More Holiday Photos of UP Ibalon & Friends

Dr. Fems Espinas-Paladin in Manila

UP Ibalon’s virologist extraordinaire Dr. Fems E. Paladin goes back to Manila from her cave in the World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland to take time with Ibalon pals Don A. Salvosa, Dr. Arnel V. Malaya, Sabu Sabularse and wife Mary. Sorely missed are all Ibalonians including Middle East-based Dr. Nestor RA Valenciano and Dr. Ramon Ray G. Rayel who is the United States.

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AdeN-CSI HS’73 in Los Angeles, CA and Naga City

Photos of a merry get-together of spritely CSI HS’73 ladies Gene, Ellen, and Emee in some beautiful places in the West Coast. With them are their supportive spouses and children.

Back home in Naga City are the Golden Boys of Quiborak (GBQs)with Marive Roco (CSI HS’73)and Fr. Antonio de los Santos, a classmate and spiritual adviser, based in Calabanga, Camarines Sur.

In a rarely seen food grab—taking precious moments of unity, affection, and fun, bubbly CSI girls show pure happiness in being together.

Iggi Camacho in USA

GBQ Iggi Camacho breezes through California with fellow AdenHS’73 classmate Walter Mendez of Baao, Camarines Sur. Iggi comes to the Northeast to meet with other GBQs—Ely Mabeza, Tong and Chi Pilar of New Jersey and Totie Mesia of New York on January 13, 2008.

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Dr. and Mrs. Lino & Josefa Mercurio

From Atlanta, Georgia, USA, Lino, and Jo send this exciting wintry holiday greeting and photo of their recent outdoor skiing trip with their children. Former residents of Buhi, Camarines Sur and Naga City, the UP Ibalon friends plan to attend the Bicol National Association convention slated in July 2009 in New York.

Dr. and Mrs. Renato & Megs Oracion

Happy holiday cheers from Rene and Megs in Odessa, Texas. Originally from Manila, the affable dermatologist and his Ilonga wife send their interesting photo taken during a much-needed vacation in Egypt.

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With Angels Playing, Pitoy Moreno Recreates His Peñafrancia Fiesta in Naga

As the excitement of Penafrancia fiesta fades, we have something tantalizing to remember. To be part of the merriment blessed in heaven, in Calauag, Naga City, UP Ibalonian Pitoy Moreno aka Pitmo and his lovely wife Lala Espiritu-Moreno opened their warm and cozy home to friends.

The Morenos successfully pulled through with plenty of help from their two bubbly kids—Ira Nicole, the special 7-year old with a gift of gab who served as Pitoy’s most valuable receptionist. The cute little “miracle girl” whose heart condition called pulmonary stenosis seemed far away, was assisted by her older sister Gwyn Christianne.

The versatile duo wowed their guests with child tales and beautiful music to share. Brimming with earnestness and less-often seen bravado, the two lovely sisters had their musical instruments busy. Like pros from a concert stage, they played violin, marimba, bongus, and piano in front of their admiring guests.

In God’s grace and time, it was clear: the excellent food on the table was more than enough to savor and celebrate. Lala had all the herbs and essences all over the kitchen to add taste to the cuisine. It must be a creation of the true mother of the house from Nabua, Camarines Sur, whose people are well-known for their homestyle cooking, kindness, and hospitable nature.

If famous couturier Pitoy Moreno of Manila wove exquisite clothes which delighted the fashion sense in most of us, our own Pitoy, the civil engineer (with all the bells and whistles that go with it) gave true meaning to hospitality.

With his lovely and tireless wife, the good-humored supermom and entrepreneur from Rinconada, Pitoy was just the right guy to prove that friendships and good times do last—something he must have learned for spending time as OFW away from his loving family when he worked in Brunei, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and lately in far Kasakhstan.

Whether Ibalonians Imelda Caballes, Dan Daz, Benny Rayco, Annelee Badiola-Lojo, Mighty Baylon Jovy Mijares or Albert Molina, were present, it must be great to remember them all with Pitoy’s pretty angels who stood guard and played to bring out the zing for this year’s most memorable Penafrancia fiesta. =0=

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Grand Penafrancia Fiesta 2008 in Liberty Park, New Jersey

As the breeze of the coming fall season filled the air and the bright summer sun brought joy and cheers to a throng of enthusiastic devotees, the feast of Bicolandia’s patroness, Nuestra Senora de Penafrancia (Ina) and the Divino Rostro (Divine Face) was successfully commemorated on Saturday, September 20, 2008. Ending the nine-day prayers in Ina’s honor, the celebration was held in a new venue at the CRRNJ Terminal Building, Liberty State Park, 1 Zapp Drive, Jersey City, NJ, USA.

