The Jet Setter

Didi and Nore are in town . . again. Clearly the quintessential jet setters, the couple is making the America-Asia route comonplace  But as often as they come, it’s always a treat to exchange stories (and outrageous ideas) with Didi and Nore. Among the Cafasinger topics discussed that night were the political camps of American friends, the escapades of Didi and other intellectual stuff meant to change the world.

We know that Claire (based in Singapore with hubby Alex) had recently given birth to her second child.  Thrilled at the blessed development, Grandpa and Grandma surely had to rush to there to check out their spanking new grandaughter. (I can’t help but be amused at the thought that Nore goes to Asia and Bili goes to America for the same general purpose – apostolic work!) 

But fast forward to the present.  The Cafa meeting this time was not purely social.  Nore has a Godmother (ninang) who is all of 97 years old.  She is Tita Monsy V. Joven who passed away last Friday. The deceased is a native of Taal Batangas and who also happens to be Bili’s aunt. Inevitably, our first meeting with Nore and Didi for this season was at Tita Monsy's wake in Manila Memorial Park.

From the wake Didi, Nore, Francis, Bili and I went out for dinner. Manila Memorial Park is in Sucat Paranaque and the group tried out the new Max restaurant nearby.  I had not tasted Max Spring chicken  (good to the bones!) in a while and so that dinner proved to be as delightful as the company.

A Wednesday Afternoon in Manhattan

On a sunny day in October, CAFAs met for a get together at the artsy Chelsea neighborhood in NYC . Tong and Rita Salgado drove in from Rockland County. Romy and Rori Ballesteros arrived by train from Connecticut. Oni and Bili Mayo took the subway from the East Side of NY to the West. Eileen Robbins and Nore Lim arrived by bus from their homes also located in the West Side. Of course, the gracious host of the event, Rodi Picar, waited for everyone at the assembly place – Rodi and Howie’s Chelsea apartment. 

The plan was to take lunch at nearby Spice Restaurant and then hang out at Rodi’s apartment. Leave it to Rodi to organized a real culinary and fun event. The Asian fusion menu at Spice Restaurant offered a choice of exotic spicy and not too spice food.  But the antipasta feast at Rodi’s apartment afterwards takes the cake. Not to be outdone by the recent drinking party of the San Francisco 4 (Dyn, Myna, Alice and Ben), the New York 9 showed that they know how to imbibe too. Tong brought special California wine that complemented Rodi’s sumptuous table. See photos. 

The party was capped by delicious Quiche pie and more antipasta and wine before the group broke up at around 7PM. Tong and Rita offered to bring Romi, Rori, Oni and Bili to their destinations (on the East side) in his car. Since Romi and Rori would be the first ones off at Grand Central Station, Tong kidded him that once he is gone, the remaining guys will talk about him. Romy predicted that he knows what the group will say once he and Rori breaks off from the gang. He dead panned: “Ang sasabihin nyo ay napakaswerteng babae talaga ni Rori!” 

Apart from the proposed Milwaukee reunion next year, the gang talked about CAFA guys going to the Philippines around January and February 2013. Rodi and Howie, Rita and Tong, and likely Nore and Didi are planning to be in the Philippines come January. This will be an opportunity to have an early taste of the beach resorts of Rodi and Alex in La Union and Dagupan respectively. It is hoped that some of the West Coast CAFAs can make it too. How about it, Bess? 

Ala eh, tuloy-tuloy baga ang ligaya! 

See slide show for more photos.

San Francisco Birthdays Celebration

By Ben Tuason 

Speaking of lasingan, we (Dynn, Mynna, Alice and Ben) are at Mynna's house celebrating the birthdays of Dynn (Sep 26), Mynna (Sep 25) and Alice (Oct 4). Here since 2 pm. It is now almost 8pm. Walang tigil ang lasingan, kainan, at kuwentuhan. Nagluto si Mynna ng lengua estofado, sinigang na hipon (malalake). Si Dynn gumawa ng ginatang bilu-bilo. Si Alice nagdala ng custard pie and muffins. Ako naman nagdala ng halayang ube, gawa ni Tes na hindi sumama dahil inaway ako, kaya dito ako matutulog kasama ng mga lasengga. Oni, pinag-uusapan ka naman namin. Totoo ba ang mga balita tungkol sa iyo? Nakakakilabot naman.

