11th USTMD70 e-magazine

11th USTMD70 E-MAGAZINECHRISTMAS 2013Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Happy Thanksgiving too! May you have many blessed years to come. !Thank you , Lord by  Lynn MarianoThank you, LordOur kids have grown Empty nesters , we are known Though the hair is gray and thin Our hearts remain young it seems . For years, we toiled Countless lives were mended . Long days , long nights ,no longer remembered . Grateful to have served . Grateful for the time well spent .Today , we roam beyond the seas and the mountains , the fields and the valleys  . Gift of time to enjoy friends  , far and near . Reminisce the pleasures of the past Delight in the the present offerings . Laughter over the fruit of the vine Dance to the music of the past.For all these , we thank you Lord . For the blessing of family and friends For laughter shared For love, given and received . For the joys of the golden years.______________________________________________________________________  Moments. By: Charles Dunifer “Tis the Season   Once upon a Christmas season, in the year 1965, as we pondered on the true meaning of the holidays and while busy in our dissections upon the upper extremity, our thoughts, as I recall, were sidelined by a most disturbing occurrence, and that was why ANTHONY was lately coming to class all dressed up in white as if he had a date at the altar! What was this guy’s ploy? Was this his idea of a particular joke? Was he trying to get the attention of the anatomy staff to get higher grades? Or was he just making a fashion statement? But white high topped canvass shoes?! I thought that was beyond good taste especially in a prestigious medical school. Mind you, this was in the pre-Rebock & Nike era. It was just too much to bear with the pre-holiday exams looming on the horizons. Outside the anatomy lab, holiday icons were all over specially Christmas carols alternated once in a while by the top 10 on the hit parade, sort of like the one emanating from “mang” carling’s transistor, “see those happy feet dancing to the beat of the Freddie… kick your feet up, swing your arms up to…” Truly, Christmas was upon us once more! Now let’s go back to ANTHONY. We finally decided to confront him regarding his all-white ensemble, especially those disturbingly tacky white high-topped canvass shoes. As we were doing so, I espied from the corner of my eye, a familiar figure trekking his way toward our huddle and seemingly doing “The Freddie” as he did it. It was none other than our professor, we teasingly called, ODONTOID, “move your head both ways…” Well, professor inquired on the commotion, took a non-chalant look at Anthony’s white  “Duds” focusing on his shoes and stated his verdict as he pointed at Anthony’s shoes, “CONVERSE NAMAN!” I held a sigh of relief and thought. I’m so glad it wasn’t ELPO! “… Like you see me do. Then just repeat to the swinging beat of the Freddie… do the Freddie… do the Freddie..! Next Roast: Watch out, Max!  ________________________________________________________ Compassion I practice in one Catholic hospital with a Pastoral department. The chaplains are from different religious affiliations. This is America where one can never tell what religious affiliation a patient has, all are visited if they are receptive by the chaplain on call.who he or she herself may not be Catholic. I asked a hospital chaplain, a Buddhist nun from Vietnam, why the shaven head? She tells me, it is a sign of renunciation. I asked can you be happy renouncing the world you live in? She says everything in this world is passing and one cannot attach oneself to something that is passing. She says since she live in the world, she still has to provide herself  for her material needs in this world which is her dwelling, clothing and food  and that is all she need. She says she introduce herself as one of the Chaplains,all of them are not allowed to volunteer information about their religious affiliation unless the patient ask. I asked what if the patient don’t like you, your shaven head might remind them of someone on chemotherapy plus you are Asian with an accent. She said, If they don’t like me or you as the doctor, it is usually because of many issues involving their illness including their families,but even then understand  them and have some compassion. JDLeoncio Christmas songs especially the old ones dates us back where we were. Bing Crosby White Christmas is one of the older ones. Were you in the Elementary grades?  We did not have snow so we could nor really relate to that then Then Johnny Mathis, chestnuts roasting on an open fire..Oh yes, we had castanias although we didn’t roast them. Does anybody knows where they come from? Were they in your backyard? They might be imported from Hong Kong. Peggy Lee’s rocking around the Christmas tree possibly predated rock and roll. that’s prescience of things to come. Only later Rock king Elvis sang, i’ll have a blue Christmas without you firing up your hormones,.there are many more, maybe you have your favorite play list. how about those Chipmunks playing the hula hoop? No you are older then, to like that is secretly embarrassing, you are too old for that one. What about the Beatles?  Yes they are in your generation. And so it is Christmas and what have you done says John Lennon which keep you in a frenzy to go to the mall and buy, buy ,buy till you drop or out of money and regretting you’ve spent too much. Are you modern? Let’s hear Bing Crosby again bridging to the next generation singing little Drummer Boy., that one gives me  goose bumps. it’s one of the UST medical school Glee club songs. Remember? Well, maybe not unless you were a member which I was very briefly. Do share us your less well known favorite. I have one last one for you, not sure why this appeals to me, maybe it’s because we used to live near the river. maybe it’s because I enjoyed my winter in upstate New York while listening to it. It was the 70s, definitely when I was young and carefree and learning to skate. It’ the” River” by Joni Mitchell, look it up on line. Enjoy. Merry Christmas to my contemporaries, the great class of USTMD70. Wishing  you peace and joy, always. JD Leoncio ____________________________________________________________________________ PAMAS NIGHT                     by  Mini The PAMAS night on August 5, 2006 brought together members, officers and guests of  the Pilipino-American Association of New England (PAMAS).  More than 100 guests shared a  spirit of camaraderie and that  good old Filipino social awareness as they celebrated  28 years of continued service of the association. With their friendly smiles and resplendent in Filipiniana evening gowns and barong tagalong, they  held a  combination  Induction Ball and Scholarship Awards night at the familiar  and popular  Lombardo’s in Randolph, MA. A contingent of relatives flew in from Georgia to join in the celebration. Every two years, the association goes through the changing of the guards. A new set of officers was elected this year. The PAMAS was formed in November, 1978 by Tony Mateo, Fil Servino and Nene Pallera and other members who have since  moved on.  It is the second-oldest Filipino association in Massachusetts. (The Filipino Association of Greater Boston,  which was established in 1965, is the oldest organization. Lourdes Javier is the President of the FAGB)  PAMAS was created to fill a vacuum in the social life of Filipinos living in the Greater Boston area. What started out as a social organization eventually evolved into a civic organization. Being in operation for 28 years is a notable achievement in itself! The gala night began  with the mingling of members and guests in the reception area.  Guests were cordially greeted by three lovely ladies, dressed in Filipino terno, in the registration table—-Tina,  Amanda and Lidy. Soon after, with the people comfortably seated in the ballroom,  Pacita’s heartfelt singing of the  US and Philippine national anthems kicked off the evening.  Rev Francis Cantor gave the invocation.  Michael Mateo ably emceed the affair. This was followed by the presentation of  the scholarship awards to the outstanding Filipino students—Jessamyn, Greg and Celine. The PAMAS Scholarship Program seeks to reward Filipino-American students who have worked diligently towards the pursuit of excellence in any field of endeavor, such as academics, sports, community service, charity or Philippine-American relations. The Scholarship committee consists of  the following:Michael, Loreta, Tony Chiefe , Virgie, Amanda The 2006 scholarship sponsors were  the following: The Caparanga Fmily The Duggan Family, The Ravenscroft Family The Festin-Navato family (in honor of Blessed Leon and the seven Martyrs of Motril, most of whom served in the Philippines with some imprisoned.) In his closing speech, the outgoing President Frank recalled the interesting behind-the-scenes  trials and triumphs of the PAMAS over the past decades.  He thanked the people for supporting PAMAS during his tenure as president. . Tony Mateo, a five-term President of PAMAS,  introduced the guest speaker, Consul General Cecilia Rebong of the Philippine Consulate in New York. When she entered the ballroom earlier, an honor guard of PAMAS officers, standing at the door in formation, warmly welcomed her, She captivated the audience when she enthusiastically spoke  in mixed English and Tagalog (taglish) which is the Manila version of Tagalog.  She expressed her appreciation of PAMAS and its achievements. She also sought support for dual citizenship and increased  outsourcing of American business activities in the Philippines. The highlight of her speech was the Supreme Court’s recent waiving of  the residency requirement for dual citizens to vote.  Following her speech, she inducted the incoming officers. As the newly-inducted  President of  PAMAS, Gracita gave a well-delivered acceptance speech that showed  her determination  to keep the association’s original four goals in focus. The goals  are scholarship, sports and athletics and its basketball program, humanitarian with its “Extend-a-Hand “Program and civic. The guests savored a delicious dinner of  roast beef, baked fish, pasta salad, rice pilaf and  vanilla cake. Seated at the Presidential table were Deedee, Tony, Arnie Rosario from NAFFA, Frank Celoza, Consul Rebong,  Teng, Doy Heredia who flew in from Washington DC for the night, Virgie, Tony and Gloria Platon of the Sto. Nino Prayer Group. Before the end of the program, special achievement awards  were given to Nepo Amo in whose office Pamas meetings are held, Mike M, Fil S, Nene P and Tony Mateo, a stalwart of PAMAS in the 28 years of its existence.  Then the evening shifted gears as guests hit the dance floor and showed their dancing skills. One hundred guests gathered for this celebration. Consul Rebong graciously posed for photos and  signed autographs. The people  came to have fun and they did. They dined, drank and danced until midnight to the rollicking music of DJ Rafael Cervantes.  It was a night  to remember for years to come. The PAMAS night was a huge success. See photo below: Mini on the extreme left with her Perez relatives. LEW HARD AT WORK ON HIS SECOND DAY ON THE JOB Ando&Alice, Ralph&Leni, Art&Lena, Ted&Lynn in Art’s home in Auburn photo below: Mila, Roy & Roger Belen in Milpitas, CA See photo below: Brenda and Cecilia Maravilla in FLA. See photo below: Ando, Dado Castillo, Cora, Alice See photo below: Max Birthday at his Hacienda Heights home, one week after Evelyn’s b-day.   Photo below: Guess who is having fun at the dance floor in West Texas? Mirla Hugo Castaway welcome dinner to Mila and Roy  Jing Ordinario as President of West Texas Medical Society with Carol, Mirla and Mon in Texas ________________________________________________________________________________ Marietta, Doming and Alice L-R: USTMD grad Dr. Albano, Mini, Luz and unknown Mon, Minda in freezing temperature in West Texas! —————————————- Lana Daisy @ 7 months Noel, Angie & Lana Thanksgiving __________________________ Aidan the pirate of the Carribean (son of Charles) ___________________________ Alice&Ando in Grand Canyon Interns Mini & Rechie Alice, Ando, Neil & Cherie in Phoenix, Arizona _____________________________________________ Brenda&Caloy in the Grand Canyon Is that Tiger? It’s Lucio trick or treating with Lindsay.

Max, Evelyn and family Lucio & Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer  (Preparing for the sleigh ride on Christmas Eve) Photo below: Lucio the Deer Hunter.  What happened to Rudolph, Lucio? Max,Evelyn,Brenda,Alice&Ando in Sedona, Arizona; Happy Birthday, Evelyn. Mon, Luke and Bobby on Thanksgiving

The gorgeous men of Class USTMD70               The Millionaires’ Club           See photo below: Ted  Lynn, Art and Lena, Ralph and Leni in New York, New York.Ralph, Art and TedRalph, Art & Ted in New York, New York         Pol’s speedy recovery! L-R: Vangie, Ping, Renato S and MannyUSTMD70 class pictureUSTMD70 class photo: Welcome party of MannyL-R: Herminia G and spouse, Uma, Angie M, unknown, Renato S, Vangie, Bert and Seth P, unknownSeated: Pura’s spouse, Manny, Pura and  Pol LasalaMon, Minda, Carol in TexasUSTMD70 class photo: a party for our favorite embarkadero, MannyL-R: Uma, Manny. Seth, Linda, Pura, unknown, Ping, Paul, Raffy, DannyMax, Evelyn, Brenda, Alice and AndoEthan and Carter, grandsons of Ando&Alicewith a long list for Santa!See photo below: Cici, 12th grandchild of Ando and Alice What a big hat, Chacha (Capati) Minda and Carol  M in Texas

10th USTMD70 e-magazine

October 1, 2013

USTMD70 e-magazine

MISANG PILIPINO IN FALL RIVER
by Mini

Santacruzan in MA: L-R: Prince Consort, Reyna Elena, Mini

Filipinos from Rhode Island and Massachusetts gathered to celebrate Misang Pilipino (Filipino Mass) in Fall River on July 9, 2006.  It was dedicated to the Blessed Martyrs of Motril as the anniversary of their deaths is in July.

Held at the Sacred Heart Church, the service consisted of three devotions: to God the Father, to the eight Blessed Martyrs of Motril and the chaplet of the Divine Word. Fr. Angelo Michael Guarin of the Franciscan Order in Fall River is the Spiritual Adviser. We are happy that Fr. Martin Mary Fonte of Romblon, maternal cousin of Mini  Festin,  allowed Fr. Angelo to help us solemnly celebrate the liturgical devotions and to provide guidance to the apostolate

HOW DID THE DEVOTION TO GOD THE FATHER START?

In the summer of 2004, Linda Ravenscroft met her old friends Tony and Linda Jimenez who she has known since the 70s, in New Jersey. They were attending a mutual friend’s wedding. It was a surprise reunion that rekindled and brought back fond memories.  They shared many things, the most important being their devotion to God the Father. It was amusing to note that for a prayer book, all they had were a few pieces of paper stapled together. Linda J. had the original copy of the novena from the Sisters of the Missionarie Unitas in Christo Ad Patrem in Anzio (Rome), Italy. Linda J.  had organized a prayer group to honor God the Father in New York a few years  back and encouraged Linda  R. to organize a similar one in southeastern Massachusetts.

HOW DID THE FILIPINO MASS IN FALL RIVER START?

With some other friends, the two Linda’s began preparation to organize the apostolate in MA. In April 2005, God the Father’s Children’s Apostolate of Greater New England held its first Filipino Mass at the Church of the Sacred Heart, where Pastor Fr. Ray Cambra welcomed then. The church is near the Manila Jade Restaurant (operated by the Osmenas of Rhode Island) in the heart of Fall River. Since then, they have faithfully gathered every second Sunday of the month to pray and celebrate the devotion to honor God the Father.  The devotion to the Martyrs of Motril was added right after the first Mass. The recitation of the chaplet of the Divine Word came later.

HOW DID THE GOD THE FATHER MOVEMENT START?

In 1932, an extraordinary event occurred. A nun in Anzio,  Italy, named Mother Eugenia Revasio,  reported that God the Eternal Father appeared to her on two separate occasions, i.e., July 1 and August 12, 1932.  Her most important legacy to us is the message of the Father, the only private revelation made personally by God the Father, which was found to be authentic by the Catholic Church after a ten-year investigation .

WHO ARE BLESSED LEON AND THE SEVEN MARTYRS OF MOTRIL?

The Eight Blessed  Martyrs of Motril were massacred in defense of their faith  during the Spanish Civil War in 1936.  Five of them served in the Philippines and the other three were imprisoned during the Philippine Revolution.  They were beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1995.

The Martyrs of Motril served in the following places:
Liloan & Compostela, Cebu; Ubay, Carmen, Bilar, Loay, Dimiao, Sierra Bullones, Candijay in Bohol; San Narciso & San Felipe in Zambales, Sta, Cruz & Ermita in Manila, Calapan, Sablayan & Bongabong in Mindoro, Sto. Domingo, San Sebastian & San Nicholas churches in Manila; Banton, Azagra, Looc in Romblon.

The uncle of one of the martyrs, San Ezequiel Moreno, served in Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Las Pinas; Sto. Tomas, Batangas; Sta.  Cruz, Manila; Imus, Cavite.

WHAT IS THE CHAPLET OF THE DIVINE MERCY?

Christ’s message of mercy, devout prayers and a good confession  was delivered through St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun who kept a diary in the early 1900s of His private revelations to her during her lifetime. After St. Faustina’s canonization in 2000, the number of parishes offering special Divine Mercy celebrations experienced significant growth in the Philippines..

THE HOLY MASS, FILIPINO VERSION

On July 9th ,  the devotions started with Minnie Festin-Navato reciting a prayer to the eight Martyrs of Motril with the congregation. This was followed by the devotional prayers to the God the Father, led by Gloria Platon. Then people  sang  the Chaplet of the Divine Word with the  soloist Zenaida Rivera..  To accompany the Holy Mass, the Sto. Nino choir sang beautiful religious hymns of the famous Filipino religious song writer, Fr. Hontiveros s.J.

A solemn mass and benediction was celebrated by a Filipino priest,  Fr. Angelo Guarin.  At the end of the mass , he gave the spiritual blessing to the July wedding anniversary and birthday celebrants. He then officiated the transfer of the God the Father icon from the July sponsors (Bernardo, Mely & Annamarie Amirol, Minnie & Fred Navato) to the August sponsors (Gloria Platon & Anna Landock).

THE SOCIALS

The people then descended to the Church  hall for a social gathering.  Putting aside their diets,  they partook of a tempting merienda  prepared  by master chef Aida Kalb and assisted by Lydia Glynn and Majan Santos.  The authentic Filipino cuisine consisted of  creamy chicken salad,  freshly-baked pork chops,  crunchy fried rice and  the mouth-watering Pancit Palabok,  which went fast. There was a wide variety of pastries and delicacies on the table with the  native tajo  in a big pot nearby.  Some of the pastries, especially the empanada,  were freshly prepared by Rupe de la Cruz who owns a Filipino bakery in Rhode Island . People mingled, exchanging smiles and greetings. Flashbulbs lit up the room as group pictures were taken to keep memories of the occasion alive. Dance Philippines, emceed by an enthusiastic Tony Mateo, accompanied the socials, It  was in this affair that Planet Philippines newspapers-New England edition- were freely distributed to the people.

The devotees went home, filled with the love of God. Those who took the Communion Host and imbibed the wine knew  that  their Savior was in their heart. They now have the strength  to face the difficulties and trials of the incoming week.

Efren’s luncheon: L-R: seated: Manny, Brenda, Rancie, Linda, Ted

Max and Evelyn on top of the world looking down

on creation in Michu Pichu

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Some of the nurses who help me are amiable and pleasant.

It’s a priviledge and my good fortune to be where I am.

JDLeoncio

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See photo below: Ethan, Carter and grandma Alice

Luke’s angelic pose

Mila’s tequila dance in Mexico

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Manny&Gloria: see below

Mon Domingo within the Walls of the Escorial during his iberian tour

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See below: The Joggers: L-R: Luz, Norma, Carol, Rechie in San Diego Harbor

Standing: Art, Remi, Vicky and Efren

L-R: seated: Luz, Rechie, Carol

Standing: Neil, Rose, Nap, Harry and Norma @ Luz Penthouse in San Diego

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See below: The San Diego Weekenders

Standing L-R: Harry, Carol, Norma, Elmo, Nap

Seated: Luz and Rechie

Madame President Rose (farthest left, Roger and Lita Liboon (3rd and 4th from left respectively)

Archimedes de Guzman: May his soul and the souls of the faithful departed,

rest in peace.

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MOMENTS

                                       (Moments carved on the fabric of time)

 

                                                    JOEY………JOEY………JOEY

                                                                   by Charles Dunifer

                                             Last night, I left my soul adrift upon the wings of time into

                much simpler days. Alighting from it, I found myself  sitting in a

                school auditorium amongst familiar faces and realized that they were

                colleagues who had also finished medical school about a month

                earlier. As it turned out, we were all awaiting the arrival of the distinguished

                Dr. Gamez to drill us into the intricacies of his specialty and help us

                pass in the up and coming Philippine Medical Boards for this were  our

                Review classes.

                                   I was sitting upon the tier just above and behind Jing Ordinario

                and Joey ,and cannot help overhearing their conversations. I do remember

                 Jing was reading “The Sun” , that bastion of tabloid journalism, with its

                 compelling features,Pulitzer Prize caliber articles, and lest we forget ,

                 its bevy of scantily clad beauties  on page 3 ! Joey seemed to be bothering

                 Jing with questions like,” Is Religion included in the Board exams?”  I

                 just could not believe what I was hearing. It was like stepping unto an

                 alternate reality ! I knew that Jing would have a real come back reply and

                 I was right on the money. He told Joey, “Of course,Joey. We took it, so it

                 had to be included !” And he even ante up his claim with a question,

                 ” Joey, what’s the greatest miracle?” Joey answered several miracles

                 beginning with the15 miracles of the Rosary ( there were only 15 at the

                 time,circa 1970) and more.At this juncture we heard that all too familiar

                 obligatory cough of Dr,\. Gamez announcing his  entrance, and we all

                 pretended to be out and ready to receive his “Pearls of wisdom” on

                 Neurology.

                                  We all went our  separate ways after that Board exams and the

                 mystery bothering me was, “:Did Joey studied Religion to prepare for

                  the exams?” All I know is studying Religion builts character and we all know

                  that our Joey can be :such a character” at times.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy happy Birthday, Pura! Many, many happy returns of the day!

Pura’s birthday bash: Seated: L-R Ed C , Ato, Pura

Standing: Lito D, Pol, Paul, Danny,  Rene Joson, Bert P

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

L-R: Linda R  Carmelita, Vicky Co, Luming

Seated: Ota B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

L-R: Carmelita, Angie, Luming, Vangie L

 

See below: Pura’s husband Ed, Pura, Seth, Seth’s husband Bert, Linda and Ato

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tom’s River luncheon: L-R: Efren, JoBum, Christie, Morel, Manny

Tom’s River party

L-R: JoBum with grandsons, Angie Lily, Efren, Robbie,

Manny, Vicky, Alice

Tom’s River dock

L-R: Efren, Remigio, Lily, Christie, Alice, JoBum, Vicky, Efren

Seated: Angie, Robbie

Samala after-Broadway party

L-R; front row: JoBum, Ismael, Manny, Gloria

seated: Rancie, Evelyn, Lily, Linda, Brenda

Standing: Luz, Alice, Nora,  Pol, Norman, Biba

After Pippin pose: L-R: Vicky, JoBum, Efren, Luz, Brenda, Nora, Linda, Ted, Evelyn, Tom, Roland.  Ismael in the foreground.

Photo below: L-R: Lourdes, JoBum, Pol, Linda S, Norman, Alice, Rancie

Photo below:

Standing L-R: JoBum, Ralph, Boy, Ando, Lourdes, Luz, Norman, Alice, Rancie, Pol

Seated: Brenda, Lily, Linda S

Seated: unknown, Gloria, Manny, Efren

Standing: Nora, Roland, Bee Bulaklak, Vicky, Rancie,

Evelyn, Tom, Alice, Linda, Pol, Lourdes, Art V

Backyard of Vicky’s house JoBum, Ofie, Angie, Lily, Efren, Robbie, Manny, Vicky, Alice. With JoBum’s 2 GS

Seated, Manny, Brenda, Rancie, Luz, Linda Mariano, Ted, Standing..Arthur V. Remia Regio, Vicky, Efren

Dinner/ Party after Broadway..Seated.Norman, Lourdes Polintan, Arthur V. Efren..Vicky, Jobum, Ando,

Standing..Rancie, Luz,.Alice, Nora,  Ismael,Linda, Brenda, Manny, Gloria, Pol Polintan, Luz, Roland Singson..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

seated..Efren, Vicky, Jobum, Ando..Standing..Linda, Brenda, Manny, Gloria, Pol, Evelyn, Roland, B. Bulaclac, Ted, Boy Samala,

Biba San Agustin, Lily Samala..

 

Efren, Luz, LInda, Brenda, Vicky, Cristy Bumatay, Evelyn, Roland Singson..

 

L-R: son Jonathan, grandson Nathaniel, Lew, grandaughter Sofia, daughter in law Sara

The gang in NYC: L-R: Manny, Rancie, Efren, Art. Hi Rancie!

Evelyn, “Take me out to the ball game”

Brenda and Luz in Vineyard Haven, MA @ above photo

What a  New England Vineyard Haven  village look like.

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Below: L-R: Lita& Roger Liboon, Nars & Myrlie Casco, Ledy&Milo Jazminez, Norma&Harry Salceda in Marty (Basco) & Karla’s wedding

L-R: Milo &Ledy, Lita & Roger, Myrlie, Luz & Nap, Norma & Harry

Bring out the gowns in this gliterratti of a wedding!.

Photo below: Mon and Minda on their second trip to the Bahamas. It’s better the second time ’round.

L-R: Chicago mini-reunion:  Who is the bunbling bee among the lovely champacas?

Left to right: Ledy Dizon Jazmines, Myrlie Larena Casco, Puring Cruz de los Santos, Myrna Mangcucang Factora and Luz Bunuan Cuaresma

Back: Roger Liboon

 

Photo above this picture:

Front row: Mary Aguinaldo (class 69), Puring’s 2 grandchildren, Puring Cruz, Myrna Mangcucang, Luz Bunuan

Back row: Gaby Factora, Rose Climaco, Rosita Soriao Hernandez, Ledy Dizon, Myrlie Larena, Roger Liboon, and Nap Cuaresma

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 Circa 1972-1973, Brooklyn

“Those were the days, Oh yes, those were the days.”

Photo below: Sitting L-R: Vicky, Linda Santos, Jimmy Chanbonpin, Brenda C

Standing: Ruby P, Letty Molina-Padolinga, Bing Panlilio Quiroz

 

 

BLAST FROM THE PAST: BROOKLYN, MA, Mini below, 43 years ago

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

L-R: Boy Almaria, Jimmy Chanbompin, Bert Lara, Manny de S, Elmo O.

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Happy, Happy Birthday, Jun B

L-R:seated: Mila, Roy, Butch, Jun

standing: May, Gally, Butch’s daughter, Charlie.

 

 

 

 

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Photo below: Happy Birthday Mila!  “May your troubles all be small ones and your

fortune 10×10″

L-R: Roy, their son, Mila’s sister, Mila

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Ed Capitulo on his Holy Land visit @ the house of Blessed Mary

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NATHANIEL HORTILLOSA’S WEDDING OF THE YEAR

Wedding of the Year

Seated: Sophia and Nathaniel Hortillosa

L-R: standing: Jeff, JoAnna, unknown, Jason, Lew, Donita, Jerome

Marty (son of Max&Evelyn) and Carla

Another Wedding of the year

Mon on the zipline on Allure of the Sea cruise ship.

Fear not!

Oma and Ed Capitulo with

Oma’s sisters and brothers in law

Cherie and Neal in their beautiful  summer home in San Francisco

Mini, Evelyn and Cherie in Boston

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The Golf Gang below

The Golf Gang: Roy, Charlie, Butch, JunB and Gally

The Liboon kids with Marites Basco  on the left side and foreground

Monet and Alvin Babista in Apo View Hotel in Davao

Lucio (team physician) with Heat player Mike MIller’sautographed basketball jersey. The World’s Greatest Hand-Me-Down!

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Carter, Ando and Alice first grandson

Already climbing the ladder

Mila and her very happy apo

Roy (holding on for dear life) with children and their kids in Splash Mountain

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Those were the days, my friend, We thought they’d never end.

____________________L-R Noli Cruz, Libby Cruz, Vicky Co, Yet Dizon, Puring Cruz, EENT Professor, Ping Duran, Suzette Correa, two unknown clerks.

 

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_

Monet and Susan Roces, gorgeous as ever.

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Thanks for the e-magazine.

Good job Mini, again you did this with a lot of TLC.

You are a valuable contributor, Mon we always learn something new from tour travelogue and Lew always goes deep down to the psyche and take us with him, we can laugh, sometime foreboding but always interesting and Charles, what can I say, you will always be Charles,naughty but nice. Hope Dante is a good sport or be the brunt of Dante’s thunder. All those very nice pictures, we are all family, and last minute Freddie,  what happen to the picture? did not get permission? It’s OK.  We understand. I’ve seen your lovely daughter so much alike with everybody’s daughters here, a western stance and poise like any American girl. Hope we get more contributors next time around.

Here is a tip, if you have an insight and decide to write something and you really like it, just keep it in the back burner and keep coming back to correct the draft, add more or subtract things, then keep it for awhile and send to Mini for the mag; that will keep it as a surprise item. We all love surprises. Take it from Charles D,our in house artist. Don’t forget Max our man with boots on the ground even at Abu Sayap territory. If he gets

kidnapped we may have to pass another collection. Monet, make sure he is in your radar. Pete and Letty, It’s hard to believe you were able to come back home and stay which is difficult for many who have established roots here. Our hat tip off for those who graduated with honors, we know that was hard work.  Otherwise the majority would have been there too.Why did we not have a Summa Cum Laude? Is it because no one is a son or daughter of any professor? Just wondering.

Again, thanks to MIni, this would not have been possible without her untiring effort. I realize we are just the tip of the iceberg but it’s all we got and we can live with that. Someday, future generation will find our markings, just a footnote of whatever happened to USTMD70. They will find us no different from them, same angst, same interest and aspirations,and perennial curiosity of what’s like living in the world, a privilege for us who are still around to appreciate it. Joe Leoncio

 

MOMENTS IN LIFE by Carol

 

*There are moments in life when you miss someone So much that you just want to pick them from Your dreams and hug them for real! *When the door of happiness closes, another opens; But often times we look so long at the Closed door that we don’t see the one, > Which has been opened for us **
*Don’t go for looks; they can deceive. Don’t go for wealth; even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, Because it takes only a smile toMake a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.
*Dream what you want to dream; Go where you want to go; **Be what you want to be, Because you have only one life And one chance to do all the things You want to do.
*May you have enough happiness to make you sweet Enough trials to make you strong, Enough sorrow to keep you human and Enough hope to make you happy.
*The happiest of people don’t necessarily Have the best of everything; > They just make the most of Everything that comes along their way.
*The brightest future will always Be based on a forgotten past; You can’t go forward in life until You let go of your past failures and heartaches.
*When you were born, you were crying And everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, You ‘re the one who is smiling and everyone Around you is crying.
*Please send this message to those people Who mean something to you > To those who have touched your life in one way or another To those who make you smile when you really need it To those who make you see the Brighter side of things when you are really down; To those whose friendship you appreciate; T o those who are so meaningful in your life. *Stay hApPy without hurting sOmeBoDy !* *
*Don’t count the years – count the memories  

__._,_.___Carol Manahan

Albert Capati DMD with his Novocaine band in Decatur, IL. Can you find Charlie, May, unknown, Mila and Roy in the front row? Do you see Butch

in the second row?