Sparked with a colorful fluvial procession and rosary recitation, the event was followed by a solemn concelebrated mass officiated by Bicolano priests headed by Msgr. Jeremias B. Rebanal. With Ina’s message of unity and love, Msgr. Rebanal underscored the continued intercessions of God’s Mother venerated by Bicolanos for centuries.

In keeping with Ina’s celebrations worldwide, the Our Lady of Penafrancia Devotees Association (OLPDA) of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut under the leadership of Virgie Jacobson and in cooperation with the Bicolandia Association of the Eastern Seaboard made sure the event was meaningful and memorable. The festivity was capped with a grand reunion and salo-salo followed by a brief, but exciting cultural program emceed by Fiorel Salvo and Erlinda Requejo-Arellano.

The occasion was highlighted by kurumustahan and pabiristohan—the renewal of friendships and hospitality expressed among kababayans. Notable followers of Ina who helped in making the day a success were Peng Pena, Thelma Silerio, Fe Manibay, Lulu Menor, Genevieve del Rosario, Adela Quisumbing, Amado Cabaero, Chi, Tong and JL Pilar, Nancy Candenilla, Tessie Maghacut, Tita Esquivel, Annie B. Santos, Roselyn Sapalico, Vic Idava, Lydia Mendez, Jun Torrente, Josefina Surban, Laida Centeno, Nelly Asis, Gloria Salen, Claire Pormento, Melodina Cabaero, Dolly Zagada, Chito & Cora Velasco, Efred Zagada, Norma Rivera, Edmund Arellano, Tony Rojano, Nicol Miraflores, Myrla Rueda, Francia Banzuela, Lily Cantuba, Rudy Alcantara, Zeny Prado, Moises & Linda Sia, Carmen Oliver, Rebecca Dorosan, Victoria Datar, Boy Pangan, Bert Celera, Dina Briones, Jojo Borja, Clemenia Rueda-Cayetano, Ely Mabeza, Lourdes Rada-Madrid, Diety Avila, Lita Ferrer, Celeste Reside, Sylvia Kurt, Josie & Allen Nidea, Aida Ragragio, Raquel Ragragio, Aida Santiago, Lillian Villafuerte, Ato & Susie Enojado, Bodjie Amador, Rene & Lily Villegas, among many others.

A brief historical profile of OLPDA was prepared by Ben A. Silerio who recalled the organization was started in 1990 by Lulu M. Menor and Lita L. Pena. Since then, leaders who keep the group strong include Erlinda R. Arellano, Marfo T. Manibay, Ben A. Silerio, Liliana F. Lacap, Gidget C. Revilleza, Josephine A. Mendoza, and Virgie C. Jacobson. =0=

Aden-CSI University HS reunion a success!

Among UP Ibalon’s ever increasing friends, the alumni and alumnae of Ateneo de Naga Univerisity (AdenU) and Colegio de Sta. Isabel (USI) Class 1973 held their memorable reunion, the first in 35 years, in Naga City, Philippines on Saturday, September 13, 2008.

Spearheaded by Engr. George Yorobe, hubby of UP Ibalon’s Dr. May Magdalene I. Velasco, the celebration was a happy start to usher in Bicolandia’s feast of the Virgin of Penafrancia which will culminate on September 21, 2008. The combined group of enthusiastic batchmates that include Matt Lamit, Val Torrecampo, Chito Parma, Art Villamor, Nonong Molaer, Larry Limjoco, Bernie Palma, Mon Odiamar, Roy Fernando, Ted Orante, Monching Cervantes, Iggi Camacho, Willie Verdadero, Arlen Barrameda, Jun Briones, Totoy Buenafe, Dick Perez, Errol Angeles, Sam Sabocor, Joseph Buenavente, Boy Estiva, Paul Cunanan, Tong Pilar, Art Torralba, Bobby Garza, Walter Mendez, Ric National, Ed Nicolas, Paul Antero, Marcial Aguilar, Gisbert Beringuela, Ding Salvosa, Edwin Rivero, Rolly Salazar worked with Mary Ann Pelagio, Nini Ragragio-Bolivar, Girlie Badiola, Leilani Rosero-Odiamar, Marive Roco, Christine Ascarraga, Maricar Imperial and among others to make the event a smashing reality. Fr. Antonio de los Santos and Fr. Wilmer Tria served as the group’s spiritual advisers.