From the CAFAs, Happy Birthday Dynn, Mynna and Alice!

CAFA Afternoon in Salgado County

It’s a Fall Tuesday in Manhattan and the start of the UN General Assembly. The President of the USA was coming to the UN event and NYPD vehicles and personnel blocked off First Avenue (where the UN is located). They also limited access to side streets (42nd through 47th Streets) leading to 2nd Avenue. Why is this situation important to know?  Well, because Tong Salgado is coming into NYC (from Rockland) to get Rodi Picar and Oni Mayo for a CAFA fun get together at his home.

Rodi wisely decided that the best way for Tong to avoid blocked off streets and the resulting traffic would be to meet up at 5th Avenue. Rodi came to 5th Avenue from his home in Chelsea at the West side of Manhattan. Oni walked to 5th Avenue from his apartment located in the vicinity of the highy security UN area. By eleven AM the three were in Tong’s car for the trip north to Rockland County where the Salgado clan stays. 

After a scenic pleasant trip through the State Parkway, Tong pulled up at his garage. Lola Rita Salgado was there, sunning herself on the driveway with new grandson Arthur (son of Ariel and Coleen) on her lap. Yes, the retired Tong and Rita are doing baby sitting chores. Bili Mayo is much in the same boat (she was left back in Manhattan where she was needed to help out daughter Lia with her newborn). This is why Bili had to skip going with the CAFAs to Rockland. 

The lunch was sumptuous rib-eye grilled steak, buttered wild flounder fillet, shrimp pasta and fresh green salad capped with choices of cake desserts. Rita prepared the meal while tending her now frisky grandson but of course ably assisted by doting Grandpa Tong. The enjoyable afternoon lasted into the evening. Still full from the heavy lunch, the group indulged once more on Salgado hospitality by evening before heading home.  Pizza (served with unlimited anchovies) over glasses of wine was the tasty coup de grace. 

Romy and Rory are now in Connecticut with Romy’s mom. The couple was suppose to join the Rockland party but had to cancel at the last minute.  Romy's mom had to be brought to the hospital where we hope she will be OK. According to Tong, the other East Coast CAFAs are not available since many are still not 'retarded' like us and have to be at work. In the case of Nore and Didi, they just arrived that day itself from Vancouver and thus missed the party. 

A CAFA get together is always an experience. Watching the CD of the Vermont Reunion brought back memories.  Trivial chit chat could not be avoided. It has become standard reunion fare today to go through the list of CAFA members and back talk each one of them. As usual, it's too bad if you were not there to defend yourself. Hear that, Dero, Bess and Alice? Not only did the group dig deep into the past about well-kept secrets but it was fun dissecting the unique personalities of dear friends. (Ben, Sam and Tito – you were not spared.) 

The next CAFA Grand Reunion was also a topic of conversation. “Wacky in Milwaukee” is high on the list but Tong suggested that a “See Ya in Manila” Part II would also be fun. Rodi agreed and offered his beach resort in La Union as a possible Northern leg of the reunion. From Rody's place in La Union, the nice destination places in the North (Baguio, Vigan, Pangasinan) are nearby. 

So boys and girls, please plan to go to the next CAFA reunion as early as now. Sam, no more excuses.  Gerry, are you listening? 

See slide show for more photos.

Sunday Funday

On Sunday September 10, The CAFAs had a get-to at Foster City, California. Ben & Tess came from Davies. Dynn & Mynna came from Sacramento. Alice came from Union City. Oni came from San Francisco two days earlier. 

