Our 55th Reunion is Coming Soon

How about that, here I am starting to write again and I noticed that I did the same five years ago and never did really followed up like I did when I came back 10 years ago.

Five years ago, I intended to write a blog but I did not.  The only good thing I did was uploaded a celebration party video.  Here is the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MgxeW-JcyA&list=UUgEv4KIaldhAYrB_xB_OL_g

That was our 50th High School Class 1960 reunion.

This coming year, we are again coming back to have our 55th Class Reunion.  But sad to stay, there have been big changes.  Friends that I spent many a happy times before no longer will be around.  I will have to learn new things to do and hopefully be close again to other remaining friends.  We are getting old.  Time has really changed.  This time, I cannot let expectations and fond memories linger as much as before.  I must admit to myself that some of my friends and classmates will not make our next reunion after this one.  God, it could also happen that I may no longer see them all again - that is - if the good Lord decides it is my time not to make the return trip.  No matter what happens, I have to make this a happy reunion for myself and for my friends - a celebration of NOW.  We can walk the path of memories, visit again our custom bricks at our school, drink a few rounds, stay late together for some time but best is enjoy our time together NOW for we may no longer be able to the next time around.

I can't wait to be back again.

Time to dream again

Wow time really flies. It must be almost five years now since we all last met. The last time was supposed to be our rehearsal for this coming event in 2010, the Golden Jubilee of the HS 1960. Technically, it may be for the class of 1960 but in every one of us this means much, much more. This event is the coming home of not only us, the 1960 High School graduates, but able all the Grade School '56 class plus our other classmates who were not able to graduate with us - for some reason or another.

Credits

Most of my posts here are about my former classmates in San Beda College. And, of course, it outght to be since that is the reason for my trip. However, before I leave this general topic and go on to other things I did while I was in Manila this February 2006, I would like to mention my gratitude to my classmates who I will try to enumerate here. If I miss some of you, please let me know. I can always edit this blog.

What can Manila be if you do not have somebody showing you around. That position goes to my surgeon/driver, none other than Dr. Boy Hilvano. Whenever there is some place to go or some golf course to visit, Boy is always there to pick me up and bring me back. Dr. Hilvano, you take the gold medal, if I have to give one.

Second prize goes to Jun Aspillera. What can I say about him - he is some hell of a friend, never can be beaten as far as pulling the wallet out. He must have a lot of money stashed away or maybe a very understanding wife. Jun, I hope everything is alright with Lily. Take good care of her, she is a swell lady.

Third prize goes to Lino Dionisio. He earns this by just being around, always in the background, readily to assist me or anyone of us. By the way Bong Obligacion assures me that he will be the President of the SBCAA in 2010, when we all come together again for the 50th anniversary of the HS'60.

Fourth place goes to Tootie Ebuen. He drove me around last year and this year too. With him, everything is OK. He has a quiet hearty laugh and makes you feel very welcome. Of course, letting me play in the military golf courses also made a big difference to my selection.

Special mention goes to Ding Reyes, owner of the Chocolat. Without him, I could never have been able to invite our classmates to a night of drinking and pulutan. He arranged everything. God, Ding, thank you very much. I'll have to visit your new Chocolat store at that new mall you mentioned.

My thanks also goes to my barkada, Vic Fernandez, for inviting to his home and a game of golf. Vic, I would like to play better next time. I know you did not enjoy playing with me but I'll have to practice more the next time I come around. I did not get to meet your spouse this time. I'll make it a point to see her next time.

I would like to thank also Frankie Casal who seems to be always there. His presence makes you very welcome. Same goes to his group - Erick Ochoa, Tutti Vergel De Dios, and Douglas Rosete. We did not win anything but I enjoyed my trip to the racetrack with them. But we had a nice round of drinks afterwards - except Erick who did not enjoy his mango juice. Not like the way my Mommy prespared it, he said.

I can go on and on but this blog will not end if I do. I would like to post the pictures I took of everybody but no space for that. You all made my trip so memorable. I met for the first time after being long gone, Norberto Martinez, Ruben Roque, Wilson Uy, Boy Tuico, Willie Jacinto, Tony Reyes. It was so nice meeting you again, guys. Of course, the same is true for the ones I have already met before - too many to individually name here.

