Pieces of April

With April just over, the song title came to my mind.  I grew up with this song in my youth.  Just found it on Youtube and it made me smile.  

April was an ordinary month, marked only by the death of a beloved uncle, Rufino Soliano.  

He was the eldest in a family of nine children and the only sibling who was older than my dad, who also passed away almost twenty-seven years ago.  

When I reconnected with Uncle Rufi, after too many years of not meeting up, the bond was instantaneous for me. Whether we realise it or not, it's the blood that we share.  

I will miss him and every time I hear this beautiful song, I shall think of him.  

An unexpected delight!!!

So they spelt my name wrongly!  Instead of Soliano, it became Solidano.  It annoyed the teacher in me but the niece in me got over it quickly.

In any case, it is not about me but about Rufino Soliano.  What an extraordinary life he has led throughout his musical career.  The music he has shared touched every level of society here in Singapore.

Maybe the young may have forgotten him and maybe only the people of the older generation remember his name when he was at the helm of the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation.  It really doesn't matter because his music will live on forever.

There is a saying that (Every man should) plant a tree, have a child, and write a book. These all live on after us, insuring a measure of immortality. – attributed to the Talmud and Jose Martí, Cuban revolutionary and poet.

I think Rufino Soliano accomplished all these in his own way.  

~~~

While I have had letters to Editors of Newspapers published in Malaysia, this is my first print in Singapore.  I am certainly proud of myself.

Likewise, I am so pleased that the National Library Board saw fit to share this poem I wrote.  Thank you NLB for this kindness.  The gesture is very much appreciated.