PETER’S PINOY PATTER — June 2024

Bridge Generation News

BG Personality of the Month: Gloria (Lopez) Coronas, 83, Merced CA:

I first met Gloria more than 20 years ago and always admired her talents as a jazz singer and pianist. But until I sat down to interview her for my blog, I didn’t realize her artistic talents went far beyond music. In her younger days, she led her own dance group and was the lead dancer in performing the Hawaiian hula and the Polynesian dances of Tahiti, New Zealand, and Samoa. In her retirement years, the petite pinay also has become an accomplished impressionist watercolor artist while still singing and playing jazz at gigs — truly, a multi-talented artist.

Gloria was born on October 31, 1940 on the island of Kauai, Territory of Hawaii, the eldest of four children of Pablo Lopez and the former Cristancia Paulo of Visayan ancestry. When she was seven, her father moved the family to Oahu where employment was more available. The family would later move to the Kalihi district of Honolulu into one of three houses of a family complex owned by her grandparents. Kalihi was where Gloria went to public schools and where she grew up. At Farrington High School, she was popular, excelled in drama and music, but admitted she did not do well in math. As a senior, she was named Most Talented before graduating in 1958. Gloria remembers Kalihi as a neighborhood where persons of color got along with everyone. Exception — residents had an aversion to haoli’s (Whites), especially sailors. I can attest to it. When I was in Honolulu with the U.S. Navy in 1949, Kalihi was off-limits to all military servicemen. If they were to accidentally go into the area, they were sure to be accosted by young residents of color. Of course, as a brown pinoy sailor, I did not have any problems!

Gloria’s musical abilities were demonstrated at an early age in a family in which music abounded. At four she already was an accomplished hula dancer. Her younger brothers would soon learn to sing Hawaiian tunes and accompany themselves on guitar, bass, and ukulele. Her only sister was the lone non-musical sibling. At six years of age Gloria took piano lessons but only for nine months — her father could no longer afford them. Undeterred, her interest in music never wavered. Her introduction to jazz came as an adolescent, when she listened to jazz combos played by servicemen from various military bases surrounding Honolulu. Before long Gloria was singing with jazz combos. By the time she was fifteen, her skills had developed to such an extent she was a paid professional and regularly performed in touristy Waikiki clubs — always chaperoned by her mother. In reflecting upon her musical skills, Gloria proudly says, “I was self-taught.”

Gloria grew misty-eyed when she talked about her late husband, John Coronas, with whom she was married for 56 years before his untimely death in 2015. Her first and only love, she met John at Farrington High School. They went steady in high school and in 1958 began a marriage that produced four children. John was a career man in the U.S. Air Force who rose to Master Sergeant. He was also a guitarist and entertainer which contributed greatly to their many years as a musical duo. His numerous duty stations with the Air Force also resulted in Gloria becoming a world traveler — as reflected by their four children being born in different countries. Her favorite country? The four years in the Philippines.

By the time of John’s retirement in 1974 he was stationed at Castle Air Force base in Merced CA where they bought a home in which they remained as empty nesters. Their adjustment to a new community was made easier when some of their military friends were also transferred to Castle. Merced was an opportunity for Gloria to join the world of work on a more permanent basis. She was hired by Merced County as a key punch operator and was subsequently promoted to data processing supervisor before she retired. Gloria and John became closely involved in the Merced community. They joined the Merced Multicultural Arts Council, first as volunteers and then as council members. Moreover, they were in high demand as a musical duo. In retirement, Gloria contributes her time with a Tahitian dance troupe. And with close friend, Lourdes (Dumpit) Clesson, she is co-director of the monthly senior dance at the Merced Senior Center while continuing to perform as a singer/pianist soloist and in musical combos.

Gloria is a member of the Central Valley Chapter of the Filipino American National Historical Society where she formed many friendships. When asked if she had any advice for young pinoys/pinays, Gloria, a devout Roman Catholic, said, “Pray a lot, be disciplined, become educated, and learn to be independent.”

