Vicenta Torre 97

Romy and Rory comes to Manila quite often. The main reason is because they come to visit Rory’s mother, Mrs.Vicenta Torre. Today they are here again but this time to bid farewell to her. Mama Vicenta peacefully passed away last Saturday in the company of loved ones. She died from old age complications surrounded by children and grandchildren who cared for her dearly. 

Vicenta Torre was the image of a loving grandmother at rest as I viewed her wake. But she was actually an accomplished professional in her chosen field. Mrs. Torre took up Pharmacy in UP and was board topnotcher. She married Atty. Torre with whom she had 10 children. She practiced her profession and became Dean of the Pharmacy Department of San Agustin University in Iloilo. She was also a Board Examiner for the country’s PRC (Professional Regulations Commission). 

At the wake the relatives of Romy mingled with all the Torre kin. A couple we recognized were Alex and Winnie Francisco, both from UP. Alex is Romy’s younger cousin who claims he was a CAFASinger fan who speaks fondly of having attended the Trini Lopez, Del Shannon, and other major concerts fronted by the CAFASingers. Winnie is younger than the CAFAs but she recalls the (then) handsome CAFA stars such as Ely, Rudy, Tong and others. By the way, she also speaks of Ating Salgado as being her (terror?) adviser then in BA. 

The burial is set for Friday since they are awaiting the many Torre siblings coming in from different foreign places. Mama Vicenta raised her children well. God rest her soul. 

See slide show for more photos.

 

CAFA Whirl

At the art exhibit in LRI Bldg. in Makati last Friday, a group of artists joined forces to make COMBINE – an exhibition of their current works. Pearl, Vic and Oni were there for one reason – Nore is exhibiting again. Nore had a set of three artworks in the show that signifies a new series of her latest work.

Technically, the prevailing theme consisted of mixed-media over collage background.  This theme was inspired by the works of Raushenberg, the NY print master.  Nore’s contribution is essentially giclee collage work that subtly depicts memorable experiences in her life. The titles of her three works are:  Love letters; Ode to Love; and Cherished Memories.  One painting flashed words of her father to her. The other showed words of friends. Particularly for "Love Letters", I think I have a notion of  who may have contributed to the material of memorable words in it. (Try to make out the background words in the canvass to understand what I mean). 

Congratulations to Nore on another successful exhibit. The exhibit was not only educational for me (yet one more time) but the nice ‘eats’ and drink was also my dinner that night.

See slide show for more photos.

CAFA Guys in Town

As early as last week, the CAFAs were advised through text by Emi that Rodi, Romy and Rori are in town. She was insistent on a CAFA Get-2-Ged (get together?) to enjoy time with the Balikbayans. Thus on Saturday, the lunch party was held at XO/46 – a gourmet place serving Pinoy fare owned by Emi’s brother. The new resto was located along Valero St. in the Salcedo Village business district of Makati. (near Makati Sports Club).

Apart from the balikbayans and Emi, the guys present were Dinky, Alex, Cecille, Oni, Bili, Vic and Pearl. Rodi is looking good and Romi and Rori are spry as ever. The food was amazing and the service was excellent. As a matter of fact, the party became a taste test for the group as each different delicacy in the menu was served. Being so proud of her brother’s resto, Emi had ordered everything for the gang to experience what’s there. When told that there was too much food for the CAFA seniors, Emi said she did it on purpose so that each can have a take-out bag consisting of whatever is left! Leave it to Emi to have a ready answer, outrageous or otherwise, for everything.

But apparently Emi was right. With such delicious fare available, the guys threw poise and etiquette to the wind. It was a babel as each started to place their selection of the food that they would like to take home. Definitely, none of that food will go to waste. To top it all, Emi would not have the waiters bring on the bill. Emi said that the Get-2-Ged is also a despedida for Rodi so the party is on her. (Emi says she owes Rodi who helped her a lot when she had her art exhibit there).

For the CAFAs in the US, watch for the opening of XO/46 in New York and Vancouver. This plan is now in the works. For me, the food was as good as it gets and so with the company. Thanks Emi for yet another wonderful CAFA feast and party.


