Special Announcement: Da Reunion

Finally here it is.

Over the past few months and led by industrious Bess Canlas, CAFA guys are slowly coming to terms on the possible structure of the CAFA California reunion plans 2011.


The details are:

Dates : September 15 -19, 2011 (including early arrivals)

Base place : Pala Mesa Resort, San Rafael, Ca., USA
http://www.palamesa.com/


Bess is being assisted in the reunion effort by some of CAFA’s well-meaning dames. Sarah Calley, Rita Salgado, Nore Lim and Alice Rancap have volunteered to physically help out in the implementation of necessary projects and plans. From the Philippine side, Dinky Einsiedel and Oni Mayo are steadfastly there for the group. This list of names should give the group an idea of who are committed to make it to the reunion.

There are actually more who have already committed to come to the reunion, but I will leave that for Alice and Nore to finalize and announce. Alice is working on the Pala Mesa lodging possibilities and alternatives while Nore is updating the CAFA directory. One activity that needs to be done early is the solicitation of payments so that the Pala Mesa banquet hall can be officially reserved for the planned Night of Music on Saturday, September 17. It’s $50 per pax that should be sent to Sarah or Rita. A related possible collection activity is fund raising (of a CAFA slush fund) to help out friends in need, unplanned activities and for emergencies. Expect a call soon from Rita and Sarah regarding this.

The Night of Music will be the perpetuation of CAFA’s musical past. Bess has generously promised to produce her band to hype up that night. It will be so exciting to sing with a live band for sure! There will be a specific agenda for the Night of Music which will be effectively CAFA Showtime for the enjoyment (amusement?) of everyone in the reunion. A formal set and an informal set is envisioned for this CAFA Showtime.


For the Night of Music, CAFAs are enjoined to start selecting and rehearsing songs (or rather entertainment numbers) that they can showcase in the reunion. The song numbers should consist of rehearsed numbers which shall comprise the formal set. The music of these rehearsed numbers should be sent to Bess so that the band can study the song. I understand that Sarah and Alice have already chosen their songs.

For the informal set, the performers will be specially those who are too shy to join the formal set. They will take their chances with an extemporaneous accompaniment from the live band. A penalty is actually being mulled for those who will not participate para masaya.

Overall, Bess will be Chair of the project who will be sending out more salient details in the coming months. (Bess, you’ll have to forgive me for unilaterally promoting you in this instance). For many, the important details will be travel and lodging details and the more or less final daily agenda over the 4 or 5 days of the reunion (and even after). Your FAQs and suggestions will be welcome considerations that you should send through the Yahoogroup as early as possible.


And so . . .Alleluia, we’re finally getting there! Reunion Now!

Nore’s Birthday

Feb 7 is Nore’s actual birth date. Despite Feb 7 being a Monday, Nore’s family and fast friends attended her 65th birthday celebration. The party was held at Manila Polo Club’s Cameron Forbes Hall that Nore exclusively reserved for the party. Great Japanese food and the scenic view of the Club swimming pool made the party memorable. Francis Raquel Santos brought Karaoke facilities and Oni Mayo brought along his trusted Carvin amplifier and wireless mic that were to be the equipment for the evening’s entertainment.

Nore’s family – Didi, Claire and Alex, Justin, siblings and aging aunts and uncles - came. Nore’s first grandson (made in the USA) was the center of attention since many in the family are seeing him for the first time. Spotted also were a few of Nore’s HS friends and business associates. And then, there were Nore’s indestructible CAFA classmates and the CAFASingers from UP.

The CAFA group occupied one table and who unabashedly and typically had group fun. Dero Pedero’s suggestive jokes were even broadcasted out loud to the guests. Example:

Tanong 1: Anong saging ang maliit? (Senyorita)

Tanong 2: Anong saging and mataba? (Saba)

Tanong 3: Anong saging ang sinusubo pati balat nya? (clue – it starts with a “T”)

And after much corniness, it was showtime! The CAFASingers swung into action and did their standard numbers for the audience. One of the guests who must have heard the CAFAs for the first time told Oni soon after: “You guys were great! You can sing anywhere!” I understand that he had a strong sentiment for the “Cherish” song. Seniors make for a great audience!

Balikbayan Tong reinforced the Neos consisting of Dinky, Alex, Irene (who came with new beau Alvin), Oni and Dero. It was good practice for the California reunion. CAFA’s Rita, Bili, Pearl, Vic (Ortega) and Alice Jose could not be convinced to join in the singing but they loyally indulged the CAFASingers like days of old. After the CAFASingers, Francis, Didi and the rest took over with the Karaoke numbers.

The party was so contagious and fun that the CAFAs were still into it way beyond the Polo Club’s closing time. The successful party was just a manifestation of the gang’s affection for Nore as well as Nore’s great organizational (and culinary) ability. Kaya, hanggang sa mauulit – puspusang aming pagbati kay Nore sa kanyang kaarawan!

Of course, the California reunion topic was always in the minds of the CAFAs. Before September, we are hoping that Pearl, Vic and Alice who were listening to the chatter about the reunion will also be joining us in Pala Mesa. Dinky officialized his participation in the reunion by handing over his hundred dollar bill to Rita (Dinky carries around Dollar bills in his wallet?). The fee is for the Night of Music dinner buffet in Pala Mesa. After the talks with Rita (who just arrived from NY) on the reunion plans, Oni promised to send out the CAFA Whirl announcement regarding the reunion details soon. Abangan . . . at reunion na!


See slide show for more photos.

