Midweek Blast

The despedida get together for the balikCAFAs was held yesterday since all are leaving for home in the next few days. The group came together after a delay of hours due to the sudden closure of EDSA by authorities to accommodate the EDSA Revolution celebration. From 5PM and up, the EDSA Ortigas area was bumper to bumper with vehicles.


















But no irresponsible action of politicians that affected traffic could dampen the affection of the CAFAs for each other. It was chika and uninhibited party time that grew in spirit especially after Bili staggered in late with the food having been stuck in traffic herself. Bess and Eddie came in first followed by Tong, Rita, Rody (now looking good), Delfa, Hec, Alex and Cord Guanco. The group was taking their dessert when the great Houdini, Dero Pedero made his grand entrance. Later on Bess daughter Barbara came in as well.

The cozy cluster of guests led to one interesting conversation after the other. Naturally, all the liquor produced added stimulus. It was inevitable that the group picked on CAFAs who were not in the party. Sam, if you are feeling the pins in your epidermis I hope it’s not hurting too much. Ultimately, the talk shifted to politics both local and American. For the Philippine presidency, Dero does not like the look of Aquino so he is for anybody but. Oni does not like the look of everybody else so he is for Aquino.

Because of all the American CAFAs present, the American economy ultimately became the topic of discussion. For some reason, the balikbayans in the party turned out to be mostly Republican sympathizers. Oni told Tong that Ben is his friend and so for tonight in Ben’s absence, he will be arguing as a Democrat. Oni implored that Obama be given more time to succeed with his programs, but the passionate Republicans present uploaded details of the situation that Oni knew nothing about (and making him feel like a kumag).














After the eating and during the drinking, Dero insisted on the singing and where the group enthusiastically obliged. The CAFA standards (Cherish, Monday Monday, Up Up and Away, Stasera, Summersong, etc.) were timeless tunes for the CAFASingers that were performed with gusto and expression (thanks to the beer) to the delight (?) of the limited audience (the non CAFASingers). It was a good thing that the household staff and the drivers gawked to listen otherwise there would have been more singers than audience in this case.

The final topic on the chika agenda was that exciting but elusive next CAFA grand reunion. California or East Coast? Formal or informal agenda? Cruise or tour? 2010 or 2011? Several exciting ideas were laid on the table but which would be too long to further discuss in this Blog. Whatever, it seems to be coming to a head and so let’s have it simmer for the moment and a subject of another Email later. Before parting, please continue to pray for the recovery of Cecille Ascalon. She had a minor stroke (with hemorrhage) and is still in the hospital.

Antipolo Party

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Rita and Tong are back in the country to attend the 98th birthday of Rita’s mom, Mrs. Simeona Chanyunco. Due to the amazing blessing of longevity, the Chanyunco family celebrates Mom Simeona’s birthday every year in a big way. Kin fly in from as far away as the USA and local friends of every persuasion are invited to the party.













The party was held in the Antipolo estate of Rene, Rita’s younger brod. Rene was the accommodating host with a bottomless party supply of liquor. After the fiesta type food fare of the party, a show was staged on the large lawn for the crowd. The show was mainly to highlight a Filipino dance troupe that Mrs. Chanyunco help found. In her active years, Mrs. Chanyunco was a Filipiniana dance instructor (like Dinky’s mom, huh?) who was the mentor of some of the performers. The dance troupe was great but of course considering the international credits that they have attained through the years.

Tong took the opportunity to invite the CAFAs in Manila to the party. The CAFAs who were there were mostly the Neos and Balikbayans Bess (with her brood) and Eddie of LA fame. Rody and Cecille got sick and couldn’t make it. Cord, Megs, Fe and Hec were stranded with personal commitments and couldn’t make it too. Dero was . . well Dero with his unfathomable schedule and who also didn’t make it.

Tong, Rita, Bess, Rody and Eddie are slated to already return to America next week. As a result, the despedida party for the BalikCAFAs will be held this week. Base on the text invite that Oni sent, everyone who made it (to the Antipolo party) and including most of those that didn’t make it - are now promising to come to the despedida party in his house. That should be a smaller and more intimate party (uninhibited?) where Bess and Eddie are expected to regale the locals with their musical wares, LA style. Meanwhile, Rody is out of sick bed and will come to the CAFA party. He means to make up for not attending the Antipolo party since he was confined for a week in the hospital. In the meanwhile, please pray for the well being of Cecille who will be undergoing medical analysis and possible surgery.





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Nore's Friends

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Today, Nore is beyond being Nore. What I mean to say is that Nore is also a Foundation. Last Sunday, Nore celebrated her birthday in a unique way. The party was held in AIM's cozy Carte Blanche restaurant and it highlighted the recent Printmaking Workshop Event in UP that Nore's foundation (Lenore RSLim Foundation) recently sponsored. Clearly the workshop is a boon to UP Fine Arts School and a milestone in the promotion of printmaking in the country. This is the same workshop that Nore helped to facilitate in Latin America last year. Two of the foreign artists/ experts that helped Nore in this workshop were leaving for home and this party was a despedida for them as well.

Hence, the party crowd consisted of Nore's different groups of friends that she has managed to merge together in a productive, fun and pleasant way over the years. If you must, the groups for this party at least were: The foreign artists and the other workshop facilitators and participants; UP Fine Arts officials; UP Fine Arts classmates; College of the Holy Spirit HS classmates; supportive Raquel Santos family members; NY friends; Didi the great husband; and lastly, the CAFASingers.

The party started out with a eucharistic mass presided over by a priest who is also one of Nore and Didi's friends in NY. After the mass, the buffet line was opened and where the guests enjoyed the usual great eats standard of the Skyline Restaurant group. After the meal, there was the awarding of certificates to the workshop participants and the facilitators. And then with all the formalities out of the way, the party started. The game guests took turns at singing - acapella if not Karaoke - and then dancing afterwards. The CAFASingers / Neos were shameless as they took to the stage without practice when requested. The audience actually got into the act and sang along with Cherish and Summer Song with the CAFAs and which in a way covered up the flaws in the delivery. Their applause afterwards was heartening to hear.

Dinky and Milou, Alex, Delfa, Irene, Oni and Bili represented the Neos. At the blowing of the candles, Didi, Milou, Alex and Oni were called by Nore to join her on the table and where she introduced them as co-celebrators of her birthday bash (the four are also January and early Feb birthday kids). Globe hopping Tong Salgado - groggy being just off the plane from NY - was the surprise guest who represented the CAFASingers. Tong's soaring tenor voice and ever handsome look was a welcome force to the impromptu Neo performance that night. (Tong you owe me for this last statement). The party ended up past twelve, but I wouldn't know that since Bili and I had to leave a bit earlier to prepare for office the next day.