THE CANADIAN ESCAPADE

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For two days in May, some of the CAFA family from the East Coast had a weekender in Montreal, Canada. The three pairs of Sarah & Charlie Calley, Nore & Didi Lim and Oni & Bili Mayo had a mini-reunion in that wonderful French-speaking city. The group stayed in Marriot Courtyard, a convenient 3 star hotel along Sherbrooke Street. Recommended by Sarah, it had a 2-day incentive package (plus a $50 promotional discount certificate in a French restaurant) that suited the purpose.

For the Mayo tourists in the USA, the Canadian adventure started on May 14, Thursday when the Lims picked them up in Manhattan in their trusty Montero. It was a scenic 6 hour drive up chilly upstate NY that gave the foursome enough time to exchange news. The conversation was spiced with Nore's continuous appeals for the daredevil Didi to watch the speed limit. The overcast sky, light drizzle and gusts of wind that tend to nudge the Montero out of lane added to Nore's concern. But Didi the adventurer was unperturbed and up to the task. Did you know that Didi had participated in squabbles with border guards of Latin American countries for being too adventurous? In the middle of the trip, the phone rang and it was good to exchange greetings anew with guess who . . .the now Texan, Romy Ballesteros. Ever the considerate CAFA fellow, Romy just wanted to say hello and I'm glad to hear that everything's fine at his end.

The Calleys came to Montreal direct from nearby Vermont. Over dinner the three couples had a fun time trying out the different fares in the menus and exchanging news and views. Did you guys know that the Calleys produce their own meat? Charlie is now quite a rancher that he can actually command his herd of sheep and cows to behave themselves while he and Sarah go on vacation. (the electric fence keeps them in place and their food is, well, on the ground). In addition, the enterprising couple also produce commercial maple syrup (so tedious to extract and expensive to buy) from the many maple trees in their estate.

It was like old times. For two days, the CAFA group traded stories; sampled the fine Montreal streetscape, sights, weather and cuisine; and discussed future plans that included the next CAFA reunion. The group had fun conjuring the scenario for the next reunion. It could be a laid-back kind of get together or something else (that gets the juices flowing). If the reunion will be a stress-free simple get-together there would still be the need for a champion to research the sites, places to see and overall guide us to the interesting and affordable (cheap?) places.

The original plan to hold it in the US remains a popular option. The options for other places like Canada and even Shanghai however look interesting. Our Canada experience was great and wish that the gang can enjoy it too. Meanwhile, Nore will participate in a food fest in Shanghai next year and we can take that opportunity. For the adventurous, Mexico and Afghanistan are out of the question, I think.

If the reunion will ultimately be in the USA, places like LA, Santa Barbara, and Las Vegas were mentioned. And if the reunion were to be anytime soon, it would be necessary for the group to come to a consensus on the date, the place and the activities. And of course, the point man will be necessary. Any volunteers?

The floor is now open for suggestions and comments.

PARTY AVENUE

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Party Avenue is a music bar located in the Timog, QC area, or Scout Tuason to be exact. Last April 24, a fund raising musical show was hosted by the St. Scholastica Marikina alumni. And you guess it, the organizer is the HS class of Irene de Quiroz, erstwhile Neocafasinger! Despite the absence of Delfa who is on work mission outside the country, the Neos came not only to enjoy the Friday evening out but also to give moral support to a fellow Neo. The show program is simply designed around the talents of the St. Scho class members. The classmates would do their thing first and then the Neos would enter later in the evening. As the program started, the St. Scho batch lived up to their billing and set out to entertain the crowd sans inhibition. You really have to hand it to Pinoys (and Pinays) for carrying a tune. I thought that the St. Scho girls did well and can only surmised that they must be karaoke veterans!


