Whew and Wow! It’s done. The hardy CAFAs did it again. The CAFA Californians did a whale of a job in putting the 4th CAFA grand reunion together. Let’s see . . first it was Getting Ahead in Hilton Head, then it was Flaunt It in Vermont, then it was Happy Togetha’ in Manila and just now – Da Mania in California!
For three memorable days in September, CAFAs and their family and friends came from far and wide to attend the group’s 2011 reunion in Pala Mesa Resort, Fallbrook California. Sarah and Charlie Calley came from Vermont. Eileen Robins, Rody Picar, Tong and Rita Salgado and Nore and Didi Lim came from Manhattan. Tito Valbuena came from New Jersey. Romy and Rory Ballesteros came from Texas. Alice Rancap, Ben Tuason and Tess, Dynn and Mynna Hernandez and their cousin came from San Francisco. Bess Canlas and Darrel Silva came from LA, Joey and Lina Abalos came from Virginia. Gerry and Jojo Ramos came from Milwaukee. Ely Tuason came from Chicago. Emi Masigan came from Boston. Gail Blattenberger came from Utah. Dinky and Milou Einsiedel and Oni and Billie Mayo came from Metro Manila.
And that’s not all. Friends came to participate in the CAFAs Saturday Buffet, Raffle and Mini Show. These include: Alice’s relatives from LA; Dinky’s daughter Tycel (now enrolled in a San Francisco school) and a friend from her dorm she brought with her; US-based friends of Dinky from UP High days and his Human Settlements office; and US-based La Salle HS chums of Oni, As a matter of fact, Oni’s friends (Art Sicat and Joey Zamora) registered in Pala Mesa resort together with the CAFAs in order to also play golf with the CAFA Tigers. Hope I did not miss out on anyone. It was so much fun with most everyone participating in the singing and dancing.
The successful show would not be possible without Bess’ Band from LA led by Kuya Ed aka Louis Armstrong. Given a few hours rehearsal with the performers, the band made “stars of the night” out of Alice, Tong and Sarah who rendered fully accompanied preliminary numbers. The band’s worth was really appreciated when the singing was done and the party switched on to dance mode.
A major part of the program is the CAFASingers at center stage anew. Just like old times, they dished out standards such as Cherish, Up Up and Away, Man Come into Egypt, Tennessee Babe, If I Fell, A Summer Song and Stasera. The description of the event would not be complete without mentioning the other highlights of the show. Oni and Didi who dabble in songwriting introduced their original OPM songs to the CAFAs that night. Ely with Dinky on guitar titillated (shocked?) the audience with their never-ending ribald tagalog chit-chiritsit song. Joey Abalos and Joey Zamora alternated on stage and competed for the Elvis Presley of Pala Mesa title. And the surprise of the night was the spontaneous stand up comedy show of Ely and Romy. Their typical Pinoy jokes were funny enough to warrant the Americans in the audience to be curious and ask for a translation.
Behind the Scenes
Just as much fun were the side lights of the event. These were the dinner in the old town, the chit-chat at the resort veranda, the stroll to the cottages, the golf, the song rehearsals, the swimming and sun bathing, the food trips and the final night hang out at Tambayan Restaurant. Tambayan resto is a Pinoy owned resto that was discovered by the group as they drove their rented cars around Fallbrook the area.
Tambayan is actually a Karaoke Bar in Fallbrook ran by a happy faced Pinoy proprietor. He would take over the singing chores whenever there is a lull in the audience participation. The chubby proprietor sings with gusto (complete with carcass-shaking tremolo passages) and more so when his female chef and the waitress suddenly appear to become his back up singers and dancers! The proprietor was however pleasantly surprised when Kuya Ed stood up and provided him with mean duet support for his retro “Unchain My Heart” number.
Through all this, beer and wine flowed and the orders for US style Chicharon Bulaklak, Lechon Kawali, Pork BBQ, Crispy Squid and other sinful stuff abounded. After a long night of indulging on forbidden menu, the waitress still asked the group if they want to order some more. A queasy Romy then replied: Yes we would like to order Lipitor!
