corky not being in Hawaii anymore is paradise lost. Even his readers Wilden’t be able to sip their first cup of coffee without a laugh from his cartoons. Prolific, profound,hilarious, brave, revealing.He can magnify an issue to make known where he stood. The stroke of his pen was his succinct statement on world and local events. His pen was his weapon. Goliaths feared him but they keep his original cartoons or lampoons which he gives to them, be they Mayors or Governors or Presidents. Corky is human conscience disguised in humor. His ink moved major local and world issues. His thoughts for the day in caricature were the pills his followers took for their daily dose. Indeed laughter is the best medicine and only this Hawaiian Duo can dispense them so generously. “Corky’s World” appeared daily in color on the front page plus an editorial cartoon inside the Honolulu Star Bulletin. Yes 2 doses a day of his cartoon stips. He’s been syndicated worldwide in Time, Newsweek,Washington Post,New York Times,London Punch,Paris Herald Tribune,Politiken Sweden,Buenos AiresHerald,Manila Chronicle. His world acclaim and fame is legendary but when you see him, he’ll charm you, win you, engage you in his world all its own. He does not speak of material and worldly things.He only delves into things that count in life.If he had a million, it wont last, he would give it away, even if it was his last dollar. His wealth is his love of people of all ages, his love of true friendship, his love of family and life with a meaningful cause. His love of art , music and Filipino culture were further enhanced when he toured with us The Bayanihan Dance Co for a whole year in 1961.On assignment by Philippine Herald, he journalized and caricatured our cross country circuit in USA,Asia and Europe for the newspaper.The trip was a way of life for us and he perpetuated it with Hana in Hawaii through Pamana Dance Co. He oozes with love. Hana found a genuine Valentine in him and left on Feb 13 , 2009 to touch Cupid’s heart to whisper his love for Hana.
His footprints go far and wide and deep. His legacy of love, laughter and joy spills profusely in indelible ink. Like a Hawaiian breeze, he sings a soft tune, puts a lei on your neck, dances with the wind. Hawaii is not a place at all. It’s a state of mind. Hawaii is in the heart…….. that Corky shared with the world.
Hana please accept our love and deep sympathy. We know that the sky will be brighter now. What matters most is not how long the star shines but the brightness of its light. Like a glowing star Corky’s light will shine to brighten up another place that’s more perfect and divine.
*Corky taught Creative Writing at PWU in the 60’s. I was his pupil.

EBB BEST WISHES: "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CORA! WELCOME TO the 65 Club!SARI SPEAKS: HAPPY 65th BIRTHDAY, CORA!!! It's not till Sunday, but I'll be out of town and will have no access to a computer. Hope you have more blessed birthdays to come!!! Advance happy birthday Cora! ! ! !
FROM ROSELANI:Wishing you all the best. Be happy and enjoy your special day. It's wonderful to be 65!
FROM ESTHER: HAPPY BIRTHDAY CORA AND MAY YOU HAVE MANY MORE HAPPY ONES TO COME. NOW YOU ARE OFFICIALLY A SENIOR. ENJOY YOUR SPECIAL DAY. GOD BLESS.Dear Cora,
FROM CHERRIE: Happy, happy birthday! It is hard to believe that we are this age now but as you said, you feel truly blessed to have reached 65. I hope your day is a truly happy one and though you will miss your Nanay especially today, she is closer to God and will have special blessings just for you. The first birthday, the first Christmas, etc. are difficult but hang in there, and feel her presence. May you have many, many more!
From Nati: Dear Cora, Happy Birthday Cora. Today, being your 65th, is the beginning of a new and better life. Most of us who have reached the "TY-FIVE" age can attest to that.For me, it opened the door to my long lost friends. How very happy I've been since I found all of you through our e-mails and the BLOG.
God bless you Cora. May you always have that wonderful humor and wit about you. You never failed to make us laugh during our high school days.
From Corazon Gatchalian <coragatch@gmail.com> wrote:
Thanks, Sari.I feel so blessed to have reached this age -considering many of our classmates have left us sooner. There is so much to be thankful for - although I feel sad that Nanay is no longer with us.