Whereas the host class is the Batch of HS 81, you can compute for yourself the average age of the audience there. However, when the singing started the music was dominantly retro - our kind of music! To me, this is just another proof that the better songs for singing today is not the current pop music. When the Neos took the stage after the program, there was a little apprehension when Irene tried to explain the Neo group (or rather why she was visibly among Seniors!). The ice was broken when Dinky said that the only reason the Neos came to sing was because of one of the sponsors. We heard that they were distributing anti-aging cream!

Despite the unbalanced mics (Hec and Alex said they had no sound while Irene's was full blast), the tight stage (I was standing on wires and trying not to be strangled by Alex's crossing wire) and the garbled monitors (the feedback was louder than the melody), the Neos got on with it. Like real pros, the show must go on! Later Dinky tested the humor of the young audience by introducing the final song. In his UP drawl, he declared: "We are now singing Stasera, an Italian song. Baka kasi akala nyo wala kaming class!" Despite everything, I think they liked it.

TONG & RITA & TETRIS

This February, it's the 97th birthday of Rita's Mom. Usually, it's only Rita who comes home, but this time her whole family came - Tong, Rita, Thea and hubby, Ariel and little Simone. Like their usual visits to the Philippines, the Salgado's have their hands full with activities. Golf was in Tong's mind whenever he can get on with it, otherwise he and Rita are heavy on family activities - with Ating in New Manila, Rita's Mom in Marikina and other relatives.

Yesterday Sunday, the Neos had dinner with Tong and Rita at Oni and Bili's house in Greenmeadows. Nore and Fe were expected but unfortunately, they committed earlier to other engagements. Sosyal! The balikbayans were prompt coming to the dinner party and the NEOs as usual, were late. Over dinner, the serious part of the conversation centered on family (Ariel's body tatoos, Simone's music, jobs and ages of the children, etc.), retirement (Tong has an offer to do engineering service in Qatar but I understand he's passing up this one), jobs (Delfa is slated to go to the Gobi desert and then to Laos and Vietnam) and of course the music (Eva Cassidy, Paul Byrom, and what else - the NEOs!).

The NEOs had just performed at Tetris debut in Makati two days before. You guys remember Tetris - she was one of the original NEO gals. She is now 18 and a Rihanna look alike! For everyone's info, Tetris is presently into drama and is a member of the Repertory Philippines. For her party, the NEOs did a token performance of four songs. Of course, Tetris sang with the group to the amazement of her classmates from Assumption. But those who seemed to really enjoy the songs were the lady friends of Tetris' Mom, Carmen Prieto (friend of Alex). At the end of the party, the NEOs got a shock when some of these ladies asked where they can get hold of a NEO DVD! Yes Virginia, they are willing to pay money for it! There was also an immediate invitation to sing in a reunion party of one of the ladies (of course, this was after we mentioned that Neo's don't charge friends.) Talk about making one's night! Oni had finally obtained the 4 part voice for Steal Away, that distinctive acapella song by the Celtic Thunder. The NEOs are thinking that the song harmonics of Steal Away is not so simple, but Tong wasn't inhibited when he heard it. Iba talaga ang CAFASinger - walang kamatayan! Alex is still deciding whether his range is best for the Alto or Tenor part or the Soprano in falsetto! (Alex has discovered the IPod and is now practicing at every opportunity.) The resulting voice lines done by a new arranger are surprisingly individualistic and calls for alternating melody line on chorus and second voice on verse as the song hops from key to key. Oni was saying that once the Neo's get the song down pat, no one else will likely be able to duplicate it easily. If any of the CAFAs are interested, I can email the voices to you.


And so, another CAFA get together is done. If for nothing else, everyone is still keen on that second concert in the States. Bess and Ely, we need to think about it already since the months (and soon years) are passing by. Fe, Pearl, Harvey and other concert patrons, your Reunion Concert DVDs are ready for pick up.