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Adoracion Rivamonte Lim

Mrs. Adoracion Lim is Didi’s mom. She was one day short of her 97th birthday when she peacefully passed away. Mrs. Lim was a schoolteacher and a housewife who raised her children (4 boys and one girl). The Lims were based in their hometown of Marinduque and later on Manila until Didi’s dad was posted abroad.

Mr. Lim as we know, was a Foreign Service career official of the country. He was assigned to different countries (Pakistan, Korea, Egypt and finally, Rome) until his retirement. This is the reason why Didi and his siblings got to stay for parts of their growing years in many interesting places. Through all this, Mrs. Lim was the devoted mother to all her now successful children.

The CAFA gang got to pay their last respects to Mrs. Lim at different times. On Saturday afternoon, Romy, Rory, Dinky, Alex, Oni and Bili went to the wake at Mount Carmel church in Broadway. The day before, I understand that the Raquel Santos family and the Fine Arts gang led by Francis, Pearl, Vic and Cynthia attended the initial mass for the dead there. Emi went in the evening of Saturday.

For many of the CAFAs, it’s the inevitable passing of a beloved generation. The devotion of the CAFA baby boomers to their parents is never more evident. Didi was right there when his mother died. (was it a feeling he had when he opted to stay behind while Nore went back to the US?). Earlier in the year, Rita made her regular visit to her mom who passed away just before her centennial birth year. In the case of Rori and Romy, the couple is actually in town to visit Rori’s mom (who fortunately, remains in good health still, This is not to mention Romy’s mom in Connecticut who they also regularly visit).

Interestingly, all the mentioned mom’s are, or were - as the case may be - in their 90s! Hopefully, the CAFAs are blessed with the same sturdy genes.

Works of Masters Show

Yesterday, Nore RS Lim’s work was featured at the prominent Ayala Museum together with the works of other notable artists of the country. Ramon Orlina’s glass prism art and BenCab’s colorful canvass were among those displayed together with NoreLim’s trademark lace series prints. The other art forms by rising artists were metal sculptures and modern montage type and relief items. The displayed selections were actually the pieces that went out on a successful tour of Korea last September.

The CAFA’s who were on hand to view this prestigious event were: Mina, Cecille, Pearl and Vic, Alice, Emi and Oni. Of course Didi, Francis and dear friends of Nore like Botchi Santiago and Mars Custodio were also there. For Nore, this event was a fulfillment of sorts. We know that she was unable to physically accompany her pieces in the September Korean roadshow since she gave priority to the CAFA reunion in California.

In the course of the show, the speeches were heartfelt, the Korean ambassador was happy, Ayala Foundation was fulfilled and the cocktail fare was delicious. The CAFAs are very proud to have a Nore Lim among it. She is clearly one example that dedication to her art and tenacity to her dreams indeed pays off. Congratulations to Nore once again and may you have many more shows that will continue to inspire.


See slide show for more photos.

Da Didi’s Birthday

Leave it to Nore to throw an instant party when necessary. At his birthday party in Carte Blanche Resto (World Trade Center), Didi Lim admitted in his speech to the guests that he had not planned to have a 65th birthday party. He wondered aloud whether 65 years is an event that should actually be celebrated or kept vague with the public. But daughter Claire and her husband Alex were coming from Singapore for the occasion and so, why not?

The tables in the resto were set to accommodate different groups. The groups were: the Lim family including Didi’s brothers and sister who came from abroad; Raquel-Santo family led by Francis, Lynn and Rene Sunico; Balikbayan friends of Nore and Didi from Vancouver and NY; Didi’s friends in Manila; and the CAFAs. The CAFAs who celebrated Didi’s birthday with him were: Pearl and Vic, Myrna and her husband; Cecille; Mina Hernandez; Dinky; Alex; Emi; Fe Bareiro; Cynthia Henson; and Oni and Bili.

The resto facility was spacious and the Thai cuisine delicious. The sing-along with the band started after dinner where Francis, the CAFAs, and friends of Didi and Francis took to the mic. After a lot of prodding, Fe was finally convinced to perform on stage. Fe sang a Tagalog ditty which impressed the CAFAs and particularly Didi who did ballet-like moves on the dance floor as Fe belted it out. Overall, the CAFAs enjoyed themselves. A topic of conversation was the recent CAFA adventure in Negros and Iloilo land where the gastronomic weakness of the CAFAs was proven once and for all. (ang tatakaw kasi!)


