The Grove Happening

by Emy Masigan Mercado

Thank you.... Tong, Rita, Oni, Bili, Didi, Nore, Rody, Vic, Pearl and Francis... for taking time to watch "Journey of a Hundred Years". I noted how your eyes were already popping off its eye sockets but still you were patient enough to watch the dvd. The commentaries were none-stop... Tong Salgado instigating sharp and witty remarks that sometimes I am compelled to say, "He is nothing without me"... of course not meaning it. 

All in all, it was a fine rainy, balmy night... a perfect scenario for long-time friends to make more promises to see each other... more often this year than I have ever noticed... ....and to the formidable couple Tong and Rita, I wish you safe and comfy airplane ride back to the USA. I wish the same to Grandpa Oni and Grandma Bili as they eagerly look forward to many-a-hundred-days of baby sitting. 

...and to Nore and Didi who seem to be forever wrapped in a tornado of happenings, thank you for the beauty of the Grove and the warmth of your hospitality. 

...and to Vic... may I borrow Pearl your wife for some studio painting sessions, long overdue... 

...and to Rody, I love your text, it hit me right in the core of my heart.... 

...and to Francis, I'll see you when I'll see you.... 

Editor's Note: 

Last Thursday, a group of CAFAs held a despedida party for Tong and Rita. The venue was Nore and Didi's spanking new condo at the luxurious Grove - a Rockwell development in Pasig. As ever, Emy entertained everyone with her irrepressible style. Here below is Emy's narrative of what went on that evening. But before that, a backgrounder: 

Nore and Emy were still fresh from their highly successful magnum opus - the College of the Holy Spirit Golden Jubilee celebration dinner-show. Nore (together with Vicky Garchitorena) was the Chair of the school's Jubilee night. Emy for her part was the prime mover and director of the night's musical - "Journey of a Hundred Years" (for the school). If we believe the Holy Spirit crowd who comprised the cast and audience of this entertaining show, they'll be talking about this musical for a hundred years! 

This was the setting when Emy whipped out her DVD of the show held at SMX Mall of Asia. It was late in the day and Tong was posing to retire to prepare for his early morning golf. But Emy would have none of it. Everyone had to watch the show which was really a pleasant surprise. The show script was so professional. (Did you guys know that our Emy studied at the Yale Arts and Drama school in the 70s?) The CAFAs however drew the line when after the long Holy Spirit show movie, Pearl threatened to get her CD of her 40th Wedding event. 

The party finally ended close to midnight. A memorable thing is the emergence of what should be one of CAFA's new catch phrase for 2013: "He is nothing without me! Nothing!" I guess you'll have to talk to the CAFAs present at the Grove to find out under which context this phrase was meant for.

See slide show for more photos.