Except for Oni, the guys drove most of the morning from their different cities. Everyone was at the Chinese resto by lunchtime (ABC resto along Hillsdale Ave.) but the resto was filled up and the CAFAs had to cool their heels for 20 minutes or so. 

The wait was worth it. Steaming hot dimsum on carts rolled by between tables.  The CAFAs had a field day picking out their preferences and wolfing down the delicious tidbits. Alice couldn’t take all the protein and so she ordered pancit. Oni approved the lechon kawali to the disapproving glare of the health conscious CAFAs.

 Maybe because of their salable conmodity, the ABC restaurant proved to be a haughty one; not only don’t they accept reservations but by 3PM, they seem to be hurrying up the customers so that they can close already. Talk about a “sellers market” attitude! But as they say- 'when you're good, you're good!'

After the filling lunch, the CAFAs proceeded to nearby Hillsdale Shopping Center in search of real coffee. Walking around the mall, Ben squeezed in a little shopping.  He bought a nifty fatigue jacket with lots of breast pockets (see slide photos). The group eventually settled for Starbucks.  The group took advantage of Starbuck's comfy sidewalk sitting facilities up to closing time.

The CAFAs had high plane conversation as usual. Appropriate topics include what is the best posture when sitting on a toilet bowl.  Or whether pets are better to have than a paramour at this stage in one's life. Health statistics were also of high concern. Oni wondered if it’s a country thing when 3 out of 6 guys in the CAFA huddle have no more gall bladder? This is not mentioning the fact that 2 out of 6 have eye cataract problems. 

By 5:30PM, most of the group reluctantly had to head for their homes which could be 2 to 3 hours drive away. The CAFAs would not admit though that the reason they had to leave before dark is that darkened roads are hard to see when one has cataract problems. Alice drove Oni back to his Foster City base where she got to at least meet Bili too. Bili could not join the CAFA lunch.  She was with her college chums (based in North California) who also invited her out for the weekend. 

 It was another good meet for the CAFAs who never seem to tire of getting together. For sure, they talked about the next big CAFA thing.  Gerry, please be forewarned and get Wisconsin ready. At least for this California group, Wisconsin is now calendared for the CAFA September 2013 Grand Reunion.

See slide show for more photos.

Vicenta Torre 97

Romy and Rory comes to Manila quite often. The main reason is because they come to visit Rory’s mother, Mrs.Vicenta Torre. Today they are here again but this time to bid farewell to her. Mama Vicenta peacefully passed away last Saturday in the company of loved ones. She died from old age complications surrounded by children and grandchildren who cared for her dearly. 

Vicenta Torre was the image of a loving grandmother at rest as I viewed her wake. But she was actually an accomplished professional in her chosen field. Mrs. Torre took up Pharmacy in UP and was board topnotcher. She married Atty. Torre with whom she had 10 children. She practiced her profession and became Dean of the Pharmacy Department of San Agustin University in Iloilo. She was also a Board Examiner for the country’s PRC (Professional Regulations Commission). 

At the wake the relatives of Romy mingled with all the Torre kin. A couple we recognized were Alex and Winnie Francisco, both from UP. Alex is Romy’s younger cousin who claims he was a CAFASinger fan who speaks fondly of having attended the Trini Lopez, Del Shannon, and other major concerts fronted by the CAFASingers. Winnie is younger than the CAFAs but she recalls the (then) handsome CAFA stars such as Ely, Rudy, Tong and others. By the way, she also speaks of Ating Salgado as being her (terror?) adviser then in BA. 

The burial is set for Friday since they are awaiting the many Torre siblings coming in from different foreign places. Mama Vicenta raised her children well. God rest her soul. 

See slide show for more photos.

 

CAFA Whirl

At the art exhibit in LRI Bldg. in Makati last Friday, a group of artists joined forces to make COMBINE – an exhibition of their current works. Pearl, Vic and Oni were there for one reason – Nore is exhibiting again. Nore had a set of three artworks in the show that signifies a new series of her latest work.

