HERITAGE-LIKE SONGS

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The Heritage Conservation Society of the Philippines held their Benefit Dinner last Saturday. Headed by Gemma Cruz, former Miss Philippines, the Society hosted an exclusive dinner affair for Manila’s distinguished heritage advocates and supporters. Aptly, the Benefit Dinner was held at Mother’s Garden, a surprising haven in Zamora Street, Pasay City. The Mother’s Garden venue is actually the family compound of National Artist Pablo Antonio. We understand that the heritage house on it was being used by the society wedding couturier Malou (Antonio) Veloso until the time it was turned into an events place. (Some of Ms. Veloso's gowns were still in the rooms.)

The Neos were tapped to entertain the elite group who were more than gracious listeners. The mature audience engagingly corrected the Neo’s claim that ‘Java Jive’ is a 70s song. (They were one in claiming that this is a real oldie). The highly civil audience visibly enjoyed the Neo’s kind of retro music and was generous with their praises of the Neo performance even up to the time the party ended. Dinky, who is a member and technical adviser of the Heritage Society, drew chuckles as he produced his spiel during the performance. In general, he introduced the Neo members as ‘antiquities’ with their ‘heritage’ songs albeit productive enough to be prime examples of ‘adaptive reuse’.

The accolade of the audience was more than enough satisfaction to the Neos in exchange for all their effort to prepare for the event. Oni and Hector arranged to come three hours early to set up the Neo’s own equipment. (it took some time for the inexperienced pair to fix the feedback problem). The rest of the Neos came soon enough to hold a sound check that had its share of problems. (The promised CD player of the place malfunctioned). Through all the debacle, the Neos managed a successful presentation with comparatively expressive harmonics this time. One reason is the probably the fact that Hec took it upon himself to manipulate the mixer throughout the show. This allowed the Neos to finally hear/feel each other (ala CAFASinger days) while singing together.

The raffle after the show saw Oni get lucky. His stub number was called out and he took home an orchid plant prize that the non winners looked upon with envy. Paintings were also raffled out including an Alcuaz original that was auctioned. For the Heritage Society, everything seemed to fall into place for a successful event. As late as a couple of weeks before the show, the Neos actually feared that they had to make do as an all male group. Delfa just came in from her mission in the Gobi desert (with a cold) and Irene had her Alum homecoming event on the same night as the show. The Neos even thought of having Ofels Monroy (original Neo lady) to fill in but fortuitous events happened. Especially for those who know Ofels, please say a little prayer for her Dad who passed away last Friday. In a way, the Neos dedicate their songs last Saturday to Ofels and her family.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

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Last week, some of the CAFAs had a get together in New York. Bili and Oni Mayo were visiting America so East coasters Tong and Rita Salgado and Sam and Sandy Sta. Maria made it a point to see them. The busy Nore caught up with the group in Chiams, a trendy 52nd St. resto, although she still left earlier than the rest for another dinner appointment. Tito and Girlie Valbuena and Fiel Zabat were supposed to join, but they couldn’t make it at the last minute. The group also missed Rody Picar who was reportedly in the Philippines.

The party was fun and the details of which I’m posting as described by Sam in his email. I couldn’t have described it better. The blow-by-blow of the event by Sam is depicted below (albeit edited for flow) and now embellished with photos. I completely agree with Bess that Sam should really do a US CAFA whirl Blog soon. Sam’s report:

Ito ay para sa mga US residents whom we missed at our dinner last Friday, May 29. What a great time we all had, trying to get in as many topics of conversation between Chinese entrees that included duck and jellyfish (?) I can’t recall the exact dish name but it tasted good. Since most of us were famished (after a day’s work), second platters of food had to be ordered quickly. The waiters did a good job of moving us along by scooping the last morsels into anyone’s plates and clearing the empty dishes posthaste. I lost count of my allowable daily quota for sodium and sugar intake, which hopefully got burned up when Sandy and I walked from 46th to 34th for our subway ride to NJ. Times Square was nice, as Oni will attest, since it is now closed to traffic, and people were in beach chairs in the middle of the street gazing at the neon billboards.

Retirement has its challenges for Tong. First, a botched cataract removal procedure has left one eye with a fixed lens instead of one that adjusts focus automatically. I hope I got that description right. It’s like having an old Kodak Instamatic with a fixed aperture instead of an auto-focus Nikon. Since he got some sort of credit for the less than perfect procedure, I suggested that he demand a complimentary face lift and nose job, too. Stay tuned for the new, improved Arthur Salgado. Then there are his arthritic knees! I feel your pain, Tong. Sometimes I do, too. Ritz, don’t you think this is Tong’s grand scheme to escape from taking out the garbage and increase his golfing time? He say’s he needs the walking exercise, preferably on the fairways.

We briefly discussed Dinky’s food poisoning bout. Could it have been caused by his disgruntled tenant in hacienda Silay? If you must know, Dinky and Milou have leased out a piece of their lot in Silay to a restaurant. Maybe just lactose intolerance then, and a longing for more TLC from Milou. Meanwhile, Don Rody Picar must be checking on his holding company in Manila. A giant billboard for Picar Holdings has been spotted thereabouts, according to Perez Hilton.

Nore is now the consummate ZooYorker, zipping via subway from her new condo in Harlem to all points in Manhattan (something she never did until this year?) This leaves more time for Didi to strum his guitar and possibly hobnob with their famous neighbor, Pres. Bill Clinton. Didi, was that the reason you were not with Nore last Friday? The weekend experience inclusive of the cooperative weather was simply gorgeous, presaging a glorious ZooYork summer. So to all CAFAs, come on down and visit NY soon to experience the same.

After the early dinner, the CAFAs hung around a nearby public sitting area (for more chika and photo op) while waiting for the bus schedules of the Jersey and Rockland residents in the group. Oni and Bili haven’t seen Sam and Sandy since Vermont. Sam and Sandy are still ever fretting over the whereabouts of their darling Adrienne now 15. (Sandy made the check up call during the dinner. Adrienne now has a bf). Tong assured them that there’s no need to worry. From his hunting days, Tong has a lot of guns that he said he can always give to Sam so he can be like Gwendolyn’s policeman father. (Remember Gwendolyn - dancing to slow drag at her prom in Hilton Head?)

In line with Dinky’s Email inquiring about the next CAFA reunion from Alice, Oni posed the issue to the group for their suggestions. It seems that the theme, place and the timing for the next reunion still remains to be determined. A musical show theme akin to the last reunion would be a natural activity for CAFAs and would be guaranteed fun. If that's too hard to bring about (due to the rehearsal process), an alternative would be to showcase other CAFA skills in dancing, fire-eating, glass-walking body-piercing and extreme sports! The time between now and the next reunion can be a good opportunity for the CAFAs to practice their acts. Seriously, some ideas that came out of the Montreal Summit (among the Calleys, Lims and Mayos) to make the reunion interesting were: 1) a coffee book project that showcases CAFA friends and family; and 2) a Karaoke session in the reunion program. For the book project, Nore, Sam and Oni (others?) have publishing experience to help the CAFAs put it together. Meanwhile for the Karaoke event, Bess and the NeoCAFAs can assist in the preparation of M1s for the Paul (Potts) and Susans (Boyle) in the group. What say?