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COPYRIGHT 2005 The Virginian-Pilot
Byline: Roberta T. Vowell, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va.
Dec. 18--VIRGINIA BEACH -- Christmas came to Melba Culver's house in a swirl of ruffled skirts, glowing faces and the sounds of a faraway island. Kasadya ning taknaa! Dapit sa kahimayaan! Mao ray among makita ang panagway na masanagon. Culver stopped still in her kitchen, a dish towel hanging forgotten from her hands as 38 carolers filled her spacious Red Mill house with the familiar song. A quick translation from her native language: How joyful is this moment, at this place of happiness, where we can only see the smiling faces! "When I was growing up in the Philippines, we went from house to house singing," Culver said. "This brings back memories. It brings back my home."
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------------ The carolers are Visayans, and what Visayans do is sing. Visayans are not just Filipinos, you must understand. They are from the Visayas, a scattering of islands including Leyte and Cebu, from the middle to the southern reaches of the Philippines. They speak their own dialect, Cebuano -- which they will argue is more lyrical than the standard island language...
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