Here and There:

During World War II, Pacita “Pacing” Todtod was widely celebrated by America’s Filipinos for singing “God Bless America” in the John Wayne movie They Were Expendable.

Passings:

The only Filipino American ever to play quarterback in the National Football League, Roman Gabriel, 85, died on April 20. Playing mostly with the Los Angele Rams, he was named the league’s Most Valuable Player in 1969. Gabriel grew up poor in Wilmington, North Carolina and suffered from asthma but became an academic all-American and star quarterback at North Caroline State…………… It is with deep personal sadness to report the death of Richard Gacer, 93, on April 26. We first met as teenagers in 1948. The occasion was basketball practice on the first-ever basketball team of the Livingston CA Filipino American Youth Club “Dragons” preparing to compete in pinoy youth tournaments. Richard became a starter while I sat at the end of the bench! Our tenure with the “Dragons” would last for only one season. At 17, unknown to one another, we enlisted in the military — Richard with the Army and I with the Navy. After completing military service, we renewed our friendship at basketball tournaments — as spectators! Richard and I had much in common and shared many significant events. We were born on the same month and year. We experienced long, happy marriages with the loves of our lives, he with Sally and I with Terrie, both of whom passed away much too early. We maintained periodic contact with one another through college, children, and work. In retirement, Richard, chairperson of several successful Bridge Generation old-timer reunions in Stockton, recruited Terrie and me as committee members. RIP, Richard, with your beloved Sally. (For a more complete account of Richard’s life, click on www.peterjamero.net, May 2021.)

Happy June Birthday:

Virginia (Velez) Catanio

Pinakbet — News Across America

FA Historical Tidbits:

In 1993 Robert “Bobby” Scott of the Commonwealth of Virginia became the first person of Filipino ancestry to serve in the U.S. Congress.

Did You Know:

Phoebe Cates, best known for her role In Fast Times In Ridgemont High, is part pinay on her mother’s side. She has been married to actor Kevin Kline for more than thirty years……………. OOPs!! The April issue mistakenly had R’Bonney Gabriel winning the Miss USA contest in 1922; it was 2022. Thanks for the correction, brother George!

Musings

From White Supremacy in America, (to) It has Always been about People of Color, (to) Equitable Justice for People of Color, (to) Multi-racial Democracy Weakened, (to) Political/Gun Violence) Part XLV:

Last month’s blog concluded the Supreme Court of the U.S. (SCOTUS) is contributing to the weakening of American democracy. Today, democracy continues to worsen. On April 25 SCOTUS signaled it would support the ex-president’s claim he has absolute immunity from criminal charges. If this comes to pass, Trump’s oft-stated outrageous claim he would not be punished for shooting a person on a crowded street, would become realized! He alone would be above the law!

SCOTUS is also weakening our democracy by unethical, if not illegal, misconduct of its supposedly impartial justices. Justice Thomas accepted gifts and trips from billionaires, his wife participated in planning the January 6 Insurrection. Justice Alito hung the American flag upside down — the symbol associated with the “Stop the Steal” message by MAGA White Supremacists — at his homes. Justice Barrett criticized reproductive rights at a recent social gathering. Allegations of Justice Kavanaugh’s sexual misbehavior persist. Chief Justice Roberts has yet to call out the justices for their misconduct. Is it time for term limits or to increase the number of justices?

Meanwhile, according to CBS News on May 9, the following indictments against the ex-president have languished because of Trumpian delaying tactics and questionable slow-walking on the part of judges.

Business fraud: Trump is accused of violating New York State law by allegedly agreeing to obscure a series of reimbursements — consisting of a $130,000 “hush money” payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels — to his former lawyer Michael Cohen.
Classified documents: Trump is accused of illegally keeping classified documents after leaving the White House and storing them in various locations in Mar-a-Lago.
Election Interference: Trump is accused of interfering with the peaceful transfer of power at the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.
Election Interference: Trump is accused of coordinating an effort to thwart proper certification of Georgia’s 2020 presidential election.

YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS…..VOTE ON NOVEMBER 5, 2024