from left standing: Richard, Lorieanne and RJ. Seated 25th Anniversary celebrants, Lulu and Randy Salazar photo by Jude Bautista
Written and photographed
by Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista
The Best Wedding Anniversary Gift
When my mom told me about the 25th Anniversary of Randy and Lulu Salazar, I made sure to leave my camera at home. I just wanted to give myself a break from shooting and be in the moment. I wanted to focus on celebrating with them. As a kid I always remembered Tita Lulu being in love with Tito Randy. We’d see each other in family lunches or dinner and she’d look at him in a certain way. I didn’t completely understand it then the feeling of being in love. I guess that’s what comes to my mind when I think of someone in love without my being conscious of it. Now decades later it’s their silver wedding anniversary.
We’re not even blood relatives, it’s more of affinity. In the Philippines, families are closely bonded even if it’s just by affinity. Tita Lulu (Egay) is the sister of George Apostol who is the brother in law of my mother Linda Bautista. George is married to my mom’s sister Sonia or Tita Amy as we call her. When Egay was a fresh graduate and CPA, she worked for my aunt, Lilia B. Yang. Tita Lily is the sister of my dad Joe Bautista and works as Financial Administrator of the law firm Sycip Salazar Hernandez and Gatmaitan. That’s where Egay met a young dashing lawyer who was Randy Salazar. When Randy got a job in Hong Kong he took Tita Egay along with her, after getting married.
Lulu and Randy surrounded by family
Their three adorable children are now grown up: eldest Lorieanne is finishing her Master’s degree in International Educational Development in Teacher’s College Columbia in New York. Richard is in his freshman year of Business Administration in Boston University. Russell Jason (RJ) the youngest is studying at the Chinese International School in Hong Kong. At just 13 years old, he already towers above both of his siblings getting his dad’s height.
from left: Richard, RJ and Lorieanne
Richard had his band in high school called the “Rubber band”. On occasion he performs in Bars in Boston by himself with his guitar. My mom and I agreed that Richard seems to have a more mature sounding voice. He recalled that RJ and he would fight about the “stupidest things”. But RJ admits that seeing his brother perform was also a big influence on him. I remember Lorieanne very well but the last time I saw Richard and RJ they were around half their size. Tita Egay was so proud that she didn’t need to lift a finger in the anniversary and the kids did everything.
There were quite a few singers in the anniversary, but when RJ took the stage and started singing, everyone in the room just became quiet and gave their full attention to him. There was sincerity in the performance. And that’s when I regretted not bringing my camera. It was just this voice and a guitar. RJ sang “Use Somebody” by the King’s of Leon. There was a huge applause when he finished. Lorieanne was quick to ask everyone to vote for RJ online at www.minimixi.com/Vote/JuniorVote.php as a finalist in the Star Factor contest in Hong Kong. Voting ends on June 25, 2010. so please hurry!
RJ is a math wiz on top of being a singer. Vote for him on http://www.minimixi.com/Vote/JuniorVote.php
Richard also took to the stage and sang “Let’s Get it On”. Lorieanne also sang with her brothers a song that they wrote for their parents. Everyone was so touched and impressed in what may have been the best anniversary present that was given that day. I was so impressed with RJ that I actually went back home to get my camera to shoot and also interview him.
When I was growing up Tito George was one of our role models. He’s a self made businessman who never forgot his roots. He’d often go home to his hometown of Calbayog, Samar (now a city) and bring whatever his less fortunate province mates needed. I remember him distributing school supplies, slippers and basketballs not just in his home town but my mom’s hometown in Claveria, Burias. Recently I heard he just made up his mind to plant a thousand trees a couple of years ago in Samar and he did it. His selfless deeds were known so well in his home town that people were asking him to run for Congress which he always declined.
from left Tita Lulu with her siblings Arabelle and Ram
Tita Egay, his sister did the very same thing in Hong Kong. Lulu and Randy became respected figures of the Filipino community. But what Tita Egay did was to devote her weekends for the Bayanihan Foundation and the Philippine Association, two organizations that assists abused domestic helpers and other OFWs. People who seek their help are not only from the Philippines but also include other nationalities. Now her son RJ is in need of online votes from the Filipinos and anyone else who believes in him. We need to unite and get behind our talented kababayan click on the link and vote: www.minimixi.com/Vote/JuniorVote.php
Text and Photos by Jude Bautista
isnt this more than a little racist? Calling on filipinos to vote for someone they dont know, just because he’s also filipino and you want filipinos to win?
Imagine his pride at being voted best because of filipino pride racism and not because he’s the best.
Hi miller! thank u for taking the time to comment. I guess that’s why I wrote the blog so that Filipinos and everyone else will get to know him. The call on Filipinos is more of a tag. For us Filipinos we have a tradition called “Bayanihan” where we gather support for someone who is in need of help in the community. And it’s the first time I’ve ever heard of ‘Filipino pride racism’.
If knowing that a countryman is in the competition gets them to watch the video then that’s great. there’s no guarantee they’ll vote for him. Just like the World Cup, it makes sense to root for your country’s football team that’s competing. That’s not racism, that’s only expected of you. Whether he’s the best we’ll leave it to the competition, that’s what you have the contest for. There are other awards other than the online voting. The online voting is a part of it but not the main award.
If you want to root for someone other than your nationality’s team, that’s your choice. There’s nothing wrong with that. There’s also nothing wrong with supporting a candidate that IS your kababayan (countryman).
What’s racist about voting for a young Filipino especially if you are a Filipino? As a finalist the talent of the young lad is already a given, what he needs now is support.
Who else could you expect to throw in unconditional support for this young fellow? You can’t expect it from his competitors. I don’t see any racism remarks nor even a slight hint of being racist in what Mr. Bautista had said in his blog.
If throwing in support is racism then all the those people who support their country’s team at World Cup are nothing but racists!
And all those Americans who voted for finalists because of loyalty to their home state or city in the recently concluded American Idol are nothing but racist as well– regionalistic racists to be exact!
Hi Inier! Thank you so much for the very insightful comment. Your analogy of American Idol is even more appropriate in this blog. Camile Velasco, a top 12 finalist in season 3 of American Idol was also of Filipino descent. But because she was born and raised in Hawaii, she was able to get support from that state.
To quote wikipedia, “Velasco quickly became the pride of Hawaii, and small-town Maui in particular, causing the islands to vote exponentially more than in previous years. Her return home before the finals was deeply emotional, as she was showered with support and physically covered with colorful leis.”
You’re right Inier, the Hawaiians were not being racist by voting for one of their own in AI.
Thank you again, your insight and the comment is very much appreciated!
Please come back and comment on the other blogs. I’d love to get your thoughts on them.
Racist? Not at all… Don’t get it twisted miller.