Things that never change - wine, women and men

Class reunions - what a good reason to drink! Being away from the Philippines for almost forty years made me forget about about what we did when I was there. We always find a reason to drink. And if we cannot find a reason, we drink anyway. The cityline may have changed, I may have aged, some friends may have departed but one thing will never change - Filipinos drink. I should have known better. Before the trip, online, Krip Yuson educated us on the merits of single malt whiskey. And of course, the story must end with a request for a bottle of Glenlivet 18-year old whiskey. Hey, being the "rich" boy (local translation - mayabang) from America, I said I will bring a few. Hmmm, not much commotion was heard from our Internet group. Turned out this bottle of whiskey costs $82 at the Detroit Duty Free; same price but smaller bottle at the Nagoya Duty Free; and much more at the Manila Duty Free shoppe. I know this for a fact because I waited to buy thinking the price will go lower - not my luck.

Well I have the bottles so I had to find a place to drink them. Ding Reyes, owner of the Chocolat (Chocolate cakes? You gotta get it here) , obliged. I cannot drink all the booze so I invited my former classmates. And they came, and Tuttie Vergel De Dios even brought a friend - what a friend though. Her name was Claire and she was nice. Too nice I later found out why she left early.
One of my invitees, Delfin Amorsolo (son of the famous painter) just could not keep his hands to himself. He managed to elude all of us and disappeard with her!

Well picture taking time - the group of classmates who congregated that day are shown below.

With more bellies to fill but no more booze, Ady Dalton, sensed the need and invited us to his palatial condiminium at Rockwell. Of course, we all have to dress up for this occasion, except Krip, of course - shown below in his shorts (sexy naman).

Guess who came with a girlfriend imported from the states? Yup, same guy! I wish I have a picture of that nun, his first score in Rome, he said. Well can anybody top that - "Sor" he referred to her?

Military Golf

Usually when a golfer describes his game, he may say "military" golf. This usually means that his shots are going left and right and he is out of control. Just like in the military when the troops are marching, the drill sergeant will usually shout in cadence, "left, right, left, right..."

In Manila, my friends retired General Tuti Ebuen and Dr. Boy Hilvano introduced me to the real military golf - we played in the military golf courses of Camp Villamor and the Navy Club. Here you meet and play with the Generals and Commodores, the big brass of the armed services. It is not farfetched to say that coup rumors may have its start here. I better shut up or else we may find unwanted people reading this blog. Shown above are two retired generals with Boy Hilvano and myself.

Of course, not everything you do in the golf course is play golf . You sometimes get distracted by the umbrella girls, a golf course feature that may be unique to the Philippines. Here you will see Ady Dalton and friend posing with their prized possessions. Sometimes I wonder if they came here to play golf or just recruit amateurs to enjoy their golf fetishes.

A round of golf in the Philippines will not be complete without visiting the clubhouse for that refreshing buko juice

and authentic filipino dishes. Here is the group having fun after the golf game - Boy Gella (manager of a casino at Clark), Boy Tuico (from Madrid), Boy Hilvano (prestigious Philippine surgeon), Mr. x, Ady Dalton (from LA), Mr. y, Jun Aspillera (from SF), Tuti Ebuen (retired PAF general), Bong Obligacion (non-retired salesman), and Nito Abad (non-retired computer programmer from CT).

Aside from the military golf courses, my classmates and I were invited by another classmate, Sonny Vistan, to Canlubang Country Club. I would say that the golf course itself is in prestine condition, better than all the golf courses I played on in the Philippines. Here my group again (on the left) is shown having our after game lunch at a favorite sushi restaurant. Shown receiving his golf winning is Tuti Ebuen while Ady and Jun A converse. The head belongs to Sonny V.

Of course, I got invited by another former classmate and barkada. Atty. Vic Fernandez to another "members only" country club, the Wack-wack Golf CC. Like I said before, I really played lousy golf on this trip and playing golf here was not really fun too. I remember getting beat by an octogenarian member I was playing with.

However, I enjoyed meeting new friends, whose names, considering my state of mind now, I have forgotten. But I remember all of you visually, so if I meet you again and show some signs of recognizing you, please help me out and tell me where I met you.

Playing school at the SBC Homecoming

Going to school can be as much fun now as it was 50 years ago even if you have to wear your khaki shorts and white shirts as long as you can have pretty ladies to complement the Red and White colors. I had to bribe Mr. Guido "Boy" Tuico, who has never in his adult life worn shorts - "Just not done in Madrid." he said - with these pretty ladies to wear one. It did not take him too long to warm up to it. He even ask me later to take a full picture of him. Hey Guido, show your friends in Madrid what you did in Manila.

