(<i>This article is a tribute to Bro. Arlo Trinidad (Eta) who passed away on April 23, 2004.</i>) <br><br>
It was a massive display of love and affection. It was a huge gathering of friends, kin and fraternity colleagues of Br. Edmund “Arlo” Trinidad known for his maverick personal style. They came from all corners of the United States to celebrate his 50th birthday and a borrowed life as he is battling a debilitating and dreaded illness known as lung cancer.
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The guests, nay revelers came mostly in garish and outlandish garbs, tattered clothes and what have you simulating the hippie looks in the late 60s and early 70s. And then some were sporting oversized afro hair reminiscent of African-American musicians in that era. Others with bandanas around their locks while a few were wearing “peace sign” pendants around their necks.
<br><br>The jam-packed crowd of about 300 souls that trooped to the swanky Cerritos Performing Arts hall one lazy Sunday evening, danced, sang, laughed, cried, and wept as they paid tribute to the man of the hour.
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The night yielded $9,000 to the Edmund Arlo Cancer Foundation.
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Bro. ArloÂ’s kin, fraternity brothers, kumpare, close friends, serenaded, roasted and toasted him like no other recalling his stubbornness, non-conformist ideas, uncompromising, ways, war-freak tendencies during his college days as a fratman, fierce loyalty, opinionated mind, jealous-type husband, frustrated musician, flirty designs etc. etc. etc.
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The birthday celebrator came visibly thinner with a throaty and incoherent voice — amid a wild and loving applause. He was garbed with a colorful Harley Davidson shirt, bell-bottom denim, cowboy boots and a matching bandana over a long wavy wig — typical of a hippie look. Bro. Arlo was still ruggedly handsome despite shedding off some pounds from 170 to 130 in his 5Â’ 10” frame.<br><br>The hastily-formed BOOB Band of APO-ETA brods Bobbitte Picazo, Oscar Angeles, Ogie Laurente Boysie Brillantes dished out several sounds of the hippie era like “Ventura Highway”, “Honky Tonk Women”, “Words”, “To Love Somebody”, “My Girl”, “Wonderful Tonight”, “Imagine”, etc. I also contributed my Beatles signature songs like “She Loves You” and “I Saw Her Standing There” to set the mood of the evening.<br><br>Brod Yoyo Likwong on lead guitar was a revealing performer as he dished out “Oye Como Va,” and “Johnny Be Goode” with the BOOB and Bridges Bands. With his electrifying performance as a guitar player in the mold of Jimi Hendrix and Santana, a star is born.
Bro. Arlo and GraceÂ’s three children did their part in entertaining the ambivalent and motley crowd. Janine, the youngest opened with a powerful dance number to the tune of “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” Lauren co-emceed the program with Brod Boysie Brillantes. One of the most poignant highlights of the evening was Jandy who crooned an emotionally touching “Father & Son” ballad popularized by Cat Stevens. The musically talented sibling accompanied himself on the keyboard. While he was singing, some attendees were shedding tears with. Bro. Arlo incessantly wiping his moist eyes.
Bro. Arlo’s UP High School chums made a presentation replete with props which elicited a lot of laughter from the crowd. Known to them as Edmund, they were surprised to see him after 24 years as the dashing and debonair new “Arlo.”
A book, “Leave Me But Not My Heart” authored by Bro. ArloÂ’s dutiful and devoted wife Grace was distributed. It’s like memoir about her life with her husband from their college days up to the time he was afflicted with cancer. IÂ’m reminded of a similar book “An Enduring Love” by Farah Pahlavi, wife of the late Shah of Iran. Kudos and cheers for Grace for producing a book for chronicling her life with Bro. Arlo. It was a painstaking undertaking, yet she did it in the name of love.
It was a wonderful sight to behold when Bro. Arlo suddenly sprang to life, figuratively speaking, when he stood alone on the dancing floor gyrating to the electrifying sounds of the Bridges Band’s “I’m a Soul Man. towards the waning minutes of the birthday bash. The few, who had remained, burst into wild applause and joined him on the floor.
Before we finally called it a night, Bro. Nan Clavecilla crooned Joe Cocker’s, “You Are So Beautiful” to the delights of the appreciative revelers.
Mindful of APOÂ’s lead role in organizing this Birthday Bash cum Tribute To Bro. Arlo, Dr. Abraham Trinidad, Bro. Arlo’s blood brother from Colorado could only heaped praise through this scribe and The Bridges Band. “I really appreciate your show of support to my brother,” he enthused. “I was amazed by your music. Kala ko para lang kayong pang-harana. You made our day.”
True to the theme of the night, AN EVENING OF PEACE AND MUSIC, “celebrating 50 wonderful years of Bro. Arlo’s life of love, drugs and Rock and Roll,” the program was opened with a rather unusual, offbeat, eclectic rock-fusion of the Star-Spangled Banner Jimmy Hendrix via the footage from a Woodstock Concert. Kudos to Bro. Francis Franco for coming up with the glimpses of the 60s and 70s on the giant screen. His wife Pelucci also rendered a song, “Dreams” and “Leather And Lace.”
Not to be outdone are the six other siblings of Bro. Arlo and their spouses from across the country who serenaded him with Ilocano ditties, “Ti Ayat Ti Maysa Nga Ubing,” and “No Dua-duaem Pay.”
All told, the APO Alumni can truly organize any show, big or small. Thanks to our APO training or initiation back home. Everyone deserved a pat on the back.
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