Visit of Bess and Tom

Bess Silva of LA is in town once again. It is her regular visit to the Philippines where she touches base with her family. After satisfying family affairs, Bess and the Manila CAFASingers finally met up. The activity became doubly enjoyable when Tong Salgado joined the get together. He had Emailed the Manila gang at the last minute that he will also be in town. Tong came to the Philippines to attend a reunion with his HS classmates in Baguio City.

On Wednesday, Dinky, Hector, Alex and Oni had dinner with the two balikbayans at a restaurant at Market Market at The Fort. Bess came over with pretty daughters Amanda and Barbara (and Barbara’s beau, Mike). The get together was zany. The most outrageous innuendos about the CAFAs who were not there were shamelessly expressed. Even those present were not spared. When Bess inquired about Alex’s status, Tong conjectured that since Alex is essentially staying single, he may no longer be interested in girls (if you get the implication). Of course, this was when Alex was not listening.

Walking up High Street (an outdoor mall strip just outside the Serendra area) for coffee after a Pilipino dinner, the group viewed the various shopping outlets there. One shop visited was the sales exhibit of the Serendra condominium where the sales lady / agent tried to sell condo units to the Balikbayans. Finding out that Dinky and Oni owned condo units in Serendra she presumed that the two lived there. Oni deadpanned that it was actually their mistresses that did. This was misconstrued by the sales agent that Tong was seeking a condo also for his mistress. Did Tong make an indecent proposal? See photo of Tong with the saleslady.

A major discourse of the gathering remains the upcoming CAFA Grand Reunion at Pala Mesa in September. With regard to this reunion, the Da Dero project is uppermost in the minds of the CAFAs and so the group decided to see him when he performs at Musica again on Friday.


Fast forward to Friday: the same group went over to Musica to listen to the Rocking 60s group of Dero and Titus Santiago. Tong and Irene were unable to make it. Dero, Titus and their female counterparts (Lory Paredes, Nancy Reyes and Weng Erana) comprised the Rocking 60s group. They entertained the crowd at Musica once again with their retro music. For me, this group with their 60s repertoire of songs is getting better and better by the month!

As before, the CAFASingers who sat around one table were greeted enthusiastically by Da Dero as the audience looked on. By the time the second set started, the CAFA group was urged to go up on stage to perform some songs. The game but undermanned CAFAs did Cherish and Summer Song. They even took on the unrehearsed Tennessee Babe song at the insistence of Dero. The different type of CAFA music fare seemed to surprise and entertain the crowd some.

The next day was still work day for the busy CAFA guys so the group called it a day come the hour close to midnight. The Musica activity turned out very positive especially considering the brief meeting with the Da Dero. Earlier while Dero was taking a break from his singing, Bess collared him to obtain a commitment that he will join the CAFAs at the Pala Mesa reunion. I don't know how Bess did it, but elusive Dero finally agreed to attend the reunion at Pala Mesa! When this happens I’m expecting a great get-together with great musical activities come September! Reunion na!


See slide show for more photos.

Liongoren Exhibit

In UP school in the 60s, Fred Liongoren was one of the more talented students at the Fine Arts wing of the College (CAFA). Today he is a highly acclaimed artist with twenty one-man shows under his belt. On December 9, Fred held his latest art exhibit at Gallery Jose in Marikina. Gallery Jose as we know is owned and operated by Alice Jose also from the CAFA.

The exhibit was like a reunion for the CAFA stalwarts. Alice Jose was the gracious hostess for the many guests. Cecille Ascalon, Pearl Ortega, Cat Bello, Adi Santos, Jess Abrera, Nic Ricio, Bong Bongalon, Beng Galla, Boy Valino, Boy de Villa and others were the CAFA Fine Arts contemporaries of Fred who graced the occasion. Vic Ortega and Oni Mayo represented the 60s CAFA Architecture class. The guest of honor was ex-Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando who cut the ribbon and later mixed with the crowd. Of course, Norma Liongoren, Fred’s doting wife, was there to help entertain the visitors.

Fred was distinctive with his beard and pigtail. Being UP-trained and especially coming from the exciting period of the 60s, Fred continues to play the social activist role which he reflects in his art. Fred was into abstracts in the 70s, but Fred found out that he couldn’t quite touch the masses with abstracts. Thus his work today is more into realism especially for his water color art. Fred feels that his more realistic (less abstract?) portrayal of social experiences, still life and allegorical subjects would be a better platform for his reformist statements.

With all his success, Fred is not done with his experimentations. He confided that he plans to venture into comics since comic books capture the fancy of the young. With his artistic passion, I have no doubt that Fred will produce wonderful quality comic books shortly. The exhibit program that day officially began with a moving dramatic mime by Fred that showed his concern for the continued suffering of Pinoys. During the night, the pica-pica was well-served and like most CAFA affairs, the gathering of UP CAFA guys made for an entertaining night.

Alice and her CAFA friends who organized this exhibit are known as the Studiomates. They have been engaged in painting sessions among themselves for several years now and have ventured into hosting of exhibits. I understand that this show of Fred Liongoren is their third exhibit over a year’s time. The Studiomates expect to host another art show come February 2011.

During the show, Cecille Ascalon of the Studiomates actually won the prize raffled out by Fred. She won a watercolor painting of a ‘vessel’ that Fred said was symbolic of the theme of the exhibit that night. We are especially happy for Cecille and glad that she is up and about again. Finally, my thanks to Cat Bello for the photography of the event. Coming to the exhibit, I had left my camera and the photos in this Blog are from Cat.

Click the link for more photo's

http://s1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd489/leonmayo1/Liongerin%20Exhibit/?albumview=slideshow