 

 

 

______________________________________________________________

Yet with UP MD 70 class in Hawaii @ Grace’ reunion: L-R: Dr. Victor Nanagas,  Bert Velasco, Yet, Nels Arcega

Lana Daisy @ 8 months. Lana, what big eyes you have!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lana posed during biblical times ________________________________________________________________

A MILLION THANKS from Manny

 

Dearest Ones,,Our classsmates Med 70,

 

In behalf of all attendees we wish a million thanks to the Broadway       Organizers. To Boy and Lily Samala for the after Broadway Show        Dinner held at their 5th Ave. Condominium. It was a sumptuous dinner of       Filipino foods prepared by Lily, of course some are ordered like the cakes       brought by Rancie and Vicky. Efren brought suman and puto, water bottles       and soft drinks and wine.,Linda Fresh blueberries from upstate. Sorry       JoBum & Christie I didn’t ask you, but both of you are a great help       bringing all the daladalahans and helping Lily in the preparation. It was       a night to remenber with cocktails, appetizers, music and hip shaking and       of course the Kodak Moments. Music supplied by CD collections of Ralph.He       was not present. Highlight of the show of course is our one and only       “Gloria” and down deep her heart is  a kind person ,       entertaining and misunderstood by us. Ando had a pose and dance with       her as well as Art. John and Vicky, Ismael and Nora left after dinner, so       they missed the shenanigans, revelry and dancing, but they posed for       another Kodak moment. Max and Freddie and Romo and Ralph we missed your       gig, it will be more fun with Norman around. Probably in Atlanta_Destin       reunion you can render your Music. Pol and Lourdes were all enthusiastic       driving from College,Philadelphia, Linda and Ted flew from        Rochester., Norman and Biba eager meeting every body of course       Norman with his Hallmark smile,Roland relished the presence of everyone       reminiscing those were the days my friend, i thought it never end…Brenda       as usual friendly and gracious.Luz busy with politically correct topics.       Rancie savoring the echoes of the past and ringing in the new. JoBum dance       with everybody and Christie lovely as ever, Alice never leave a dull       moment with her camera shooting everybody and Ando drinking to his heart”s       delight. Vicky always with everyone exchanging greetings and news, while       John took our pictures.Oh Evelyn showed her prowess by dancing with Ed and       everybody. Also Lily brought her “do you think I can Dance….welll she       did. Ismael and Nora watched and smiled all the time.Boy Samala just       enjoying entertaining people and watching everybody is happy. Unexpected       guest is Bee Bulaclac Infantado who was happy to see us all. For me I can’       ask for more.

 

To Efren and Remi  Regio for Chinese lunch at his 81rst and       Lexington condo That was Sunday, Sept.1rst, after 10 0’clock mass at St.       John the Baptist Church walking distance from his place. Linda and Ted       were the first one in church, followed by Art, Efren and Manny. Vicky came       late. She took the train or bus from Toms River.Luz came with his brother       Gonzalo who recently arrived from the Phil.Rancie and Brenda came       together. Another Kodak moments ensued with lots of chit chats, laughter       and jokes.

 

To Rancie Ragon Tolosa for Sushi dinner at Japanese Restaurant       in 2nd Avenue. This was after our “First Date” Broadway musical comedy at       Longacre Theater on Aug. 31.It was a delightful show, Brenda and Rancie       fell in love with the actor Zachary Levy, they waite at the backstage       actually the front theater for an autograph.While Art and me had a pose       with the leading lady Krysta Rodriguez. It was a standing ovation       play.

 

To JoBum and Christie Bumatay for a superb brunch at their       Manhasset Mansion. NYC. It was Tapsilog, Dasilog(daing), Tosilog and       all log logs, name it. There is pancit, but everybody loves the       Halo_halo.Surprise was the presence of Linda Santos Cruz.Ralph and Leni       came and the rest of the Broadway cast except, Evelyn, Vicky and Gloria.       Freddie Donaire supposed to come but he has still guest from the family       wedding.Like any New Yorkers all our host are superb.Ted, Lynne, and Manny       left early for the US Open with Efren and Roland driving us to the       Stadium. Unfortunately our session was rained out. What a day.

 

To Vicky Pingul and John Petrillo for hosting the Crab Lunch in       Toms River. This the adventurous part for people went boating with John.       This was after the lunch. This lunch was all a rquest entree Vicky ask us       what we want during Samalas Party. Ando said Crabs, Efen said Kare kare       and guinatang Mais, Lilly and Boy said anything, as well as JoBum and       Christie. My choice was Pinakbet. again to another surprise was the       presence of Murel and Ofie Ramoso-Mangubat, with the dramatic arrivel of       Robbie and Angie. Another day of camarederie and reminiscence.

 

What we learn from this Broadway Reunion is “Living to the       moment”

 

My dear classmates we all find the  “MEANING  &       SIGNIFICANCE” _–PIPPIN

 

Furthermore, RELATIONSHIPS WITHOUT LOVE LEAVE YOU “empty and       unfulfilled” PIPPIN

 

I hope you waive all the inconsistencies, misconceptions,       indignities i made.

 

A MILLION THANKS AGAIN

 

Manny

9th USTM70 e-magazine

9TH USTMD70 E-MAGAZINE

JUNE 30, 2013

COUPLES FOR CHRIST CONVENTION IN BOSTON

by Mini Festin

L-R: Mini, Boston Cardinal O’Malley, friend Paz after the Cardinal concelebrated a Filipino Mass with some Filipino priests. Behind are Filipina dancers.

3rd CFC Northeast Regional Conference in Bedford, MA By Herminia Festin-NavatoIt took several months and much anticipatory anxiety to plan the Northeast CFC 3rd Convention by the Couples for Christ (CFC)-Massachusetts. And it paid off. The 3rd CFC Northeast Regional Conference at the Bedford VA Medical Center  on October 21, 2006 went smoothly with no glitches. The theme of the convention was “Show His Power and Majesty to a Sinful Nation (Tobit13:6), “ An email group of the steering committee members, set up for the event, helped immensely in communication.Historic Bedford, MA, located between Concord and Lexington, is one of the smallest towns in MA. It has the distinction of  preserving the oldest complete American flag in its library. This was the same flag carried by Nathaniel Page in April 19, 1775 at the beginning of the American Revolution.  The old North Bridge in nearby Concord is where “the embattled farmers stood and fired the shot heard ‘round the world.”  Adjacent Lexington Green is where the first blood was shed in the American Revolution.The timing was perfect. The ride from the different areas of the Northeast was made pleasant by a beautiful scenic view. The  autumn foliage was peaking and the trees were absolutely gorgeous in crimson and yellow. No photo can ever capture the fantastic colors of the autumn leaves.  Bus loads of people from New York,  New Jersey  and Maryland left at dawn to arrive in Bedford, MA on time.The venue, courtesy of Minnie Festin-Navato,  fit the needs of the convention. Held on a bright October Saturday, the ground floor of the Bedford VA Medical Center was all ours to use. The VA employees were cooperative and accommodating.  There was ample parking. Somebody was heard to say, “Massachusetts has something unique to offer us.”The light and sound crew from California, New Jersey and Philadelphia worked all night in the theatre until 5:00am.  At 6am, some of the MA Service Team arrived early to prepare for the event. The registration tables were already set up by the VA Housekeeping employees the day before.  Registration of the delegates started at 7am by the Masachusetts Service Tea.  Distinguished by their green T-shirts,  they  were all smiles as they greeted the delegates.  What was expected to be a chaotic registration turned out to be smooth as people arrived at different times instead of coming all at once.There was a separate place for the children named Kids Day.  In addition, the children were separated  into a younger set (7 and below) and an older set (above 7).  The Singles for Christ (SFC) and Youth for Christ (YFC), took care of  Kids Day.  Separating the kids into two age groups proved to be a wise decision.  Kids of different age groups tend to have different interests.  The volunteers took care of  the kids’ bruises and kept them from fighting one another. The situation was beautifully handled by the volunteers who made sure the kids were filled with activities and suitable kid food .The theatre was packed which left the MA service team, the light and sound crew and some people standing at the back of the theatre. Delegates came from  CT,  DE, MA, MD, NJ, NY, PA, PH, RI and VA. Registration was stopped at 540 and 588 attendees were present  128 kids came.  Ali Sarmiento and Rick Garcia were volunteers who took  candid pictures as they went around the theatre. Some brought their own cameras to capture the memorable event for many years to come.Speakers from the various sectors of  CFC and its Ministries came. The speakers were the following: Joe and Babylou Tale from the Philippines CFC National Council, Joe and Monina Duran from the Florida CFC National Directors USA, Cito and Malen Lorenzo who are Gawad Kalinga Advocates and Sonny Aguling who is the Northeast Regional Head CRC USA.One couple spoke about the power of  prayer. It seems that Immigration Service  people had detained them. CFC worldwide members prayed for them.  Because of spiritual journey and growth, it became a blessing in disguise. After praying so hard, they were suddenly released. Prayers can indeed move mountains. Isn’t God so good all the time?Bebet Benitez of New Hampshire told the story of how she convinced her family to donate their lands in Santa Maria, Laguna, for the Massachuesetts Village. This is the village where the MA Gawad Kalinga will build houses for the poor.Couples for Christ is spreading fast world-wide. It was already established in Iraq but had to be suspended because of the war.  When they  looked for volunteers in the audience to open a CFC ministry in Afghanistan, many hands were raised.The caterer from Panda Express of Medford  lived up to expectations with a price that was hard to beat.  The chefs  came before lunch  to bring  the dishes which consisted of fried breaded lemon chickenladen, beef with broccoli and fried rice. The Panda Express chefs had to pack lunch boxes fast enough to supply the  many food distributors. Despite much apprehension, the food distribution to the participants was well-executed by the usherettes. To help the people recognize them, they wore a distinctive USHER sign on their T-shirts. The usherettes planned and implemented the orderly distribution of food inside the theatre despite the fact that the communication lines were very long. A few out-of-state people helped out too. Thus, the distribution of the lunch boxes to the delegates, who remained in their seats, was done in 20 minutes.  The usherettes also collected the trash after the lunch break so more time could be spent for worship, praise and talks.We should not forget the Massachusetts Service Team and the SFC volunteers who picked up the heavy water bottles, the apples, etc. in heavy rain the day before the convention. Some SFC volunteers arrived one week before the event to map out the logistics and  consolidate the planning, mapping and running of the conference. These SFC volunteers were John Bondad, Stephanie Nethercott, Anne Esperanza, Romy Gerodias, Geraldine de la Cuesta and Ariel Silva.  Ariel Silva, who drove from Philadelphia, is credited for doing the backdrop in the stage.The MA Service Team  had a very good plan that made transportation to and from the hotel timely and orderly. Housing and hotel arrangements were finalized way before the convention.The Flame Ministry Coordinators coordinated the sale of CFC items. The makeshift gift shop, manned by the Handmaids Service Team was selling briskly to the delegates. Green CFC T-shirts for @$10 apiece sold out.The souvenir program, prepared by Gloria Platon and Rochelle Cabo Chan,  was entertaining, newsy and full of pictures. They literally burnt the midnight oil  to complete the souvenir program.Finally, after a lot of pep talk, praying, enthusiastic singing and joyous clapping, the Praisefest ended with a Eucharistic Celebration. Fr. Sebastian, the Catholic chaplain of Bedford VA, warmly welcomed the guests to the VA. He felt honored to participate in a Couples for Christ event and praised CFC for upholding family values. He looked at the children in the front of the pews and commented on how well-behaved they were and said they are the future of CFC.  Fr. Celestino Pascual, the Spiritual Director of the Filipino Apostolate of Boston, was the co-celebrant. After the mass, the  CFC MA Service Team was asked to come to the front of the altar to the thunderous  applause of the audience. One of the New Jersey officers said, “This has been the best CFC convention so far even though this is the third one.”Strengthened spiritually, the delegates went home with a sense of Filipino pride. They were glad to have participated in a vibrant,  uniquely Filipino event that started in the Philippines. It was a happy crowd who thanked the Massachusetts Service Team profusely. They hoped to attend next year’s convention in North Carolina for another spiritual renewal.Couples for Christ, open to Catholics and non-Catholics alike,  started in 1981 when a Christian community in Manila tried an innovative way to evangelize married couples. It consisted of bringing married couples together in private homes for gospel discussions.  Small units of CFC households which meet weekly were formed. A household meeting would normally last 2.5 hours. There are no fees or monetary expenses required.  In Manila, they operate under the authority of the parish priests and bishops.  Immensely popular, this family ministry has now spread to 157 nations. On April 25, 2005, on the Feast of St. Mark, the Vatican granted definitive approval of the statutes of Couples for Christ. This act confirmed permanent recognition of CFC as a private international association of the faithful in accordance with the Code of Canon Law.In 1992, CFC established its Family Ministries. They consist of Kids for Christ (KFC), Youth for Christ (YFC), Singles for Christ (SFC). Handmaids of the Lord (HOLD) and Servants of the Lord (SOLD).  The Family Ministries provide a “womb-to-tomb” ministry.In 1995, CFC established its Social Ministry called Gawad Kalinga. Translated to English, it means “to give care.”  Antonio Meloto from Bacolod, a CFC member, started working with the poor in a huge squatter area in Metro Manila, called Bagong Silang. Finding goodness in the hardened youth gangs, he decided to stem the development of “slum behavior” by building houses to be allotted to the poorest families. As the Bagong Silang project blossomed in the Philippines, he decided to bring Gawad Kalinga to the expatriates by establishing ANCOP (Answering the Cry of the Poor) Foundation. Today, there are 850 GK villages in the Philippines. This year, Tony Meloto and the GK Foundation with its donors, beneficiaries and volunteers received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership.CFC in MA started in September 2002 when the CFC National Director appointed Sid Sawabi as the Area Head for MA. The first contact was made with the Diocese of Springfield. Then CFC members Chris and Nenette Smith moved from UK to Massachusetts. They made contact with Carlos Melocoton, an SFC from the Philippines, who was taking Pre-Theology courses in Worcester. They joined together with Carlo and Merle Samson, CFC from the Philippines, for a household meeting in Sudbury, MA where the Smiths lived. The first CLP conference was held in 2003 in Worcester where Cecile Catalan was designated head for HOLD. This was also attended by Dorie and Jessica. In March 2004, Carlo and Merl Samson met Ed and Agnes Valencia, CFC from the Philippines, who were added to the group in Waltham. Also in this year, Leo and Chie Bartolome, CFC from New Jersey, moved  to Boston. Anna Geron, SFC from Winnipeg, CA, moved to Winchester, MA when she married Bill Danahy. Gene and Evita Florendo attended Chris and Nenette’s household meeting and later hosted a CLP in Lexington. Paz Mendoza, Gloria Platon and Fred and Minnie Navato joined the household meetings in in Lexington in 2005. A CLP was held in Jessie and Emelyn’s house in Holden in June 2005. Ismael Romero, the first SFC -MA brother, brought 6 sisters to a CLP in Lexington.  The first SFC-MA household was born in  in August 2005. By May 2006, the SFC has grown and was split into two: one Brother household led by Ismael Romero and one Sister household led by Vera Flores. Later, Gene and Evita Florendo became the ANCOP-GK Coordinators and Leo and Chie Bartolome the Flame Ministry Coordinators.We would like to thank the Massachusetts Service Team who  came and  made the event possible. _________________________________________ Brandon Mariano, apo of Ted and Lynne,  reading the Words of the Faithful in his First Communion Mass. _______________________________________CHILDHOOD MEMORIES BY MON As a child ,after Mass, it was customary for my parents to drive us around Zamboanga  for a leisurely Paseo  into the countryside and perhaps even to the  Galleras or i believe Sabung in Tagalog  where we could grab a quick bite for breakfast of our native delicacies. Anyway ,at that time we still did not have fruiting Lanzones trees and at a nearby .town, where Rose Climaco comes from, a town perhaps a kilometer or so from the  City Center, I saw these trees laden with those Lanzones visible from the roadside and we proceeded actually ,my parents , being still a child, to to look for the owners and got some lanzones fresh from the tree. I write this particular  episode of my life because such  visions of Surprises can leave an indelible impression  of delight in one’s soul. There are other examples of our peaceful,serene  leisurely life in Zamboanga then that i can reminisce about which you all probably have  had  in your own situation….like my very first and only time i ever saw an upright ,ready to strike hooded Cobra which i saw saw from the  safety of our car in one of these paseos on a Sunday morning and this time about 15 kilometers from the City and driving along the verdant ricefields near a place called Ayala. . it was about  9:30 a m with enough (sunlight to illuminate this Magnificent looking Cobra ready to strike as we had disturbed it with our passing car. i say it was a Cobra because that is the only snake that i am aware. of  which goes upright  with the neck widening in it’s pose as it is about to strike. ( help..is this a correct assumption ? Recuerdos de mi juventud . Mon Happy Fourth of July from Cil and Lito __________________________________________________________________________ Lynn, Leni (Ralph’s wife), Art R’s wife Lena, Art R at  Kueka Lake ” MOMENTS…” (Through the time wormhole, a treasure trove of memories await)  ” OF MICE AND MEN “   or DANTE AND THE PILL (PLACEBO )                                            It started as a lackluster Monday morning and what with overcast skies promising the probablility of rain, there was’nt  much to look forward to in our Pharmacology Lab.class.I could almost hear “The Carpenters” belting out, ” Rainy days and Mondays always get me down”.                                           Then a glimmer of hope to lighten up the day came when Dra. Asuncion asked the future Dr. Ragasa regarding the results of the experiments on renal clearnce rate on a certain laboratory mouse that he had been given charge of caring a week earlier togther with administering the test drug and measring its renal clearance rate. The unfortunate teat subject  was kept locked up in a separate room with Dante the only one with the keys.                                           The once unflappable Dante Ragasa stood up, as i remember, with clearly a bit of intimidation in his demeanor to Dra. Asuncion’s query. Dante : I have some good news, but sadly, some bad news too, to report, Duck-ture.* Dra. Asuncion : What do you mean? Dante : I meant the experiment went on flawlessly, but unfortunately, the “Rabbit died”. Dra. Asuncion: But it was a female mouse, Mr. Ragasa! Dante: What I meant was I tested the mouse’ urine on a rabbit and it passed away ,which meant that our test subject, a mouse is PREGNANT ! Dra. Asuncion : But you were the only one there with the test subject, Mr. Ragasa? For a whole week! At this juncture one could barely hear a pin drop.  Then the room ever so gradually became awashed  with restrained giggles mixed with all sorts of tawdry innuendos, some in the form of light banters, others were downright unkind. Dra. Asuncion : I’m still at a lost here, Mr. Ragasa. Dante : It may well be the first reported case of Parthenogenesis in mice, Duck-ture, but all is not lost. We can have this published in a journal of your choosing, and may I point out that the Readers Digest will pay handsomely for human interest type articles like this! The future Dr. Ragasa was now starting to sweat 50 caliber bullets. Dante: It may have been a delayed placebo effect, Duck-ture. Dra. Asuncion : Do you know what placebos are,Mr.Ragasa? Dante : Just a faint notion, Duck-ture. Then Dra. Asuncion had to explain what placebos are in a nutshell to Dante.  Dra. Asuncion and the class were’nt buying Dante’s roundabout excuses, but this new revelations of  “possible impropriety” had rekindled our class with the prospect that the day was not a total loss afterall and vented its jocular energies at Dante and cried in unison: ” YOU DOITY RAT !”                            * DUCK-TURE :  Doctor. by Charles Dunifer ________________________________________________________________________________ Mini, Luzbella, Lynn at Luzbella’s party Why Am I Hooked to the USTMD70 yahoogroup? Because it is INTELLECTUALLY stimulating. And perhaps that’s all there is to it, unless you all out there silent majority, Vocal Minority and in-betweeneriority supercalifragilisticexpialidoceusities say uddervies. It has not really met all my gopher-it criteria but hat the weck, it can be just plain ADDICTING. It has not made me a saint. Definitely not because I’m still mischievous and dirty. If silliness is a sign of sainthood, I am full of it! It has not made me financially wealthy. Lord knows it increases iPad battery consumption, at least. I have not become healthier physically. In fact, it may not be good for my eyesight, although the photos are to die for. Saintliness, wealthiness, healthiness and the fourth:HAPPINESS. Ah, it is but one out of four! I am truly happy with this group. And it’s worth the priceless ( Bubba’s term ) diamond/ gold / titanium / platinum and mud pack! Plus definitely it makes my 50-cent cup of Maxwell coffee taste like a 350$perounce KopiLuwak. Lew _____________________________________________________________________ Diary of a Pilgrim-Day 1 Aboard JetBlue , flying eastward , I watched the gray horizon gradually turn salmon pink. We arrived 5 hours early for our flight to Manila . During this trip we are referred to as pilgrims.The itinerary for this pilgrimage is ambitious, we thought. It is the first one in the Philippines , arranged for Fr. Fernando Suarez, the healing priest. We were forewarned that being pioneer pilgrims , it will be a learning experience and adjustments have to be done as needed.Our patience will be tested, I feared . But then , pilgrims must be able to make do and adjust to inconveniences .Flying Korean airlines to Manila was a pleasant experience from check in to deplaning. The staff were gracious and attentive. There must have been 2 dozens of pretty young flight attendants dressed in beige and aqua with their hairs rolled in a bun . I can’t tell one from the other. They moved about like dolls I stared at their flawless porcelain- like skin . It seems that that is one criteria to qualify for the job , I thought . I slept throughout the 14 hour flight from JFK to Seoul .waking up only for the meals. The food was fine , considering it was airplane food. We went through security check,freshened up at the Incheon airport. Then, re boarded the plane for another 3 and a half hours flight to Manila. Going through Customs and Immigration at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport ( NAIA) , was not bad . People were friendly and polite. It was almost midnight when we finally reached our room at the Midas Hotel . I was unable to sleep until 3AM local time .There is a 13 hour difference. It was 1 PM , in US. The wake up call came too quickly, it seemed. Buffet breakfast was too abundant . It was difficult to decide what to eat. Fearing , I won’t fit into my clothes in just a few days, I had to exercise self-control to the utmost.Especially because the person next to me was enjoying the spread immensely like a bottomless pit. On the bus by 7: 30 AM, the tour operator reviewed the itinerary for the day. First stop ,was the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, or St. John the Baptist parish, or Quiapo church. Diary of a pilgrim day 2Quiapo Church , as I remember , was always teeming with people.There were side walk vendors selling all kinds of items including herbs for all kinds of ailments Today , the crowd was small . There were no sidewalk vendors . There were small stores several feet away from the church . Perhaps, these are extensions of the Quinta Market close by. The church is located on Quezon Blvd. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Manila . There is a fee to tour the church , 100 pesos for adults , 80 pesos for seniors, 55 and over. >> Photography was not allowed inside the church . Outside are replicas of the Black Nazarene . Here , one can take pictures . One can climb up the steps to access the original . One is permitted to touch and “whisper “to the Black Nazarene . Flash back .When I was a little girl , I walked along side Mama , as she approached the altar on her knees . I wonder what or who Mama was praying for. There were several usually . Today, there was none . Next stop was San Sebastián church .It is located in Plaza del Carmen , Quiapo . It is a minor basilica belonging to the Archdiocese of Manila since1890. It is the National Shrine of our Lady of Mount Carmel . It is the only church in Asia built of steel . Previous churches were destroyed by earthquake In 1859, 1863, 1880. The plaque outside the church says” designed by Genaro Palacios. The structural metal of which this church was built was manufactured in Belgium and was erected by Belgian engineers . The church was blessed in 1891. As I remember , the Recollect Friars ran a school for boys. The school is still there . I am not sure if it is now co-ed , like the other schools , La Salle, Ateneo and others . In this church , I saw a statue of St . Lucy , patron saint for eye ailments . and St Magdalena of Nagasaki whom I am not familiar with On the side walk , outside the church, I saw vendors of mangoes and singkamas . Flash back , as a young school girl at St Paul’s College , I was tempted to try those goodies during recess . But Mama always warned me of possible contamination in the preparation process. I always listened. Today, I watched them expertly peel and slice . I wanted a taste of the yellow green slices , my mouth watering .Ted warned ” You don’t want to be hospitalized like before , do you ?” I did not want to get into trouble and miss a lot . So, I had to listen.Next stop is Manila Cathedral which is located in the walled city . Driving on Roxas Blvd , brought back so much memories . Luneta, Fort Santiago , Aristocrat restaurant , Rizal monument , Grand Stand , Manila Hotel . Dilapidated buildings and squatter areas are part of the scene on the way to Intramuros . It was painful to behold .The Manila Cathedral is also known as the Metropolitan Basilica of the Immaculate Conceptiom . It is located in General Luna , Manila . This is the 8th structure that was built on this site. The first was made of bamboo and Nipa , built in 1581 . It was destroyed by typhoon in 1582 then by fire in 1583. It was rebuilt in stone. It was destroyed by earthquake in 1600 and in 1645 . It was again rebuilt but it was destroyed by earthquake in 1863. It was rebuilt once again . The center of the cross on the dome is a reference point of the astronomical longitude of the archipelago . During the battle of Manila in 1945 , the church was destroyed . Upon reaching the site , we found that the church is closed to the public . It is under renovation . St Augustine church is located on the same street . This was open . A banner hang saying”440 years of Augustinian ” A calesa , brightly colored yellow and green , was parked outside the church. The fare was 350 pesos . Inside St Augustine ‘s church , I found to my delight , St Monica’s statue . I have never encountered her statue until now . Nuestra Señora de La Concepcion is honored in this church also. The tomb of the founder of Manila , Miguel Lopez de Legaspi is in the easternmost chapel . According to the guide , the terms for the American occupation of Manila was signed in the sacristy and the first plenary council in the Philippines was held in the choir loft in 1953.Back to the hotel to freshen up and get dressed for a big thanksgiving celebration at the Manila Hotel for Fr. Suarez’ 46th birthday. There were about 500 of his supporters in attendance. Manila Hotel is as elegant as I remember it to be . The Decor was distinctly Filipino with Capis chandeliers , carved Narra tables and chairs. A Eucharistic Celebration was held , followed by dinner . I was moved to tears by a slide show presentation of the devastations caused by typhoon Pablo and how the missionaries of Mary , Mother of the poor worked together with others to rebuild churches and homes . They ministered to the victims giving them love and hope . Lynne Mariano ___________________________________________________________________________ Happy Mother’s Day From Lynne: “Time out “was what was utilized by our generation ie Confine to the room or sit in the corner “.You are grounded” were the most feared words for a teenager .No belts used or tsinelas on the buttom.My grandfather on my father side came from Spain . I remember seeing a picture of him when I was little . He was white . Wearing a white suit and beneath his picture “ “Don Agustin Aguilar “. I did not find out from my papa , my Lolo’s ancestry . I know nothing of my grand parents from my mother’s side. My mama’s maiden name is Serrano . Likely of Basque origin also. My mama once told me that “A mother’s love is the greatest of all human loves” . My grandfather on my father side came from Spain . I remember seeing a picture of him when I was little . He was white . Wearing a white suit and beneath his picture “ “Don Agustin Aguilar “. I did not find out from my papa , my Lolo’s ancestry . I know nothing of my grand parents from my mother’s side. Yes, Joey , this topic started by Lew , makes me nostalgic . Both lolas passed away before I was born and both Lolos passed away when I was little . Being a Lola myself now, I realize how much loving I missed as a child . Our grandkids are very blessed indeed . I note how our classmates are so devoted to their grand kids. It is heartwarming . With regards choleric temper . Both my parents were mild mannered and soft-spoken My papa was a man of few words. Their children including me , inherited those traits . Our house when I was growing up was peaceful . No big fights . Our 4 sons inherited same . No big fights at home while they were growing up. No , Lew , I don’t have a choleric temper. But , yes , there was an incident or 2 ,when I was pushed to the limit and I got really mad with a capital M. Ted is the same way in terms of temper. Slow to anger . But, can get mad too ,with a capital M. Your Mom was wise to keep the family together, to be with your dad wherever his job was. Her “brood” learned to adapt , ie , resiliency and flexibility . “ONLY AND ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES”, came back to me, vividly ) The familiar name and number, in purple, seemed to leap out from the back of the jersey –that yellow jersey of LA’s famed basketball team.The name spelled B-R-Y-A-N-T, the number, 24. The guy wearing it, though, was neither in LA nor a tall lanky basketbolero. Far from it. He was half a globe around away and way, way too short to be a Laker (which does not necessarily mean he does not play the game at all). Anyway, at this particular moment he really was NOT playing basketball. Rather, he was stationary, standing, facing a concrete wall, head tilted back, as if something reeeally interesting at the top of the wall merited his undivided attention, though all that was there were multicolored glass shards imbedded permanently and whorls of barbed wire…. deterrents to would-be wall-scaling trespassers and “akyat-bahay” thieves. Both hands down, a plume of smoke wafted from a cigarette dangling from his mouth, his back to traffic. Not playing basketball at all, but, hey, was he dribbling? Perhaps? Then…that familiar body wiggle and shake ! You guys know what I’m talking about.( BTW do gals do this body shaking and wiggling as well? Someone, TELL ME ! Pardon me ladies, for the curiousity) One arm made a pulling up motion. The dude turned around and nonchalantly walked away, whistling a tune and alternately drawing from his cigarette. “LAKERS”, the front of the jersey said.. Together with the jersey he wore an airy pair of loose shorts and the ever popular “sipit” tsinelas. Now, very visible was a watery mark he had created on the lower part of the wall. On the sidewalk pavement…..a puddle ( a miniature LAKE?) Nearby was a pile of basura. Flies were hovering and circling about. Mango and pakwan refuse strewn all over had attracted them. A sign crudely scrawled on the wall which the dude had previously blocked partially while “doing his thing” had by now become visible… (This Laker indeed did……dribble and block) The sign said ….”BAWAL ANG OMEHE DITO” Though obviously misspelled it was of course easily understandable and should be heeded. But, NO! I kept my mouth shut about what I had just witnessed. I would not want to cause embarassment to the gals with me in the car.. my wife with me in the back, my younger daughter in front and my niece, driving. I was hoping they did not take notice of the act the Lakers dude just did. (BTW I was going to drive, but my niece, from Manila, insisted on driving, wanting to experience the drive from Manila to Mataasnakahoy. After all, it was her car.) Now, we were leaving the residential part of town. We cruised along. Every now and then a vehicle would cross the median and go against traffic flow, on the other side. Wrong way driving. “Nagka-counter flow” as it is popularly known and done here. They wove from one lane to another. They darted .. They passed with reckless abandon and as they did so one could’nt help but spot on the back of their vehicles that familiar query which goes …”HOW’S MY DRIVING? Call this number” Really !! Are they bragging about the way they drive ? Motorists seemed they just could not stand seeing a space created in front of a slower-moving vehicle. Said space would immediately be filled in by another vehicle that would suddenly materialize and daringly dart in to fill the gap. Whoooosh !! I call these drivers the “Nature Drivers” since this always reminds me of – you’ve heard the saying: It goes…”Nature abhors a vacuum.” As we approached one intersection we came to a halt. We got stuck here for what seemed like forever. Ahead, traffic was at a standstill, “nagka buhol-buhol”. “Ngusuan” (Ngusuan both with with vehicle fenders and with lips as well) Fists were shaken; fingers pointing; heads shaking amidst yelling and honking. Next to our’s was a neat-looking, well-polished new car, occupied by five or six guys.College student-looking, clean-cut, young men, neatly-dressed in their uniforms. They were rather boisterous, loud and looked like they were having lots of fun. Was it because of the traffic situtation?. No. That’s just the way it goes whenever guys get together “in a pack”. Been there, done that !! Then one of the guys excitedly called the attention of his companions, pointed to us in that characteristic Pinoy way (with his nguso ! ) No, I take that back. Not “us”. Not me, not my wife. Rather he pointed to my niece and my daughter. The guys rolled their windows down and hollered….”Helloooo” followed by whistles, hoots !! The girls ignored them, or, pretended to. Out of nowhere someone just started directing traffic (on his own). He, by his looks, was not a traffic enforcer or anybody with authority to have anything to do with traffic enforcement. He was one of the numerous bystanders- wearing short pants, sando and the ubiquitous sipit tsinelas. He was unsteady of gait, red of face and had that sleepy-eyed look of someone who had just indulged in “the spirit” (not the Holy One ! ). He pointed one way, then the other. He waved forward and back. To top it all he even had a “silbato” which he blew on with such display of authority. Voila! It worked. The “buhol-buhol” slowly eased up and everybody went on his merry way. The young ‘uns in the new car waved at us ( I mean at the girls) and sped away having a clear stretch of road ahead. On we cruised along. My daugther expressed amazement at how her cousin drove and mumbled something to her. I thought I heard her use the words “white” and “knuckles” in the same sentence and complimented the cousin for her driving skills. The volume of traffic as expected eventually got heavy; the flow, unbearably slow. Like molasses in January. (Only in a tropical setting). Pedestrians crossed…at will, whenever and wherever they pleased. Motorcyclists wearing jackets ( you’ve seen them ) back side in front, snaked through tight squeezes. They would zip and zoom and zig and zag in between vehicles so close abreast the occupants of one could shake hands with those of the other. And then there was this dude changing a flat tire right there…I could’nt believe it,…right there …on the road…in the way of traffic!. Tricycles heavily laden with vegetables wobbled on the way to the market. Young little girls, hawking leis of beautiful, immaculately white Sampaguita, knocked on car windows as well as dirty-faced kids so little their eye level was below car window level, begging. My daughter rolled her window down, handed the kids and the Sampaguita vendor some money. She was handed back several leis of the Sampaguita. She rolled the window back up, dangled and sniffed the leis and wide-eyedly looked back at us, utterly delighted, and surprised with the rich, sweet fragrance she was unfamiliar with. Eventually we hit SLEX. As my niece rolled her window down to pay toll at the booth guess who would be there paying toll as well. “The Guys” The college guys. As they rolled their windows down they yelled in unison…….”Hellooo again, mga Tisay” Then, boisterous laughter !! “Huh?” my daughter wondered. Her cousin had to explain to her what that was all about. “Oh” Southward on the highway we travelled, at a good pace this time, although every now and then a congestion would be encountered, which would prompt some motorists to pull to and speed up “on the shoulder” of the highway. “There! Eat my dust !”…they seemed to be saying to the more patient ones. As we hit the last Laguna town before Batangas we made an exit from the highway for snacks….tons of them all over the place, espasol, suman, buko, buko pie, fruits, lots of them colorful mouth-watering tropical fruits ! Gobs of other food items. Wow ! Don’t forget the Penoy and the Balut!! (no thanks, I never had a liking for Balut) Then, out of the blue my daughter asked her cousin…..”What does bawal ang YOU ME HIGH mean?” (that was how it sounded) as she pointed to a sign written on the wall. We all looked at the sign scrawled on the wall. (This time it was “spelled correctly”). To this, her cousin pulled the car to the side of the road, put it on park, burried her face on the steering wheel and howled and “convulsed” with laughter, at the same time hitting the dashboard top repeatedly with one hand. Recovering from this after a good while she lifted her face teary-eyed from laughing so hard. Everyone but my daughter was laughing. After some explaining, she laughed with us and then commented….”Oh, I saw one guy doing it, back in Manila, but did not say anything” “So, did I”, said her cousin, “but did not sayanything either. I did not want to embarass you” Now everyone was laughing. Hard !! A real hearty laugh !!. Just bacause of that little sign, that sign warning the would be puddle (little lake?) makers ….. the LAKERS ! Freddie _______________________________________________________________________ Happy Mother’s Day From Lew: Good Sunday morning to all. Cloudy and rainy here, foot gouty. I’m indoors just cogitating. And reminiscing. Me share with y’all, OK? I may just ramble on and on, so be free to delete or ignore. Still, let’s see if this might appear to have a hook, pitch and slant. Nah, I know what Mom will say: ” Anak, that’s useless talk.”Mom passed on at 92 in 2006. Outlived Dad by 29 years. Tough woman. Full of wisdom and common sense. Very headstrong. Very strict. So punitive. So exacting. You’re dead on the spot for breaking the commandment: ” no fighting. So straightforward. Shoots from the hip. Called spade a spade. To her black was black, white was white. And don’t you ever dare tell her a lie. And don’t you ever try to deceive her. You tell the truth and stand right there for Judgment Day and “hello” Purgatory. There was no room for errors. I became a perfectionist and a day-dreamer.Purgatory as we all know in the Philippines came in many sizes and shapes. She would never hit you on the head. She respected what little brain is in there. I always got it on my butt or legs. Pick your executioner instrument. Hands, slippers, belt, or the single coconut midrib stinger. Ha ha, she never pinched me. The nails were for my sisters!Being spanked and castigated by Mom ( yes, it was Mom and Dad never Papa or Mama, never Tatay or Nanay, never Itay or Inay. D’ya git it?) was one of the MOST LOVING EXPERIENCES I ever had in my whole life. She never ceased to explain why she punished me: “I LOVE YOU and I DON’T WANT YOU TO GROW UP BAD”. Eventually I forgot how many times I got spanked. Who cares? It was almost daily. But as the years went by I realized, like finding a DIAMOND in the ashes of the Spanish Inquisition’s lava rocks, that Mom really, really loved me. So I forgave her and thank her for the four hours of death defying “discipline” after I almost drowned in Lupit River outside Bacolod City. I was 9 then. It was summer vacation. I took off with friends while Mom was having siesta. it’s another story.G’day, y’all.About DadThis morning I reminisce on Dad. He should have retired with a rank of General from the Philippine Constabulary. But he opted for the 28-year deal, and no brown-nosing on the politicians. So, there he went, Colonel Cirilo Bayona Hortillosa my Dad and best friend. He retired so young at age 57 or so, just when Marcos was drum beating. Dad had an viable option to ride it out since Gen. Raval was a good friend. Raval was my ninong when I got married. He became Marcos’ aide de camp.Dad was the ever diehard dedicated soldier’s soldier. He was Julius Caesar. It was honor, honesty and integrity down to the last osteoclasts of his sternum. He did not care much for politicians. He just couldn’t geehaw with them. In fact he loathe them. I never did figure out why. But now being as old and “wise” as I am I like to think that I do understand him and I don’t blame him any bit at all. He knew the grief and stultitude of being in a politically compromise command. Politicians in the Philippines flip-flopped. Dad was a solid camagong or narra tree.Dad and I hardly had a tête-à-tête, but his style was a conversation enough for me. I like to think that his vibrations were concordant with mine. He was my role model. Through the years I have always declared that next to Jesus, it was Dad. Not that he was a saint, nor even saintly. But I don’t think it is easy to find a father with Dad’s character fiber. No, we were not clones. I wished I had his disposition. Never got mad at me except once when I bumped his jeep into a coconut tree. ” Gago”, he shouted. I could still hear his voice to this day. Ha! maybe he called the coconut tree stupid for not getting out of my way. He survived Mom’s choleric temper which in itself is a heroic feat. Sorry Mom, I love you regardless.Silly me says G’day to you all. LewPS, about this time in 2005 we flew to Bacolod City. Mom was dying, Katrina was approaching NO. My Mom was a very intelligent Mom. She loved to tell the time when she topped, aka numero uno, the test in Capiz or was it in all of Panay Island the test for all first year high school students. What was it f or? I forgot. Have I asked her what for I don’t recall. Nevertheless, over the years, in my wonderful youth Mom repeated the story over and over again. I remember the times when I’d come home for vacation ( about twice a year from age 14 up until college.) Mom would sew while I sat in front of her just listening on and on to her stories. Aha, wasn’t I doing therapy already by then? When I think of it now, i realize that Mom never got over such a mistreatment. Mom, in my current Psychiatric wisdom had Postraumatic Stress Disorder for many reasons including the stern “discipline” Hispanic style of my dear old Navarra grandfather. ( no, we’re not kastila or mestizo by features. Just a few drops of genes and the so-called choleric temperament. ) OK, why was Mom so repetitious? I think she never found closure because as she always harped, the recognition or honor was taken from her and given to another girl who was far below her in the scores. Kay saklap. But injustices were common in the Philippines even when I was growing up. My olds liked to tell about a Vicente Navarra, an ex-soldier who came in the mid-1800’s straight from Spain and settled down in Capiz province. Navarra’s are a dime a dozen there. I see them in Facebook. We have a bi-annual reunion, spearheaded by my Uncle Bishop Vicente Navarra of Bacolod City. The genealogy was traced back to 5 generations. Supposed to be the first soldier-immigrant Navarra was Vicente too. OK back to my Mom. Mom was a woman of practical sense. When Dad was in the Rock ‘n Roll of his career, Mom decided, come hell or high water that we move around too. Sure ’nuff we criss-crossed the Visayan zone plus a little sampling of Luzon. Ah, sweet youth! We learned good PR, quick fit into a new community, multi-dialects and me Lew The importance of this is how Mom impacts my daily senioritis life. As I grew older, I have become more attention-deficitibilis ( ah, sweet golden days of my Latin years in Peñafrancia Seminary.) I tend to “lose” a lot of stuff nowadays from having ” too many irons in the fire” and from not paying attention. What’s the trick from Mom? Arfilers or safety pins, rubber bands, strings, paper clips botht he little ones and the big black ones that literally clip. Add to that the many sizes and shapes of bolzas or pouches and continers, even used film canisters. Voila! I’m not supposed to lose anything! Generally, I don’t. What’s the big deal? Yeah, I very so often misplace things. Next, Mom’s words of wisdom ring loud and clear. ” Anak, do things have feet?” Lew SUNRISE Hi Y’all early springtime bees, I’ll take my chances, pleeze. Serious or silly Saturday poem? Let’s play. Ahhhhh, ummmm…. A poem on sunrise photos? ‘Yan Ayayay ay Lynne’s utos. Very tempting, hey thanks. Too early, my minds shooting blanks. Maybe a few more sips of Kopi luwak, And the tricky subject I will attack! Ah, but seriously a sunrise is a real thing of beauty. It’s the Good Lord’s handwriting, pretty witty! There’s a whole universal story in it. No need to try so hard to win it. Lew A SIMPLE MAN, MY BARBER Like the sun rays the message spreads out like butter, Simply put it is nothing but Divine Love, no other. I have a new barber. he is my kabalen but we are more comfortable talking in Tagalog. I don’t know why. Maybe because I left my hometown when I was 15 and since then ,been talking to fellow Filipinos in Tagalog .My younger siblings were young when we moved to the city where finished schooling at Mapa High( aka Mapatay), that’s a school in Manila , haven’t seen the place. So my siblings are more comfortable in talking in Tagalog although they know how to speak Pampango. When I speak with them, it’s a mixture of both dialect,.we throw few English to the mix, only when we all moved to the US. My barber talks a lot, not politics, not religion and not gossips which I’m sure he knows but mainly about himself.. He does not know I am a doctor but tried subtly to find out what I do. He just asked if I’m retired and when I said no, he did not asked any further. If he knew I am a physician ,for most Pinoys here, their usual comment is they know someone in town who has a lot of patients and have a large house and drives luxury cars. I wonder if this is a Filipino thing, they always find someone better than you,.yes including you dear reader. I hear this often and one of the reason I don’t tell what I do among strangers, particularly Pinoys.If life is a competition, then nobody wins so let’s drop this attitude if we still have some remnants of it. Someone , somewhere whether we know them or not will always be ahead although, that”s a subjective thing. we tell ourselves, not necessarily a reality. My barber. came from a family of barbers, his father was a retired barber and 2 of his brothers are barbers in California. He proudly speaks of his children , one a nurse, one an X-Ray tech and another the last one still in college studying to be a Pharmacist.He delights in talking about her who he said graduated valedictorian in her high school class and how she thanked her parents in Tagalog with English translations later, when she made her valedictory address. He said his eyes watered but denied he was crying when one of the children noticed his eyes were red.Truly he was, overwhelmed and thankful he is blessed with, loving and smart kids. He tells me he used to live in Chicago a place he never wants to go back because of the snow. While he was there, he went to school as a nurse’s aide and got certified. After he is done cutting hair for the day, ho goes home, eat supper and go to a Nursing Home and work till the next morning. I don’t know how he gets his sleep. He said at night when the patientsleeps, he doze off. He is one simple folk hard working, a simple barber. I like for him to keep talking as I don’t want him to fall asleep. When he was new in the US, he does not know much of the culture. In Chicago, he was in the mall with his wife when for some reason, his wife told him to bring her purse back to the car. Not wanting to get lost when he gets back, he ran as fast as he could at the mall with a woman’s purse. Even before he got to his car, a pair of security men led chase and asked for his ID and where he got the purse. He said it was his wife’s. He was escorted back to the mall to find his wife who was so shaken when she saw him flunked by two security men. All went well and he learned his lesson not to carry his wife’s purse ever, unless he needs money. Nowadays, when he is off, his wife and him play the usual apostolic mission which most Filipinos lovingly and perhaps for some grudgingly do. But not for him, he likes to play with his grandson and takes him to the playground and at times to the mall where there are also play area for kids. I asked him, if he ever thought of cutting his mustache. He said no and asked me why. I said you kinda look like a tough guy, taking along your grandson; you could be mistaken, you kidnapped the kid. His grandson is a mestizo. He said, I never thought about that, maybe I should take her mother along. I don’t know how he would look in the mall with his American daughter in law. I would think he would be like a third wheel and his presence, totally unnecessary. He is a simple man, my barber. JDLeoncio USTMD70 LOOKING FOR MR. GOODBAR I was at Philadelphia in the mid 70s, this movie run for weeks.I never saw it, don’t know the actors or actress but with Google I saw who they were and what is about from the review. If you were single at the time and so I was, the title might have caught your attention. Yes, you know how it feels looking for Mr. Goodbar. If you were married by then; well, you have Mr.Goodbar. If this makes you squirm and say, Hell no!, Calm down, please there is a Mr.Goodbar in all of us. Did he make you more patient ,more tolerant and made you pray more? Congratulations, he is the vehicle for your sainthood. my wife will be one for putting up with me, please. know that we can’t be Mr. Goodbar everyday. VIicky* is one quiet lady, her conversation was limited to saying hi or whenever she request an order or clarification. One day she was at the computerwhile 3 others were standing behind her.looking I’m sure about work and not Match.com. I walked in and Helen* says, Dr.L,would you help us find a new boyfriend for Vicky? The assumption is, V’icky’s current boyfriend is well not exactly Mr. Goodbar. I said, someone as pretty as her should have no problem finding a boyfriend, and maybe why don’t we send her to Richmond and vie for Miss Virginia, then she would attract more men. Helen said, yes maybe she might even make it for the centerfold. I said why not, yes, the centerfold, I did not say that, you did!. This was followed by a group laughter. Vicky had no comment; she was just smiling. I don’t think she minded the joke, It‘s one antidote for the doldrums of another day. She does not need Match.com *not their real names JDLeoncio It was our family’s very first trip to RP and we were on our way back to the States. It must have been in a Korean airport lounge, in a quiet area except for game tables which the kids like. We stayed nearby while waiting for our flight. We were just taking some snacks in one table when one of the kids momentarily strayed out of our sight but we found him in one of the pinball machines busy playing. He was about 12 then. We came over and saw this other Filipino boy of about 14 loading the machine with coins he picks out from his pocket We thanked him and asked where are is his parents. He said he came with one parent who at the time was in the bathroom. We could not wait as our flight was due. He said, our son came over to watch him play and he thought he too might want to play and he let him. using the money he has. Kids make connections with other kids very easy,no thinking, no calculating, His voice was terse and his eyes glistened holding back emotions saying, they were on their way to the States and that our son reminds him of his younger brother who was left behind. I thank him and understood him quite well. I left home and came back many years later. A piece of that boy’s life was torn,.and was on a voyage to a country that will change his life he was not yet aware of. After one leaves the country for the States,one might not come back, months;perhaps many years later and to reconnect is sometimes awkward, and some connections are never the same again. JDLeoncio USTMD70 ______________________________________________________________________ Standing: L-R: Max and cousin Bobby Laurel Seated:   Bobby’s wife and widow of late Senator Sotero Laurel at their own Bayleaf Hotel. Aloha  from the lovely couple Ismael and Nora Holipas taking in the island’s fair, balmy air in the oriental sea A beaming Grace and Yet enjoying Hawaii’s wonderland. Watch out for those waves! In between those two good-looking Hawaiians add to the pleasure! Happy Birthday, Pete. Looking good at 72 in paradise! Our very own beautiful geisha….Phebe Scott Anthony Rose, grandson of Cecile/Lito Liangco Evelyn’s grandson, Dylan with his mom See below: Evelyn’s grand-daughter Kiara Kira Margullo’s first Holy communion Lew’s son Jason standing on farthest left