Technically, the prevailing theme consisted of mixed-media over collage background.  This theme was inspired by the works of Raushenberg, the NY print master.  Nore’s contribution is essentially giclee collage work that subtly depicts memorable experiences in her life. The titles of her three works are:  Love letters; Ode to Love; and Cherished Memories.  One painting flashed words of her father to her. The other showed words of friends. Particularly for "Love Letters", I think I have a notion of  who may have contributed to the material of memorable words in it. (Try to make out the background words in the canvass to understand what I mean). 

Congratulations to Nore on another successful exhibit. The exhibit was not only educational for me (yet one more time) but the nice ‘eats’ and drink was also my dinner that night.

See slide show for more photos.

CAFA Guys in Town

As early as last week, the CAFAs were advised through text by Emi that Rodi, Romy and Rori are in town. She was insistent on a CAFA Get-2-Ged (get together?) to enjoy time with the Balikbayans. Thus on Saturday, the lunch party was held at XO/46 – a gourmet place serving Pinoy fare owned by Emi’s brother. The new resto was located along Valero St. in the Salcedo Village business district of Makati. (near Makati Sports Club).

Apart from the balikbayans and Emi, the guys present were Dinky, Alex, Cecille, Oni, Bili, Vic and Pearl. Rodi is looking good and Romi and Rori are spry as ever. The food was amazing and the service was excellent. As a matter of fact, the party became a taste test for the group as each different delicacy in the menu was served. Being so proud of her brother’s resto, Emi had ordered everything for the gang to experience what’s there. When told that there was too much food for the CAFA seniors, Emi said she did it on purpose so that each can have a take-out bag consisting of whatever is left! Leave it to Emi to have a ready answer, outrageous or otherwise, for everything.

But apparently Emi was right. With such delicious fare available, the guys threw poise and etiquette to the wind. It was a babel as each started to place their selection of the food that they would like to take home. Definitely, none of that food will go to waste. To top it all, Emi would not have the waiters bring on the bill. Emi said that the Get-2-Ged is also a despedida for Rodi so the party is on her. (Emi says she owes Rodi who helped her a lot when she had her art exhibit there).

For the CAFAs in the US, watch for the opening of XO/46 in New York and Vancouver. This plan is now in the works. For me, the food was as good as it gets and so with the company. Thanks Emi for yet another wonderful CAFA feast and party.


See slideshow for more photos.

Adoracion Rivamonte Lim

Mrs. Adoracion Lim is Didi’s mom. She was one day short of her 97th birthday when she peacefully passed away. Mrs. Lim was a schoolteacher and a housewife who raised her children (4 boys and one girl). The Lims were based in their hometown of Marinduque and later on Manila until Didi’s dad was posted abroad.

Mr. Lim as we know, was a Foreign Service career official of the country. He was assigned to different countries (Pakistan, Korea, Egypt and finally, Rome) until his retirement. This is the reason why Didi and his siblings got to stay for parts of their growing years in many interesting places. Through all this, Mrs. Lim was the devoted mother to all her now successful children.

The CAFA gang got to pay their last respects to Mrs. Lim at different times. On Saturday afternoon, Romy, Rory, Dinky, Alex, Oni and Bili went to the wake at Mount Carmel church in Broadway. The day before, I understand that the Raquel Santos family and the Fine Arts gang led by Francis, Pearl, Vic and Cynthia attended the initial mass for the dead there. Emi went in the evening of Saturday.

For many of the CAFAs, it’s the inevitable passing of a beloved generation. The devotion of the CAFA baby boomers to their parents is never more evident. Didi was right there when his mother died. (was it a feeling he had when he opted to stay behind while Nore went back to the US?). Earlier in the year, Rita made her regular visit to her mom who passed away just before her centennial birth year. In the case of Rori and Romy, the couple is actually in town to visit Rori’s mom (who fortunately, remains in good health still, This is not to mention Romy’s mom in Connecticut who they also regularly visit).

