ACTIVITIES

Manila Volt-in/Despedida for Paul A
July 23, 2005, Loyola Grand Villas, Quezon City (Martin Rondain's residence)

Ada Abad and Paul Ancheta talk about the Manila volt-in/despedida.

by Ada Abad

Mga kafatid:

Left the party early as I was practically "dead batt" na, but we had 73 people who came. When i left, they were just about to start dancing...grabe ang energy levels nila, di ko na kayang pantayan.

Mart and Monina outdid themselves...tents all set up, tables, chairs, sound system. And the food. WE HAVE TO SING PRAISES TO THEM!!! We got the surf and turf they promised, and the salad was good. Lots of desserts to boot. People brought a lot of food and drinks that lasted well enough from merienda to dinner time. And after pa! Tere's siomai and Marirose's fettucini, and Chagoo's pancit, and the tons of chips. Kape from Baguio c/o Tosh and Caia. Whew. Food com...GALING GALING! APPLAUSE APPLAUSE! STANDING OVATION PLEASE!!!

Frannie, Paul, Archie and Gold handled the program, and prepared lots of games. HANEP! ANG HIRAP NAMAN NG MGA GAMES...as in: arrange yourselves according to waistline, hahah! siyempre, hindi ko ma-take na mas malaki pa ang waistline ko kay Jovi Alonso! Buti na lang at di umabot sa sukatan; otherwise, baka mag-protesta na talaga ako, hahaha.

The FinCom's Chagoo, Tere, Marirose and Marie Yago were equally terrific, with all the raffle and giveaways. HEP HEP HURRAY! I think Badong won the grand prize of overnight stay at Mimosa c/o George Santiago.

Kudos to Liaison's Anne, Marcus, Breva, Ann Claire, Lois, JJ, Kaye and Nina... (yung dalawa, di naman Liaison pero sigue na rin). Malapit na sigurong makumpleto yung mga information sheet natin. Wala akong masabi -- ang gagaling maghatak nitong mga ito. Kahit yung mga nagtatago, napapunta na nila, LOL!!! New faces at the volt-in: Gem Pattugalan, Caren Laforteza, Cindy Villafuerte, Cons, Al Medina, Tammy Tamor, Tom Aquino, Melchor Molina, Roy Rosales, Asiong (parang di ko nakita sa first volt-in), Raffy Blanco, Deo Gazmen and Cesar Lingao (nasa Ababu sila though), Maricia Ludan, George Santiago, Bernard Pamplona (straight from Iloilo, kafatid!), Lito Aliwalas, Stephen Savellano. Am sure marami akong nakalimutan.

Pinakamaraming pumunta yung taga-Mercury - nine in all. Sumunod yata yung mga taga-Polaris (section ko yun. 7 kami)

Gil Amilbangsa flew into Manila and went straight to the volt-in from the airport. Depeks is looking good, ha? Thank you to Ate Ko Lynn Rangel who sent her contribution (di ko alam pero am sure nakain ko yun!), and to Manay Gina Vizconde, for the pashmina shawls for the raffle. And the flavored squash seeds (ano ba yun...wasabi flavor?). And the dried pork and squid -- all straight from Singapore!

Am trying to download the pictures as I write but apparently I ain't doing it right. It isn't working...Am using another digicam and can't seem to understand it. Di ko naman makita yung instruction booklet. Niyek palpak. Sorry guys. Will ask the others to upload tomorrow.

Rose/Berms, Chiqui-tita, Megsie, Mamel and Arim: Thanks for going on-line din. Sayang di ko kayo naabutan...buti na lang at napaka-hitechie ni Tere, at pwedeng mag-wireless yung laptop niya.

But I am going to upload a copy of the Istiring Kumita report in the file folder. I think most of the people listened naman kasi di namin papakainin pag di nakinig, hahahah. Frannie, Annie and Chagoo will kwento you guys kung ano na ang mga naging desisyon.

TO ALL WHO CAME... THANK YOU VERY MUCH IN BEHALF OF THE ISTIRING KUMITA. Sana ipagpatuloy natin ang magandang samahan ng Batch 82...Kita-kita ulit sa susunod na Volt-In!!!

SK: BOW AKO SA INYO! Will call for a De-briefing and De-stressing ulit, as usual. Really guys...you were all terrific. We couldn't ask for anything more.

O siya...am practically falling asleep here. Tumatanda na nga ako...pero at least, nabalitaan ko na kayo.

Ingat kayong lahat.

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by Paul Ancheta

Excitement stirred throughout the upland air of Loyola Grand Villas. On this crisp afternoon, Mart Rondain's garden at Number 8 Sweden Street was jammed with tents and tables of food, snacks, and raffle prizes. This was, after all, the day that took six weeks of eager preparations amongst Philippine-based graduates of UPIS Batch '82 to welcome visiting expatriate batch mates Elena Samson, JJ Cariño-Araos, and Marionne Maypa-Smith.

The ardor of those pre-party weeks paled in comparison to the thrills of seeing each other in person. Out-of-towners Bernard Pamplona, Caia Cubero-Quiano, George Santiago, Gil Amilbangsa, and Tosh Jacob-Soliven drove and flew in to be there. By 7 pm, my microphoned emceeing drowned under the cacophonous symphony of 68 friends laughing, chatting, and singing in what has yet become the largest gathering of batch mates since 1997. That Mart Rondain and Mon Calabia pulled it off as host and chef is testament to their selfless spirit of service.

Another memorable gathering has passed. Ties that were lost have been recreated; those already in place have been strengthened. For some, myself included, there were moments of anxiety for not having seen each other in 23 years. But childhood and teenage familiarities never disappear. They are bridges that span the distance of place and time. They are links between past and future.

As we all approach our middle-age years, those links take on a new, tender meaning. It is the best reason to be there.

[More pictures at Flickr and Paul Ancheta's site]