L-R: seated: Fil Olegario, JB; standing: his wife, Carol, Manny de Sagun

Photo below: L-R: Ismae Holipas & Nora, Lourdes & Rod Polintan with USTMAAA in Hawaii enjoying a luau.

Ando and Alice in their Garden of Eden, Destin, Atlanta and below

Ando and Yet

Lety &  Pete’s granchildren: David was first communicant and Ariana (photo below)

David, you are now as tall as your grandma!

L-R: unknown friend, Donita and Lew. All eyes on Lew!

Ping’s daughter’s wedding photo below

L-R: Pol and his wife, Max, Raffy, Ping, Seth’s husband,

Danny De Leon, Seth, Ping’s daughter

Seated: Monet, Paul G and wife.

LA reunion below: L-R: Manny, Ando, Tony R, Jessie R, Carol, Evelyn

Standing: Arthur V, Concep, Rita, Alice, Rechie, Norma, Harry, Elmo, JunB

Noel, Angie and their first apo: Lana Daisy. What a huggable baby!

Photo above it: Caloy and Brenda enjoying beautiful Paris despite the rain.

L-R: unknown, unknown, Lucio, Chairman elect of the

South Dakota Medical Association. Congratulations!

___________________________________

Decatur, IL with Roy, Phebe, Charlie C and Butch:

Rolling hills, ponds, huge white birches and weeping willows. Very scenic course. Of course great bunch of golfers. 

See photo below: Perfect weather, company, tennis and golf for three days. Present were, Tim and Phoebe, their tennis playing friends, Mar and Siony, Butch, Mila and Roy. Charlie & May host.

grandchildren of Pete and Letty dancing in the rain.

Mattea, JunB’s grandchild among the flowers of Grandma Concep.

Mother”s Day Celebration: Max and Evelyn seated, Harry and Norma standing

 Luz’ Boston visit: L-R: Mini’s son, Eric, spouse, Fred, Mini and Luz C

Minda and Luke Ta Domingo, Mon’s first grandchild. Mon singing a lullabye

Picture on the Nurses’ Lounge in Joey’s Hospital.

 L-R: Jing and Vangie, Ramon and Minda, Armand Wiltz & wife

Boston Duck Tour photo below

L-R: unknown, Max’ son, Max, Evelyn and their apo’s

Boston State House L-R: Max, Norman, Max’son, Evelyn and their apos

Lucio with his patients, the FLA Heat Guards.  GO HEAT!

Can you find Lucio in South Beach Miami in between two 6’9″ Heat guards?

L-R: Pol Lasala and spouse, Angie M, Seth P, Linda R, Ping Duran & spouse, Seth’s spouse, Ato Reyes and Gil Marasigan in Linda and Ato’s house.

Touring Cappadocia by Mon

The whole country  is so historical as one fully realizes while in Turkey. it really is a shame when you visit the country without a prior knowledge of  what is  historical. One has to connect  the past to the present.  I have learned to accept  the. historical past which as a Catholic  is a shame . Once doing this, i have learned to love this country. One must also speak of St Basil the Great, his brother St. Gregory and another St Gregory who are part of our Apostolic Fathers who are some of the greats in their earliest. teachings. Their works are like that of. Ignatius of Antioch, Irinaeus Cyprian, Augustine etc with their Patristic Wrtings.

I think it is a good topic with pictures. It will make us appreciative of our Catholic Eastern Church Fathers, still Catholic with the Great Schism between Rome and Constantinople occurring only  in 1054.

  Mon on a rooftop in Cappadocia, overlooking the town

Linda & Ato (3rd & 4th from right) & their family in Japan. Cherry blossoms at its peak

Grand kids stopping by to wave at Letty C. in Ilocos

Roy, Mila & niece, unknown, Roger&spouse

Max in Rizal shrine

L-R: Roy, Roger Belen, Mila

Noel and Angie G enjoying a typical Israel breakfast. Yummy, yummy!

Angie Guanzon with shcool children in her aunt’s school, Our Lady of Grace School, in

San Carlos, Pangasinan.

Guess Who? She loves to read mystery novels, sew and stay at home.

USTMD70 Graduating Class with letters S-Z in between A-B and B-C

 

Happy birthday to all April

celebrants: Tap Wenceslao (3rd), Aurea Quitoriano (5th), Jugie Juguilon (8th), Evelyn Abola (10th), Monet Abragan (11th), Angie Miguel (12th), Art (Bo) Racelis (14th), Myrle Larena (15th), Boy Samala (16th), Lito Durante (17th), Bee Bulaclac, Bing Orlino (both 23rd), Gloria Tablang (26th) and Offie Mangubat (27th). May y’all have many more to come. Wishing you the best of health, abundant joy, exuberant spirits and good living. Many happy returns!

Happy birthday to all May celebrants: Gally Grajo (3rd), Robbie Diaz (5th), Brenda Caparros-Sison, Mon Domingo (both 10th), Roy Gonzales (13th), Rolando Singson (17th), Rene Grabato (22nd), Elsa De Guzman-Pascual (24th), Rey Lazaro (28th), and Renato Santos, Joe Wu (both 29th). May y’all have many more to come. Live well, love much, laugh often. Many happy returns. Cheers!

8th USTMD70 E-Magazine

8th USTMD70 E-MAGAZINE

MARCH 2013

HAPPY EASTER!

 

Boston Pinoy  Jesus Christ Superstar Musical: A Memorable EASTER,Experience   by Mini F as told to  Cyl Teresa

The Malden Chapter of the Boston Filipino Apostolate (BFA) celebrated the 2008 Easter season with a different theme this year.  They presented  a  Pinoy version of the Jesus Christ Superstar Musical Show on April 13th. It was held at the Social Hall of the St. Joseph Church.

To begin, I’d first like to acknowledge the composer of Jesus Christ Superstar, the genius Andrew Lloyd Webber.  His composition is a true magnum opus.  It is evocative, passionate and timeless.  Although the Resurrection was never presented with the same dramatic impact as the Crucifixion, his Jesus is both human and divine. His Judas is a true tragic hero.  Webber brings up issues that continue to challenge our understanding of the Bible.  Doubtless, Jesus Christ Superstar is a great, modern classic.

I’d like to remind people that this is what our amateur production was up against.

However, what we lacked in professional experience and resources, we made up in passion and enthusiasm. The songs of our shortened production were chosen to highlight the important events of the Holy Week.  Although some of the choices were a little unconventional (did we really need ‘King Herod’s Song’?), others (’Gethsemane’ and ‘Pilate’s Dream’) were inspired.

The casting was excellent.  Michael Andree P’s  performance in ‘Gethsemane’ would bring anyone to tears.  Few could have done a more touching Jesus.  Judas (John K) and Mary Magdalene (Rona M), while their roles were smaller than the original play, were still strong in their supporting roles.  Even the minor characters were well chosen.  I especially like to highlight Caiphas (Joe K), whose improvisation during ‘The Arrest’ helped keep the anachronistic feeling of the play.

Ramon R effortlessly changed his usual smiling demeanor to realistically play the role of a grim and somber Pilate.  Danny T portrayed a less sarcastic, more comic Herod. The King Herod dancers  gracefully swayed and gyrated to a catchy tune to the delight of the audience. JR P played an enthusiastic and sophisticated Simon Zealot. The band, led by Rev. Jeremy H, carried the show  and swept the audience with its spirited performance.  Thankfully, the band provided our cues to almost everything. Following Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem surrounded by an adoring crowd, the scenes of the whipping of Jesus Christ by the Roman guards, His carrying of the cross prodded by a jeering and mocking public and His crucifixion were distressing.  During these scenes, the audience watched in silence.

Not that it was all clear sailing.  As usual, the production was fraught with unforeseen problems.  Fitting in the rehearsals between the choir practice  and the Saturday afternoon Mass at the St. Joseph Church never left us enough time and we were always rushing to get out before the 4 PM Mass.  Rehearsals in other venues were plagued by missing actors, late starts and unfamiliar surroundings.  Extra congratulations should go to our choreographer (Charmaine P) for her dedication and the fact that she actually managed to get any of us ready for the two dance productions. The stage manager (Christine T) made sure that the props, the stage crew, the lights and the sounds were actually there. She was all over the place. The Pinoy community’s  appreciation goes to  Annie T, the Executive Producer,  who made the effort to get us all together for this presentation.

The placement of Jesus and the Apostles in the last supper scene  followed the  arrangement of  the Da Vinci’s famous painting of the Last Supper. It may not be historically accurate but it was artistic and familiar to the audience.

On the other hand, I must really express my admiration to the director (Edel T) for balancing the creative process.  She managed to keep us all focused without becoming dictatorial. Yet she also was able to accept suggestions from the rest of us without losing control.  She could sometimes be blunt, but she did it with the best intentions. Without her little director’s notes at the end of each rehearsal, we would not have had nearly as good a production as we did.

The day of the play was hectic.  A few missed cues, some scrambling that might have been avoided.  However, despite the minor fumbling, we managed to get through the play and really show what this celebration means to us. With more adequate costuming, the show would have been spectacular.  All in all, the play was a great success, considering the time constraints and the meager experience of the cast.

Originally published at Pinoy Ads CentralMini, a member of the cast,  is 5th from the left at the after-party.

POPE FRANCIS EASTER MESSAGE

” …..Be not afraid of God’s surprises.  Never  lose confidence during the trials and tribulations of daily life, and if (we) have strayed,  let God back into ( our) lives.  …….Let the Risen  Jesus enter your Life.  Welcome Him as a Friend, with Trust. He is Life ! If up ’til now you have kept Him at a distance, step forward. He will receive you with open arms… “.

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Ted (with blue shirt) and Lynne (beside him) visited
Fr. Suarez, our healing priest, in  rural Iling Island, Mindoro.
Fr. Suarez started the Order of the Missionary of
Mary  Mother of the Poor with 23 seminarians.

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LIFE IS GOOD

Life goes on, life is good

Sometimes bad is thrown in with the good

But sometimes what seems bad is actually good

And what seems good is in reality bad

The monster storm may strand some in unlikely places

Chance meeting may lead to life changing event

Isolation with family may enhance bonding but may trigger strife

Isolation…contemplation…self discovery

Solitary walk on virgin snow, chance to say thank you

Life goes on, life is good

PETE CALOPE

RECUERDOS DE VIERNES SANTO EN FILIPINAS

A happy and blessed Good Friday morning to you all,
Fresh memories of a Good Friday in the Philippines,
etched indelibly in the thirteen year old boy’s impressionable mind.

In the Poblaciòn practically “everything” grinds to a soft buttery halt.
Motorized traffic is kaput. People walk. All radios are silent.
Mostly everyone stays at home, specially the terrorized children.
Myths and superstitions abound even in the local mercado.
” Walang karne, paciencia na hô kayo Mang Ambô.”

” God is dead. The devil and the evil spirits roam the earth “.
” Don’t do anything stupid or risky. You will be sorry.”
” Leave that knife alone. If you get wounded, your ‘ samàd ‘ will never heal “.

Before 1 PM the local church is abuzz and filling to capacity.
Most women with veils on and abanicos have shuffled in.
Wives drag their husbands by the ears tagging them along without mercy.

The heat of early Philippine summer is unbearable.
The Church microphone is tested quickly with a whispered hellooooooooooh.
Then Father Puertollano delivers a “Siete Palabras” with fire,brimstone and sweat.
The women sob. The men bow their heads and cover their mouths with hand.
Some kids still giggle. “Pssst” plus kuròt ni Lola.
The Acolyte wilts under the putî na suot nang mga acolytes. Ahh,sutana?
Dî na bali. He is cool kasi panay tingin doon sa tisay sa first pew. Ang ganda!

The fiery homily is over about 3 PM. After the final prayers, lahat go home na!
Some Lolos and Lolas do the Via Crucis. Father Jorge hears confessions. Same sins.
In the late afternoon the “pasion” is chanted mostly by women in some homes.
It’s the other main event of the day. I didn’t understand any of those wailing.

The men play cards and smoke. The world goes on for Mang Karî.
He has to consume his tubâ before it turns to vinegar. His speech slurs.
The town is spooky even for dogs. They howl with Lola Tikay’s undulating voice.

Lew

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Phebe’s painting  of her home and garden in Cagayan de Oro

 Mini’s paintings: “Three Horses” above and “Two Horses” below

Mini’s paintings hung in the Executive Room of her hospital for several months.

She was a first place winner in the Regional Music Competition of the Veterans Arts Festival with her piano rendition of “Sampaguita” and thus qualified for the Nationals.

Use this link to download video:  http://www.filedropper.com/video0004_1

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ROUNDING WITH THE DOCTOR

A WALK IN THE GARDEN

Hi! it’s a pleasure to meet you. You are from USTMD70?”

“Yes”.

“Me too. Come, we’ll take a walk in the Garden.”

“Wow,such beauty, in my life;this is unimaginable… things I would

have called, ” out of this world.”

“You would agree, nothing you’ve ever seen before.”

“Absolutely! Thank you so much; you are so kind and hospitable and

appreciate your having me, but I’m curious, you said we belong to the same class?”

“Yes.”

“Why on earth have I not met or saw you ?”

“Two reasons my dear friend.”

“First, you were not in my classroom and second,

you didn’t show up for reunions.”

“The good news is you can stay in the Garden with me,

but that time has not come. Yonder I see the sun’s rays

breaking in the horizon. You have to go back; someday

we’ll meet again.You could still meet my friends,

and yours, or relate with them in any

way you can; it’s in your time..”.

“Time,.. is on my side. Yes it is”.

—-The Rolling Stones.1964

“Is it really?”

JDLeoncio

Easter in Los Angeles

L-R:seated: Evelyn, Max, Connie, Carol

Standing: Harry, Norma, Oma, Ed C:

I’M PROUD TO BE A CATHOLIC

LENT starts tomorrow 2/13/2013.
It’s that day again when we get branded as Catholics.
For us balding men there’s no hiding it.
And once marked I am not supposed to erase it.
” Huwag mong burahin sapagkat ‘yan ay laban sa mga masamâ.”
If I erased it now or later, why get branded in the first place?
Makes no sense.
So I carry it around.
“Hey, you’re Catholic.”
Big whoop!  I’m proud to be a Catholic.
Why?
It’s not because of the black cross on my forehead.
It’s the fact that I am one of the elite 1.2 billionaires, ( not money-wise) for
I receive a yearly reminder: ” Memento Homo qui pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteres.”
Yikes, I’m really dust? Stop that vacuum cleaner.
No wonder I have the “Mi-dust touch”!
Everything I touch turns to dust!
No wonder I don’t like to touch people!
And I don’t like to be touched either.
Cuidaw, Dudes and Dudettes, “NOLI ME TANGERE! “So, OK I digressed.
Back to the CROSS-INVITATION-REMINDER.
Again it is not the Cross on our forehead which marks us.
Rather it is the CROSS marked in our HEARTS and MINDS.
JESUS invites us on a daily basis.
“If you love me Child and you want to be my Buddy, hey follow me.
Take up your Cross. It weighs as much as iPhone 5. So don’t whine or fuss”.More than an invitation, as we grow older it becomes a COMMAND.
At this age Lew Hortillosa y Navarra, M.D., aka Christianuspinoyakus,
realizes that he has NO CHOICE but to follow.
Now wait a minute, not that 3-ton hickory on me back!
“No, silly! It’s the little crosses in life, you must carry.”
What?
” Yep, that’s your VIA CRUCIS and it’s bloodless too.”
Laser crosses, anyone? No worry, the app is already downloaded and etched.Let’s be realistic.
There are big bigger biggest crosses available in the Christian smorgasbord
of “Lord, don’t leave me behind in this supecalifragilisticexpialidocious journey.”
And what’s in your wallet, er on your forehead?  Lew

L-R: Noel & Angie visiting Letty and Pete

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My dear classmates, after the fun and camaraderie that we had in Cebu, it is very sad to inform all of you that our dear classmate Gus Rodriguez has joined his Creator last night Jan. 22 at 10 pm at the Perpetual Soccor Hospital in  Cebu,  Let us all as one pray for the eternal repose of his soul and may God accept him in His glory!