Interestingly, all the mentioned mom’s are, or were - as the case may be - in their 90s! Hopefully, the CAFAs are blessed with the same sturdy genes.

Works of Masters Show

Yesterday, Nore RS Lim’s work was featured at the prominent Ayala Museum together with the works of other notable artists of the country. Ramon Orlina’s glass prism art and BenCab’s colorful canvass were among those displayed together with NoreLim’s trademark lace series prints. The other art forms by rising artists were metal sculptures and modern montage type and relief items. The displayed selections were actually the pieces that went out on a successful tour of Korea last September.

The CAFA’s who were on hand to view this prestigious event were: Mina, Cecille, Pearl and Vic, Alice, Emi and Oni. Of course Didi, Francis and dear friends of Nore like Botchi Santiago and Mars Custodio were also there. For Nore, this event was a fulfillment of sorts. We know that she was unable to physically accompany her pieces in the September Korean roadshow since she gave priority to the CAFA reunion in California.

In the course of the show, the speeches were heartfelt, the Korean ambassador was happy, Ayala Foundation was fulfilled and the cocktail fare was delicious. The CAFAs are very proud to have a Nore Lim among it. She is clearly one example that dedication to her art and tenacity to her dreams indeed pays off. Congratulations to Nore once again and may you have many more shows that will continue to inspire.


See slide show for more photos.

Da Didi’s Birthday

Leave it to Nore to throw an instant party when necessary. At his birthday party in Carte Blanche Resto (World Trade Center), Didi Lim admitted in his speech to the guests that he had not planned to have a 65th birthday party. He wondered aloud whether 65 years is an event that should actually be celebrated or kept vague with the public. But daughter Claire and her husband Alex were coming from Singapore for the occasion and so, why not?

The tables in the resto were set to accommodate different groups. The groups were: the Lim family including Didi’s brothers and sister who came from abroad; Raquel-Santo family led by Francis, Lynn and Rene Sunico; Balikbayan friends of Nore and Didi from Vancouver and NY; Didi’s friends in Manila; and the CAFAs. The CAFAs who celebrated Didi’s birthday with him were: Pearl and Vic, Myrna and her husband; Cecille; Mina Hernandez; Dinky; Alex; Emi; Fe Bareiro; Cynthia Henson; and Oni and Bili.

The resto facility was spacious and the Thai cuisine delicious. The sing-along with the band started after dinner where Francis, the CAFAs, and friends of Didi and Francis took to the mic. After a lot of prodding, Fe was finally convinced to perform on stage. Fe sang a Tagalog ditty which impressed the CAFAs and particularly Didi who did ballet-like moves on the dance floor as Fe belted it out. Overall, the CAFAs enjoyed themselves. A topic of conversation was the recent CAFA adventure in Negros and Iloilo land where the gastronomic weakness of the CAFAs was proven once and for all. (ang tatakaw kasi!)


See slide show for more photos.

The Ilonggo Adventure

Finally, the much-expected CAFA trip to the Visayas happened. Dinky and Milu Einsiedel played hosts to the CAFA group that stayed four days to experience wonderful Negros and Iloilo. Aside from Dinky and Milu, the CAFAs who went were Nore and Didi Lim, Pearl and Vic Ortega, Oni and Bili Mayo, Emi Mercado, Mina Hernandez and Cecil Ascalon. The fun started even at the Manila airport where the girls just had to do some shopping. Emi started it when she spotted the “Sale” sign at an airport shop and bought herself branded Flip-flop sandals. Soon most everyone followed suit. The girls had fun comparing their sandals of choice as they flip-flopped their way along the long airport corridors.

Milu’s hometown Silay had interesting ancestral houses to view. The Hofilena vintage house was practically a museum where art works of masters and artifacts were displayed. Our guide, 78 year old Ramon Hofilena, was not only eloquent in explaining the house but is an artist himself. In his prime, he engaged in theater and hobnobbed with famous art personalities. He explained that he was handsome and muscular once (a swimmer and actor) and who even posed in the nude for artists. Every time the eager-beaver CAFAs (particularly Emi and Bili) disturbed his spiel to make comments, Ramon gets so distracted that he berated the CAFAs for doing so. The group finally learned to keep their mouths shut after that especially when Ramon threatened to remove all his clothes (to be like the past model he was) if he was distracted again.

