JULY 13, 2018 - FRIDAY JAM UPDATE & PHOTOS

Friday the 13th, payday and bad weather? Indeed a glaring and dreaded combination if you are one skeptic and superstitious individual. You would think of the worst consequence befalling such a scenario. As i am personally not one to be characterized as both, even if by coincidence, a minor dilemma (freak flooding inside the room after a heavy downpour) had actually occurred untimely just before the gathering, I would not quickly jump and dwell into doomsday conclusions but rather the opposite. I would stay positive, no matter what.

A few hours before the festivity, a thunderstorm, combined with heavy unrelenting torrential rains resulted to an overflow of rain water gushing down from an obstructed gutter right above, leaking heavily from the perimeter wall near the entrance and in through the room flooding the carpet. It would literally dampen the spirits of most when confronted with such a dilemma but instead kept my composure, took it in stride and just acted on an immediate solution. We just had to sponge/mop dry most of the water off from the carpet as best as we could to make it passable just to survive the night, to be taken out to dry under the sun the next day. It is dimly lit on the affected area and so not really very noticeable at all. No worries. The show must go on.

The action started at a little past 10pm with family and close family friends flocking the room coming straight from another gathering. My wife Vicky, my daughter Nisee, Bro Dondon Lambatin Frac, sis-in-law Ana Mara and her daughter Tina, good friends Cali Tiansay and Raul Julian comprised that group. My mom, who habitually comes down to keep me company while waiting for the first guests to arrive was already around to welcome them.

With the stage still free, the gang decidedly took over the entertainment singing karaoke, care of Cali, Ana and Vicky at one point instantly livening up the festivity. As always a riot and a fun group to be around, these bunch of people can definitely swing it.

Since most of the regular jammers did not show up, with the exception of house band honchos Vincent Garrucho and Monchie Henares, we needed to be creative to be able to play. Surprisingly, a new couple who had heard about Pete’s Place timely found their way over and made their maiden visit to the music room to check out the place. With a shortage of musicians around to watch perform, it became an unpremeditated opportunity for the newbies to join in to jam with us as well. We welcome our new music room friends and couple Gary and Rica Alejandrino to Pete’s Place.

On stage, Vincent was all around and in his element playing the guitar, percussions, keyboards and vocals, Dondon played the guitar, balik-music room, architect and drummer Alvin Alvaro Nacino, who had pleasantly surprised us with his presence, took charge of the drum chores while I solely played bass. Struggling and coping, we were handicapped but definitely raring and determined to give it a shot. Incidentally newcomers Gary played drums too while Rica did some vocals of her own. The jam finally concluded at 3am. Mission accomplished.

And so another successful night full of fun and blessings despite setbacks. There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel no matter how grim some people perceive things to be. If we stay positive, things will eventually fall into place and work out. That’s a guarantee. God is good!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE! GOD BLESS US ALL!