According to Nini R. Bolivar, the reunion which bridged old friendships and renewed memories was an opportunity to plan future group undertakings including joint socio-cultural projects planned for the community. The Class of ’73 thanks all those who in one way or another helped make the reunion a success. (Photo Credits: AdenUHS’73/Dr. Ramon P. Odiamar/CSIHS’73 Siiribananmi)

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AdeN-CSI University: a boy and girl thing that never goes out of style

Why are reunions more popular than before? Is it a sign of ageing or is it an affirmation of being forever young? Is it still that boy and girl thing that never goes out of style? Or is it the bond that’s hard to describe, but so easy to feel with the heart?

Members of Ateneo de Naga High School ’73 known as the Golden Boys of Quiborak (GBQ’s,) myself included, are holding a reunion on September 13, 2008 in Naga City, Philippines. It’s an auspicious time to meet the flashy dames of Colegio de Sta Isabel (CSI) Class’73, the magagayons who for years never escaped our minds.

In a gesture of amity, reconciliation, and love, we agree to meet with the ladies. Like before, we’ll have another kurumustahan—this time in a random mix of classmates, friends and families, unsupervised by our teachers, very much unlike the occasions of pabiristohans in soirees we know.

A milestone that definitely tickles the imagination, for the first time we’ll encounter the popular girls in blue that we used to ogle in front of la porteria, at el campanario of Naga Cathedral or at el canto of Ateneo Avenue. The four imposing pillars of the west end near Quiborak seem to draw us like pubescent fireflies in pursuit of the blue girls in their pheromone-rich enclave a stone’s throw from Colgante Bridge.

The reunion not only gives credence to the belief that memories last, it also reminds us of the downside of having same-sex schools at the height of adolescent social awakening. We, the students, sequestered by a compulsory gender divide of our time, still have that persistent longing for pure friendships out of our exclusive cocoons, away from the tangled allure of a strip joint.

The drive to relive the remembrances of our juvenile years is so great that we make ways to meet and be cozy with each other. Away from the watchful gaze of the Catholic nuns of the Daughters of Charity (DC) and the priests of St. Ignatius’ Society of Jesus (SJ,) we have built a shadow co-ed school of our own—the Ateneo-CSI University.

It’s a utopian school that we have established. The Ateneo-CSI University doesn’t have boring lectures. Except for foul behavior, no one has to pay tuition. Wearing long hair or being bald isn’t an infraction. We don’t have to take periodic tests; uniforms aren’t required. There’s no pressure to attend convocations or join protest rallies. Absence and tardiness aren’t punished.

As if to break open a precious time capsule left in the sand dunes of the past or rescue an old surf-beaten bottle that has finally rested on a rugged shore, the reunion will be celebrated in muted grace, pomp, and style. On this unique day, there will be no pain and discomfort— only boundless happiness of having to return to where we are most comfortable, right at the cuddly bosom of affable classmates and supportive friends.

After 35 years we will reach out for the past that will make us laugh and cry. We’ll go back to the roads we walked before. We’ll point the trees we climbed and the steep mountains we scaled. We’ll go back to the woods we explored, glance at the homey blue sky, feel the breeze on our faces, and recall the meandering rivers we roamed.

Some of us will visit the abyssal depths of our fears if only to remind that we’re all human beings who stick together, through thick and thin as though we’re tied in an unbreakable blood compact of Magellan.

We encourage and help each other in good days and bad times like a herd of gazelles grazing in the vast plain. Deep into the vestiges of our own insecurity and personal triumph, we will mark a phenomenal passage. In this reunion, three decades after we left high school, what we have is unity and love, a reward of being bonded and truly alive! =0=

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Ateneo de Naga University Northeast USA Alumni Reunion Away from Home

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