May in New York City

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It's the eve of the Memorial Day holidays and the weather was fine. Oni and Bili also happened to be visiting in NY and so die hard CAFASingers from the Tri-State met up once again in keeping up with the CAFA tradition of brotherhood. The meeting place was at Bryant Park on 42nd and 5th for a change. Those who came that day to swap news and corny jokes were Tong and Rita Salgado, Tito Valbuena, Rody Picar, and Oni and Bili Mayo.










At first the gang assembled for formalities at the covered public plaza of the spanking new BA Tower - reportedly the greenest building in NY today. From there the group secured their food from the carts around before proceeding to the park. Bryant park right beside the NYC library was convenient for the group's purposes. The park garden was filled with people meeting up, fiddling with their computers (yes, the garden had Wifi), having a meal or just lounging around enjoying the clear day. The CAFA friends went about their activity picnic-style in convenient open air sitting facilities in the park.

It was good to see Tito again after a long time. We know that Tito just lost Girlie last year and it was a good opportunity to offer condolences to him personally. Tito’s remaining immediate family consists of Arel, an IT person and Pete, a film editor in Boston. Daughter Camille is a medical technologist who fortunately stays on with Tito still. Because of the renewed ties (and the flack he got from the gang for not attending the 2008 CAFA concert reunion), Tito expressed that he would consider visiting the Philippines next year.

Rody no longer resides in Long Island and is now based in the exciting Chelsea district of the city. Early in the late afternoon, Rody came in his typical tees, cut-offs and sandals for the spot reunion. Towards the evening he was seen wearing a sweater though. He had to suddenly buy the garment as the unpredictable NY weather turned chilly in the darkening park. After his recent medical ordeal in Manila, Rody is fine today but needs to take it easy - like resting every so often as he navigates New York's endless sidewalks. Despite everything, Rody is not lacking in activities. Did you know that he has built himself a beach place in La Union? He has also finally sold his family's Pension building and is now contemplating reinvesting in a pad in Makati for when he comes over to the Philippines.

Retired Tong organized the CAFA rendezvous and had to travel himself from Rockland County to make the meeting. After decades of performing A&E work, Tong is enjoying his retirement (and granddaughter Simone) so much that he recently declined a comeback work offer from another firm. According to him, Rita concurs with this decision. Rita came direct from her TIAA office in Third Avenue. During the get together, the group got absorbed in chika business that they lost track of time. The last bus to Rockland was due any second when Tong remembered. Racing to the nearby bus stop with Rita in tow, Tong stood his ground in the middle of 42nd to flag down the bus (that was starting to leave). Oni and Bili are on the last week of their visit to America and are due back in the Philippines on Sunday. It was a fruitful annual vacation for the couple who spent quality time with daughters Carla and Lia now living in NY (and youngest daughter Apol who came over with them from the Philippines). It was a feat trying to get everyone’s vacation plans to synchronize. Within a week of their arrival back in Manila, Oni and Bili are scheduled to join Nore and Didi in Shanghai for a little CAFA reunion at the World Expo there. As we know, the Lims are temporarily based in the Expo site to look after their interest (Travel Cafe) that they had committed to the Expo event.

Despite his promise to come to the mini reunion at Bryant Park, unpredictable Sam Sta. Maria didn't make it to the get together. Rumors floated that Sandy grounded him for disobedience. The group was clearly observing the CAFA protocol of talking about absentees especially when they have lame excuses. As a matter of fact, they talked about everyone else with a juicy life story to tell including the hapless Dinky (who is busy minding his business in his office in Manila). As expected, intriguing new versions of old tales were concocted then. Knowing that most CAFAs are creative sneaky fellows, I leave the topic of conversation in this regard to their fertile imagination.

So long and until the next time, this is the CAFA Whirl signing off.
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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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