Monet

Gus looked so alive in the Mabalakat reunion

photo that the news of his passing hit me

like a thunderbolt.  I never met him but

handling his photos made me feel like

I had connected with  him. The class

donated $500  from the slush fund to help with medical expenses and some classmates gave

individual  financial gifts. And he emailed us his deep gratitude.  Little did we know that would be his

last words with us.   May Gus through the mercy

of God rest in peace.   Mini

I spoke to Melba  Abadilla a few times and

found her to be  very friendly and articulate

even though we did not really mix in

medical school.  In the US, she worked hard as an employed physician for six years. When she resigned to go into private practice, the hospital

had to employ four physicians to replace her! She wanted to come to our reunions but  was not able to. She looked fantastic in her photo in our souvenir program. I am saddened by her passing and also happy that she is going to a  better place. May she rest in peace  Mini

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MOMENTS…

(Greg Aglipay on the loose through the time vortex)

By Charles Dunifer, M.D.

“TO POSE OR NOT TO POSE”

It was one of those dreary mid-first semester days that was made drearier by the fact that the only excitement in the horizon is a thought-provoking recitation drill in the subject of Otorhinolarynglology by the professor of note, Dr. Llamas whose primary goal was to turn everybody in his class into some renown ENT specialist! I remember our class’ mood was that of restraint anxiety on who’s to be tested first regarding his wisdom on the subject. Some were having attacks of Bruxims, some were sweating up bullets, and others were restraining some alimentary functions not mentionable in polite conversation, and the beat went on! It reminded me of some Oscar night: “ The envelope please…and the winner is Mr. Gregorio Aglipay! “ The rest of the class fell silent’ most were relieved for not being called though some were concerned because they knew that Greg was unprepared and a lot would fall on them if Greg could not please Dr. Llamas with a good answer.

“Mr. Aglipay, Dr. Llamas started, ‘What is Nasal Obstruction?’ “Greg paled at the question, looking like a lost sheep thinking, “Why Nasal Obstruction?’ I could map out the entire Kieselbach’s Plexus. I could even trace back where each sinus drain in detail, but Nasal Obstruction? Where did it come from? Greg looked up at the ceiling as if the answer would fall down like mannah from heaven on a silver platter. He looked Eastward, then to the West all this time whispering, “Nasal Obstruction” like his personal mantra. It so happen that , a Peter, Paul and Mary number from some radio outside waywardly drifted into our classroom as if hinting to Greg that his number was up, “The answer my friend is blowing in the wind, The answer is blowing in the wind.” Having taken the hint from the song Greg did the unthinkable: He started to pose. He posed like James Cagney. He posed a.k.a. James Dean. Dean. He acted like James Bond. This went on for a good 2-3 minutes! Then Dr. Llamas had had enough and quoted the phrase that would haunt Greg like a spectre for as long as he lives: “POSE KA NG POSE WALA KA PALANG ALAM!”

Years later, in one of our Class Reunions (L.A. 1993), I had the rare opportunity in asking Greg Why did he pose as he did way back then. Greg was with his lady friend then, some girl named Rita who kept on throwing furtive glances my way , but that was another story. Our conversation went along these lines:

Me: Say, Greg, what really made you pose (and posed and posed) way way way back then?

Greg: Look, Chuck, the man POSED me with a question and so I POSED and POSED as my answer. It’s only “Quid pro Quo. Made sense, didn’t it?”

Me: “Well, maybe in your Solar System, Greg !” And we both laughed uncontrollably !

“ BUSY HANDS ARE HAPPY HANDS”

On a separate incident, Greg conveniently forgot to do some reading again for an impending recitation and decided to play Quasimodo with our  school bell and stated tinkering with the device disconnecting its wires !

Ever wondered why the four o’clock schoolbell failed to ring one time? It is a tightly held secret (’til now).

L-R:Tony & Jessie, Rita, Rechie & Elmo, Carol, Norma & Harry, Ed C, Oma, Concep,JB

Ed C’s birthday party: L-R: Oma, Concep, JunB,   Tony & Jessie Romero, Rita, Rechi & Elmo, Carol, Norma & Harry, Ed C

______________________________

   L-R: Tom, Dylan, Evelyn A in Australia

Sumptuous breakfast in Linda Reyes’ house

L-R: Pura, Seth, Raffy, Efren, Linda, Ping, Manny,  Pol, Danny Paul and Yet

L-R: Pol, Danny, Paul, Ping and Renato S; Linda standing

Kanin club: L-R: Renato R, Raffy, Pol L, Pol’s wife, Amanda Palaganas

KANIN CLUB DINNER WITH AMANDA PALAGANAS:

L-R: Ping, Renato, Raffy, Pol, Pol’s wife, Amanda, unknown, unknown, Pura, Neneng

Gozar, Neneng’s husband, Pura’s husband, Linda B, Paul G

L-R: Pol L’s wife, Amanda, unknown, unknown, Pura, Neneng Gozar

Kanin Club photo below: L-R: unknown, Pura, Neneng Gozar, her husband, Pura’s

hubby, Linda B

Ed C and Mila G, Manny  with other classmates in the Sinulog Festival in Cebu

L-R: Ping, Gally, Butch, Phebe, Ed C, Monet, Rod P, Pura waiting for new arrivals

Last instructions before  the class picture

Watching the Sinulog, in matching blue shirts and hats. L-R: Oma, May, Mila

Class picture with the Bishop

Seated: L-R: Suzette, Nilda, Luz D, Mila, Monet

Standing: Vicky, Brenda, Lourdes P, Roland, Gally

Princesita (standing first on L) and Ronnie J (sitting first on R) with Mila, Roy

and their relatives

Seated: L-R: Luz D, Mila, Monet

Standing: Ronnie J and Art J

Below: Roy, Billy Villanueva, Boy Gatchalian, Danny de Leon, Ric Galang, Paul Garcia

Outdoor Sinulog festival gathering: L-R: Elmo Orlino, Efren R, Nilda B, Roland

In the foreground: Minda and Mon, having lunch in the Seven Hills overlooking

the magnificent mosque in Hagia, Sophia.

L-R:Roy, Jason, Anabela with Gemma and Mila

Gabby, Roy and Mila’s grandaughter &  Rachel’s daughter, was the sole model in the cover page of  Leapfrog.com.

Photo below: L-R: Pura. Seth, Raffy, Renato and Linda, Yet, Pol L, Danny, Paul G, PIng

Yet’s despedida party

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L-R: Yet Dizon’s family reunion:   Yet’s sister Lilia, Meng, Yet and his brother Mon

Manny’s Despedida: L-R, Danny, Seth, Pol L, Manny de Sagun, Paul Garcia, Pura Raffy

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Tippy Toeing

I got a hack.
I’m tippy toeing back.Lesson learned.
No dollar earned.Watch the blogs.
There are hidden bogs.You fall into one,
You lose your fun.We love ustmd70atyahoogroups.
No matter if we find some oops.Good day to y’all silly geese.
May you all enjoy your cheese.Now smile,
Let it last a mile.
Lew

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  The Officers of UST CLASS 1970  for 2013:

                                President:            Linda Balatbat Reyes

                                Vice President :   Jesusa Policarpio dela Cruz

                               Secretary:              Aurea Santayana Quitoriano

                                Treasurer:              Rafael Poblete

                                Ex Officio Officers and Board of Directors:

                                                                 Ramon Abragan

                                                                 Angie Miguel Aguirre

                                                                 Pura Rodriguez Caisip

                                                                Jose Duran

                                                                Lito Durante

 USA officers

      President                                          Armando Dijamco

     Vice President                                   Cayetano Dizon

     Secretary                                            Evelyn Austria

     Treasurer                                           Brenda Caparros

Past Presidents (USA)                  Past Presidents (RP)

    Guadalupe Sitjar                             Apolonio Lasala

    Roger Liboon                                   Monet Abragan

    Maximino Basco

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Bayanihan  GK Village Groundbreaking

Dear Classmates and AllIt was a perfect day, sunny, cool and breezy Sunday morning on Feb. 3, 2013 when we started from Mabuhay Restop at Rizal Park. There were 25 of us which included the the USTMD70 group composing of Charlie and May Capati, Linda and Ato Reyes, Pura and Ed Caisip, Art and Emmy Jurao, Danny De Leon and Pol Lasala. There were eight representatives from the Balon Intramuros informal settlers’ Kapitbahayan group and then the leaders of the Kalinga Intramuros movement, Gerry Isada, Benjie Roque, Dodie,and Rose Cabrera with husband Bong and their son Rafa. The first picture showed the ten of us real cozy in the new Starex minivan of Ato and Linda on the way to Trece Martires. The second picture is the “groundbreaking”. The third is the plan for the entire project where an 11 hectare land donated by Citiland will be the site of numerous villages. The site is well situated sitting on high ground and surrounded by factories providing potential for jobs. Citiland is also donating a village which is already being built. We will be the second village to be built starting in March. A Bayani Build composed of volunteers from all over the world and also locally together with the beneficiaries will include our village among 34 sites all over the country. The site has provisions for community farming, orchards, animal husbandry. There will be utilities hook up from the local government who is also very involved in the project. They will also build villages within the site.There are about 3,000 families to be relocated from Intramuros. The goal is to provide decent communities to live in for them and also for Intramuros to be a showplace. With the enthusiastic support for the movement, I am optimistic that our involvement will be a source of pride for our class leaving a permanent legacy.Charlie and May Capati

USTND70 classmates present are President Linda Reyes, Pol Lasala, Danny de Leon, Pura Caisip, Art Jurao, Charlie and May Capati.

Picture below: On the way to GK groundbreaking in Linda Reyes’ van

L-R: Charlie C, Linda B, Art J, Myrna C, Danny De Leon, Pura, Emmy Jurao, Pol Lasala

GK Groundbreaking Ceremony with Pol L and May C doing the honors

Hi Classmates and all, Our scheduled groundbreaking for our USTMD70 GK village in Trece Martires, Cavite is scheduled on February 3, 2013. Those interested in attending are requested to go to Mabuhay Restop at Rizal Park at the intersection of Roxas Boulevard and Teodoro Kalaw towards the bay on the same side of US Embassy. Meeting at 9:00 AM and leaving right after for Trece Martirez. Please call me if you have questions at 0916-645-4910. Those going direct will have directions texted.Attached are some pictures at last night’s affair hosted Linda and Ato Reyes at the Valle Verde 5 Clubhouse. Great food and exquisite Alamid coffee. Those very fortunate ones who attended(over 40 in all) had a great time. Thanks so much, Linda and Ato. The 3rd picture was at Watami Japanese restaurant at Glorietta 3, a sumptuous lunch hosted by Tony and Vicky Dy. Thanks, Tony and Vicky!                                 Charlie and May

Rose Climaco hosted a dinner  for classmates.

L-R: L-R: Manny De Sagun, Nel(bf of Rosé), Rose, Ofie, Victorina, Tony Dy, Greg Aglipay, Monet, Raffy, Ping, Max, Gally. And Evelyn. Taken at Mesa Restaurant along Tomas Morato in QC.

Gawad Kalinga group picture: (See below)

L-R:

Ando Dijamco, Max Basco, Paul Garcia ,Pol Lasala ,Raffy Poblete ,Winnie Lucena ,Ed Capitulo ,Myrna Capati ,Seth Policarpio ,Oma , Alice Dijamco ,Evelyn Duran , Charlie Capati , Ping Duran ,Pura Caisip , Linda B.Reyes .Neneng Gayos-Gozar left a tad early.

Group picture at Watami  Restaurant

L-R: Roy, Ping, Charlie, May, Linda R, Evelyn Duran, Victorina Co,, Mila G, Pura, Ed Caisip, Tony Dy, Renato Reyes

Below: L-R: Tony Dy, Evelyn Basco, Victorina Co-Dy, Rose Climaco, Suzette Correa, Nilda Balbago, Efren Regio, Ping Duran

Standing: Monet, Renato Santos, Manny De Sagun, Max

Group party @ Trece Martires hosted by Vicky Co-Dy & Tony Dy

First row – Alice Dijamco , Luming ,Suzette Correa, Winnie Lucena , Vicky Co-Dy ,Myrna , Seth Policarpio ,Linda Balatbat-Reyes ,Tessie Aguas, Nilda Balbago ,Pura Caisip
Second row  -Charlie, Paul Garcia Ed Capitulo , Manny de Sagun ,Efren Regio ,Tony Dy , Raffy Poblete ,Ato Reyes ,Ping Duran Danny de Leon, Pol Lasala ,Max Basco ,Renato Santos

Pix below: :L-R: Manny De S. Monet, Tony Dy. Vicky Co-Dy. Suzette, Nilda, Efren, Renato Santos, Ping Duran

 Water Tank at Iligan donated by USTMD70

L-R: Lerma (sis of Mila), Mila G, unknown,  Roy G, Monet, Bishop of Iligan

Golfing in Del Monte

L-R: Roy, Monet, Phebe, Gally, Charlie C, Butch

JunB on the way to the OR  with Ed C

Max and Evelyn, Harry and Norma visiting JunB

We are praying for his rapid recovery.

Lucio Margallo below: Come Fly With Me

Kira Margallo, second grade basketball player

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News Item on Dr. Rene Factora

 A son of our classmates ( Gabby and Myrna Factora) is being quoted by international news regarding presidential aging…

Subject: Fw: Ronan quoted in Sydney paper, washington post, Seattle times, etc.

Getting old fast comes with presidential seal Sydney Morning Herald ”You see it over a term,” a physician specialising in geriatric medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Ronan Factora, says. ”It’s a good study of chronic …

L-R: Charlie C, May C, Angie M, Cecile Marvilla and husband Lito

L-R: Danny, Pol L, Carmelita Reyes, Cecile, Sylvia’s hubby, Mile, Charlie (standing) Roy

L-R: Luz, Sylvia and hubby sitting, Cecile, Brenda, Tom and Evelyn

L-$: Roland, Bert (Seth’s hubby), Pol, Butch, Charlie, Ed, Ando, Ping, Cecile’s husband,

Lito, Roy and Pol

 Mactan Cebu Reunion: GK Meeting at Mabuhay Restop

L-R: Renato and Linda, unknown, May C, Pura and Charlie C

Cebu Reunion: L-R: Gally, Butch, Monet, Lerma (Mila’s sister), Mila, Roy

 Manila Mini-Reunion at the Alex III Reunion in Ortigas

Left to right  Efren Regio ,  Bert, husband of  of Seth Policario. Monet, Raffy, Linda/Ato Reyes, Renato Santos, Seth, Pura, Ping Duran, Manny Fe Sagun, Aurea and Dick Quitoriano were also present but were late as well as Paul Lasala and wife.

Monet

First Arrivals L-R: Roger L, Gally, Phebe, Pol (in front), Ronnie Jariol (behind), Monet, Danny De Leon, Butch G, Ping Duran, Pol Lasala 

Class Picture Below

Front row: Ping, Max, Monet, Pol, Ronnie Jarriol

Second row: Myrlie, Rechie, Mila G, Suzette C, Nilda B, Lourdes P, Myrna, Seth, Carmelita Reyes-Mallari, Angie M, Ruby Abragan, Pura

Third row: Aurea, Sylvia, Brenda, Luz, Norma, Evelyn, Alice,Linda B, Vicky Co, Princesita Jabido, Ed C (standing)

Fourth row:  Roy, Charlie, Elmo O Harry S, Manny, Roger, Butch, Gally, Ando,

Efren, Renato Santos, Roland

Front row: L-R: Ronnie Jariol, Art J, Ando

Standing: L-R: Pura, Nareng Soon, Lorna Saure, Seth, Carmelita Mallari, Rechie, Aurea, Suzette, Linda’s husband Renato behind her, Alice, Linda, Ruby Batan, Roger.

L-R:  Ando, Max and Ed C entertaining

Gawad Kalinga Couple & Leaders: May  (Galang) and Charlie Capati

Roger L and Phebe L showing their dancing skills

R: Phebe, Angie, Alice, Brenda, Luz

Standing: Gally, Monet, Evelyn, her spouse Tom, Ed, Butch, Seth

L-R: Emmy &Art Jurao, Efren R, Suzette C, Nilda B, Manny de S, Luz D, Mila, Roy

Front row: L-R: Suzette C. Nilda B, Luz D, Mila and Roy, Ruby Abragan

Standing: L-R: Harry S, Brenda, Roland, Efren, , Butch, Ronnie Jarriol, Ed C, Gally, Monet, Phebe   

Seated L-R: Harry, Evelyn Basco, Roger, Roger’s spouse Lita, Myrlie

TIME OUT: Front row: Ping, Max, Monet, Pol, Ronnie Jarriol

Second row: Phebe, Myrlie, Rechie, Mila G, Suzette C, Nilda B, Lourdes P, Myrna, Seth, Carmelita Reyes-Mallari, Angie M, Ruby Abragan, Pura

Third row: Aurea, Sylvia, Brenda, Luz, Norma, Evelyn, Alice,Linda B, Vicky Co, Princesita Jabido, Ed C (standing)

Fourth row:  Roy, Charlie, Elmo O Harry S, Manny, Roger, Butch, Renato S, Gally, Ando,

Efren,  Roland

L-R:front row: Aurea, Mila, Myrlie, Alice

Second row: Lourdes, Pura, Linda, Luz, Brenda, Carmelita Mallari-Reyes, Phebe, Seth, Myrna, Sylvia, Evelyn

Front row: L-R: Suzette, Nilda, Luz, Mila, Monet, Ruby (Monet’s spouse)

Victorina Co, Brenda, Lourdes P, Roland, Ed C, Monet, Art J

Just arrived at the hotel lobby   

L-R: Roy, Myrlie, Ronnie, Mila, Charlie, Myrna, Phebe, Monet, Art J arriving @ hotel

Chance meeting between Monet and Pilita Corrales in Ninoy Aquino International Airport

 Cebu golf course L-R: Monet, Roy, Ed, Phebe, Gally, Charlie, Butch

L-R: Suzette C, Efren R, Nilda B, Roland S

Behind: Oma,  Charlie and May C, unknown, Ed C, unknown

Cebu Reunion’s Romantic Couples

Evelyn and Tom

Linda and Ato Reyes below

Pura and hubby Ed

Roger L and wife Lita

Foreground: Rechie and Elmo

Standing: Ronnie Jariol and wife Belen sitting

Sitting: L-R: Renato Santos, Roland S, Manny De S

Standing  Rod P, Efren Regio

L-R: Harry S, Evelyn B, Roger and wife Lita, Myrlie

Photo below:

L-R: Roland, Evelyn B, Roger and spousea Lita, Myrlie

L-R: seated: Seth and hubby Bert, Aurea and Dick, Rechie and Elmo

standing- Pol L, Carmelita Millare, Danny De Leon

Cebu Reunion’s Romantic Couples

Rechie and Elmo

Aurea and Dick

Tony and Vicky (Co) Dy

Cecilia Maravilla Liangco and hubby Lito

Lourdes and Rod Polintan

Ruby and Monet Abragan

Emmy and Art Jurao

Mila and Roy Gonzalez

Ed and Oma Capitulo

Ping Duran and wife Evelyn

L-R: Gally, Paul Garcia, Boy Gatchalian, Roy, , Ricky Galang, Danny De Leon,  Billy Villanueva, Monet

L-R: Tessie and Orly (Mila’s friends), Gally, Paul Garcia,  Boy Gatchalian, Danny De Leon, Roy G, Monet; standing Carol Garcia, Ricky Galang, Billy Villanueva

Photo below: Mila and Roy’s despedida party

L- R: Ruby Abragan, Mila G, Lerma (Mila’s sister), Tessie and Orly (friends of Mila and

Roy), Gally, Danny de Leon, Monet, Ricky Galang, Billy Villanueva, Roy

L-R: Efren, Suzette, Nilda, Manny

L-R: seated: Seth, Dick, Aurea, Rechie, Roland

standing: Monet, Seth’s hubby Bert, Danny, Pol L, Carmelita Millare, Elmo O

_________________________________________________________

Minutes of Class Meeting in Cebu Reunion 2013

Incoming officers:

Pres. Linda Balatbat-Reyes

Previous VP, Treas. & Secretary were re-elected

For the USA USTM70

Pres.  Ando Dijamco

Vice Pres. Yet Dizon

Treas. Evelyn Villa

Secretary. Brenda Caparros

Ando and Linda B

Hail to the Chiefs

This dinner meeting was one of the highlights our class reunion. Everyone appreciated

and unanimously applauded the extraordinary efforts that Monet and his Team made to ensure the success of this unforgettable event. Monet reported on the Typhoon Sendong project, He read the letter from the Vicar of Iligan thanking us for our outstanding generosity  &  explaining how our monies were used. Four water

systems have been completed at a total cost of Php 558,000 or. Php 139,000 per unit.

We have Php 64,000 left over money. However, in order to complete our project and to

provide adequate water supply to around 300 families, there is a need for a fifth water system with a shortfall of Php 74,500. Monet was willing to pay for this shortfall but I suggested instead to request the additional funds from our EAF deposit and replenish the amount through donations from generous classmates.

Other topics in the agenda include the possible western Mediterrean cruise which was put on the back burner since there is a standing invitation for a mini or maxi reunion in Boston sometime in June. Charlie Capati discussed our KG village and the upcoming groundbreaking in February.

Also included was the bad news regarding Gus Rodriguez who suffered complications

from his recent surgery and  is currently confined  intubated at a Cebu Hospital.

Our RP colleagues gave Php 20,000 from their treasury and we also raised funds on site.

Ando and Linda took over the gavel at to assume their new responsibilities and decided to appoint the last 5 past presidents to help them organize our big Sapphire Jubilee in Jan. of 2015.  Ando will be hosting a mini or maxi reunion in Atlanta in May 2014. Either me or Monet will email the full text of the Vicar’s letter.

Max

Outgoing Class President

Financial Gift to Vivien

USTMD70 class donors to Viviena Gamo-Nervez who herself donated stem cells

to her brother in the US and who singlehandedly raises her two apo’s.

Carol Manahan, JunB & Connie, Rita Hernando, Ed Capitulo, Norma &

Harry. Evelyn Villa, Mila  and Roy Gonzalez, Rey Lazaro, Mike and Nieves de Castro, Mon Domingo, Espy & Romo Kabatay, James Zipagan, Levi Guerrero, Brenda Sison, Rancie Ragon, Gally Grajo, May and Charlie Capati, Lynn and Ted Mariano. Total donation:

$3375 minus payment for Western Union services. Vivien e-mailed her heartfelt gratitude to our class donors.

__________________________________________________________-

 I LOST MY LOVED ONE,

OH  GOD, GIVE ME COMFORT

TO OVERCOME MY LOSS,

IN GOD WE TRUST.

MY BODY ACHES,

OH GOD, GIVE ME STRENGTH

TO BEAR THE PAIN,

IN GOD WE TRUST.

I AM AFRAID,
OH GOD, GIVE ME THE COURAGE
TO FIGHT MY FEARS,
IN GOD WE TRUST.

I’M FILLED WITH SADNESS

OH GOD, GIVE ME  RELIEF

TO EASE MY SORROW,

IN GOD WE TRUST.

IN GOD WE CLING,

IN GOD WE PRAY,

IN GOD WE LIVE,

AND IN GOD’S ARMS WE DIE.

—Mini

Grace Duque-Dizon, Yet’s wife, seated on  farthest right

_________________________________________________________

Winter Reverie

By Lynne Mariano

The revelers have long been gone
Departed to place unbeknown
Like the ducks , the geese and the swans
Laughter and song from summer past
Echo through the silent ,misty sky
Blue sky shade by clouds of gray

Bare trees stand among the evergreens
Brisk wind  blow and chill  ,my bare skin
Foot steps abound ,on the white mounds
Paw prints trace a path ,around and round
Silvery water of the lake ,undisturbed
Waves splash on shores abandoned

Snowflakes gather one by one
Blanket tree branches of green .
Oh where have you gone sweet days of summer ?
How swift the time of warm and flowers !
Wasn’t it just yesterday
when the harvest filled the stalls and tables ?

Where lie the golden boughs of autumn ?
Blown by the wind through the valleys and the plains
What lies beneath the silvery lake , I wonder .
Do the fish assemble at the depth of thy being ?
In the heart remember , the joys of friends and lovers
In the depths of winter ,love  warms the soul and spirits soar .

Through the days remaining, reverie of spring awaiting
Appearing lifeless , life begins
Buds and bulbs ,asleep awakening
Hope of summers forthcoming
Love eternal , Faith supreme
Forever and ever , God unchanging

Lynne

______________________________________________________________________

Recuerdos de Ohio

Jon was still a little kid, and I mean little! ( he’s now a 40 year old giant married to Sarah and they live inToronto with my apòs Sofia 5 and Nathaniel 2). He sat in his car seat in our “Bluick” snoring like a little baby in absolute pax angelica. It was summer 1976. We were coming back, just the 2 of us from Akron. We were approaching on Highway 75, the great city of Cleveland. I don’t know what’s wrong with me but I saw this old lady about 50-ish stranded on the side and I pulled over. She pulled an Uzi and it was a hold up!Bwahaha! Fooled you, didn’t I? She’d run out of gas! Make a long story short, I bought gas for her car. Just a gallon. I made sure her car was ready to take off before I drove off. I don’t know how rich she was. She offered me 50 $. That day, that week, that month, that year heck I was always broke! I told her to keep her money and pray for me. I went on with Jon still asleep. For 2 years I had totally forgotten the event.Comes February of 1977. I was on my way to work in Summit County. I was still so pretty naive about black ice. Make a long story short, that old Buick jumped off the highway into the medium strip where snow was knee-deep. Thank you Lord I did not fall down the precipice on the right side of Hwy 71. I was dressed like an executive that day. It did not take long for an executive-looking man driving an executive-looking luxury car to stop by. He gave me a lift to a gas station some 10 miles. The gas station people towed the Buick and no damage done. I was late for work only an hour. I remembered the old lady about 2 years back and convinced
myself that her prayer was more powerful that 50$.
Lew

YOUTHS OFF TO THE MINOR SEMINARY IN MASBATE 1955

From your left the smiling tall priest is Father Villaranda
the parish priest of Casiguran, Sorsogon. We stayed at his rectory overnight.
Next to him was the future Fr. Espenilla, the Fr. Virtucio, then in black cassock my
Dad’s best friend Fr. Vilches, assistant priest at St. Anthony. He was cowboy type.
Next was the future Fr. Alforte. Then Jacinto Navea, then Boy Borromeo,then me (Lew).

Charlie’s Dad looking good at age 93

GUESS WHO

Who is sixth from the right, top row? He spent  high school in a

Minor Seminary.

Last issue’s children’s photo belonged to Marietta Lozada and her

sister Althea who married Nestor Aquino, ’71 UST MD graduate

May, Charlie and first apo

L-R: Charlie, Baby Cha Cha, May C, parents  Laura, Billy  Capati (middle son)

Albert Capati who  performed at Mowie Cue on February 16th the day after

Mary and Charlie returned to US is taking the picture in his kitchen.

 

Brenda and Caloy in South Lake Tahoe, CA

Bo R and his catch___below

JANUARY: Manny De Sagun (4th), Letty Farinas-Calope (5th), Henry Chua (11th), Rechilda Flores-Orlino (12th), Rose Climaco (19th), Jo Bumatay (20th), Nilda Balbago-Ricasa (21st), Luz Duque-Hammershaimb (25th), Joe Bedia (26th) & Puring C. De Los Santos (29th).  

February: Pol Lasala (9th), Bing Panlilio-Quiros (13th), Norman San Agustin, Florimond Garcia (both 14th), Happy Valentines to our two Valentinos!, Nestor Reyes (16th), Jerry Cafe, Danny DeLeon (both 21st), Ed Capitulo (23rd) and Ismael Holipas (27th)

March celebrants: Ralph Rances (2nd), Art Venturina (11th), Espie Tinio-Kabatay (12th), Tessie Querubin-Grabato (18th), Chris Cosas (21st), Pat Cruz-Tayao, Ted Mariano (both 23rd), Boy Bautista (25th), and Norma Cunanan-Salceda (31st).

.

7TH USTMD70 E-MAGAZINE

December 25, 2012

7th USTMD70 E-MAGAZINE

FEATURED ARTICLES
WAITING IN THE DARK

Bitterly cold. Eerily dark. All by myself. No one to talk to. Boring. Waiting.

Eagerly awaiting dawn and the events that naturally come with it,  the transformation of the surroundings that would follow….or what was in store for me.

Seemed like forever. The deathly silence of the pre-dawn stillness was interrupted by some shuffling. …to my right still too dark for the naked eye. I raised my field glasses and could barely make out the outline of what made the sound…..two deers. No antlers or does. They were moving with caution, walking haltingly, nervously almost, as if being followed. They hesitated then raised their white tails, took leaps and bounds across the tall grass then disappeared in the darkness of a nearby clump of trees.Encouraging. They are moving.

Minutes went by. Seemed like hours..

Looking east,  I could now see the sky taking a purple hue.   Dawn !!

A gentle breeze blew against my face. Favorable wind direction ( for me ).

‘Luv that sweet scent of the pines and the forest floor. Intoxicating, almost.

A hawk hovered overhead. A squirrel, alarmed, scampered,  it’s sleek body and long tail undulating in the open field.

The birds fluttered about the branches of the same tree I was perched on, chirping, ignoring me.

Crows cawed. Geese in great numbers flew by in their famliar V formation, honking loudly.

The woods had come alive. It was light now. Beautiful morning.

Some movement caught my eye.

A buck !  It’s head was low down to the ground, sniffing, following the scent of the does in heat.The two does I saw earlier.

Bucks this time of the year have one priority ( GUESS WHAT ). And that’s when  they get unwary.

It trotted away keeping it’s nose to the ground. It halted about a hundred and twenty yards from where I was. It then raised it’s head showing off his massive antlers and thickened neck. It held still,  its nose sampling the air.. Being perched high up on my stand I was hoping, almost confident my humanly scent would not give away my presence.  Deer have a tremendously keen sense of smell. It stood there motionless.  Still sampling the air. Holding still. Seemed too good to be true.

This was my quarry. This was what I was here for. ” Hold still, buck “

I reached for my rifle, raised it to eye level and released the safety in one swift motion.

Placed the cross hairs behind the buck’s shoulder. My almost numb forefinger began to gradually tighten against the waiting cold trigger……….

An hour or so earlier I got up from sleep. Under my tent. I  hastily made a cup of instant coffee,  gulped it down and joined the others, my hunting buddies, outside. CHILLY. The sky was clear and the stars looked much brighter and much much closer here being away from city lights. Seemed like I could just reach up and gather the stars. ( Try this sometime when you are in the woods or mountains away from lights from man-made sources. If the night sky is clear, look up and witness in amazement how unbelievably bright and big the stars are. Awesome! Really awesome ).

Everybody seemed excited. We had seen plenty of deer signs while scouting a couple of weeks prior.

We started for the woods not long after, four of us, headlamps lit to see our path.

We spread out and went our separate ways….to our respective stands.

