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!