See slide show for more photos.

The Ilonggo Adventure

Finally, the much-expected CAFA trip to the Visayas happened. Dinky and Milu Einsiedel played hosts to the CAFA group that stayed four days to experience wonderful Negros and Iloilo. Aside from Dinky and Milu, the CAFAs who went were Nore and Didi Lim, Pearl and Vic Ortega, Oni and Bili Mayo, Emi Mercado, Mina Hernandez and Cecil Ascalon. The fun started even at the Manila airport where the girls just had to do some shopping. Emi started it when she spotted the “Sale” sign at an airport shop and bought herself branded Flip-flop sandals. Soon most everyone followed suit. The girls had fun comparing their sandals of choice as they flip-flopped their way along the long airport corridors.

Milu’s hometown Silay had interesting ancestral houses to view. The Hofilena vintage house was practically a museum where art works of masters and artifacts were displayed. Our guide, 78 year old Ramon Hofilena, was not only eloquent in explaining the house but is an artist himself. In his prime, he engaged in theater and hobnobbed with famous art personalities. He explained that he was handsome and muscular once (a swimmer and actor) and who even posed in the nude for artists. Every time the eager-beaver CAFAs (particularly Emi and Bili) disturbed his spiel to make comments, Ramon gets so distracted that he berated the CAFAs for doing so. The group finally learned to keep their mouths shut after that especially when Ramon threatened to remove all his clothes (to be like the past model he was) if he was distracted again.

The other ancestral houses in Silay were the Gaston mansion and off course, the Locsin house. The Locsin house is Milu's ancestral house where the CAFAs were treated by Milu’s family to a special Silay-type lunch course. The first day in Negros saw the CAFAs head for Victorias to see the Church of the Angry Christ and the Wheels Chapel. Dinner was at Bacolod’s famous Manukan strip where all kinds of Inasal recipes abound for the public. The next day, the group headed for the Bacolod harbor to take the ferry to Iloilo City. For this stage of the trip, the tour guide role was assumed by CAFAs Cecil Ascalon. The Ferry ride turned out to be pleasant where Emi enjoyed the John Lloyd movie (complete with tears) during the one hour trip.

In Iloilo, the Ferry docked at Iloilo’s famous Looney Muele port. According to Cecil, Mr. Looney was a Brit who was responsible for building the Iloilo old port along the river mouth. The group then visited the Jaro and Molo church that contained specialized statues of saints. Cecil was an interesting tour guide. When queried for more details about Looney harbor and the churches, Cecil said she wouldn’t know since the info is not described in Wikipedia. If we accept what Cecil says, all vintage structures in Iloilo would be 200 years old and all locations would be just “five minutes away”. How about that for mathematical efficiency?

Lunch time in Iloilo was at Tatoy’s (an eatery place traditionally known for its native Ilongo cuisine). At Tatoy’s, the group was joined by another CAFA - Iloilo native and born comedian Megs Ortigas. Driving his new BMW, sporting sunglasses and wearing a nifty decal-laden jacket, Oni asked Megs if he was trying to impress the CAFAs with his get-up. Picking up on the cue, Megs said that he actually needs to go at 3PM since he has to return the rented car he is using to impress us! Known for his raunchy repartee, Megs also made an offer to take the boys out for massage service in lieu of Cecil’s suggestion to visit more traditional tourist places.

The final phase of the trip was not so convenient for some in the group. Mina, Cecil and later on Emi, fell ill. We were made to understand that it was a combination of vertigo attack and stomach problems; The fatigue and oysters, maybe? (But nothing serious, really.) In addition, Bili also had a vertigo problem (the night before the trip) while Didi is still recovering from flu (which he had prior to the trip). This situation led the group to consider the next outing to probably be best held in Dagupan. It seems that not only does Alex Villaflor partly own a beach resort there but also a hospital!

See slide show for more photos.