Elmer’s Fire

DANCE FOR LIFE: A Charity Party

Dance For Life is a charity party organized to raise funds to help in the purchase of a pacemaker for my father, who needs one for his weakening heart. It will be on September 18, 2010, a Saturday starting at 7PM.

The benefit party is at Saint Aedan’s gym in Jersey City at 41 Tuers Avenue or 800 Bergen Avenue.

Sharing is Caring. For Tickets or Donations, call (201)433-9380 or email: dance4life9182010@gmail.com

Me and my family can never say thank you enough for all your support. God bless you for your goodness and generosity.

Matthew 6:21

When The Golden Boy Oscar Dela Hoya called it quits at the start of the 9th round of his “Dream Match” Welterweight fight with Filipino pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao, Filipinos around the world broke in pandemonium celebrating Pacman’s overwhelming TKO victory.

The Dream Match for Filipinos: Pacquiao vs Dela Hoya

It was December 6, 2008, the day when I also celebrated my 41st birthday. No doubt it was one of the happiest birthday celebration in my life. What are the odds of having millions of people in jubilation on the day you were born? Not so high.

Elmer K. (doing the peace sign) with friends celebrating his 41st Birthday and watching the boxing match on pay per view

One more amazing feat that transpired on that very day was that authorities reported that not a single crime was committed in the land of 7,107 islands where an estimated 92 million people live (12th most in the planet as far as country population is concerned) .  This does not even include yet the countless others around the world. Add that to Pacquaio’s none Filipino fans everywhere. Heck, Pacquiao should continue fighting.

“Cherrystone 2008 or nothing!” – this was our battle cry shortly after we left Cherrystone in 2007. We always eagerly look forward to our favorite stress buster every year. Our only time to get away from the hustle and bustle of Jersey City and just do nothing but unwind and chill – at our annual summer camping trip at Cherrystone Family Camping Resort in Cheriton, Virginia (www.cherrystoneva.com).

Cherrystone would not have been a fixation of ours if not for Rowena & Henry Cervantes and other close friends’ great love for the outdoors. The Cervantes’ have been perennial campers at Cherrystone for the last 15 years (heck, they might be part owners of the place already!), me and my sons have only been enjoying it for the last 5. It is about 6 hours drive away from Jersey City if our friends’ Elmer “Coco Manny” Guevarra or Henry is driving but could only be just 4 hours away if Nick Andres is the one behind the wheel.

There is certainly more to Cherrystone than just swim, fish & play. It has plenty of amenities, a few of my favorites are the 4 huge swimming pools where we usually go to get away from the sizzling summer heat, the basketball court where my sons and their best friends’ Ron Cervantes, TC, Gabe & Bernard have accustomed to “own” by beating hoopsters from everywhere (in fact, they have won a tournament there), its arcade & Little Neck Cafe where we chill the day away (a taste of the cafe’s specialty “razzles” mixed with reese peanut butter or cookies & cream just don’t fail to make you go bananas), and last but not the least of my faves, the gift shops where you can buy practically anything from a “2Hot-4U” car plate to a “Virginia is for Lovers” hat.

When you are with the Cervantes family on a camping trip you will never ever be hungry as they are the proud owners of the famous Filipino restaurant in Jersey City – Rowena’s. I also look forward to the campfires with which we enjoy the great food (the bbqs are the best), drinks (tequila & beer) and fantastic music courtesy of Coco Manny who could very well be the Filipino version of Dan Fogelberg, that romantic son of a gun.

One of my rituals every year when in Cherrystone is getting a Cherrystone souvenir t-shirt. Just like what they say in Vegas, the one I got this year says “Whatever Happens In Cherrystone Stays In Cherrystone.” Indeed the said slogan says it all about our stay in Cherrystone this year. You just leave everything behind and look forward to next year. Cherrystone 2009 or nothing!