Page 8 - aruba-today-20240828

A8 LOCAL
Wednesday 28 august 2024

Aruba Tourism Authority honored loyal visitors at La Cabana Resort!

The Aruba Tourism Authority recently had the great Mr. Jorgino Willems representing the Aruba Tour-
pleasure of recognizing Distinguished Visitors of ism Authority, and staff members of La Cabana
Aruba. The honorees were respectively honored Resort bestowed the certificate upon the hon-
with a certificate for their years of visits, loyalty, orees, presented them with gifts, and thanked
and love for the island of Aruba. them for choosing Aruba as their favorite vaca-
The honorary certification is presented on behalf tion destination, as their home away from home.
of the Minister of Tourism as a token of apprecia-
tion and to say “Masha Danki” to guests who The top reasons for returning to Aruba provided
have visited Aruba 10, 20, or 35 years or more by the honorees were
consecutively. • Aruba’s beaches.
• Aruba’s weather.
The three levels of honor are as follows: • Aruba’s very safe.
Distinguished Visitor (10>years consecutively visit- • “Kids friendly island”
ing Aruba) The honorees were: • “Easy island to explore”
Goodwill Ambassador (20>years consecutively Distinguished Visitors On behalf of the Aruba Tourism Authority, we
visiting Aruba) Mr. Brendan & Mrs. Aziza Gilligan from New Hamp- would like to express our sincere gratitude and
Emerald Ambassador (35>years consecutively shire, United States. appreciation to the honorees for their continued
visiting Aruba) visits to the “One Happy Island”.q

Ever heard of the cah’i orgel?

A key instrument in Aruban folklore music

(Oranjestad)—The cah’i orgel music box is music, and its significance in the traditions of The origin of the cah’i orgel
an important and unique instrument that is Aruba has and continues to bring together is said to have come from
used on the ABC islands in the Dutch Carib- the old and young. Europe around 150 years ago.
bean. This instrument is a staple in our folklore A cross breed between the
barrel piano and the organ,
the most popular stories said
that the instrument came from
either England or Germany, an instrument that needs
but made its way to Italy preserving.
down to Venezuela, where As mentioned, the cah’i orgel
in 1881, Mr. Horatio Sprock is a music box. made from
(1866-1949) from Curacao mahogany wood, it contains
was first introduced to it. After a cylinder with a maximum of
that, Sprock made his own eight music pieces. By rotat-
cah’i orgel “Josefina”, and ing the lever on the front side
successfully debuted it on of the box, the cah’i orgel
the streets of Barquisimeto. produces music similar to
Back in Curacao, he started that of a piano, and is ac-
his own cah’i orgel business companied often by some-
along with his brother Luis. one else playing the “wiri”, a
In Aruba, it is said that the percussion instrument made
cah’i orgel was introduced out of steel and reminiscent
by Rufo Wever, who later in to the Spanish guiro. Back
his career became one of then, you would often also
the composers for the Aruban find someone playing the
national anthem. triangle alongside the cah’i
Rufo Wever was a young orgel and wiri. In Aruba, the
musician in 1937 when he cah’i orgel and wiri is used for
established his own cah’i traditional music genres, such
orgel business on the island. as the Aruban waltz, tumba,
Before that he experimented mazurka and more.
with his uncle’s cah’i orgel, Fun fact: another name for
and he over the years he the cah’i orgel is the “tingilingi
learned to build and repair box.”q
the instrument. In fact, he Source: “E Cilinder Magico
was incredibly skilled in this, entre Aruba y Curaçao” by
and he was one of the few Marilyn Alcalá-Wallé, Herta
to have recognized from the Parabirsing-Balentina and Ni-
start that the cah’i orgel is dia Rosaria-Wallé.