I looked back and could make out the bright hunter orange jackets/vests everyone was wearing even in the dark.

Everybody knew where everyone else would be. This way we won’t shoot in the direction where we knew someone would be stationed, besides we would be very far from each other.

I was now by myself. Walking. CHILLY. Dark. I passed by a stand of huge oak trees and spooked about a half a dozen wild turkeys roosted for the night high up on the branches, safe from predators on the ground. Down they flew their wings beating heavily in the quiet darkness. I had about a mile’s hike to my stand.  I knew even in the dark the direction leading to it. CHILLY. A figure crossed in front of me. Not far. Two small eyes glowed against the beam of my headlamp. A furry critter with a nice flowing bushy tail….a fox. The frosted grass I was walking on glinted like jewels under my headlamp. Finally I reached my stand this time feeling warm after the long hike. In spite of crossing wet and frosty

tall grass along the way my feet stayed dry.  ( Thanks to PTFE-lined waterproof boots.)

Up the stand I climbed followed by my rifle and backpack which I pulled up on a rope. I shone my headlamp on the inside of the backpack, retrieved a few cartridges which I then fed into the rifle. Turned the headlamp off. ( Now I was “delighted”  ha-ha )

DARK !!  Alone. Sooo peaceful until a distant coyote howled, so far I could barely hear it. Another one really close howled back making the hair on the back of my neck bristle.  Did I say peaceful ? Anyway, I am now ready. Excited,  to say the least.

Feeling cold again.

Now, why would anyone in his right mind leave the comfort of his bed on a cold autumn morn,  head for the woods in the dark climb up a tree and freeze his ass?  No one to talk to. DARK, COLD, ALONE.  Why ?

INSANE, you might say and I don’t blame you. Only another hunter would understand. A non-hunter would not.

It’s what one does.

Anyway…..

…………Bang !!!!

FREDDIE CUSTODIO

_____________________________________________________________________

SWEET MEMORIES OF MY  FATHER

   As Christians and specifically Catholics I wish you all my Dear Classmates
The Blessings of Baby Jesus in your personal and family lives. May the realization
of the Redemptive Value of Jesus’ coming etch in our hearts, that deep Gratitude
and Fidelity so illusive anymore in this present day and age.Christmas is, in the other side of religion, about family. So, while keeping an eye on Le Bebé Jesus, I got another eye on my family.

   Earlier I was telling a Classmate about the time my family followed Dad throughout his entire military career. Dad was one of the greatest blessings both for my nuclear family and the Hortillosa Side. He was the role model of many good traits people maintained in the good old days. But that’s another story.

   After the War and his guerrilla days Dad became a most dedicated “officer and a
gentleman”. He pursued his career like the Holy Grail. We lived in Manila while
he campaigned against the Huks in Nueva Ecija and Tarlac. After Luzon we moved
to Negros Occidental. Next to Cebu. Then Negros Oriental. From there to Leyte
in 1954. Next Masbate, Dad’s first Provincial Command. In June 1955 I entered
the Seminary at 14 and hardly lived at home since. But I always took a vacation
at home. After Masbate we were back in Tacloban City.

   I was 16 and had my first deadly crush even as a seminarian on the prettiest Bayanihan girl whom I saw on the cover of Sunday Times Magazine. I wanted to leave the seminary to join the Philippine Military Academy. Diana’s dad was also military. Of course I never met her not even to this day. When I was in Medical School I asked my Auntie Aníng
about her whenever I visited the folks in Pandacan. By now she must be a Lola.Sorry for deviating. After Leyte, the Family followed Dad to Samar, then back to
Leyte. After the provincial divvy Dad was assigned to Leyte del Sur where he
opened the first Provincial Command in Maasin.

    Upon exiting the UST Seminary in 1962 that’s where I went home. Next we lived in Cebu where I did my Premed. Then Dad’s final assignment was as Provincial Commander of Negros Occidental.
I was back to UST in 1965. We built finally a small house in Bacolod City. We had
no fortune to speak of, just a lot of prestige, honor and dignity. During the Blue Seal
era, Dad could have amassed wealth. He was chastised by no less than the Sec.
of National Defense for being “uncooperative” aboard a Navy vessel. When Dad
passed on,  the City witnessed one of the longest funerals. Dad was one of the last
Icons of Military Righteousness. He opted to retire prematurely on his 28th year,
before Martial Law corrupted many of his colleagues.

   And what’s the happy sweet memories about? Lots between the line, periods and
commas. Multiple dialects, people met, varied cultural and personal stuff, places
seen, suspenseful, stressful, beautiful events. Ah sweet memories to be told later.
Thank You Baby Jesus for my Dad and Mom. Welcome to our Hearts.

LEW  HORTILLOSA

——————————————————————————————-

                                                                     “Moments”

 Love lost through the mists of time: a memoir

The names of the classmates involved has been changed for obvious reasons

Decury…Decury…Decury…Docs

(A Romantic Interlude)

 1965 was waning down into its December days and the spirit of the holidays hung heavily in the air. Ferdinand Marcos was just elected president the month before. “Thunder ball” was being shown at the Ever theater, and the Beatle written song, “A World  Without Love,” as sang by Peter & Gordon, was hitting the airwaves after every other Christmas song.

 It was in this background that  we spied our heroine, belle, humming a Christmas carol, “Sleigh bells ring are you listening; in the land, snow’s glistening, a beautiful sight…” as she sashayed with determined steps down the pathway toward our Charity Ward, searching for solace in one of the many decuries dotting the “teaching” hospital. Without further ado, she landed herself in one (ah sanctuary, sweet sanctuary) and began  to settle herself into some serious review of Biochemistry.

 Not a moment too soon, Belle heard a knocking over the transom of the decury entrance. She looked up at the intruder and thought loudly, “OMG, its him! How did he track me down here? Was my perfume “too strong”? Was my humming, too loud, a Lorelei that beckoned him? Did my prohormones hang heavily in the air? Confound it, girl, you got a “crush” on him and he is right in front of you. Then a sultry torch song from one of the patients’ room in front started drifting into the decury as if taunting Belle, mocking her almost, “Oh let  it be please be him, oh dear God, it must be him, it must be him or I shall die…”

 “Hi, I’m Francis from section B3. Is this one of those time/sharing decuries that I’ve been hearing about lately?“ It was puny excuse to sort of “break the ice.” “Hello, Hello, oh dear God. It must be him, or I shall die.”

 “Oh, Hi too! I go by Belle of D1.” “Hmmmm, D1, eh,” Francis thought, “As in the one I have this heavy crush””.

 “You’re welcome”, Belle continued, “Grab a seat, but you have to be gentleman, Francis.”. Francis almost blurted back, “A gentleman, come now, Belle, it’s the 60’s. The times they’re a-changing,” but offered his help. “Hey I could help with that nasty biochemistry exams slated for next week if you don’t mind”. “Swell idea, I need all the help I can get,” Belle accepted.  I told myself, ” What’s done is done. I told myself don’t be a fool. Play the field. Have a lot of fun. It’s easy when you say it’s done”.

 And so, they delved into the wonders of Biochemistry. They discussed the Endem-Meyersoff Cycle, the Urea Cycle, Francis’ new bicycle, etc. and Belle was astounded by Francis’ “stock” knowledge on the subject. “Francis is a Biochemistry maven”, she concluded. Then the phone rang, and I jumped. And as I grabbed the phone, I prayed, ‘Let it please be him, oh dear God, it must be him, if it’s not him so then I die’.” Half the time, she was listening to him and half the time she was imagining words as she stared at his lips. As if he’s saying, “Belle I want to hold you and take you home with me”. For which she’d reply, “Yes, make my day, please! Or I shall die”.

 Then her reveries came to an abrupt end as Francis stood up and announced that he had to leave her for some errands.

 Then their eyes met, longingly, tenderly, each searching and yearning for signs only the human heart could discern and fathom. His gaze was intense, searing little heart images into her soul  and sending her heart into aflutter. Then he offered his hands for the obligatory goodbye gesture and, as they pressed their hands, both felt the warmth the other was willing to offer. “Let it please be him, Oh dear God, it must be him….”

 “Hey,  we ought to do this more often”, Francis suggested. “We’ll see” was Belle’s reply. Its Christmas, you know”, she continued, “or I shall die or shall die… or shall die…”

 “You ought to join the BIORESSO, Belle. There’ll be an exhibition early next year.”

v  Meet other people. Will be fun and, of course, Merry Christmas! And with those words, Francis was gone, and Belle was left alone to herself with a faraway look in her eyes. She sighed when an epiphany came to her: “Francis is Him. It must be him, Oh dear God…”

v  BIORESSO Exhibit went on February 1966

CHARLES DUNIFER

__________________________________________ 

Somewhere over the rainbow is Pete Calope.

Letty,unknown, Pete and Big Bird

 ________________________________________________________________________

Happy Holidays from Rechie and Elmo Orlino and two beautiful apos

________________________________________________________________________

Max and apos: R to L
Madeleine 5, is in grade one
Adrienne 3, youngest
Loren 4, is in kindergarten

GOOD NIGHT ARTHUR
by Mini Festin

It was a sunny October day in New England & I had taken a day off from work. Through our back window, the sunlit golden orange and flaming red leaves sparkled in magnificent splendor.

Over breakfast, I read the good news headlined in the Boston Globe. “Serbs moved out of Kosovo.” I then drove to a local gym for a quick workout. When I returned home at 11am, I had just opened our front door when I heard the phone ringing.

“Hello. This is Mario, Mario Festin.”
“Hi Mario. Where are you calling from? Are you in Boston?”
“I’m in the Philippines.”
“Oh, this must be something  important.”  My body went into high gear.
“It’s Arthur. Arthur died a few hours ago.”   My heart sank.

The dreadful news hit me like a ton of bricks. I was in initial disbelief. Disbelief turned into absolute shock. Then shock into utter grief. Cherished memories of Arthur went through my mind and I began to cry. Nothing, nothing that I could do, would ease my pain over his untimely death. I may not have seen Arthur for 27 years but my memories of him are indelible.

Mommy and Daddy uprooted themselves from San Andres, Romblon, and had just settled in Malate when she became pregnant with Arthur. After WWII, life in Malate was not easy for them since money was scarce.

Her pregnancy with Arthur made her situation worse. She would later say that, while carrying Arthur, she would often gaze at the food shops just to sniff their good aroma because she could not afford them. It was a difficult pregnancy.

Arthur was born in post-war Manila when General Douglas MacArthur and Carlos P. Romulo were household names. Hence, he was baptized “Arthur Romulo Festin”

I can still remember an understanding, unselfish brother who looked very much like a Caucasian boy. His complexion was very light and his hair was blondish brown. Thus, he was often called a “mestizo.”

Growing up with Arthur was one of the happiest times of my life. As kids, we would often amuse ourselves, playing “bahay-bahayan, piko, patintero, marbles, basketball, baseball, checkers, bicycling and mahjong.” It seemed that nothing, whether win or lose, could rattle his usually placid personality. Nobody accused him of cheating so it was fun to play with him.  I was saddened when he entered the seminary with our cousin Tony Festin after their elementary education. But he was miserable  in the seminary and opted to leave. Tony went on to become a priest and a sought-after gifted speaker.

There was joy in the household with plenty of simple, shared pleasures. He and I would often sing for guests at home. First, I would sing, “The Wedding Song.” He would then follow with an Elvis Presley impersonation of “Teddy Bear” while strumming a ukelele. I had more fun in my childhood than I ever had in my life. Arthur was quite nice to have around.

Since we were only a little over one year apart in age, we were always together like twins. He was not only a loving brother. He was also my best friend. I could always count on him through thick and thin. Sometimes, I would overhear him talk  with pride to friends and family  about my scholastic achievements. As soon as I passed the medical licensing board, he hung a wooden sign on our gate with the inscription, “Herminia Festin, MD.”

Arthur was Mommy’s favorite. I didn’t mind. I felt he needed her more than I did. He seemed delicate. He was always involved in various business ventures over the years. While working as an accountant, he opened a clothing store at the intersection of Taft Avenue and Remedios St. When the business failed, he turned to selling children’s dresses and explored marketing them in the US.  He made arrangements to install an electric plant in Simara island but the lack of a landing dock made the cost prohibitive. Then, he tried his hand in the fish pond business in Tablas island which suffered business losses. Later, he owned a taxi company which proved overwhelming for him.  Mommy would sometimes finance his projects.  I never asked him why he did these things. The answer seemed obvious. It was not for money. Business enterprises energized him. But he lost interest in them when the going got tough. And that was that.

He was all energy. Sometimes, it was difficult to pin him down. He looked like a man in a hurry. He was in such a hurry to succeed and to pack each moment with adventure that he didn’t leave himself any time to rest. Like my mother, he had big dreams. It was not easy for Arthur to relax sufficiently to enjoy the frivolous and carefree ways of life. Worry came naturally to him, sometimes upsetting his delicate balance.

Tackling more work than he could safely manage was behind much of his tension. He tended to strain himself almost to the breaking point to fulfill his duties. Then his sleep would be restless and he could not completely relax. Ironically, as willing as he was to help others, he did not want to depend on anyone for any reason.

He clearly enjoyed mixing with people. He loved company and could be jolly. From childhood, he always had a small circle of close friends. He loved to help people, especially those in need. He did so much for so many people. There was always enough room and enough love in his heart to welcome relatives and friends to our home. In turn, he often went to relatives and friends’ homes just to come together to share food and fun.

He rarely had an ill-word to say about anybody. On the other hand, people had nothing but good things to say about him. They would remark that, from a distance, they could easily recognize Arthur in a crowd with his engaging smile. There was not a trace of cunning in him. He was trusting at heart, making him somewhat vulnerable to unscrupulous people.

He was much too aware of his own imperfections and would judge himself harshly. Of him, it can truly be said that he was his own worst critic. Yet he was a far better success than he ever thought of himself. What other person could sympathetically listen to your troubles, be tolerant of your faults and still be non-judgmental, pleasant and kind at the same time?

When our parents died almost one year apart, one by one, all of us siblings migrated to the United States, except Arthur. He was left to take care of our real estate properties and to fend for himself. So, when he married Clemens de Veyra (First Lady Imelda’s relative) in 1987, we were delighted. There was now someone who cared for him. He was in good hands. Clemens looked after him with warm affection and loving care.

A tragic series of events occurred in the early eighties that might have been a turning point in his life. After many failed business ventures, he was crushed. He  began to suffer from constant worries and pessimism.

At first, we thought his despondent feelings would eventually go away. Little did we know then how much it would seek to dominate his life and how much it would take away from him. The anxieties gnawed away at his inner strength, upsetting his delicate balance.  But Arthur remained hopeful of recovery. Recently, he accepted that he had to live his life with suffering. He looked forward to  settling in America where “medicine  is very, very good” and he would finally be cured.

His immigration papers were finalized. In a month, he would be in the United States. He and Clemens would rejoin the rest of our family, some of whom he had not seen for quite a while. We would be one close family again in the United States.

But that was not to be. His life was cut short on October 9, 1998. He was found severely injured in Taft Avenue below an elevated monorail, not far from our house in Indiana St. Witnesses allegedly saw him fall off the elevated train station.  He sustained a skull fracture and several broken bones. One and a half hours later, he succumbed to his injuries in the Philippine General Hospital. His death came like a thief in the night. I could just imagine what went through his mind as he was falling. I was just glad it was a quick death.

Did he jump, fall or miss a step? Did the train run over him? Did he lose his will to go on living and decided to end it all? Most unlikely. There was no suicide note. In fact, he was upbeat as he looked forward to the golden wedding anniversary of his parents-in-law.  Was his reaction time compromised? Did he suffer a heart attack or a stroke? Was he pushed? Or was he a victim of robbery and assault? He had just come out of a bank  in Taft Avenue where he withdrew some money. When he was found, his wallet was empty and P5000.00 was missing. The cause remains a mystery up to now. No matter how we slice it, these details are no longer relevant. All we can do is pray for him.

In my last conversation with him sometime ago, he said, “I get by with little sleep and I have little control over it.” He often visited our parents’ grave site for comfort and solace. I reminded him that he should consider himself blessed. As he suffered, he was sharing in the suffering of Christ which, to a person of faith, is an enviable position.

It is not easy to express a sense of devastating loss of a loved one. John Donne gives voice to my feelings with  his famous 12th -century poem that goes this way.

“No man is an island, entire of itself, every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the man. Any man’s death diminishes me because I am involved in Mankind, and therefore we never ask for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.”

Arthur is part of mankind. Like a piece of island that separates from the continent and changes its geography, the death of a man sends ripples to the rest of humanity. Today, the church bell tolls not for him but  for us.

I have never been so proud of him as the day I left for the United States.  I can still picture him, quiet, dreamy and serious, as we hugged and exchanged goodbyes before I boarded the plane. It seemed not so long ago. He had awakened early before anyone else to make sure my suitcase was correctly packed.  He made sure that all my tickets were in order and I was well-nourished.  He provided me with cash money and carried my luggage. He drove the whole family to the airport. While others worried that I was leaving for a foreign land by myself, he was happy for me to be moving to greener pastures. We didn’t  see each other again.

Arthur has patiently walked many miles through life. He died unexpectedly before his time. He has gone to a place where there is no return. He has  reunited with Mommy and Daddy as they walk together in the gardens of Heaven. He now rests in peace with the Lord.

Arthur, you will never truly leave us.
You will live on in the kindness you have shared,
And the love you brought into our lives.

What a pity. You left us much too soon. We miss you so much, Arthur.

Read at Arthur’s  funeral.

THE PEREZ FAMILY

Third row: Arthur between Mom and Dad who is carrying him. Mini sitting on farthest left, front row. Her sister Lolly sitting farthest right. Uncle Manoling (former Romblon Governor Manual Albero) is  seated farthest right, second row.

Addendum: Joe Cosas endorsed generously his earnings from sales of his CD  to the slush fund. This was made possible by classmates such as Alice D, Lynne M and Mini F.
To order CDs from Joe, visit JoeCosas.com. Cost of CD: $10.00

THE NEXT GENERATION
JOE COSAS CD RELEASE PARTY OCTOBER 14TH-­‐
CELEBRATING FIRST SOLO ALBUM RELEASE NEW CD RELEASE PARTY-­‐
“SOUNDTRACK TO THE EVERYDAY LIFE” BY JOE COSAS
Citrus Music Company LTD is pleased to announce a concert by Tampa’s own
Joe Cosas to celebrate the release of his much anticipated effort
“Soundtrack to the Everyday Life.”
This unique performance will blend jazz with a touch of classical and bluegrass.
Joe will lead a morphing ensemble on keyboards, trombone, and banjo.
This assortment will feature an opera singer, orchestral violinist, Creative
Loafing’s top saxophonist Jeremy Powell, and Rebecca Cosas on the Harp.
Shaun Hopper will be opening with finger style guitar and sitting in as well.
JoeCosas  is a multi-­‐instrumentalist known locally from other bands
like “Save the Radio”, “Marty Balin from Jefferson Airplane, Swamp Logic,
Christie Lenee, Bird Street Players, and Middle Rhythm Session.
His first solo CD features John Blackwell from Prince on drums. Blackwell
also plays for Justin Timberlake, Lauren Hill and P.Diddy.
Grammy winner Bob Katz mastered this new release and Joe’s Mentor
for producing did work with Springsteen and The Allman Brothers.
The influential guidance streamlines a multitude of sensations making
the “Soundtrack to the Everyday Life” seamless.
Keyboard, bass, banjo, acoustic guitar and mandolin……this promises
to be one of the year’s most revolutionary composed shows.
This event will take place October 14th, 2012 at 6:00pm
at the Straz Center TECO Theater located at 1010
N W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa, FL 33602.
Call the Straz Center at 813-­‐229-­‐STAR for more information.
Buy tickets now on www.StrazCenter.org. Limited space is
available. Adults $15/Kids (under 12)
$10 + service charge + tax
To schedule interviews, for store distribution
or to request a copy of the new album for radio play,
please contact Citrus Music Company LTD at:
verdantproductions@gmail.com

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BACOLOD

Are you “home”sick?
Where is your “home”?
What is there that makes you homesick?
Maybe I was homesick.
Maybe I’m just curious how the old place looks from the sky.
You know all my life  I wanted to see what the world looks like from the sky.
Now with the satellite technology I am in bird’s-eye-view heaven.
Below is the Plaza of Bacolod City my home as a child.
The tile artistry at the center is pre WWII.
From the center of the plaza’s fountain, move straight up, see the cathedral rooftop.

I can still picture in my mind the beggars hanging out at the entrance.  Some were blind or maimed but all had tattered clothes.

Scroll down and you will see downtown Bacolod City.
Notice the cars. They make me wonder how Quiapo traffic looks.
Downtown mall at 9 o’clock. Opposite at 5 o’clock, white roof is Central Market.
Most of my home made toys came from the market.

Torompo = top. Tirador = slingshot.  Sigay = sea shells.
So what’s in your wallet? Er,home town?
Lew

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JONELLE MARGALLO, LOVELY DAUGHTER OF  LUCIO MARGALLO, AFTER  PERFORMING AS MARIA/ROSALIA IN ” WEST SIDE STORY.”

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

OCTOBER CELEBRANTS: Luz Marcelo (10/1), Pete Ilagan (10/4), Luz Bunuan (10/9), Federico Gatchalian (10/7), Ernesto Dy (10/13), James Zipagan (15th), Gil Marasigan (15th), Glo Montinola (17th, Suzette Correa (20th), Charles Dunifer (20th), Lucio Margallo (22nd), Dado Castillo (25th), Raffy Poblete (30th), Florante Lomibao (31st)

NOVEMBER CELEBRANTS: Joey Leoncio (3rd), Connie Arceo (7th), Neneng Gayos (9th), Noel Guanzon (11th), Charlie Capati (14th), Mirla Manito (15th), Mags Tiamson, (15th) Carmelita Mirabueno (19th),  Isagani Laurencio (21st), May Capati (24th), Roger Belen

DECEMBER CELEBRANTS:Rancie Ragon-Tolosa (8th), Edgar Esplana (10th), Manny De Leon (13rth) Evelyn Austria (21st), Ed Quiros (17th), Roger Liboon (18th), Jessie Navarro (17th), Victorina Co-Dee (22nd). Jess Policarpio -De la Cruz (25th),, Efren Regio (25th), Fay Barr (26th), Boyski Ferrer (28th).Fay Barr (26th), Boyski Ferrer (28th) 

Yet Dizon

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

S

S

 

 

 

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From top: Sherborn MA, L-R: Evelyn A, Mini F, Luzbella M

Atlanta Reunion: Ando, Cris, Annabelle, Grace

The Three Musketeers: Ando, Yet and Cris

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Naples Reunion:

L-R: Caloy and Brenda, Gally, Suzette (high school classmate), Marilou, Roland (Suzette’s spouse)

Washington, DC mini-reunion 9.2912

L-R: Bene, Yet, Marietta & Dom Java 

OHIO MINI-REUNION

L-R: Gabby, Puring, Myrna, Deng in Dayton, Ohio

Dayton Ohio Mini-reunion: L-R: Puring, Phebe, Carmelits, Deng, Myrna

PRESIDENT ROSE CLIMACO (3RD FROM RIGHT) DURING HER INDUCTION  TO THE PILIPINO AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF FAMILY PRACTICE.(PAAFP). Roger Liboon is the first Vice President of PAAFP.

Emergency Assistance Fund Update:Lucio Margallo is the new Chairman as Yet Dizon steps down.Board of Directors: Ledy Dizon, Yet Dizon, Gally Grajo, Phebe Lim, Puring Cruz-De Los Santos

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Dear Classmates

During early November, I individually emailed all our classmates in the US regarding their pledges of support and let others without pledges of support know about our legacy project. I followed this up with telephone calls to those who pledged. I am very happy to report that so far we have gotten very favorable responses and continued strong endorsements for our project.

I am very thankful and appreciative to have received very generous donations from Lucio Margallo, Gloria Uy, Roger and Lita Liboon, Ruby and Pio Vilar, Lolita Echaluse Chiong, Norma and Harry Salceda, Evelyn Gonzalez-Abola.  Mike and Nieves, Efren, Ritchie and Elmo, Joe and Marife Leoncio, Dado and Cora and additional contribution from Pol and Marilou Polintan. More contributions are at this point in transit. I am very optimistic that we will reach our goal of $80,000 very soon.

I would encourage those who have not acted yet to join so we can include more poor families within the USTMD70 GK Village. Please write your checks to GK USA and memo below for: USTMD70 Legacy GK Village and send it to Carlos P. Capati. For any questions please email me or call at 217-433-6020.

Thank you so much and God bless

Charlie and May Capati

USTMD70 Class Legacy GK Village Coordinators.

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Naples Reunion: Charlie C, Butch Gozo, Gally Grajo

A Philippine Island Christmas Song

Introduction:

At this time, CHRISTMAS  is here.

It’s like rain in the Spring.

It can be a blessing or a curse.

It depends on how you look at it.

I look at Christmas as a blessing,

It makes me  want to sing.

It’s almost Christmas and I feel good.

So good I want to sing.

Hey, let’s go sing a Philippine island Christmas song. Ready?
Maestro, give me a C.

Chorus:

SANTA KLAUS, SANTA KLAUS, Waiting for SANTA,

Oh what fun it is to ride in a colorful  vinta, Ha! (2X)

Riding  on the crest,

Island-hopping  west,

Riding through the night,

Singing all  his might,

SANTA sailing swift.

Bearing Christmas gifts,

What fun it is to ride and sing

In a colorful vinta. Ha!

Chorus

Santa Klaus, Santa Klaus,   Waiting for Santa,

Oh, what fun it is to ride in a colorful vinta.  Ha! (2x)

(Background voice)

“Nasa pier na.  Pascua na!”

Mini Festin

Thank you, Lew  Hortillosa,  for giving me the  idea to re-write the lyrics of Jingle Bells, Romblon version.

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Los Angeles Xmas reunion

L-R: front row:Evelyn, Norma S, Jessie R, Rita H, Rechie O, Concep, Max B

second row: L-R: Elmo, Tony R, Jun B, Ed C, Harry S

Marife and Joe L

Joey and Marife Leoncio

ROUNDING

She has a silky golden brown straight long hair, parted in the middle .She stands 5’7 or 5’8 ,erect.slender as a statutete. She runs during her off days which are not many.If she wore glasses, she would look like one of those girls in the 70’s. She works at night as she has small children at home ages 5, 7 and 8. She was reporting to me about one of the patients while she twirls her hair andpushes it away from her forehead when it gets in a way. I told her she has a beautiful hair and if she ever thought of cutting it, to make sure let me know for advice. She was pleased and thanked me.

How many women with long hair asked their spouses whether to cut or dye their hair or not and the usual response after married for sometime is, ” just go ahead, it does not matter, whatever you like..”(I’m guilty) So a word from an outsider matters, and just maybe, I happened to read her mind.

In the morning I came by early.and as usual, I sat by the computer to see my list of patients. Then, I felt a light touch on my right shoulder and at once a soft kiss on my left cheek.. It’s the same girl, who smiling said ” Good Morning” then, moved away..While I was taken by surprise,  I just smiled back and returned the morning greeting. It did not mean anything to me, nor her. I think it’s her appreciation of what she thought was a compliment the day before.

I thought we were alone, did’n’t know someone was watching; another physician came over and said, “Oh, oh, what’s going on? Where did you buy that tie? It must be the tie and I have to get one like that.” No it was not the red tie, nor was I wearing a red shirt. I’t’s the freedom of expression. Folks, only in America. Ho, ho ho!

” I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus.”

—-a song

Merry Christmas to the USTMD family

JDLeoncio

USTMD70

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 MEMORIES

L-R: Lucio Margallo, Boy Samala, Yet Dizon, Max Basco, Puring Duran

L-R:Bene Coloma, Rey Castillo, Puring Cruz, Yet, Mon Domingo,

                      Cherie Co, Ed Capitulo, Rose Climaco, Henry Chua, Dado Castillo, Freddie Domingo, Ando Dijamco   

_______________________________________________________________

GUESS WHO!

She lives in the Tri-State area. Her younger sister in the pix married a

UST Medical Graduate ’71

Last month’s photo: Lynn Mariano

 MANILA MINI-REUNION

MANILA MINI-REUNION

Taken this morning at the residence of Ato and Linda Balatbat-Reyes for the Christmas breakfast get together and meeting for the Cebu reunion
Seated: Pura, Danny De Leon, Paul Garcia, Ato Reyes, standing: Monet, Linda, Victorina Co, Mel Reyes, Angie Miguel, Pol Lasala, Raffy Poblete, Ping Duran

CEBU REUNION SCHEDULE

Schedule f activities for the Cebu Reunion on Jan. 18 – 21,2013

Jan 18, Friday

   – Arrival and check in at Movenpeck Hotel in Mactan Cebu

   – 6:00 pm Dinner at Lapulapu shrine(SUTOKIL restaurant)

Jan. 19, Saturday  Tour of Mactan

 a) Some will play Golf at Alta Vista Country Club

 b) A bus will take the group to see sites in Mactan(Island hoping is available at your personal expense

     may be negotiated with the hotel)

 – 12:00 noon Lunch at Pino Restaurant (Filipino Buffet with Lechon de Cebu)

 – 6:00 pm Welcome dinner and fellowship (Movenpeck Hotel Beachfront garden party)

Jan. 20, Sunday

– 5:00 am early breakfast at Hotel

– 6:00 am departure for downtown Cebu to watch Sinulog Mardi Gras aling Mango Ave.

     (lunch will be served there with sandwiches and drinks only)

– 6;00 pm dinner will be at Majestic Restaurant at the Concention Center(Chinese Buffet)

–  After the dinner there will be a business meeting for future plans of the class

Jan. 21, Monday

– 6:00 am breakfast

-7:00 Golf and Tennis at the Cebu Countrtu Club

– 7:00 Those not playing, will have a tour of Cebu City ( Headed by Pura and Linda)

– 12:00 noon Lunch will be decided yet

– 6:00 pm Despedida dinner at Movenpeck function room

This program has been discussed and approved in our last meeting Dec.16, Sunday at the residence of Linda and Ato Balatbat Reyes.

The USTMD70 reunion ’13 committee

_________________________________________________________________________

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Dear Classmates:

Movement disorders, particularly parkinsonian tremor and rigidity along with tardive dyskinesia, are frequently associated with antipsychotic medications. An underrecognized complications of anticonvulsant drugs are various movement disorders that may occur due to toxic level of these drugs or as manifestations of idiosyncratic reactions. These involuntary movements consist of tremor, myoclonus, asterixis, dystonia, and choreoathetosis occurring in combination or in isolation.  They tend to occur in mentally challenged patients. Fortunately, they are reversible and recede slowly as the toxic level of the offending drug goes down. Diphenylhydantoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, and valproate are usually associated with these movement disorders. Recent generation anticonvulsant drugs like gabapentin can induce reversible myoclonus at a daily dose above 2700 mg .

Rey Lazaro

References    Lazaro RP Involuntary movements induced by anticonvulsant drugs. Mt Sinai J Med 1982, 49: 274-281

                    Lancman ME , et al. Choreiform movements associated with the use of valproate Arch Neurol. 1994. 51:702-704

                    Zadikoff C et al  Movement disorders in patients taking anticonvulsant drugs. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2007. 78: 147-151

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WORD Today

December 23, 2012

▬▬▬▬▬

Micah 5:1-4

Hebrews 10:5-10

Luke 1:39-45

(Please read the Bible passages)

▬▬▬▬▬

 

Two days more and Christ THE Christmas Gift is coming to YOU! “And He will bring Peace.” (Mi 5:4)

He does not wait idly for us to come to Him – He comes to us, offering us His gift of Peace. Even when He was still in Mother Mary’s womb, He came to offer His Peace to Elizabeth & her baby (Gospel). When they recognized and accepted Him as their Lord God, they were filled with the Peace and Joy of the Holy Spirit.