The other ancestral houses in Silay were the Gaston mansion and off course, the Locsin house. The Locsin house is Milu's ancestral house where the CAFAs were treated by Milu’s family to a special Silay-type lunch course. The first day in Negros saw the CAFAs head for Victorias to see the Church of the Angry Christ and the Wheels Chapel. Dinner was at Bacolod’s famous Manukan strip where all kinds of Inasal recipes abound for the public. The next day, the group headed for the Bacolod harbor to take the ferry to Iloilo City. For this stage of the trip, the tour guide role was assumed by CAFAs Cecil Ascalon. The Ferry ride turned out to be pleasant where Emi enjoyed the John Lloyd movie (complete with tears) during the one hour trip.

In Iloilo, the Ferry docked at Iloilo’s famous Looney Muele port. According to Cecil, Mr. Looney was a Brit who was responsible for building the Iloilo old port along the river mouth. The group then visited the Jaro and Molo church that contained specialized statues of saints. Cecil was an interesting tour guide. When queried for more details about Looney harbor and the churches, Cecil said she wouldn’t know since the info is not described in Wikipedia. If we accept what Cecil says, all vintage structures in Iloilo would be 200 years old and all locations would be just “five minutes away”. How about that for mathematical efficiency?

Lunch time in Iloilo was at Tatoy’s (an eatery place traditionally known for its native Ilongo cuisine). At Tatoy’s, the group was joined by another CAFA - Iloilo native and born comedian Megs Ortigas. Driving his new BMW, sporting sunglasses and wearing a nifty decal-laden jacket, Oni asked Megs if he was trying to impress the CAFAs with his get-up. Picking up on the cue, Megs said that he actually needs to go at 3PM since he has to return the rented car he is using to impress us! Known for his raunchy repartee, Megs also made an offer to take the boys out for massage service in lieu of Cecil’s suggestion to visit more traditional tourist places.

The final phase of the trip was not so convenient for some in the group. Mina, Cecil and later on Emi, fell ill. We were made to understand that it was a combination of vertigo attack and stomach problems; The fatigue and oysters, maybe? (But nothing serious, really.) In addition, Bili also had a vertigo problem (the night before the trip) while Didi is still recovering from flu (which he had prior to the trip). This situation led the group to consider the next outing to probably be best held in Dagupan. It seems that not only does Alex Villaflor partly own a beach resort there but also a hospital!

See slide show for more photos.

CAFA Birthdays

This February month is birthday month for several CAFAs. The guys who are now a year older are Nore Lim, Alex Villaflor and Milu Einsiedel. Coincidentally, a lot of US CAFAs happened to also be in Manila now. This was an opportunity to have that "Getogetha" – as Dinky would put it. A Getogetha was quickly planned out resulting in a pot luck party in Oni’s house on February 4, Saturday.

In the party, the guests of honor were the celebrants mentioned above. Meanwhile, the balikbayans are Tong Salgado, Rita Salgado and Tito Valbuena. Including celebrants Alex and Milu, the CAFA locals were: Dinky Einsiedel, Oni and Bili Mayo, Pearl and Vic Ortega, and Cynthia Henson. Nore Lim, Didi Lim and Emi Masigan are also in town but unfortunately, they couldn’t make the CAFA party for important reasons.

As the CAFAs were enjoying the party, the door bell rang. It was late-comer Tito V who strode in with a surprise guest in tow. The guest is Lydia Cruz - a retired MD and a balikbayan (out of Texas). Lydia was a HS classmate of Tito (Mapa High) so it should have been nothing extraordinary since the two came from their reunion. The CAFAs are always nice to extended friends of CAFAs. The CAFAs were however stunned when the beaming Tito introduced Lydia as his “kasintahan”. Ayos.