But it is really now time to go to school. The San Beda College held an alumni homecoming last February 18, 2006. One of the festivities is the recognition for the first time in school history of the 50th anniversary of the elementary graduation class. It so happened that the jubilarian this year is Grade School Class of 1956, my class. To celebrate the boldness of the event, we decided to parade ourselves in our long-ago uniforms. That is what you see here. It is so amazing that even fifty years have passed, our class developed more inhibitions like Guido. We cannot bring ourselves to wear again our beloved uniform! I guess we have bakokangs (no english translation) now. But surprise of all surprises - my former barkada, Vic Fernandez, now holding a big job (like a lot of my classmates, just to make matters clear) came in full uniform (Father Sergio Martinez, our former Father Principal and now deceased, would be surely be proud). I wish I had taken a picture of him in his shorts (khaki pants, not underwear). Above is a picture taken of the former classmates - some in shorts. See our red patches - courtesy of Bong Obligacion. He really want us to look authentic so he had this patches made. We promise each other to keep the uniform and wear it again in 2010 when our high school class (the same class) will again celebrate it's 50th anniversary. When you think about it, it easier to keep the uniform ready, it is harder to keep yourself alive. More power to all of us guys - may we have many more years! The ones who make it really deserve another gold medal - not for lasting 50 years (that was easy) but for LASTING the next five years!

But the night just started. With a bottle of an 18-year old Glenlivet - a single malt whiskey Krip Yuson will say - and free flowing pichers of beer, we went out and relieved old times. For one whole night we were young again, we are again classmates and in the "quadrangle" where we play, surrounded by the same buildings we come back to for classes. Gone are all the problems, inhibitions, status of the present - all that matter is time has stopped and brought us all back to yesterday now today.

However, all nice things must come to and end. Soon we will have to depart and go our own ways. We started one by one saying goodbyes. With a sorry walk my classmates left one at a time. We have to go our own way again and face the world we live, our reality must again be faced. A few of us can't really leave it behind that soon. We want to hold on even though the place is being cleaned out. We were clinging on, can't really let go that easy. I managed to stand up and take a picture of the moment. Tuttie Vergel De Dios, Frankie Casal, Boy Hilvano, Guido Tuico and myself (taking the picture), bless us all.

We had to leave but not until we find and see the bricks on the floor of the quadrangle that hold our names. In the dark we went through all, one by one until we found our own names. I found mine and managed to take a picture.
I know now that something of me will be left behind for others to see and remember even when I am long gone. Hopefully those who are left behind will say a prayer and be reminded that this class of grade school 1956 was here and did not want to leave, wanted to freeze this moment in time.

The Red and White Ball

One of the annual festivities of the San Beda College is the Red and White Ball. This is a gala affair complete with Rigodon de Honor. I attended the last one held last Friday, February 17th, 2006. I was expecting the high society of the Philippines. To my amazement I found the high society of yesteryears complete with wrinkles and big tummies. I guess, I have not been seeing myself in front of the mirror lately. My memory of the ball with rigodon de honor are those that happened almost fifty years ago but as usual it was frozen in time. I expected young good looking couples, I found reality instead. See for yourselves. Shown dancing is the never aging Dr. Boy Hilvano.

Oh by the way, it was not all entirely about the high society of San Beda. I also manage to take a few pictures of a friend from New York, Joseph Tieng, who was being honored as the first most outsdanding overseas Bedan. I guess, the judges in the Philippines have not really visited us in New York, they had to settle for Joseph. Kidding aside, Joseph is a good man, a former president of the New York San Beda Alumni Association, of which, yours truly is a Treasurer. Lifetime treasurer, my friend Tommy Villanueva (the current President) always say. I guess circumstances will agree with him since the society's bank is in my town and I am the only signatory. Here is Joseph giving his acceptance speech. Way to go, Joseph! On the right is Joseph flanked by his wife and the San Beda College entourage.

I must be keeping good company since one of the most outstanding local bedan is a classmate of mine some fifty years ago, Dr. Ramon Arcadio, the current head of the Philippine General Hospital - an arm of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. This guy really deserve this honor - he even treated us after the ball! Such a lovely wife, too! Hep, hep, hooray!
Shown above from left to right, front row, Nito Abad (me), Bong Obligacion, Father Benigno Benabarre (yes still kicking), the lovely wife (pardon me but I forgot her name), the honoree, Dr. Ramon Arcadio, our class valedictorian, Victor Alfonse. Second row, Jess "the light" Lindayag, Jun Lao, Boy Hilvano, and the future President of the SBCAA, Paulino Dionisio.