FIRST QUARTER CAFA BIRTHDAYS

It was Nore's birthday last February 7, but she generously involved the other Birthday guys in the celebration. These were Oni (January) and Didi & Alex (February). The celebration was held at Lynn and Rene Sunico's rest house cum vegetable farm in Alfonso Cavite. A two-hour drive from Manila, the farm lot site is practically part of Tagaytay hence, the party was blessed with the cool breeze and lush vegetation of the area.

Family and family friends, the Fine Arts bloc and of course the NEOs graced the occasion. As usual, the food was great. The plentiful dessert was a Diebetes Festival in the words of Francis R. Santos. Even as everybody had a feast, the running video of Claire and Alex's grand wedding was playing throughout. The video captured the great moments of the wedding including the reception decor, the bridal entourage introductions and including Didi's exuberant dancing. The Neo's heart-rending Sunrise Sunset song was also aptly recorded. (the video showed a closeup of a tearful bride and groom as they listened to Nore's sentimental favorite of a wedding song).

The rest house has complete amenities with a wrap-around terrace. It had videoke facility in the living room. The Neo's plus Francis, Didi and the other musically inclined guest thus took the opportunity to give vent to their golden voices in song. During the break, Alex twitted Oni to sample some of his original song compositions that he had been working on. Oni said that that would be the first public presentation of the songs and so he would expect that the privileged guests would at least indulge him by promising to buy the CD when it comes out! (if ever...)

Apart from the usual rooms, the rest house has a loft where guests could bunk if necessary. This gave the idea that perhaps the CAFAs could one day plan out an overnight excursion to the place. The Neo's were so at home in the environment that before leaving, they told the owners (Rene and Lynn) that since the Neo's might takeover their private bedrooms, they could also bunk in the loft if they want.

THE NEO'S MUSIC MUSEUM SHOW

Coming off from a successful CAFA reunion show at 7th Note last Sept 27, the Neos followed it up by participating in the successful fund raiser of the UP Centenial group (this time at Music Museum Auditorium in Greenhills). Apart from the NEOcafas who took the finale numbers for the show, the cast at Music Museum included an all UP cast including ex-Butterfly singers (folk songs, protest songs, 60s type), stage pro Bituin Escalante (daughter of Butterfly mainstay Gigi), award winning composer Dero Pedero and the Area One Band (Beatles sound led by talented John Lesaca ). The NEOs found it a thrill to do Music Museum if only for the fine accoustics of the auditorium. CAFA loyalists Nore Lim and Bili Mayo were present in the audience. Bili commented later: "At last, here's a show where I actually heard all of the NEOs vaunted 4-part harmony!"

The interesting thing about the show was that there were no real rehearsals for it. It was assumed that everyone was a pro and where the performers came through inclusive of the spiels that they had to deliver as required under the program. The usual sound checks and run throughs were done just a few hours before the show. The only sign of panic from the NEOs (if you may call it that) is the fact that the promised professional make-up artist was not there to the consternation of Irene. Meanwhile, the Dero was in his element as he made a song-and-dance of Neil Sedaka numbers in his bedazzling sequinned vest (shades of Liberace or should I say, Kuya Germs!). After his songs, Dero joined the NEOs this time for the finale numbers.











It was a lot of fun mixing it up with the other performers and the organizers during the token rehearsal, backstage while the performance was ongoing, and even after the show as well-wishers stopped performers in their tracks if only to chat. The organizers outdid themselves with a fascinating mix of performers that had the mainly UP crowd hopping and dancing on the aisle and outside their seats by the time the hot Area One Band came on in the middle of the program. UP alumni (distinguished politicians, lawyers, etc.), family and friends were into it up to the finale Aquarius number that never seemed to end. Singing Monday Monday and the other songs on stage, I hope I did not come on as agape while performing on stage since I observed many in the audience (some of them surprisingly young people) mouthing complete song lyrics in sync with the performing NEOs! Needless to say, it was high activity that night for everyone.

Guys, the NEOs are in their element and are now really hot to hook up with the CAFAsingers again for the proposed NY gig soon!