Will there be a next grand reunion? Hopefully. For sure there is a mini reunion a-brewing in February in Manila. CAFAs can’t seem to get too much of each other, can they? See slide show below for more photos of the 2011 Reunion Na! event.
For three memorable days in September, CAFAs and their family and friends came from far and wide to attend the group’s 2011 reunion in Pala Mesa Resort, Fallbrook California. Sarah and Charlie Calley came from Vermont. Eileen Robins, Rody Picar, Tong and Rita Salgado and Nore and Didi Lim came from Manhattan. Tito Valbuena came from New Jersey. Romy and Rory Ballesteros came from Texas. Alice Rancap, Ben Tuason and Tess, Dynn and Mynna Hernandez and their cousin came from San Francisco. Bess Canlas and Darrel Silva came from LA, Joey and Lina Abalos came from Virginia. Gerry and Jojo Ramos came from Milwaukee. Ely Tuason came from Chicago. Emi Masigan came from Boston. Gail Blattenberger came from Utah. Dinky and Milou Einsiedel and Oni and Billie Mayo came from Metro Manila.
And that’s not all. Friends came to participate in the CAFAs Saturday Buffet, Raffle and Mini Show. These include: Alice’s relatives from LA; Dinky’s daughter Tycel (now enrolled in a San Francisco school) and a friend from her dorm she brought with her; US-based friends of Dinky from UP High days and his Human Settlements office; and US-based La Salle HS chums of Oni, As a matter of fact, Oni’s friends (Art Sicat and Joey Zamora) registered in Pala Mesa resort together with the CAFAs in order to also play golf with the CAFA Tigers. Hope I did not miss out on anyone. It was so much fun with most everyone participating in the singing and dancing.
The successful show would not be possible without Bess’ Band from LA led by Kuya Ed aka Louis Armstrong. Given a few hours rehearsal with the performers, the band made “stars of the night” out of Alice, Tong and Sarah who rendered fully accompanied preliminary numbers. The band’s worth was really appreciated when the singing was done and the party switched on to dance mode.A major part of the program is the CAFASingers at center stage anew. Just like old times, they dished out standards such as Cherish, Up Up and Away, Man Come into Egypt, Tennessee Babe, If I Fell, A Summer Song and Stasera. The description of the event would not be complete without mentioning the other highlights of the show. Oni and Didi who dabble in songwriting introduced their original OPM songs to the CAFAs that night. Ely with Dinky on guitar titillated (shocked?) the audience with their never-ending ribald tagalog chit-chiritsit song. Joey Abalos and Joey Zamora alternated on stage and competed for the Elvis Presley of Pala Mesa title. And the surprise of the night was the spontaneous stand up comedy show of Ely and Romy. Their typical Pinoy jokes were funny enough to warrant the Americans in the audience to be curious and ask for a translation.
Behind the Scenes
Just as much fun were the side lights of the event. These were the dinner in the old town, the chit-chat at the resort veranda, the stroll to the cottages, the golf, the song rehearsals, the swimming and sun bathing, the food trips and the final night hang out at Tambayan Restaurant. Tambayan resto is a Pinoy owned resto that was discovered by the group as they drove their rented cars around Fallbrook the area.
Tambayan is actually a Karaoke Bar in Fallbrook ran by a happy faced Pinoy proprietor. He would take over the singing chores whenever there is a lull in the audience participation. The chubby proprietor sings with gusto (complete with carcass-shaking tremolo passages) and more so when his female chef and the waitress suddenly appear to become his back up singers and dancers! The proprietor was however pleasantly surprised when Kuya Ed stood up and provided him with mean duet support for his retro “Unchain My Heart” number.
Through all this, beer and wine flowed and the orders for US style Chicharon Bulaklak, Lechon Kawali, Pork BBQ, Crispy Squid and other sinful stuff abounded. After a long night of indulging on forbidden menu, the waitress still asked the group if they want to order some more. A queasy Romy then replied: Yes we would like to order Lipitor!
Will there be a next grand reunion? Hopefully. For sure there is a mini reunion a-brewing in February in Manila. CAFAs can’t seem to get too much of each other, can they? See slide show below for more photos of the 2011 Reunion Na! event.
Slide show
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