The party was lively from start to finish, and had a Part 2. The Part 1 plan was to take dinner in Oni’s house. The Part 2 would be to proceed to Chef and Brewer Music Bar after dinner (Dero and his Rockin’ 60s group). By 9:30 PM, Dinky, Alex, Tito and Lydia proceeded to music bar so as not to lose the reservation. The others however were not planning to go the show and decided to stay a while for coffee. Being the hosts, Oni and Bili stayed on. As expected the guys who remained behind immediately made intriguing chika about those who just left.

Everyone had a laugh when Tong admitted that their ‘sundo’ was there for some time now but they dared not leave for fear of being talked about. To resolve the issue everyone agreed to leave at the same time - the visitors back to their homes and Oni and Bili to Chef and Brewer to join the CAFAs there. The time was already nearing 11 PM and Dinky had been frantically texting for us to already join them since Dero had been wanting to put the CAFAs on stage.

At Chef and Brewer it was another kind of night life fun. The place was packed and the Rockin’ 60s were doing their thing. Old friends Titus and Botchi Santiago were there. Bili spotted her high school classmates from St. Theresa. (Nancy Reyes of the Rockin’ 60s is Bili’s school mate). At the CAFA table, Dinky and Alex were found finishing a bottle of wine. Through all these, Tito and Lydia, seeing the show for the first time, were enjoying not only the show but each other..

And then the CAFAs - boldly introduced by Dero as Pilita’s mainstays in the 60s - were called on stage. Objectively, I thought that the CAFA rendition was pretty good that night. The Boomer crowd was particularly familiar with “Summer Song” and “If I Fell”. And so it came to pass that the CAFAs came through once again. They ended each number to the applause of an appreciative audience considering the impromptu performance. One guy in the audience even approached the CAFA table afterwards to express his delight at hearing the memorable numbers once again. Ah, another night, another song.

See slide show for more photos.

New Jose Gallery Opening

Remember Alice Alfonso from Fine Arts? Alice then was the CAFA muse who sat in the middle of the CAFA flower-float during the Lantern Parade competition. And yes, CAFA won first place for that float thanks to the design and construction effort of Nik Ricio and the Fine Arts gang. Today Alice is Alice Jose, married to Eddie Jose, a very successful businessman. On her own, Alice is founder and owner of the famous "Jose" stores (leather accessories, shoes and bags) found in the major malls of Manila. Not only that, Alice today is also the proprietor of the Jose Art Gallery.

Originally, the gallery was established in the Jose’s old place in Pasig. Alice moved the gallery last year to their new commercial building in Marikina. Today, the Jose’s built another mixed-use building in Pasig and so the gallery is now housed there. The new building is a low rise residential apartment building with commercial areas in the ground floor. It is located in the Shaw Blvd area where the Shangrila Mall is located. The building’s apartments are for rent, but Alice and her husband retained the penthouse which not only contains a scenic open deck (wonderful view of the Shaw area high rise buildings at night) but which also contains her personal studio.

All this effort to provide a venue for the artistic works of friends just shows Alice’s love for the arts. As we know, Alice is a pillar of the UP Artists 60s group. This group is composed of the CAFASingers’ friends from the College of Fine Arts then. The CAFAs who were at the gallery soft opening night last Feb. 6 were: Nore Lim, Cynthia Henson, Pearl Ortega, Cat Belo and non-Fine Arts Architect Oni Mayo.

On hand to view the displayed (expensive?) works of reknowned artists like Cabating, Joya, et al were other guests of Alice such as Celestine Baretto, Angelian Pac Amado, Rose Tacorda, May Cruz and a Japanese couple – Mr. and Mrs. Suzuki. The group broke up at around 9PM but not until after partaking of the nice cocktail food (and laced drinks care of Cynthia), and a quick tour of the new building by Alice.

See slide show for more photos.