The Peace Jesus offers is Himself living in us in the person of the Holy Spirit. To receive His gift, we need to recognize and accept that He is the Lord of our life and that all His commands are good, valid, true and doable. We need to adopt and appreciate His mindset of love=sacrifice and say, “I have to come to do your will, O God.” (Heb 10:7)

Life in intimate friendship with Jesus is Peace beyond compare, a foretaste of heaven itself. It is living in the assurance that whatever God allows to happen to us is meant for our ultimate good; and it is having the security of an eternal retirement plan.

“The peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

Today is the last Sunday of Advent. Are you ready to receive your Christmas Gift?

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

 FROM YET DIZON

_________________________________________________________________________

Charles Dunifer: top row, 4th from left

Rey Lazaro, first from left, second row

Aurora Leyva and spouse Bing Orlino, 2nd and 3rd from left,

Jessie Romero, 5th from right, second row

Roy Gonzalez, first from left, fourth row; Tony Romero first from right

6th USTMD70 E-Magazine

,

SIXTH USTMD70 E-MAGAZINE

September 30, 2012

FEATURED ARTICLES

EXPLORING THE LAND WHERE HE WALKED

April 11, 2012

Delta flight 268 left New York city JFK airport 5 minutes late. A person who was supposed to be on board did not show up. For security, his luggage was unloaded from the aircraft.
It was a nine and a half hour ,non- stop flight to Tel Aviv. Being spring break, there were mostly young people including young children and infants aboard. The arrival at the Ben Gurion airport was on Thursday, April12, 2012 at 1:46 PM local time. Israel is 7 hours ahead. At the airport , I received a text message from Verizon reminding me to turn off my data services as it would cost me$20.48 per megabyte. Calls would be $1.99 per minute. To send a text message would be .50 cents, to receive would be .05 cents. I deleted all accounts and apps from my iphone to avoid these outrageous expense.I will use my laptop at the hotel where there is free WIFI. Text messaging would be the best way to keep in touch with friends and family back home.

• TelAvivby Lynne

Going through immigration and customs was surprisingly easy. No custom declarations to be filled. Bags were checked at random. We were lucky to pass through without being inspected. The taxi ride to our hotel was, likewise easy. No traffic. No buses . Just taxis. A few cars.None of the hustle and bustle that we are accustomed to ,in any big city scene.
I wondered why this city seemed to be sedate.I found out later that it was the eve of the feast of the Passover. “It will be quiet until after the Sabbath, ” the receptionist informed us.
The taxi ride cost 150 schekels. One dollar equals approximately 3 schekels.

• The Mediterranean Sea Sunset

The wind was crisp as we strolled down the promenade.The sun was about to set on the horizon over the Mediterranean sea. The view was similar to Wallaston beach in Boston .
It was a 30 minute walk to Old Jaffa where St Peter’s church is. It is here in Jaffa where Jonah was supposedly swallowed by a whale. And, it is here where Tabitha was raised from the dead by St. Peter. Jaffa is one of the oldest port in the world. It is said that the cedars that were used to build the Holy Temple passed through Jaffa on the way to Jerusalem.

• St. Peter’s Church in Jaffa by Lynne

We returned to the hotel around 9 PM local time. It is about 2 PM, US time .
At 7 AM, a tour bus will take us to explore Jerusalem and the birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem .

 April 13, 2012: Experiencing Jerusalem and Bethlehem

• JerusalemPhoto by Lynne

An amazing city which is close to the hearts of Christians, Moslems and Jewish alike .
It is the largest city in Israel. On the top of the Mount of Olives, one can see the city of Jerusalem.The Garden of Gethsemane was on the way, going down the mount. The old Jerusalem has 4 quarters :the Moslem quarters, being the largest, the Jewish quarters, the Christian quarters and lastly , the Armenian quarters . It is the smallest .

The Stations of the Cross began in the Moslem quarters going uphill. The Via Dolorosa was lined with stores and side walk vendors for the most part. Nevertheless, walking through it was an emotional experience. I gazed at the stone where Jesus sat as He was crowned with thorns. My tears flowed uncontrollably. The 4 remaining stations were inside the Holy Sepulcher Church. Immediately upon entering , one notes a pink marble slab where Jesus laid as His body was prepared for burial.

The Greek Orthodox church, the Roman Catholic Church , the Armenian Orthodox Church and the Egyptian Coptic Church have their altars or chapels within the Holy Sepulcher Church .The crowd was large for the Good Friday services for the Orthodox churches.
But it was a well behaved crowd. There were Israeli soldiers with guns securing the area.
We ambled slowly and carefully on the uneven stone path through the Armenian quarters & Moslem quarters towards the Western wall in the Jewish quarters .

There was a big crowd at the square, being Feast of the Passover. It was touching to see the families with young children and older individuals. I presumed grandparents too catered to the little ones, pretty much like in the Filipino culture. Men, women and children approached the wailing wall with utmost reverence. I too found myself doing what the Jewish faithfuls do. I approached the wall, in the women section. I placed my hand on it, laid my forehead on the back of my hand and prayed until I cried. People were crying silently. I heard an occasional sound of crying, but not wailing. Then, I walked backwards like everyone else did. It is God the Father that the Jewish people are praying to, after all. We have a strong connection.

• BethlehemPhoto by Lynne        

Beth means house. Lehem is bread. Our tour guide is an Israeli and therefore, not allowed to go into Bethlehem. At the border, we were met by a Palestinian guide who escorted us through the security check. There is a walled pathway that led into the city of the birthplace of Jesus.The Church of the Nativity is built on top of the original site of the manger.
The door to the church is low and narrow . One had to stoop down to enter. “A symbol of humility ” our guide explained. Three denominations share the church. Namely, Greek Orthodox , Roman Catholics and Armenian Orthodox .This is the oldest church in the country. It was built in the fourth century by the mother of Constantine the Great, St Helena. In the 6th century, it is said that the Persians destroyed all the churches in the land except this. The nativity scene painting depicting the three wise men from the East in Persian attire, spared the church. Majority of population in Bethlehem are Arab Moslems . A small percentage are Christians.

Because of the Orthodox Church ‘s Good Friday services, it was difficult to navigate within the church .There was a two-hour wait to enter. People were getting impatient when a group of young people jumped the line . Our tour guide tried to tell them to go back. But they refused to budge. I felt uneasy because they were carrying candles to light at one of the altars. I let them in before me against the guide ‘s instructions.

However, I could not hold my tongue when a man behind me started to demean the tour guide saying that the place is not Holy Land. He said that it is a sad and miserable place where there was always conflict. I turned around and asked him nicely if he was a Christian. He indicated that he was not. I then, explained that for us Christians, Bethlehem is a Holy Land because Jesus, our God, was born here. He patiently waited like everyone else. And he stayed quiet for the rest of the tour. Exiting Bethlehem was not too bad. One has to show one’s passport.

We stopped for a snack and “bio break” at a Kibbutz community. There are many Kibbutz communities all over Israel. For over a century, the Kibbutz has played a vital role in the growth of Israel. A kibbutz is an organization consisting of people who live together. Everyone worked 8 hours a day. In return, they are provided everything they need. Housing, food, clothing, medical care, education for themselves and their children, entertainment and leisure are paid for by the community. Each person worked in agriculture,  factories, restaurants and hotels owned and ran by the community. No matter what one does, be it a farm hand or a doctor, one gets what one needs.There is no salary.

The drive back to Jerusalem and to Tel Aviv was uneventful. Through the hills and valleys, Arab towns and business centers, the guide called our attention to landmarks like Golgotha, Jewish, Christian, Moslem, cemeteries, mosques, churches and synagogues, universities and hospitals. Being Passover, there was no traffic. Everything was closed for the holiday and the Sabbath. On the promenade in Tel Aviv, we found a restaurant that was open. The dinner of St. Peter’s fish and chicken livers were a delightful ending to a most spiritually fulfilling day.Tomorrow, we will take a dip into the Dead Sea and take a cable car to view the Masada restoration, immersed in mind of a king and the mysterious waters of the Dead Sea .
Masada by Lynne

April14, 2012-

It is mind boggling how this ancient fortress was constructed in the Judean desert. It is said that this was erected in the First century  BC. King Herod the Great suffered from paranoia. He built the fort which was, by and large, inaccessible to invaders . The expansive structure on an the 18 acre site was self-sufficient and opulent. The Northern palace had 3 levels. It had baths, sauna, storage for abundant supply of food and other provisions. An elaborate water system of canals and cisterns provided for the needs and more.

The Western palace was the administrative base and guest house. The palace fortress sits on top of a mountain overlooking the Dead Sea. The breeze from the Dead Sea provided a natural cooling system to the hot desert climate. The engineering skills of the designers and builders alike was evident throughout. It is hard to envision how the knowledge and skill came about. It is impressive.

After Herod’s death in 4th century AD, it became a monastery. There is a Byzantine chapel whose design and artifacts date it to the 5th-7th century AD. During the Roman occupation, the rebel Jews sought refuge in Masada . There is a space excavated that appears to be a synagogue . The Romans camped at the foot of the mountain for 2 years, waiting for the Jews to surrender. The Jews did not. There was ample food and water supply. The Romans decided to build a ramp from the foot to the top. It took them 11 months to finish. When they finally entered, they found corpses all over. It is not allowed in Jewish law to commit suicide. They planned their deaths so that only the last person would commit suicide. They rather die than surrender to the Romans.

The Masada restoration is ongoing. It is of interest to many tourists who are taken by cable car to the top. Many hike down . But a cable car will take you back down if hiking down the arid desert is not within your ability .

• The Dead Sea   Photo by Lynne
  

We had a good, long view of the Dead Sea as we drove past it, heading to Masada .
It looked so mysterious. There is a haze over it.The haze let up around noon. No life can exist in the Dead Sea. No fish, no plants, no bacteria, I think. The salt content is such that no life is possible. It is said that it is 9 times saltier than the ocean. It is 1,373 feet below sea level. The Jordan River flows into the Dead Sea. But the Dead Sea has no outlet. It is said that this is the reason for its high salt content of 32%. The recent lack of rain in Northern Israel caused shrinking of the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee. Because of agricultural and other activities, water from the Jordan River is diverted away from the Dead Sea.

The arduous tour of the Masada made us eager to be refreshed by the waters of the Dead Sea. The beach is rocky. One has to wear foot protection, I found out. But beyond the rocks, it was more comfortable to the feet. There was sand beyond the rocks.The water was cool . No, it was not slimy and yes, one floats.There were no boats. It will capsize . One needs a very heavy boat .

Everyone was laughing and giggling around me. Young, old, middle age . Wow! It may be the Dead Sea. But, one is not so dead when in it , I thought. It is a happy sea! I marveled at how the young and the old excitedly coated themselves with dark sticky mud. “Good for the skin and arthritis,” No thank you. Floating in it is good enough for me. But Ted ? Yes, he will try everything. A good shower is a must after that.There was not much privacy in the showers. One has to bring toiletries and towels.

The Judean desert hills tower and command much thought as we drove back to TelAviv. It too is as mysterious as the Dead Sea.The Dead Sea scrolls were discovered in one of these hills. John the Baptist lived in this area. So they say. But how did he get to the Jordan River? Bedouins are nomad Arabs. They live in tents in these hills. Was John the Baptist a nomad too? It is a long way from these hills to the Jordan River’s north end which is up Northern Israel in Galilee. One notes rows of palm trees in the desert. Our tour guide informed us that this type of dates was imported from Saudi Arabia. The tree is much taller than the native ones. And the fruit has a higher sugar content.

We fell asleep on the bus. We had a hectic day in the mountain and in the sea. It was still light when we reached our hotel. The Filipina ladies on tour with us gave directions how to get Filipino food. “Take bus # 4 to the Central bus station,” they said. We took a taxi . The taxi driver who was a woman about 60 had no idea where a Filipino restaurant would be in the Central bus station. We got off there anyway. There were many Asians at the terminal. We eavesdropped at their conversations hoping to hear Tagalog spoken. Finally, we found a group of them. They directed us to where the Filipino stores were. We were pleasantly surprised to find several stores and many Filipinos shopping and dining at the turo-turo. I checked it out . I could not resist having a taste of “Bopis”. “It is warm, still  freshly cooked,” she said. White rice , pancit palabok, bopis.That was dinner. And free cup of broth for each of us plus “Halo-halo ” for dessert. We sat at the table with 2 Filipino ladies. They were eager to chat with us and share their life with us, their hopes and their dreams. It seemed that they were satisfied with their life in Israel. Their employers are kind and generous to them. Most are caregivers. There are nurses also apparently. What is amazing is that they spoke fluent Hebrew. A complex language. It disappeared for over a thousand years. About 100 years ago, it was revived.

I find Israel fascinating. I feel peaceful and at home. I feel its heartbeat. I am falling in love. It was dark when we left the Central bus station .We took a taxi back to our hotel. It cost 30 schekels . The bus fare is 3 schekels per person. Perhaps in the daylight, we can be brave enough to take the bus. As I closed my eyes , I wondered if I will ever learn to speak Hebrew.Tomorrow, we will proceed to Tiberia where we will stay for the rest of our vacation.

From Lynne Mariano’s Holy Land Diary

• A VACATION WORTH MORE THAN WE BARGAINED FOR
  

In 2005, my husband Fred and I vacationed in Edgarton, MA for a week. Edgarton in Martha´s Vineyard was spectacular and expensive. First, we took a Bonanza bus ride from the Boston South Station to Woods Hole in Cape Cod. The bus trip took one hour and a half along the very scenic countryside of Massachusetts. In Woods Hole, we caught a Steamship Authority ferry to Oak Bluffs in Martha´s Vineyard. The smooth ferry ride lasted about one-half hour. The cost of the trip from Woods Hole to Martha´s Vineyard was 39 dollars/person. We landed at Oak Bluffs, a town adjacent to Edgarton. A taxi delivered us right to the doorstep of Daggett House for 12 dollars. Martha’s Vineyard had an airport so the island was also accessible by air. The trip from our home in Lexington, MA to Daggett House took  five hours door to door!

Daggett House was conveniently within walking distance to the bus terminal. The 16th – century Daggett House was relatively inexpensive for one hundred fifty dollars a night. The going rate for a night in the town was $350. Daggett House, located on Waters St., overlooked the fabulous Edgarton harbor. One of Daggett House’ perks was its short walk to the busy waterfront of Edgarton. Furthermore, Daggett House was next door to the public library where a person may sign up for 15 minutes of free e-mail use. There is usually a 15-person queue to use one of its four computers. In contrast, a nearby cybercafe charged 10 dollars for 30 minutes and there was no waiting.

Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven rooms cost about 1/3rd less than Edgarton. There were more people in these neighboring towns. One could smell and feel the sea breeze anywhere in Edgarton, We were mesmerized by the abundant flowerbeds in full bloom. It seemed that every garden had many colorful flowers of different varieties. Just like in life, their beauty could not last long though. Sadly, most of them had started to wilt by the time we departed. Timing is everything!

The town of Edgarton reminded me of a prosperous olde Maine town. The narrow streets were paved with cobblestones and lit with gas lamps. . We saw many yachts docked in the marina. New York city folks were surprised that people kept their houses unlocked. Life is full of contrasts!

Across the bay, one could glimpse the huge houses in Chappaquidick island, the island made infamous by Sen. Kennedy driving off the Chappaquidick bridge into the river with his secretary who drowned. Ted Kennedy went on to become the longest-serving senator Massachusetts ever had. As you can see, Massachusetts´ voters  are fascinated
with the Kennedy mystique.

There were no restaurants in Chappaquidick. All we saw from afar were huge houses, roads, forests and beaches. No restaurants.  Not being adventurous, we passed up the few minutes´ ferry ride from Edgarton to Chappaquidick at a cost of two dollars each. In the past, the  wooden Chappaquidick bridge connecting the island to Martha´s Vineyard  was being chipped off by tourists who would take home small wooden pieces of the bridge as souvenir. So the bridge had to be replaced by a modern, massive, concrete structure.

Martha´s Vineyard was more active than Nantucket Island in the summer. A popular way of touring the island was by a rental bike or rental car. A well-kept secret among tourists on a budget was to tour the island using public transportation. A chartered bus tour cost 30 dollars and it only brought you to celebrities´ houses and to Gay Head.  Without any second thought, we took the public bus that dropped us off in the center of each of the seven towns of the island and cost five dollars/day.

On a clear, sunny day, we made it to the fishing village of Menesha where we ate a freshly-caught and immediately-cooked swordfish sandwich. The steaming aroma of the fish was irresistible! The place reminded me of Romblon’s rustic islands with its dirt roads and small huts.  Afterwards, we strolled along the dock and unexpectedly came face to face with a fishing vessel straight out of the film, ´The Perfect Storm.´ That popular movie was based on the true stories of fishermen in the fishing town of New Bedford, Massachusetts, the home of many people of Portuguese ancestry.

We then re-boarded the bus which took us to the popular Gay Head, a dizzying, high cliff overlooking a sandy-white beach facing  the Atlantic ocean.  A  lighthouse painted brick red was visible from afar.The color was quite unusual for a lighthouse, which was usually painted white.  It would cast a bright white light and, in the opposite direction, a strong red beam. This two-light system rotated continuously. If one light broke down, the other one
would serve as a back-up to answer the need of ships navigating in the dark.

We saw Widow´s Walk which was peculiar to this former whaling island made famous by the world-renowned novel Moby Dick.  In the past, deep-sea whaling would take fishermen on a trip that would last three years. Many of them failed to return. Widow´s walk was a balcony-like platform on the roofs of houses. The wife or mother would be pacing on that platform,  searching the sea for the smallest dot in the vast ocean and hoping for their spouses´ or sons´ ship return from the high seas.

There were lots of beaches in the island — private and public. A small private beach cost a staggering 6 million dollars! Fred and I trekked to the white lighthouse in Edgarton. Unfortunately, it was closed so we did not see the interior  but it was working! There was also a shelter for people who did line fishing from the harbor. On one corner, one could clean a fish with a water hose on a wooden table before storing it in a cooler. We noticed that the optimists would bring big coolers while the pessimists would bring tiny coolers.

Restaurants were expensive in Edgarton. It was almost close to our departure when we stumbled onto an inconspicuous area where the cheap eateries were located—-at a small, hidden, out-of-the-way dock. As usual, on vacations, we stuffed ourselves with  sinful foods like pasta alfredo and linguica. The fresh seafood was too tempting.  Don´t leave town without tasting the gazpacho, a healthy soup of vegetables mixed with salsa. I couldn’t get enough of it!

Edgarton got its summer help from Brazil and Ireland so they brought their own distinct culture to Martha´s Vineyard. There were lots of Portuguese people in the island. When we arrived,it was Pentecost Sunday and  they were celebrating the Feast of the Holy Ghost, an important feast in Portuguese culture, with a procession. A  tall statue of the Holy Ghost (the Holy Trinity) and  a lovely lady representing Santa Isabel, the queen of Portugal who popularized the devotion to the Holy Ghost, were the highlights of the procession. Some streets were blocked  off.

15-foot  statue of the Holy Ghost (Holy Trinity)

The whole town was well-maintained, well-planned and well-designed to cater to tourists. I saw a gleaming white building called the Mindoro Real Estate Company. That name sounded familiar. Mindoro is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. Its name was taken from the words Mina de Oro, (gold mine).  We walked far until our feet ached. Fred was not too far behind me and so managed not to get lost.

Tourists strolled in the streets until very late at night, taking the sights in. Maybe, to preserve its historical image,  chain restaurants or drug stores could not be found. We had to take the shuttle bus to get to a hardware store or pharmacy. No way could we bring a car to Martha´s Vineyard. Ferrying a car to the island would cost $350 and there was a two-months´ wait. What a hassle! Overnight parking was prohibited in most streets.

It seemed that Edgarton would like to maintain its old-town image. The narrow, cobblestone streets, brick walkways and  gas lamps reminded us of a bygone era. The image of the Black Dog, popularized by President Clinton, was everywhere –from T-shirts to marquees, etc. We enjoyed strolling up and down the sidewalks, even late at night. Don´t forget to bring a sweater. Even in July, there were a few cool days in Edgarton.

Staying in Martha´s Vineyard was like going back in time except for the modern air-conditioning.  The houses were of the stereotypical cape design with clapboard siding, mostly painted white or with shingles left weather-beaten gray. Our room was small and cozy. The ceiling was low. People were probably smaller then. There were no more large vineyards in the island There were a few, small privately-owned vineyards. It was said that two English men bought the island from the Wampanoag Indians in 1642 for a very small sum and the island was renamed after one of the owners’ descendants, Martha. Wampanoag means “People of the First Light,” because they were located in the eastern edge of Massachusetts and would see the sunrise earlier than the rest of the nation. Martha´s Vineyard was active only from May to October.  I asked around, and they fixed their houses and gardens in the off-season.

After Columbus Day, they dropped their prices drastically. There were fewer people too. We had an interesting and a restful vacation in this playground of the celebrities.  No wonder, US presidents find this island a favorite getaway spot. It is ideal for honeymooners too. Maybe, in a few years, we will go back and re-visit the place. ——————————————————————————- Herminia Festin(Originally published in PinoyAdsCentral.com)

Standing: Mini & Fred

Mini & Fred

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• DREAMS

Tell me, how far must a man go to pursue a dream?When I was very young Mom said to me: “Dreams fade on the awakening”.What is a dream?
What is needed to dream?
What makes a dream come true?
What do you do if your dream comes true
Yo, Poets out there, help!True or false?
” A dream is a wish your heart makes. “True or false?
” You got to have a dream.
If you don’t have a dream, how are you gonna make your dream come true? “True of false?
” I like dreamin’. Dreaming can make it mine.”I had a dream.
Or maybe, I didn’t because I was not asleep.
Is sleep necessary for dreaming?
Maybe I was daydreaming.
Do daydreams count?Who cares?
Fact is, it all seems hazy now.
Eight weeks ago, Westlake Hospital opened a 17-bed unit.
I became the Medical Director, maybe by default.
The position just happened.
It fell into my lap. I didn’t apply for it. I didn’t do any E=MC squared to get it.Another dimension happened to my life.
It is called “hecticosakitsauloatbalikawang”.
It was fun, it is still fun. I like it I love it.
Do I want some more of it?
Maybe I do, maybe I don’t.Here’s the rock ‘n roll.
Westlake Hospital was for sale.
The Psychiatry unit in the past was the money maker.
A private enterprise was hired to reopen the unit.
Perhaps to make the Hospital more appealing and up the price.
Who knows?
Dreams just happen, you see?The unit went a bustlin’.
We had a great team and we also attracted a lot of patients.
Then one day the negotiations for a takeover fell through!
Now it’s wait and see. Who will buy the hospital?
Yoohoo! Put it on eBay, dudes!American enterprise is an amusing thing. It can be unpredictable.
The County which owns the hospital has no money.
The hospital used to be a community giant.
Mismanagement almost ran it to the ground.
Who will buy a sinking ship and pour a lot of gold to spruce it up and sail it?Meanwhile the beat goes on, la di da di da. ( Sonny and Cher’s song.)
I am having fun! Heck! Don’t wake me up.
I tried!
It is better to have tried than not at all!
Lew

Congratulations to Lew Hortillosa, Medical Director of Psychiatry Unit

CONGRATULATIONS TO ROSE CLIMACO, THE 2012 PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE PHILIPPINE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS.

Congratulations to Roger Liboon, the 2012 First Vice President of the Philippine American Association of Family Physicians

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UERM DESPEDIDA PARTY FOR EVELYN BASCO, JULY 28, 2012

Most of all, thank you Tita Evelyn for all the graciousness, generosity and kindness you have shown us all these years – and the support that we knew we could always count on. Although nalulungkot kaming lahat … as Tito Max said, you were just “on loan” to us and this move was long overdue. Wishing you and your family continued abundance and happiness in your lives… Your UERM family will miss you so very much…

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Medical Missions

It is almost inevitable at the rite of spring that every time after the surgical missions are over and the statistics have been tallied, complications, if there are any, are noted, and post-surgical follow follow-ups have been received, that we go at it again, planning the next mission. Do we have to go through the same hurdles year in and year out to plan an activity we have anointed ourselves to carry out no matter how heavy the bureaucratic burden has become? It might just as well that if we do not want any more of this self-flagellation, we could easily give it up. But that would be the end of the surgical missions. And really we do not want to end it and give up on our poor and suffering folks on the other side of the ocean. That is why we keep on trying to work something out with whoever we have to deal with back home. Dr. Fabito identifies the obstacles in undertaking a mission and what can be done about it. He even offered his suggestions and asked the President of the Philippines to use his office as a bully pulpit to make it easier for some of us here in the USA to make it hopefully for another humanitatiran trip to the provinces in the land we still call home. Ed Quiros

___________________________________________________________________________

From: “Noli Zosa,M.D.” <nrzosamd@gmail.com>
Date: July 18, 2012 3:16:45 PM CDT
To: “Dr. Max Basco” <maxbasco@aol.com>
Subject: Invitation to Medical Mission

Dear Max,
We are glad to know that your Class 70 is planning to have a reunion
in Cebu on January 2013.  It will coincide with the USTMASC Medical
Mission in the same province and the same time that your group will be
there.  Please inform your classmates about our inv itation to join us
on our Medical Mission from January 21 to 23, 2013 which is after the
Sinulog Celebration.

Our plans for these activities are quite exciting and we assure you of
your comfort, convenience and benefits for all of us.  Our group has
decided to stay at Marco Polo Hotel with a discounted rate from
P5,800.00 all inclusive with free breakfast and use of the Continental
Club and other privileges.

If your group has any other questions, please do not hesitate to call
me at 562=572-1071 or email me at nrzosamd@gmail.com.                                                                                                                                               Noli

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On Jul 4, 2012, at 4:38, “junjoeboy@juno.com” <junjoeboy@juno.com> wrote

Praying for Help

When  I am  alone  it  does not mean I  am lonely.  I  can be  lonely amidst  the   crowds. The idea of calling for God  when  I am lonely  and  desperately  feeling  of  hopelessness  and abandonment  is  as  basic as  drinking  H2O when  I  am  thirsty.  I  have to  know    and acknowledge  GOD  1st  in order  to  seek  help  or  intercession. I  did not  invent  GOD   for  my  own liking.  It  is inherent  and  knee  jerk  reaction  of my   human frail  mind  to seek  help  to  the almighty  when  I am   confused,  stress  and  wanting  of   peace  and guidance  from my limited intelligence  and imagination……please  do  not  make  me wrong —   I   am  only  praying  for   help…..my 2ct  jb

Lew’s Comment:

Profound, precise and to the core of intuitive spirituality.

I nominate it for the emag.

________________________________________________________________________

     Joey Bretana RIP.  May Joey rest in peace.

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 July Celebrants: Erlinda Aguilar (1st), Isabel Remigio (2nd), Linda Balatbat (8th), Roger Leva, Luming Mangrobang, Bene Coloma, Vicky Pingul, Nora Dalman-Holipas, JunB(July 25th), Ando(July 26th), Butch Gozo(July29th), Lily Berroya (29th), Toy Aure (30th)  

Mila Galang

August Celebrants: Dante Ragasa (5th), Emilio (Tally) Salazar (6th), Mila Galang (10th), Manolo Franco (10th), Gus Rodriguez (9th), Tessie Aguas (18)

September Celebrants: Fred Donaire (2nd), Marietta Lozada-Java (3rd), Tony Catipay(5th) and Joanna Valencia (8th), Art Jurao (10th), Freddie Custodio (14th), Ofie Ching-Dy (14th), Jing Ordinario (16th) Ador Baylan (18th), Pepot Robles (20th), Nolorfo Lara (22nd), Lorna Laraya (24th), Evelyn Villena (26th), Pura Rodriguez (29th), Mike de Castro (29th).

     

FROM THE KITCHEN

I had not cooked adobo in at least 25 years. The vinegar is sublimated into the air and everything smells of it for days after. But I had a yen for adobo this morning while having breakfast so I stopped at Asia Mart and bought pork belly. You brown the meat after it has tenderized in simmering vinegar. And you don’t use soy sauce, instead add achuete to color the oil rendered from the pork fat (hence it is important to use pork belly or some other fatty part of the pig). Both the chicken and pork are wonderful when they are so tender they fall apart. Then they are browned in the expressed oil until crisp! A Filipino couple that own Cendrillon in SoHo in NYC serve crisp adobo flakes as one of their specialty dishes. They know the secret! An aunt in Manila taught me how to make instant flavored rice using adobo oil (as delicious as truffle oil!) with “linusgusan nga hipon” (tiny baby shrimp quickly cooked in a little water and salt), American ketchup and native tultul (sea salt rock). Unfortunately rock salt is so very expensive if you even can find it here in the States.

Orlando

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The Way We Were

Photos from the baptism of Mila and Roy G’s first apo: 5/2007

L-R: Pete C, Noel G, Roy and Mila G

Mila and Roy

1st grandchild

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Max performing live at Dusit Hotel RJ Bistro with Filipina  Madonna Decena, British Idol 2nd place up

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Our Endless Summer at RP

T’was so good to be young then. ( from Joey Leoncio)

L-R: Romulo Par, Florante Lomibao, Cesar Llamas, Cornelio Hong, Lew Hortillosa

L-R: Florante Lomibao, Mike de Castro, Cesar Llamas, Romulo Par, Lew Hortillosa

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Medicine Class 1A

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Front row: Paul Garcia 4th from the left; Gabby Factora:  third from the right, Ric Galang farthest left; Second row: Charles Dunifer 4th from right; Third row: Noel Guanzon second from left._________________________________________________________________

Cebu Medical School (University of San Carlos): Last row: 5th, 4th & 3rd from R: Lew H, Bert Velasco (UP), Tony C

3rd row: fourth from L: Nareng S

UST Western Visayas Medical Mission:

Front row: first person on the R: Tony Bernas

Second row: first person on the L: Roger L; 5th person from the L: Lew H; Joselito Bedia, wearing dark glasses, is to the R of Lew; first person, wearing a checkered shirt, on the R is Ismael H;

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CHARITY FUND-RAISING

Gawad Kalinga Update

Hi Everyone, We are so glad we continue to have your strong support for our village. Right now we have collected about $35,000 with the recent contributions of Mike and Nieves De Castro, Rey Lazaro, Lynn and Ted Mariano, Riz Galiy-Flickinger, Art Jurao and Marilou Monteverde-Bisonaya, Cecile and Tony Bernas. Thank you so much, you guys and ladies.If you are reminded of your pledge with this update, please send the contributions to me at 2357 S. Glenn Avenue, Decatur, IL 62521, written to GK USA and memo: For USTMD70 Class Legacy GK Village.Thanking you all in advance.Charlie and May Capati

Emergency Assistance Fund Update

To date, USTMD70 EAF has the ff:

A) An ending balance of $6005.00

B) List of Donors:

    1) Max and Evelyn Basco                            18)Phebe Lim-Tan

    2) Beng and Toy Aure                                  19) Rose Climaco

    3) Yet and Grace Dizon                                20)Puring Cruz-de los Santos

    4) Charlie and Myrna Capati                        21) Amanda Palaganas

    5)Ted and Lynne Mariano                            22) Evelyn Villena-Medrano

    6)Luz Cuaresma                                           23)Lucio Margallo

    7)Myrlie Larena-Casco                                 24)Deng Sitjar

    8)Ledy Dizon-Jazmines                                25)Rolando Singson

    9)James Zipagan                                          26) Evelyn Austria-Westhead

   10) Roger Liboon                                           27) Ofie and Morel Mangubat

   11)Lew Hortillosa                                           28) Lourdes and Rod Polintan

   12) Roger Leva                                              29)Gabby and Myrna Factora

   13)Art Jurao                                                   30)Manny De Sagun

   14)Ramon Domingo                                      31) Ed Capitulo

   15) Gally Grajo                                              33) Mike and Nieves de Castro

   16) Roy and Mila Gonzales                           34) Ando and Alice Dijamco

   17)Romo and Espie Kabatay                        35) Rey Lazaro

                                                                          36) Luz Duque

                                                                          37) Harry and Norma Salceda

                                                                          38) Alvin and Rancie Tolosa

On behalf of my fellow board members, please allow me to take this opportunity to reiterate our appreciation for your support and voluntary contributions to this worthy cause .Lynne, Max, Yet, Riz, and Luz ….thank you for your input and suggestions re contributing our resources to current widespread calamity in the Philippines.Yet and Riz, thank you for keeping us informed on  the latest about this calamity.

