SariSariShots

Queen Albert's : Karaoke, Calamares and Camaraderie

Owner Belinda Loyola hold court at Queen Albert's, a favorite Pinoy hangout in Chicago's North Side. Officially a "restaurant-bar-karaoke" this tiny hole-in-the-wall has become almost a  second home to many a lonely kababayan. If the cold beer with calamares, "sisig" and "chicharon bulaklak"  don’t calm you down, "Ate" Belinda's down-to-earth, straight hitting counsel most likely will. And no, its not a gay bar. Not that there's anything wrong with that, as Jerry Seinfeld would say.

"Queen Albert's : Karaoke, Calamares and Camaraderie"
A Photo Documentary in Progress
© 2006 A.B.F.

Queen Albert's
3506 West Irving Park Road,
Chicago, IL. 60618
773.267.8700

Happy 4th!

Here's to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Pag-Uwi

PAG-UWI

(Grand prize winner, 2001 MetroPop Song Festival)
Composed by Louie Ocampo and Joey Ayala
Interpreted by Martin Nievera, Video: pilotokoto)

Kay tagal na nating magkakalayo
Nung tayo'y magkahiwalay ako'y musmos
At sa hardin ng kabataan nangako't nagpaalam
At hinagkan kita may gatas pa sa labi

Ewan ba saan napunta ang panahon
Sa hanapbuhay buhay ko'y nakatuon
Sa bayan ng mga banyaga
Ako ay manggagawa
Pag-ibig ko sa 'yo iniipon

Ohh kay layo mo
Di maabot nitong mga kamay
Walang tulay na kayang tumawid
Sa mga taon kundi ang alaala

Alam ko nang ating mukha'y may guhit na
Mga dinanas natin ay magka-iba
Ngunit sa 'king pagbabalik
Sariwa ang halik, halik sa 'yong dibdib
Bayan ko

Ako ngayon ay pauwi at napapangiti
Pagkat malaon na oh bayan ko

Ohh kaylapit na
Ako'y sabik na makapiling ka
Sa pagdating may luha ma't wala
Ako ay sisigaw at hahalik sa lupa ohhh

Kay tagal na nating magkakalayo
Noong tayo'y nagkahiwalay ako'y musmos
Ngunit ngayon ay pauwi at napapangiti
Pagkat malaon na sinta
Ako ngayon ay pauwi at napapangiti
At hahalik sa 'yo
Bayan ko

Erik Santos in Chicago

"Prince of Pop" Erik Santos says goodbye to the crowds at the Gateway Theater at the end of his Chicago concert on Friday, a part of  his U.S. Tour with  Sheryn Regis, Denise Laurel, Pooh and John Prats. (ABF)

Piolo Pascual and Sam Milby in Chicago

Filipino stars Sam Milby and Piolo Pascual in prayer minutes before curtain time with John Lloyd Cruz, Eva Caparas and Pokwang. The first major Pinoy concert this season jam packed the historic Pickwick Theater in Park Ridge, Illinois.

View the photo essay at FLICKR

©2008 All Rights Reserved Armand B. Frasco
Media: Contact the photographer for permission and hi-res file

Update: 4.9.08

Video from Anthony F. Andaleon of Upstage:

Egg hunting in the snow

Children scramble to find traditional Easter Sunday treasures buried in the grounds of Lagrimas Sorronda's residence in DesPlaines, Illinois. Accumulated snow from a less traditional late-season storm on Good Friday added to the challenge.

The Black Nazarene

The Black Nazarene at a residence in Skokie, Illinois. The icon is making the rounds of its devotees as part of the community's Lenten celebrations.

Winter in another realm

Sansho-En,  the Garden of Three Islands at the Chicago Botanic Garden, takes me to another realm. It's situated smack along an interstate highway yet once you cross the bridge you're drawn into a 17th century samurai's retreat.

It's at once calming and mysterious. The afternoon I took these pictures I could almost hear my favorite poet Basho shuffling through the fresh fallen snow.

Wild weather in the Midwest lately makes it difficult to predict long-range patterns. Last week's winter storm warning fizzles out, only to have a foot of accumulated snow dumped on us days later. Prematurely thawing rivers and springs flood towns along the way, only to turn to solid packed ice overnight, immobilizing everything on its
path.

I had to take these shots hurriedly during a work break. In a way it was symptomatic of today's climactic uncertainties. I feel I must squirrel away images for a time when we may no longer enjoy scenes like this that make time stand still.

[Featured on Inquirer.net/Global Nation]

View the photoset at FLICKR

Beyond Gender

Caught in a winter storm, four Pinoy boys in Round Lake, IL. spent Superbowl Sunday merrily cross-dressing  in a game of "Maria went to town."

ROFL

Friends Mercy and Lag practically “Rolling On The Floor Laughing” after showering their guests with cash on New Year's eve. I think this iconic image sums up last night’s event and the joie de vivre that so characterizes their lives.