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.

CAFA Little Get-together

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Da Dynamo, Nore Lim is back in town. She is actually attending to her UP Print Workshop project. Before the other international print experts (who will facilitate the workshop with Nore) arrive on January 23, Nore made time to touch base with CAFAs. Hence Nore, Cecille Ascalon and Oni met for lunch at CONCEP. Cecille tried to contact Emi so she could join us but was not successful. It's Tuesday so Dinky was out in the golf course and couldn't join us. We had just finished lunch when guess who should walk in? Yes, it's none other than the urban legend Alex V.

Now we were sure that Alex V is alive! Alex said that he relished reading his premature obituaries and was happy that the UPSCANs remembered him. Alex is now worried that no one may take his real death seriously. Cecille and Dero were already planning to make the trip to Dagupan! Precisely because of the ado about his 'death', Nore and Cecille now wanted him to make a living will. They are willing to help him especially if Alex will include them in the will. Ever busy with his antiquities business, Alex spends his time organizing exhibits for his business group.

On another note, Nore said she will be having an international year. Her commitments will take her out of the USA for long periods this year. An important event for her will be the Shanghai Exhibit that will start in April. She will be involved there and will look for a place where she can stay for months. Guys, the international exhibit is supposedly a huge one that should be a wonderful experience for anyone. It should be an electronic and industrial haven! For those who have not made vacation plans yet for this second half, give it a thought. If we stay on the lookout, promo plane fares to China can be as low as P5k round trip. (Regular fare is P15K). I have asked Nore to check out affordable accomodations when she is there on her scouting trip. How about Shanghai for a little reunion then in the fall, guys?
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Visitors from NY

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Tong and Rita are in town again to attend to several family functions. Like all Balikbayans, it was a time for the two to catch up on the many local things that immigrants miss while they are busy earning Dollars in ole’ USA. For Tong it was Golf with Cord and Dinky. From Tong's stories when I saw him, I surmise there were other more inebriating activities he did with his relatives. For Rita, it was a chance to be with her mother and relations again . . and maybe shopping. Rita sees her 95 year old Mom in Marikina at least once a year. Last week, Rita and Tong went to Boracay where they attended a wedding. Boracay will always be a nice place where everyone is sure to enjoy.


























Upon their return from Boracay last Sunday, a CAFA reunion was held at Oni’s house in QC. The couple just had time to land at the airport and take in a mass service before proceeding to the party. Dinky, Milou, Tycel, Alex, Cord and his friend Edcel (Ledesma) came for the get together. Of course, Bili and Oni were there by default. For the other CAFAs who did not make it that night, it must be a hectic December season.

As usual for CAFAs, the conversation over dinner centered around bawdy adult things. When asked about his love life, Alex insisted on making a distinction between his love life and his sex life. This idea caused Tycel to cover her ears while listening to the shameless CAFAs. At one time during a discussion of shoe size, Oni expressed his amazement that his feet continue to lengthen. And then it was too late - I should have known that a statement like this wont get past the guys without a wisecrack. Tong mentioned that it was the only thing in Oni that grew (long) and that’s why he is into footsies now over other related exercises. And finally, when the scotch whiskey was proving difficult to extract from the bottle due to the bib tip, Cord said the technique of pouring is wrong. He somberly said it should be gripped and shaken like . . you know what.

After dinner, it was singing time. I thought that the Tiongco Brothers plus 1 (Dinky, Tong, Alex and Oni) sounded real good doing the CAFA standards. Puede na! Later on Cord and Edcel showed that they also knew the songs and boisterously sang along. It was fun. After exhausting the CAFA music, it was a pleasant surprise to see Edcel take to the piano. He dared anyone to sing a Beatles number that he will accompany on the piano. Between songs, the group discussed the possible reunion in the USA. For the information of Bess, Tong is seriously honing up on his rendition of Remember Me (with his custom M1). He plans to master Rom Byrom's rendition and deliver this soaring ballad in that reunion. Meanwhile, Oni is working on his MTV experiment (for one of his songs) that he hopes to finish hopefully in time for the next CAFA reunion. By the way, Delfa is scheduled to be in the USA San Francisco area in April next year. Maybe that elusive reunion can be held then.

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DIDI & NORE IN TOWN

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The tireless US-based couple Didi and Nore Lim are in town for a month taking care of business interests in Manila. Over the weekend, the CAFA Balikbayans with locals Oni and Bili had the opportunity to get together for dinner. In lieu of the usual restaurants, the group decided on a quaint Italian dining place called Galileo in an old area in Mandaluyong. Fresh baked bread, salads, pasta and meats (laced with tart Prosciuto and salami, my favorite cardio food) were the fare of the day. Just as interesting was the décor of the restaurant (compared to boutique restaurants in the usual commercial places). Galileo is actually a store-restaurant concept that is probably what Rudy and Cindy have in mind. There is a little specialty wine and food store (with imported European stuff) right at the entry. Past this facility, dining ‘niches’ festooned with wine bottle racks and muralistic wall paintings can be found inside. Even the toilet door was not spared from the mural work.

But that was not the highlight of the evening. After dinner, the foursome decided to investigate Zirco, a comedy bar in Ortigas and Wilson. Operated by Alan K - a gay TV comedian, the stage show featured gays at their best while mainly hitting on everyone and everything. The Zirco performers were competent singers who harmonize effectively and make their Karaoke backtracks sound good. In between musical numbers, the humor on stage ranged from distracting to disrespectful to insulting to downright vulgar. Bili continued to worry that Didi and Nore may be scandalized by the no-holds-barred acts, but Nore was observed having a laughing fit all night. The show may have been amusing for her since the goings-on where roughly like party chika fare of her crazy Fine Arts fun crowd.

Bili should have been more concerned about my sensibilities. Watching the show, I almost fell off my chair as one performer pointedly asked a game young female sitting up front with her middle-aged American boyfriend: “Did he move you? (translation: ginalaw ka ba nya?). If he did not yet, then pareho pa tayong hindi nababayaran! ” Then looking at the American: “Sir, what I just said was that we appreciate your predeliction for young Pinays . . and for putting them out of their misery!” In another situation, a sexily-dressed girl coaxed to go up on stage to sing karaoke was subjected to interview before her song. It went this way:

Emcee: What do you do, girl?
Girl: Marketing.
Emcee (without hesitation): Saan, sa Quezon Av? (where Maalikaya and others like it are located).

The emcee even admonished the audience when he said: “This is a comedy bar where it’s noisy, frank and fun. If you want quiet, civil and decent, please go to Robinsons at EDSA Ortigas. There is an adoration chapel in the church there!” These are examples of the mild jokes. You can guess how vivid the language and the spiel content came to be later on. Surely, going to Zirco was an experiment where I would not advise the place for the faint-hearted.
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