SLUSH FUND FOR NEEDY CLASSMATES

BANK: HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE CREDIT UNION, BEDFORD, MA

AMOUNT: $2637.43

PLEASE MAKE YOUR CHECK PAYABLE TO USTMD70 AND MAIL TO:

c/o Herminia Festin, PO BOX 551, BEDFORD, MA 01730. Marietta Lozada is

co-coordinator of the USTMD70 slush fund.

____________________________________________________________________

TRIP PLAN FOR CEBU CLASS REUNION 1/18/2013 – 1/21/2013

Classmates!

    Here is the latest about the Cebu Reunion on Jan. 18(Friday), 19(Satrurday), 20(Sunday) and 21(Monday).

        18th, Friday, Departure from Manila preferably at 9 am. Arrival in Cebu at 11 am. Check in at Movenpeck Hotel in Mactan, Cebu. In the evening we will have a fellowship and dinner.

        19th, Saturday, Lunch to be announced (probably a picnic) In the evening, we will have a CME presentation, Mass and dinner.

        20th. Sunday –  We will have a place in the route of the Sinulog for ourselves with Lunch and snacks. In the evening back to Mactan for dinner and Bonding with each other.

        21st. Monday – Tour of the sites in Cebu while others may play golf or tennis. Lunch will be at a designated place to be announced.

Room rates per day -1) Regular 2 beds or twin beds not facing the ocean $ 155.00/day

                2) Regular w/ 2 beds facing the ocean $ 178.00/day

                3) One bedroom suite w/ 2 beds – $205.00/day

                4) Two bedroom suites w/ 2 beds each – $330.00/day

This is with free breakfast for 2 per room.

– For food, transport in Cebu, souvenirs, functions – each person will be charged – $250.00

        for the whole affair

– Airfare – for those interested to avail of promo fares from Manila to Cebu, Seth Policarpio-Dela Cruz can arrange for us thru her travel agency for promo fares in advance.

The assessment is for the food, the affairs, the transport while in Cebu and other expenses that may be incurred during the reunion. It was estimated at $250 US per person so if you are a couple it’s $500 US. We are in the process of negotiating for all of these already so the program is as follows:

Day 1(Jan 18) Trip to Cebu and check in at Movenpeck Hotel. Dinner with catching up on one another.

Day 2(Jan19) Some will go around places in Mactan island while some will play golf. Lunch to be negotiated yet.  Evening, beach party fellowship at the hotel beachfront.

Day 3 Sunday(Jan 20) Depart for the observation area provided by the hotel to watch the Mardi Gras of the Santo Nino Sinulog Fiesta, evening buffet dinner at “Magestic” restaurant  at the convention center in Cebu.

Day 4 (Jan 21) Tour of Cebu city downtown while others are playing golf. Evening Farewell party at Movenpeck hotel. This is still subject to change as this is just on the planning stage. Coasters with a seating capacity of 30 persons are already being negotiated to service us during the entire reunion. So the amount was computed to have all of these without you guys being bothered but will simply fill your time having fun! Note your airfare to Cebu is not included in this costing

      Our committee here in the Phil. are now accepting commitments for the affair with your payments so we can finalize our negotiations as early as possible as this is a peak season for tourist in Cebu. You may send your Cheques or cash either to Pura Rodriguez -Caisip,  Raffy Poblete or to myself.

      Please let us know the soonest possilble time to avoid the difficulties of these preparations. Thank you so much.

So far the following had made reservations:

          1) Norma and Harry Salceda

          2) Max Basco and Evelyn

          3) Brenda Sison

          4) Roy and Mila Gonzales

          5) Charlie and May Capati

          6) Linda and Ato Reyes

         7) Pura and Ed Caisip

         8) Nilda Ricasa

         9) Luz Duque

       10) Ando and Alice Dijamco

       11) Art Jurao and spouse

       12) Roger  and LIta Liboon

       13) Ed  and Oma Capitulo

       14) Nieves and Mike De Castro

       15) Elmo and Rechie Orlino

       16) Ato & Linda Reyes

       17) Dante and Nida Ragasa

       18) Ping and Evelyn Duran

       19) Ronnie and Belen Jariol

       20) Princess/spouse Jabido

       21)  Suzette Correa

       22) Monet and Ruby  Abragan

       20)Raffy and Jane  Poblete

       21) Seth and Bert De La Cruz

       22) Dick & Aurea Quiroriano

      23) Carol Manahan and sister

      24) Evelyn Austria

     25) Efren Regio

     26) Manny De Sagun

     27) Mike and Nieves De Castro

     28) Gally Grajo

Those who would like to make their reservations please let us know with your choice of rooms the soonest possible time. Thank you so much and see you then!

The committee (Headed by Monet, Pura, Seth, Linda and Raffy).

_____________________________________________________________________

MINI-REUNIONS

Hi,  Over  the last  few  days  many  things  happened.  I  attended  the Las Vegas  reunion  with complimentary  rooms  provided by Manny de  Sagun.  I  am with my wife Connie and good friend Carol Manahan.  We  attended  the  mass  celebrated by the priest coming from UST, saw the performance of Celine Dion.  Her  voice is  perfect  with  dazzling  and beautifully  orchestrated video props. The  sound  is  fantastic  much more beautiful  than the  digital  CD.  Being in Vegas,  the only  thing  one can do is  gamble. Saw  Luz,  Roy, Mila  and  everyone  seems to be enjoying except  when  they  are losing  in the machine.  I played 9  holes with  Taumu friends  then proceeded to attend  the Salo-salo  restaurant meeting.

Wednesday (08/29) another happy occasion  again.   Once again ’70 group attended  the birthday bash of  Harry  Salceda in  their  house  with  the usual  feast  fit  for  a king . In attendance were  Ed. & Oma Capitulo, Max  and Evelyn Basco, Rechi & Elmo  Orlino,  Jessie &  Tony Romero. The  conversations  revolved  around  politics,  religion,  economics, gossips, ,  One interesting note I learned  about  the Salceda’s  is  their  approach  on  economy. Harry’s  version of economic solution  is based on  austerity which  the EU countries like Greece,  Spain  are  trying  hard to implement while  Norma’s  solution  is based more on the Capitalistic theory, that to offset expenditure, one has

to earn more. Norma feels rich  only by moving closer to GOD….A lesson learned  that day—Gud Nite–jb

Las Vegas Reunion 8/18/2012 @ Caesar’s  Palace                                                Seated: Luz D; Standing: JunB, Carol M, Manny D.

L-R: JunB, Zeny A. Manny D. Luz D, Roy G. Mila G.

Gala night in Las Vegas
Seated: May G, Zeny A, Nora D, Evelyn B
Standing: Charlie C, Ismael H, Max B

L-R: Seated: Ed Q, May C, Evelyn B, Max B, Carol M, Nora D
Standing: Bing P, Zeny A, Manny D, Concep B, Luz, unknown, Mila and Roy G

L-R: Seated: Mila G, Evelyn B, Luz D, unknown, Nora D, unknown
Standing: Max B, Roy G, Ismael H, unknown, Bing P, Zeny A, May G.
L-R: Concep and Jun B, Zeny A, Manny D
Harry S Birthday Bash in Beverly Hills, CA

Seated: L-R: Harry and Norma S, Rechi and Elmo O
Standing: Jessie &Tony R, Max & Evelyn B, Linda Gray, Oma C, Ed C, Carol M, Concep B

Medina, Ohio Mini-reunion:  Golf Weekend July 4, 2012

Seated: L-R: Butch G, Mila G                                                                                     Standing: Roy G, May —————————————————————————————————————–

In front of  the residence of Mila and Roy, Medina, Ohio:                                          L-R:Butch G, Charlie C and Roy

Hi, Roy and Mila

May and I would like to thank you again for the great fun weekend we spent with you at your golf haven. Not only did we have a lot of fun but also received a lot of golfing pearls from Roy, the golf guru. Starting from our arrival Friday evening after picking Butch in Indiana, Mila and Roy prepared prime rib steak dinner washed down with Stella Artois and green tea beverages. We played 27 holes both Saturday and Sunday. Mila and May also played as hard. Our appetites where whetted and gratified with a seafood buffet in Cleveland and also with a sumptuous lobster dinner Sunday night. May prepared and brought chicken empanada which helped during the trip and at the golf course. We left Monday at noon being sorry it was over too soon.

Mila and Roy, you gave us a very memorable and most enjoyable weekend. May is inspired by Mila’s game and is now more committed to golf as I am. Thanks you so much once again.

Charlie and May

Maryland mini-reunion: L-R: Rizalino Cruz and Art Racelis

San Francisco mini-reunion: L-R: Mila G, Carol M, Roger Belen, Roy G

_____________________________________________________________________

Indiana Mini-reunion: Butch and JunB’s birthday bash

L-R: Ed C, Gally G, Butch G, Charlie C, JunB

 

L-R seated: Ed C, Gally G, Rose C, Puring C

standing: Butch G, JunB

There was prodding and then an invite. That special weekend was then reserved.
It was billed initially as the meeting of the giants, the West against the East. It will be consummated in Indiana at Butch’s Brier GC. The gathering was surreal and dumbfounding.
JB and Charlie came first followed by the arrival of Gally, Roy and yours truly. We all converged in Butch house to play golf. That was our excuse to get away from our family and work. That was just a ploy. The real reason is to be with friends who are celebrating their birthdays, Butch and JB. The welcoming given to the guest was overwhelming ,poignant and profoundly moving. We were surprised by the presence of our gorgeous classmates in the person of Puring and Rose, who prepared our nutrition. The atmosphere was affable and friendly. We gloated ourselves with food and spirits. We were carousing with Stella Artois and Grey Goose. JB was flippantly inspiring in his remarks but the spirit got the best of him and ended up babbling and bloviating.
Puring and Rose were ever present during this respite. Puring doled in Stella Artois mugs for the boys. The weekends were all spent celebrating and partying for celebrants especially the host. Butch family were in attendance and other friends and co-workers.The guests were international coming from all walks of life. Thai foods filled us with much gusto. This is a testament to Butch popularity and likability. Mila visited her husband one weekend since the house was reserved only for the boys. Music was provided by Charlie ,which is a revelation .
As we spent  the evenings chilling ,drinking and dining, and of course getting our supplies from the casino, the days were reserve for playing. Golf is the common denominator in keeping the group together and is everyone’s passion. Charlie is the long hitter of the golf ball, Roy is the short game master, JB is the contortionist, and Gally survived playing 27 and 18 holes with us.
At the end Butch brought us back to earth by hitting  an enviable score of 80 reminding us …..this is my home course and nobody messes up with me.
As I have expressed to the group, I have made decisions in my life and this one ranks high in the list. Butch warm and personalized attention to all of us made our stay in his prodigious and beautiful house more welcoming. Another proof to this is , even the grisly raccoon and his family came to greet him on the night of his birthday. Even frazzled and fatigued, that is his modus vivendi or way of life.
My sincere thanks to all the attendees ,the host Butch, his son Mike and his daughter Michelle ( I may be wrong with the name ) and to Puring and Rose for making my stay in Indiana more colorful and picturesque. Thank you Rose for driving me and Gally to the Airport.God bless, Ed C

Kuya  Ed  C,

You  had  been  the  historian  and acute  observer of events.  Meredith  is  the name Stella  Artois  is  the drink.  Gray  Goose  is   the  bird  that  flattened  and knock me  out of my feet. It  had  been years  since I  had a hangover.  Even  2 tabs of  Alka Seltzer  cannot  bring comfort to my  headache  and nausea. Nevertheless,  I played  golf  with  Charlie  and GG  in the spirit  of sport-manship  and  fun….It  took me  a  day rest  to  recharge  again.  How  fun  to  feel young  again…thanks guys  for  everything—- we  should  do  this  again….for  time  is  getting  short……..69  is  a good number–jb

__________________________________________________________

Amarillo, TX mini-reunion on Max & Evelyn’s trip back to LA

Seated: Max & Evelyn; Standing: L-T: Bing, Ed, Lita Makalintal and Mike  Miguel (’71 UST MD graduates)

______________________________________________________________

Memories of Keuka Lake Mini-Reunion

To my dear friends, Ted and Linda,A  HUG and huge THANK YOU to you, such a well-matched couple! Everybody had such a great time. Indeed, well done. Your efforts, preparation and thoughtfulness are very much appreciated.The week-end started with the very efficient Rancie driving me and Vicky (we missed you, Luz) and the fun started with us meeting Efren and Manny at an exit off RT 81. We remembered the good old days over dinner; losing our way later was not so bad in the company of the 2 gentlemen. Unfortunately, we arrived too late to join the healing mass which were attended by Ted, Lynne, Ando and Alice, who later joined us for a late dinner of chicken tinola,etc.The best part of Saturday was the Filipino breakfast fare, my favorite was the dried pusit. We had the most relaxed time savoring the blessings of Mother Nature around us by the lake. That was a very restful hour by the Keuka Lake, punctuated by laughter. Then on to wine tasting to 2 wineries. Vicky and I must have finished all glasses offered to us. Our group ate 2 bowls of crackers, helping us to remain somewhat sober.The Sat. picnic lunch fare was well documented on the Lynne’s photos. Pol, Mini. Ray, Marietta and Dom came later. The heat and humidity of the afternoon was felt but warm company of very dear friends was overwhelming. There was seemingly unending story-telling, eating, laughing, dancing and more eating! Later after the group meeting, karaoke singing ended the evening.Sunday was spent picking blueberries, followed by mass at the barn with Ted and Lynne’s group singing. The Filipino couple who own the farm hosted lunch in thanksgiving. The day ended with dinner (Rancie’s sauteed ampalaya was delicious!), and home service massage.We started our drive home after the ladies’ group/miss you hug. We could not join the Niagara Falls trip.Cheers for our hospitable classmates, Ted and Lynne!

Brenda

We landed in Atlanta shortly before 9 pm.  Arrived home ~ 9:45 pm.

Sent you a text message earlier – but for some reason, I don’t think it got delivered.

Thank you very much for everything!

We had a wonderful and memorable time with you, and with everyone.

The camaraderie was precious!  It was a very successful USTMD70 mini-reunion with lots of unforgettable bonding time.

Enjoyed Keuka Lake (the beautiful sceneries, the gorgeous sunset & aurora borealis, and the boat rides), your very spacious lake home, our great Filipino picnic luncheon Saturday – with lechon, the wine tasting we all so enjoyed at the wineries, the dancing, our sing-along followed by the Karaoke session Saturday night,

The trip to the Blueberry Farm – (we all had so much fun) blueberry eating & picking  the “Best Harvest Ever”  followed by a special Sunday mass with both of you leading the lively choir, & a Thanksgiving celebration at the farm – Filipino food and another lechon. We were all invited to join and celebrate “A Very Good Blueberry Season.” Then to the beautiful Niagara Falls US side, Monday.

Our Friday afternoon and evening in Rochester after our arrival was also quite an experience -the tour of the grounds of the Eastman (Kodak) House, the calamari & buffalo wings for a big snack, the healing mass experience and gathering at St. Anne’s, and even our car rides with you, including the pick-up Friday and the drop-off Monday at the Rochester Airport.

We enjoyed all the delicious food you so generously provided for us.

We were definitely well-nourished – totally with our Filipino food of choice –

plus all the pabaons! Thank you to all your very kind friends and helpers, and their service with honest-to-goodness smiles, laughter, and a great sense of humor – that never faded.

By the way, the 4 bottles of wine we got at the 2 wineries survived the plane ride in my luggage. Thank you also for our very comfortable lodging.  Slept very well.  Peaceful. You are an amazing couple.  May God continue to shower you and your family with His special blessings.Thank you for your friendship – we can feel that it comes from deep in your hearts.

Ando & Alice

Thank u , thank u ..thank u..

Can’t express much my gratitude for such special moment and time u both offerred what a beautiful weekend !!!

Ted , thanks for the boat ride my first in a motor boat! so..so ..exciting!!!

Linda , my friend forever!!! and of course for the rest of the group thanks for the company and laughs, sumakit ang tiyan ko !!!

What a gift to see the lake in the morning , so peaceful , so still..

Rancie

Words cannot express our heartfelt thanks for a wonderful and unforgettable

weekend at Keuka Lake . Our only regret is missing the healing mass on

Friday.There was so much food and exotic  fresh fruits ( rambutan  , lychees , longan , papaya , mangoes to name a few ). We enjoyed the boat ride and the pampering provided by the membersof your prayer group.

Had we accepted your offer to stay at your ” dormitory ” we would not

have missed the karaoke and the midnight snacks .The trip to Niagara Falls,  both the US and Canadian side, was well worth the extra miles of driving ( sorry Rancie , Brenda and Vicky you missed It ) Even though we were detained at Immigration on our way back to the US, we treasure the experience.

Thank you , too, to our classmates who attended this mini reunion, sharing

memories of the past, experiences of the present especially of apos and

planning for future reunions .

Hope to see more of our classmates in January 2013. God bless,

Mike, Nieves , and Nacy

Kueka Lake  Mini-reunion photos

L-R: standing: Efren R, Rey L, Mini F, Ted and Lynne M, Vicky P, Rancie R, Brenda C, Alice D

Seated: Manny D, Rod P, Ando D

L-R: Alice, Ando, Rey L, Efren R, Manny D, Vicky P, Rod P, Rancie R,

Ted and Lynne

Front row: L-R: Nieves’ sister Nacy, Brenda, Ted, Linda, Nieves, Mini, Efren

Second row: Vicky, Rod Polintan, Rancie, Manny, Mike, Marietta&spouse

L-R: Ando, Manny, Lynne, Efren

 Ando sitting

L-R: standing: Brenda, Manny, Vicky, Alice, Lynne, Rancie

L-R: Ando, Alice, Brenda, Manny, Vicky, Efren, Rancie, Lynne, Ted

 Kueka Lake breakfast

L-R: Ando, Alice, Nieve’s sister, Nieves, Mike D, Ted, Lynne, Brenda, Rancie

 

 Mass in a barn: Sitting: L-R: Brenda, Rancie, Nieves

Standing: first row: unknown, Lynne, unknown, Alice, unknown, Vicky, Ando

second row: Ted is third from left

Keuka lake: Rey Lazaro

Kueka Lake Class Meeting

In attendance are the following:
Ted and Lynne, Mike and Nieves, Ando and Alice, Efren, Manny, Marietta, Rancie, Vicky, Pol, Brenda ( Ray Lazaro and Mini had left earlier)Items discussed:
1) Cebu reunion in Jan. 2013
-everybody is encouraged to attend and make reservations ASAP since the Sinulog feast is a tourist attraction
-Medical mission as per Max, nobody in the group present seems interested
-questions directed to Monet and the Phil. group—Is Bohol and its attractions included in the itinerary? Are there any other     side trips planned?
2) Cruise in October 2013
– Alice is making arrangements and those interested are encouraged to call/email her. In order for the travel agent to give any good group rates, the number of people strongly inclined to join this mini-reunion should commit.
– possible places:
Hawaii- several seem to prefer this, being accessible to both east and west coasts, and possibly our Phil classmates may also want to join.
other cruises mentioned- Caribbean, cruise to Maine/ Halifax/ New Brunswick, etc.; Mexican
– any other suggestions?
3) Slush fund- voluntary, given to Mini; some had sent $50, mainly to help some needs of our classmates, release of funds agreed by members of committee. Marietta was asked to co-supervise or co-sign this account with Mini. I hope this is ok with you, Mini.
4) Emergency Fund– available for contribution to Phil. disaster victims. Contributions are welcome, also voluntary, $50/year was requested (I am sure any amount is welcome), sent to Puring. This is chaired by Y/to give $100 each.  Emergency assistance fund- supervised /chaired by Yet.
5) Gawad Kalinga (GK)-  in the past east coast (NJ/PA) minireunions, it was agreed that each classmate will donate $1000 each with many sending more like $2600 to build a house for a family. This is tax-deductible. Please send contributions as soon as you can, hopefully before the Jan. 2013 reunion. Charlie has been very good in acknowledging donations. Thank you, Charlie, for your passion and commitment to this worthy cause.
6) Possible east coast venue for a mini-reunion in August 2013—pot luck picnic at Efren’s NY country house, and a broadway play. Plan your accommodations accordingly.See you in Jan, with warm regards, Brenda

L-R: Mini, Lynne, Vicky, Rancie, Brenda, Alice

L-R: Ando, Alice, Manny, Rancie, Brenda, Lynne, Ted, Vicky, Efren

Our Romantic Couples in Kueka Lake

Mike & Nieves

Ando & Alice

Ted & Lynne

______________________________________________________________

Kueka lake: Bonding, camaraderie, delicious food!

L-R: Mini, Efren, Marietta, Brenda

 

GUESS WHO?

Clue: Shy ,demure, graduated in 1962 UST High School.

Last issue’s Guess Who?: Grandson of Charles D.

MOMENTS 

(Memories etched from the edges of time and space)

By: Charles Dunifer

It was the latter part of 1966 and we held our religion class in the afternoons, after a long spell of classes.  Out of the blue, our teacher-in-charge gave a “Spot quiz” to catch us. Unprepared, the class’ resulting scores were abysmal, to say the least.

          Even so, Orly Gustilo almost aced it, so our class elected him “Pope” (sans the white smoke). A few of the other guys scored in the 90’s and high 80’s, prompting the class to assign them “Cardinals” and “Bishops” accordingly. I remember I got a decent score of 80% and was relegated to the position of “High Priest” of some sort. Go figure that one out.

I don’t know Joey’s score but he was designated a defrocked “Sacristan” so go figure that one out.

          In fairness to Joey, I knew that he was going through a phase of his life then. He was going through his “Corrida Madness Phase!”

NEXT ISSUE “AGLIPAY ON THE LOOSE”

          (SEND IN IF YOU HAVE SOME FUNNY ANECDOTES DURING OUR MEDICAL SCHOOL YEARS DIRECTLY TO MINI UNDER THE “MOMENTS” HEADING)

Color me cute

“Color me cute!”

By AIDAN GABRIELLE DUNIFER

I first became aware of the word “cute” when I was five months of age. The politically correct term is “delightfully endowed neonate!” A month later, I began to realize what it all meant: getting passed around from person to person like a football, being buzzed on my cheeks, being pinched on almost every body part, getting patted on toes, head and butt, and all other forms of indignities .Talk about “growing pains!”

But my Grandpa Charles would liven me up with phrases like,”keep up with it kiddo and in a few years you’re a “chick magnet!”  I really love Grandpa Charles, but sometimes I think he’s full of beans!

( you can send pictures of your favorites grand kids to Mini with a short write up )

Jeff Hortillosa, Lew’s youngest, with his band on the Travel Channel. Jeff plays the guitar.

Jeff’s group WHISKEY SHIVERS at the ANTHONY BOURDAIN opener in AUSTIN, TX.

Third birthday celebration of Luz ‘s. first grandson, William. (Sherborn, MA)

L-R: Mini, Luz M and Head Coach of Tuft University’s Varsity Team and Math teacher

___________________________________________________________________

ST CLARE

Clare was born around 1193 in Assisi, Italy. St. Francis of Assisi lived in the same town. Clare used to listen to Francis preach. Her heart burned with a great desire to imitate him. Like him, she wanted to live a poor, humble life for Jesus. But her parents would never agree to such a plan. So on the night of Palm Sunday, 1212, when she was eighteen years old, she left her comfortable home and her family whom she loved. In a little chapel outside Assisi, she gave herself to God. St. Francis cut off her hair and offered her a rough brown habit to wear. She stayed with the Benedictine nuns until more nuns would join her. Her parents tried in every way to make her return home, but Clare would not. Soon her fifteen-year-old sister Agnes joined her.

Other young women wanted to be “poor ladies” of Jesus, too. Before long there was a small religious community. They lived in a house at the church of San Damiano, which St. Francis himself had repaired. St. Clare and her nuns wore no shoes. They never ate meat. They lived in a poor house in an atmosphere of silent prayer. Yet they were very happy because they were living a life of poverty as Jesus had done. Once an army of rough soldiers came to attack the city of Assisi. Although very sick, St. Clare asked to be carried to the window. She had the Blessed Sacrament placed right where the soldiers could see it. Then she knelt and begged God to save the nuns and the city. “O Lord, protect these sisters whom I cannot protect now,” she prayed. And a voice within her seemed to say: “I will keep them always in my care.” At the same time, a sudden fright struck the attackers. They fled as fast as they could.

St. Clare was abbess of her convent for forty years. Twenty-nine of those years she was sick. But she said that she was joyful anyway because she was serving the Lord. Some people worried that the nuns were suffering because they were so poor. St. Clare spent most of her life defending what she called the “privilege of poverty.” The pope tried to soften her Rule’s requirement of poverty, but Clare convinced him that she and her nuns were called to live with no possessions, trusting completely in God. St. Clare died on August 11, 1253. Just two years later she was proclaimed a saint by Pope Alexander IV.

Sometimes we forget to give time to the Lord. We might be so concerned about certain things that we allow them to drown out the voice of Jesus. That’s when we can ask St. Clare to show us how to keep Jesus as the center of our lives and hearts.
Lynne

Sent via iMissal : http://bit.ly/imissalmarket

 

 “

5th USTMD70 e-magazine

June 30,2012

5th USTMD70 class e-magazine

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Lighted kites at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

THE FATHER OF JUNE 12

In 2005, the Boston Filipino people marked the 108th anniversary of Philippine Independence with a  family picnic at Hanscom AFB, Bedford, MA..The rain did not dampen the enthusiasm of the family picnic which was held in the Hanscom AFB picnic grounds.  More than 50 Filipinos came together to celebrate the Philippine Independence Day. This was the first Philippine Independence Day picnic in greater Boston since 1998.

Before 1962, the Philippines celebrated its independence day on the same date as the Americans do, on July 4 each year. The change in the date of our independence day was proclaimed on May 17, 1962 by then President Diosdado Macapagal. The first observance of the new date was in June 12 of the same year.

Professor Gabriel Fabella

The man who worked tirelessly and almost single-handedly for the change in our independence date from July 4 to June 12 is a Romblomanon and relative–the late UP Professor and former Romblon Assemblyman Gabriel F. Fabella (Tang Ambe). He was the Head of the UP Department of History and President of the Philippine Historical Association at that time.

The proposed change in Philippine independence date which Prof. Fabella started in 1955 was not a popular idea. His co-professors at the state university laughed off at his proposal.But he continued his advocacy through the media and in his public speeches.

He finally won the fight in 1962 when President Macapagal issued Proclamation No. 28 declaring June 12 as Philippine Independence Day.  President Macapagal may have signed the initiative but Tang Ambe  fired the opening salvo in 1954 and tirelessly fought and campaigned for June 12 as the country’s proper Independence Day.

Something happened between the successful Philippine Revolution against Spain (1898) and the subsequent American conquest of the Philippines (1899-1903).

On June 12, 1898, General Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed the independence of the Filipinos in Kawit, Cavite. During that day, there  was the reading of the Independence Proclamation. This was followed by the the unfurling of the Filipino flag for the first time, accompanied by the playing of Julian Felipe’s National Anthem  for the first time and highlighted by the  signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Historian Esteban A. de Ocampo clarified that Philippine independence was not declared or proclaimed on July 4, 1946. What happened was merely a recognition of Philippine independence proclained on June 12, 1898.

The Man From Romblon

Born on March 18, 1898, Tang Ambe was the 10th of 13 children of a poor couple from Banton, Romblon. In spite of poverty, he managed to finish not only his primary and secondary schooling but also his tertiary education. Through hard work and perseverance, he gradually realized his dreams, proving that not even poverty is a hindrance to anyone’s success if determination is present in a goal-oriented individual.

He was the first-ever Bantoanon to finish three degrees (BSE, BA, and HSTC) from UP in just three years (1917-1920), an MA History degree holder (1931), lawyer (1934), UP professor (1923-1934; 1946-1963) and assemblyman of Romblon (1935-1938).

At 37, he became so popular when he defeated the so-called “Dean of the Lower House” and traditional politician Leonardo Festin Sr as Romblon representative in the First National Assembly under the Commonwealth. Leonardo Festin Sr (Papa Nardo)  was my paternal grandfather.  A leading Nacionalista party member of Manuel L. Quezon, my grandfather  was known to be undefeated in Romblon and had served for seven consecutive terms (1916-1935). Tang Ambe said that he challenged Papa Nardo because he felt that no one should hold an elected political position for that long. He did not give any reason why holding an elected position for long was objectionable. Manuel Quezon was so confident of Papa’s winning  that  he asked Papa to stay in Manila to help his projects.  So Papa  stayed in Manila and did not  set foot in Romblon to campaign. To Quezon’s dismay, Papa lost to a neophyte lawyer whose rigorous campaign and charisma gained tremendous support from the electorate. When Papa learned of his defeat, he broke into tears. Tang Ambe served one term (1935-1938) and was replaced in the next election by Papa who campaigned tirelessly to regain  his former position. Tang Ambe abandoned politics and returned to teaching but remained an active member of the Nacionalista Party.

Photo below: President Manuel Quezon signing papers aboard a ship.

L-R:unknown, unknown, Secretary of Justice Jose Yulo,President Manuel Quezon, House Speaker Quintin Paredes, unknown, Romblon Representative Leonardo Festin Sr.

Tang Ambe  was an academician. Many still know the several schools he founded and owned shortly after the war not only in Romblon but also in Mindoro and Batangas. Before his retirement in 1963, he served as both chair of the UP Department of History and acting director of UP Clark Air Base (1958-1960). He mentored  the most successful student, President Ferdinand  Marcos, who used to study far into the late hours under him during his pre-Law days at UP.

He was a historian. He wrote about a hundred articles in various scholarly magazines Even until now, the Philippine Historical Society reveres him as one of its founding members and its first president who served four terms starting 1955

On Jan. 29, 1982, the old and sick professor finally joined his Creator on his way to Manila from Canada.  As we observe our independence this month, it is but fitting and proper to honor this “Father of June 12” of ours by remembering his greatest legacy to this country he loved so much.

Sadly, Macapagal claimed that it was the fulfillment of his very own idea. It can be said that the late president had selfishly claimed the full credit. As the then incumbent president, he turned into reality the lifelong goal of an academician. In other words, he merely acted upon the idea of someone. Fabella did not receive any credit except being mentioned in several newspapers and dubbed by his contemporary scholars the “Father of June 12.” The injustice done by Macapagal to Fabella’s role may be explained by the fact that the latter was a member of Partido Nacionalista, the rival of the President”s Partido Liberal. (Excerpted from the Philippine Inquirer and Wikepdia).

The Picnic

The picnic started with a solemn Independence Day Mass celebrated by Fr. Celestino Pascual, Spiritual Director of the Filipino Apostolate. His homily of the Parable of the Widow’s Offering was well-received. Jesus praised the woman who gave a lowly penny into the alms box and said that this woman gave more than all the others, who gave a much bigger alms, because, in her generosity to God, she gave all that she had.

To be eligible for door prizes, one had to correctly answer this question:
Who said the following?
First, “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains
and slavery? Forbid it. Almighty God! I know not what course others may take but as for me give me liberty, or give me death. ” Second, ” I have always loved my poor country, and I am sure that I shall love her until death, if by chance men are unjust to me; and I shall enjoy the happy life, contented in the thought that all that I have suffered, my past, my present and my future, my life, my loves, my pleasures, I have sacrificed all of these for love of her. Happen what may, I shall die blessing her and desiring the dawn of her redemption.” Answers at the end of the article.

Rpse, the gatekeeper,  carefully tallied the registration fee payments of the guests. Johnny, Manny  and Tony M dutifully minded the grills and the picnic tables. The rest took the opportunity to catch up with the latest news in the Filipino community. They traded jokes typical in a picnic excursion. In addition, they met and welcomed the new Filipinos to MA. Over lunch on a mantled picnic table, they chatted heartily and exchanged stories about almost any topic under the sun.There were lots of delicious food, ranging from the familiar to the exotic to satisfy any appetite. True to Filipino tradition, the prominently displayed lechon with the apple in the mouth was the centerpiece. As expected, people had extra helpings of the exotic “cambing calderetta,” a favorite goat dish with Filipinos, analogous to the lamb.  Of course, a picnic would not be complete without the freshly-grilled hot dogs and hamburgers. The juicy watermelon added a touch of summer to the festive occasion. In the background, popular Filipino folk music in  various dialects nostalgically brought back memories of life in the old country. A few obligatory  flies swooped in to share in the celebration….and  become our unwelcome guests. It was a real, honest-to-goodness picnic!

The picnic was sponsored by PAMANA, Inc., an umbrella organization comprised of the following organizations:Iskwelahang Pilipino, Filipino Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Boston, Filipino American Assocation of Greater Boston (FAGB), Fil-Am Arts, Kapatiran sa Massachusetts (KASAMA), Philippine Dance Company (PDCO), Dance Philippines,
Pilipino-American Golfers Association of New England, Pilipino-American Association of New England (PAMAS), Philippine Nurses Association of New England (PNANE),
Philippine Medical Association of New England (PMANE), New England Society of Phil-Am Health Professionals (NESPHP), The Holy Infant Jesus (Sto. Nino) Prayer Group of New England, Couples/Singles for Christ (CFC/SFC), Bagong Kulturang Pinoy (BKP),Kawit 1898-1998, P.O.W.E.R., Central Massachusetts Filipino American Association (CMFAA),
Filipino Young Professionals (FYP-Boston),Filipino-American Charitable Trust of NH (FACT-NH), Springfield Filipino Association, Fil-Am Friendship Society of New Hampshire,
PAGASA, Fil-Am Association of Newport, Rhode Island, HOPE Foundation, RI. (25 in all).

The organizers met several times to plan the picnic. The picnic was made possible with the generous donation of $250.00 from the Filipino Apostolate and a $50.00 donation from PAMAS. The proposed games were walking/jogging, basketball, tug of war, chess and playing Cards. There was an excellent bike and walking route in Hanscom.

PAMANA President Bill  reiterated his immense appreciation to all who were involved before, during and after the anticipation/preparation of the 108th Philippine Independence Day Commemoration.

It was an enjoyable way  to spend a rainy Saturday. There was so much food that some brought home left-overs. In the end, people bade one another good-bye with promises to be back next year for another fun-filled Philippine Independence Day family picnic. In celebrating our day of freedom, we look back to honor the men and women who fought and died to make our country free and independent.  Mabuhay and Pilipinas!

Originally published in PinoyAdsCentral.com; Answers: Patrick Henry and Jose Rizal.

Mini F sitting second from the left in the second row in a Philippine Independence picnic.

THE OWL

We were excitedly watching Our Owl as we were eating an early dinner tonight.       (paksiw na talilong “mullet” and adobong pusit “squid”)

He/She was perched on the tree right behind the eating area of our kitchen,

then flew down to the swimming pool deck railing, looking for his own dinner.

He curiously watched me take his/her pictures through the picture window.

Seems very friendly, and not scared.

We are happy that he/she keeps coming back to our backyard,

this time even chose a tree closest to our house.

He/She has made our backyard his/her home/refuge during spring and summer.

One very beautiful Owl!  Another one of God’s Wonderful Creations!

– that can cheer and lighten up anyone’s heart!  And gives anyone a Smile!

Alice and Ando

________________________________________________________

From Lew and  JunB

How do PEOPLE RISE above their life’s quotidian VICISSITUDES?
What QUINTESSENTIALLY HOLDS them together in one piece?
Wherefrom do they draw the FIBER not to snap under existential pressure?  Lew

Jun B’s reply:

Where do we find  the strength,  the sanity  to stay alive living everyday in  this

chaotic,  stressful,  confusing  world?

I  believed  that  Minnie  is  right…..Faith  in  God,  that is alone powerful, my

friend, to sustain not  only  the physical, emotional but also the spiritual  makeup

of man  and if  you   add  Hope, this  gives an additional perspective in the life of

a  human being,  believing  that tomorrow  will be a better  day  and today  is just

a  temporary  bump in  the road  of  life.  Another is the resiliency and the ability

of  the human being  to come to terms  with  reality . All  and  more  give the will

and  strength to live  for  another day.  The  past also adds  to  the strength of

character  and   the undying  will, determination and  hope  that tomorrow  will

always be a better than  yesterday….. 2  cents–jb

Cenegenics

Ever heard of the term cenegenics? It is age management medicine that purportedly helps control the aging process and all that comes with it; the declining health, loss of muscle mass, decreased energy, low sex drive, memory loss and a host of other events. There is a continuing interest on how to defy aging, especially now that since the turn of the century, people are living much longer – 30 – 40 years longer, and life expectancy increasing by  two to five years per decade especially in developed countries. To achieve this and gain more longevity and feel young despite developing those wrinkles on your face and then live agelessly ( I think of Hugh Hefner marrying a woman 60 years younger) requires revitalizing every cell in the human body and preventing the degradation and the decay of powerhouse inside them which we call mitochondria. How can one keep those small cellular powerhouses humming so that you can prolong and enjoy life. It may not give you a well-chiseled six pack abs like the 72-year-old Dr. Jeffrey Like, the “face” of cenegenics, but it may make you act like you have found and drank from the fountain of youth.

Ed Quiros

My Hometown: Guagua, Pampanga

A Chinese couple and their son were accused of killing a British citizen in China.The son’s name is Bo Guagua.

In our history book by Zaide,Chinese merchants settled in our town Guagua.Could it be the name is Chinese origin? The old folks call it Wawa for short, my theory was that came from the people with no teeth The Pampanga river tributaries includes our town , a convenience which made way for  a large market place where fishermen brought on their catch.It also helped irrigating the farmlands.There is probably more business activity in

 our town more than any other part of the province.It should have been the provincial capital.We have 3 movie theaters, one bowling alley.2 small college,one Chinese school ,one private school and one trade school. We have a lumber company, and ice maker plant. Railways transportation from Manila passes by our town.Being that the waterways was the life blood of the town,. I thought it really started as agua  like water which then evolved to it’s present name  Guagua. Does any of our Chinese classmates who speak and learned Chinese help on this? Is Guagua Chinese or Spanish origin?

Thanks if you can help.

Joe L.

______________________________________________________________________

April  Birthday celebrants.Sylvia Chua, Augusto Juguilon,

May Birthday Celebrants: Evelyn Gonzales (10th), Ramon Abragan (11), Angie Miguel – Aguirre(12th), Art Racelis (14th), Myrlie Larena (15th), Boy Samala (16th), Lito Durante (17th), Bee Bulaclac, Bing Orlino, Gloria Tablang, Ofie Ramoso, Robbie Diaz, Gally Grajo, Mon Domingo, Brenda Caparros, Roy Gonzales, Roland Singson, Rene Grabato, Elsa De Guzman, Roy Gonzales, Rey Lazaro.

June Birthday celebrants:Ruby Batan, Carol Manahan, Pete Calope (18th), Ping Duran (19th), Riz Galit (20th), Mini Festin (20th), Norma Dy, (22nd), Jimmy Cabatingan (23rd), Leddy Dizon (26th(, Mon Matignas (27th)

____________________________________________________________________

 MONET’S LA VISIT 5/2012

L-R: Eloy Banes, unknown, Monet, Carol M.

Our Teacher: Dr. Leonor Rivera Calimlim and her daughters

She looks great at age 85. Her self confidence and strong personality give the impression of arrogance. Having known her more closely as a friend here in Rochester , I can tell you that she is quite a remarkably kind , loving and humble person. She sought us , (her former students, )and befriended us , invited us to their home , phoned us ,every now and then . They came to our humble apartments and dined with us . Attended our children’s birthday parties. Ed , and others, were beneficiaries . I learned from her, not only Pharmacology.I learned from her, by her example (and motherly advise),about living and loving.

Lynne

L-R: Ted, Lynne, Dr. Calimlim and spouse

Kira Margallo Hofer

She is Kira Isabel Margallo Hofer 7 year old first grade student and loves tosing and dance. Good soccer player, gymnast and swimmer.She attends at St. Geralds Catholic School in Omaha, Nebraska where her momFarah teaches Spanish and Arts. She is also a Psychologist. Except for her lighter color, she is Farah’s clone.

Sibling bonding: Ariana and David Calope

DEATH OF A CEMETERY DOCUMENTARY FILM July 17, 2012

Would like to invite everyone especially our classmates in the Dallas, Texas area and vicinity to the Asian Film Festival of Dallas on July 16-21. There are two Filipino films being previewed, one of them is Jeanie’s “Death of a Cemetery”, the other “Give Up Tomorrow” by Marty Syjuco. Thank you and God Bless.

Yet

Hi there!

This is Cayetano “Yet” (Grace) Dizon’s daughter writing – Jeanie Duque Dizon.  I am the director of a documentary feature film entitled DEATH OF A CEMETERY.

We are holding our OFFICIAL WORLD PREMIERE at the Asian Film Festival of Dallas this summer, and I would like to invite you to our screening.  Because our movie is a human rights film, we feel it is important that it reach as many audiences as possible.

A little about our film:

In Manila North Cemetery in the Philippines, 3000 people live amongst the dead. Gravekeepers grow gardens around tombs; chefs cook up hearty fare in crypt-side restaurants; and children play basketball in between school and funerals.  Though more peaceful than other shantytowns, it is rife with conflict.   A teenage boy must undergo an exorcism lest forever be possessed by spirits, and the government wants to evict all the residents.  Will the community survive against modern forces, or is this the death of a cemetery?

DEATH OF A CEMETERY is a moving account of life in a place of death.  Much like Marc Singer’s “Dark Days”, our documentary shines a light on urban dispossession and meditates on homelessness from a compelling existential angle.  But despite the macabre setting of a graveyard, the documentary focuses on the dignity of the people rather than the strangeness of the place and highlights humanity amidst bleak circumstances.  Although it is Filipino in time and place, all viewers can connect with the lengths residents will go to provide for their families.

Philippine novelist Miguel Syjuco narrates and British “supergroup” BEAK (which includes Geoff Barrow of Portishead) provides an intriguing soundtrack.

Please feel free to spread the word to as many in the Texas Filipino and Asian community as you can.  Our film is in the documentary competition, and we hope to pack the theater!

Here are the details of the screening:

DEATH OF A CEMETERY

OFFICIAL WORLD PREMIERE

ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF DALLAS 2012

Screening on Tuesday, July 17 @ 4:00pm

Magnolia Landmark Theater

West Village

3699 McKinney Avenue, Suite 100

Dallas, TX  95204

(214) 764 – 9106

Tickets will be available at the Asian Film Festival of Dallas website:

http://2012.asianfilmdallas.com/

or at the Magnolia Landmark Theater website:

http://www.landmarktheatres.com/Market/Dallas/Dallas_Frameset.htm

In the meantime, please feel free to watch the trailer and read the back story behind the documentary at our website:

http://www.deathofacemetery.com/

Thank you!  We really appreciate your support.  Hope to see you there!

All best,

Jeanie Duque Dizon

Director

jeanie@empyrealproductions.com

http://www.deathofacemetery.com/

See the trailer at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=067KJrS2lI0

Jeanie Duque Dizon

Director

jeanie@empyrealproductions.com

http://www.deathofacemetery.com/

BEHIND THE SCENES BY YET

The film took three months to shoot. They have thought about making it for a few years but the camera and video equipment were too prohibitive (cost) and heavy to transport and they did not want to rent local equipment. Then in 2009 Canon came out with an affordable digital SLR that could do 1080 high definition videos, which started a trend. And that’s what they used Canon digital SLRs. Nowadays even high profile directors and producers make their trailers using the new I PAD, how neat and affordable. It probably cost about $20,000 which is minuscule nowadays. Most of the labor help was gratis from Grace’s brothers Cesar, Gonzalo and Francisco. Phil, Jeanie’s husband is from Bristol, U.K. and has worked on documentaries for BBC, Discovery channel, MTV and now TNT and TNN so he had plenty of background experience. He also knew the British group Beak> and got permission to use their music for the background score. I did most of the translation from Tagalog to English (gratis) which took a solid month. The only problem encountered was the last days of filming Phil got “Dengue fever” and was admitted at Medical City in Ortigas Avenue. It was a mild case treated with hydration and monitoring the CBC. He got well in a week although they had to spend the Christmas holidays there for him to recuperate. He said every time Francisco visited, the whole floor stood in attention! He probably got the “royal” treatment because of Francisco. BTW the parents of Manuel Syjuco are friends of the family. 

Editor note: Dr. Francisco Duque is the Philippine Secretary of Health

_______________________________________________________________________

10 Simple Things for Physicians to do to Improve Patient Satisfaction

1. Acknowledge everyone in the patient’s room(not just the patient).

2.  Introduce yourself to the patient( in your own words). Consider
business cards.

3.  Shake patient’s hand ( if appropriate).

4.  Sit  ( or perch)  at the patient’s bedside.

5.  Use the words ” comfort & concern” in your sentences as much as

possible.

6.  Don’t leave the room without sharing a “plan” with patient.

7.  Go back into the room to notify the patient of any discharge or

changes in care.

8.  Smile.

9.  Ask, “what questions do you have? vs. ” do you have any questions?”

10. Hardwire these simple actions ——do it on every patient!!

Baptist Leadership Group. (contributed by Joe D. L)

New York Physical Therapists

MY Dear Classmates and Friends:

This letter is an announcement for New York area residents and practitioners for your kind consideration for self and patients referral in the field of rehabilitation, sports injuries, prevention, fitness program, golf-specific rehab, post CVA  and post-operative evaluations and treatments.

Our son Christopher and wife Ruxandra are graduates at the Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons with degrees of Doctor of Physical Therapy. They are now proud founders and owners of the :

                                       Progressive Movement Physical Therapy and Sports Rehab

                                                 39 E 78th St. # 302 and 304

                                                 New York, New York 10075

                                                 Tel: 212- 452-1340

                                           www.progressivemovementpt.com

Chris is Board Certified- Clinical Specialist in Sports PT, TPI Certified Golf Fitness Instructor ( Level 2 Medical Professional), Certified Emergency First responder, Certified Kinesio tape Practitioner. His undergraduate studies was at the University of Minnesota with a degree of Kinesiology. He is involved with the US Ski and Snow Boarding Team ( Medical Team) Winter Dew Tour, Freestyle World Cup Europe, Snowboard World Cup Europe, ING NY Marathon finisher and medical volunteer and Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. He is an average golfer and Eastern South Dakota State Tennis Doubles Champion as a senior in High School.

Ruxandra’s Speciality is in Pediatric PT including Neurological ( Brain and Spinal cord trauma ). She holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Biology at the Stony Brook University in New York. She is an avid runner and qualified for the New York marathon this November.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely Yours,

Lucio N. ( Boy Maga) Margallo 11 M

_________________________________________________________________

Schedule of Activities
Keuka Lake Weekend

1. August 3, 2012
Healing Mass- 8 PM – Fr. Tayag
St. Anne’s Church
Rochester , NY.
(optional )

2 . Wine tasting – Keuka Wine Trail – 10AM
( optional)

3. Other Options;Visit Blueberry Farm ,Glenn Curtiss Museum , Hammondsport , Corning Glass Museum , Shopping downtown Corning .
Shopping at Geneva prime outlets
Fish , swim , cruise the Lake .
Watkins Glen
Amish Flee Market Wind mill

4. August 4, 2012-Saturday
Class Reunion Med 70
3PM -Till ?
Picnic Keuka Lake House
Dance and sing until you drop .
Night fishing ,or night swimming

5 . Sunday Mass Schedule, August 5,
St Michael Church
Penn, Yan , NY
7AM. and 9:30 AM
St. Mary’s Church
Bath, NY 9 AM
St. Gabriel Church
11AM
Hammondsport , NY

6, August 5, Sunday Class Reunion Continues
Brunch -10 AM

7.Blueberry Farm- owned by Abonados from Long Island
Pick your own blueberries , veggie or buy .
Sunday Mass – 1 PM-Fr Tony from LI
Lunch to follow

8. For those staying .
Leave for Canada
Niagara falls , American and Canadian side
Casino ( optional )
Chinatown , Toronto

Email your preferences for optional events
Mariano 143@ aol. Com
Please let us know if we can assist with accommodations , golf, tennis , etc
We are looking forward to a fun weekend .
Lynne

MAX’ MIDWEST LONG DRIVE

Max and Magnum in a stopover in a rest stop in Oklahoma

April 5, Wednesday

I will be driving with my son to Chicago this weekend taking the I 40 route across New

Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma, then up on I 44 to Missouri, then I 55 to Illinois.

My third long drive this route. Hope I don’t encounter the tornadoes. Back in Jan 2005,

Got hit with blizzards on the way to California pulling a trailer with my SUV

It was scary driving. Will be flying back to LA on April 23.

April 7, Saturday

Keeping you posted, right now on I 40  driving towards Tulsa. It’s 3pm Sat LA time. Left Last night  at 8 pm. My son Marvin drove all night while I slept. It was full moon and pleasant weather  Last night. Mostly desert scenes in Nevada and Arizona till Flagstaff where there are plenty Of evergreen trees due to the mountains. New Mexico   Was again mostly desert like terrain,Texas was similar, come Oklahoma, the scenery changed with everything spring green. Common to Texas and Oklahoma was the plentiful cattle from the ranches visible along the way. Just stopped at a rest area in Oklahoma. The best I have seen so far! Very clean, free coffee And looks like hotel lobby. Fred I’ve never taken a round trip this route before. First time  one way From Chicago to San Francisco to give my mom a tour was back in 1 976. S he flew home to Manila and us to Chicago. The car we drove was a Cadillac El Dorado that a company called Wilson drive away hired me to drive to California. Next trip was in 1986 when me and a driver Took my 1982 MBenz 300SD to LA for container shipping to Manila. The most recent trip was Last Summer when my band got hired by the UERM to play in Chicago. Drove with two band mate

One is TNT and couldn’t fly plus I had to bring some of the band gear to Chicago. It was one way driving for me. We’l likely book a hotel tonight in Springfield Mo. Just passed by lots of windmills in Oklahoma. There were some in Texas too.

April 8, Sunday

’twas great weather all day til we reached Oklahoma City when sky became dark late afternoon and then it began to rain. Good thing no tornadoes showed up and rains stopped by the time  We got to Tulsa.  Not to Phoenix as Pete was saying, he must be thinking of Glen Campbell’s song when we were students. Anyway, finally arrived at our Hotel in Springfield Mo, last and only Stopover to our destination, Chicago. Will go to Easter Mass tomorrow at St Joseph’s Church  At 8am.  it’s midnight now! gotta get some sleep. Turtle and dog both asleep, too tired maybe. Son still awake.

Max

April 8 Easter sunday afternoon

Now on 1 55 three hours away from

Chicago. It’s flat Midwest terrain with the Expressway running straight as an arrow most

Of the time unlike in Missouri where the terrain was hilly. It’s however springtime and everything is green. You’re right the turtle and dog did bond specially the bulldog. Bulldogs

are a special breed they look ferocious but very humanoid this dog spent

Half the night sleeping on my bed and other half with Marvin.

Had to pay extra 10 bucks just for pet accommodation.

Max

_____________________________________________________________

To all classmates,

     I would like to encourage voluntary donations to our “slush fund” and send your support to Mini. The “slush fund” was initiated by Jun B for the benefit of our own needy classmates who qualify (medical or otherwise like Gus Rodriguez) decided by Mini et al. Unlike the UST Class 70 EAF which is for the benefit of our country, this one hit’s us closest to home our own classmates. Everyone is getting “mature” and medical issues start creeping up amongs us so please be kind and send your checks to Mini. You or I could be next !!

God bless,

Yet

Ed note:  $500 was taken from the slush fund in May 2012  for Gus Rodriguez who recently underwent brain surgery. Total donation so far to the slush fund: $2300.00.

A class 70 account for the slush fund was opened  by Mini at the Hanscom AFB

Credit Union, Bedford, MA 01730

_____________________________________________________________________________

The list below shows  the donors to the UST TAC. Anyone who is not in it and gave a donation to our Thomasian Alumni Center (TAC), please let me know. The donors’ names will be inscribed on the wall of the TAC.  Roger Liboon is still accepting donations to the TAC.  The TAC will be our second home in RP and  will help us in our alumni issues. Each donor gave $200.00 except USTMD70 Philippines which gave $400.00.  Many, many thanks to our classmates for donating to our Ruby Legacy to UST.  Without UST, we will not be what we are.

Socorro Aggabao-Talosig

Zeny Andaya-Maddela

Leyte Asuncion-Saldana

Max Basco

Antonio Bernas

Joseph Bumatay

Luz Bunuan-Cuaresma

Charlie and May Capati

Edgardo Capitulo

Crisale Cosas

Patricia Cruz-Tayao

Norma Cunanan-Salceda

Miguel De Castro

Nieves De Guzman

Manny DeSagun

Roberto Diaz

Armando Dijamco

Cayetano Dizon

Lydia Dizon-Jazmines

Ramon Domingo

Luz Duque-Hammerschaimb

Lolita Echaluse-Chiong

Herminia Festin-Navato

Rechilda Flores-Orlino

Mila Galang-Gonzales

Rizalin Galit-Fllickinger

Agripino Gonzales

Evelyn Gonzales-Abola

Eleanor and Ismael Holipas

Alice Lachenal-Dijamco

Myrlie Larena-Casco

Jose Leoncio

Roger Liboon

Marietta Lozada-Galvez

Mirla Manito-Hugo

Lucio Margallo

Jesusa Navarro-Romero

Viictoria Pingul-Petrillo

Rodolfo Polintan

Dante Ragasa

Esperanza Ragon-Tolosa

Ofelia Ramoso-Mangubat

Lourdes Ramos-Polintan

Efren Regio

Harry Salceda

Rolando Singson

Esperanza Tinio-Kabatay

James Zipagan

UST MD 70 —  $400.00

_____________________________________________________________________________-

Dear classmates:

      Recently our nation was hit by Typhoon Sendong (aka Typhoon Washi) a “mega tropical storm” which resulted in severe flash flooding and catastrophic damage to Cagayan De Oro and Iligan City. We lost about 1100 people with about 143,000 left homeless as a result of the flooding. Overall 338,000 were affected in 13 provinces. Our class responded well to this crisis. Through the prodding of our classmate Deng Sitjar, countless phone calls by everyone, our President Max Basco was able to raise over $10,000 in about six weeks, handed over to Monet Abragan & Phebe Lim-Tan the former from Iligan City and the latter from CDO. The allocation of those funds were detailed by both Max and Monet in separate emails with accompanying pictures. We would like to thank everyone for their generous contributions to this cause. After this fund raising campaign Deng Sitjar felt we should move forwards and establish an ongoing fund collection for future “catastrophic events” in our homeland the Philippines. We will dedicate this fund towards helping victims in times of crisis and catastrophe who need the most relief and below are our guidelines for this VISION, our purpose for this MISSION, and our GOALS we want to achieve. Everything we decide will be communicated with the current Presidents in the US (Max) and RP (Monet), and we welcome everybody’s feedback on anything that can help our cause. In the absence of a major disaster or catastrophe, we will aim towards the promotion of health and improvement of life through various agencies via our donations.

     Our proposal to class members and friends is a voluntary contribution of $50 per annum, depending on your level of comfort. A volunteer board consisting of Linda Aguilar Mariano, Ledy Dizon- Jasminez, Yet Dizon, Gally Grajo, Phebe Lim-Tan and Puring Cruz-De Los Santos will oversee the collection and distribution of funds. It will be called USTMD Class 70 Emergency Assistance Fund (USTMD EAF) and this will be our legacy that we will promote and continue over time. Initial chairman is Yet Dizon, and treasurer is Puring. Please send your donations to Puring Cruz- De Los Santos, 2101 E 39th Street, Sterling, Illinois 61081. Questions can be directed to me Yet Dizon (478) 335-1403 or to Puring (815) 716-3753.

Guidelines For Release Of Emergency Funds:

1. When: a major calamity has been declared by the Philippine Government as a national disaster.

2. Where: in resettlement areas of a region where a classmate lives who will then serve as our liason officer. In areas where a classmate doesn’t live, the current Class President can   

    appoint a liason officer (a classmate) who can serve as one. Caveat: one time per region.

3. What: something that will benefit a significant amount of victims like permanent structures: a) water tanks b) schools c) medical structures (hospitals & clinics)

In a given year where there is no disaster in the Philippines, (thank God for that) we suggest releasing $1,000 per year to one of the following:

a) Medical-Surgical Mission led by a classmate who is active in Medical Missions. 2-3 Medical Missions will be entertained for the following year.

b) Donation to an existing immunization clinic that is under supervision of one of our classmate.

Recommendations made not included above will be decided by the board.

Note: Classmates in charge of the above will have to apply a year in advance for assistance. Such application then be reviewed by the board and monies released upon approval.

Addendum:

Annual disbursement: 70-80% of the total collection.

                                   20-30% will be kept for future, major class projects.

Again please note all contributions are entirely voluntary!

Respectfully Submitted:

Cayetano T. Dizon

caydiz@aol.com

 A business checking account for EAF has been opened with JP Morgan Chase Bank as follows:

Title: USTMD70 EAF (Emergency Assistance Fund)

Signatories: Phebe  and Puring

Total donation as of today, the 8th day of June: $3055.00

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Evelyn’s stop over in LA

Carol, Evelyn, JunB

 As  soon  as  Carol, Connie (my wife) and me had dropped  Monet  and  Ruby off in LAX on  their way back to  Manila, we went to meet Evelyn A in

her  hotel.  She  is  passing  by  California to Australia  where she will perform  her APOstolic duties  for  a month. . The temperature  is  only  60 deg.,

an unusually chilly  nite  at this  time of  the month.  The conversations  become  animated  as  soon as we  settled   down.  Memories  of  the

days  gone  past  was recalled  between  Carol and Evelyn with  me  contributing  bits  and pieces to the conversations.  Politics  in  the Philippines

life  philosophies  and  retirement prospect  are brought  into the forum capped  by  pictures  taken inside  the  restaurant.  We  said  goodbye’s  to  each

other  after a while  then as  we  reached  home  my  cell phone rang.  Evelyn’s  camera  was inadvertently  left in  my car.  We  drove back  and once

again  we  saw  @ other  and  promised  that  we  will see @ other  again….jb

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Max, Puring and Deng in an Emergency Assistance Fund (EAF)  meeting (sponsored

by Deng) in Reel Restaurant, Oakbrook, IL 4/2012

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Seated L-R: Rita, Carol and Nareng Soon

Standing: Boy, Tony,  Harry, Norma, Jessie and Espie

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Remember the 2 young Filipino Docs Abraham Tacang and Paul Lim UP graduates and friends and neighbor of our dear classmate Dr.Gil Marasigan.

Thru the request of Jun B and Gil to our USTMD70 group,  they landed a 6 week preceptorship in General Internal Medicine, Critical Care, ER, ICU, Nephrology and Hematology/Oncology in the small mid western of town of Mitchell, South Dakota. The intention was to gather vast clinical and didactic experiences available in preparation for their application and interviews for the residency matching program.

Drs Abe and Paul extend their BIG BIG thanks and appreciation to our class for all the encouragement and support. Indeed they are professionals, very respectful and humble. I have NO doubt for their role in medicine as they pursue their residency and practice.

I am happy to inform you that:

1. Dr. Abraham Tacang will start his Internal Medicine Residency at the Monmouth Medical Center in New Jersey this coming June.

2. Dr. Paul Lim will start his Residency in Pediatrics at the Geisenger Medical Center in Philadelphia this coming June.

My best regards.

Lucio Boy Maga Margallo 11

Drs. Abraham Tacang and Paul Lim with Boy Maga in his clinic in South Dakota

 Gally’s 65th birthday bash, May 2012, NAPLES, FLA

Malou, Gally and JR

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Guests: David Tan  Ekiong and wife

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front row: Mary A, Monet, Gally, Butch, Balbino, Charlie C

Back row: Vicente Go, Ed C, JoBum, Jun B

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L-R: Ruby Abragan, Angie Dingcong, Norma Dy, Mary Aguinaldo

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L-R: Mary Aguinaldo, Jobum, Ed C. Jun B, Gally

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Pelican Bay: L-R: seated: Monet, Bally, JunB, Balbino Perez, Ed C, Vicente Go

Standing: Roy, JoBum, Butch

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L-R: Charlie C, Butch G, JunB, Gally, Ed C

Standing: Monet, Roy

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L-R: seated: Norma D, Mary Aguinaldo, Butch Gozo, Jun B

     Standing: Charlie C, Balbino Perez, Carol M, Gally, Angie Dingcong, Ed C, Mila G

The long awaited trip to Naples got its gear going this weekend after Monet touched down in LA.The salvo’s of golf balls filled the morning skies of Sta Anita. The bonding between me ,JB and Monet got sealed after a very exciting and satisfying round of golf. Meeting these guys in a familiar venue, with the same purpose in mind was fulfilling. After just playing with Monet in Veterans GC, here he is teeing it up in LA. We owe the email group in making all these events come to fruition. It just made Class 70 inextricable and committed to each other. Pack up guys. On we go.Hello,Naples. Open your bank GG.

  The long awaited trip finally came to fruition. The tree which GG planted and nurtured

started blooming and bore fruits for USTMD70’s consumption. As the west headed to LAX on their way to Naples, I could sense that the party has kicked it’s gear.It was a jovial meeting between me, JB, Monet and their better half as we headed to Florida. The bloviating ,ribbing and gasconading started simmering , the air electrifying , and you could just imagine what the final salvo could be. The bond which has already been sealed from school and kept in-check by the e-mail group felt more imposing as we shared our moments in Atlanta. Then, touch down, Naples, Florida. The atmosphere was eerie as the denizen’s of Naples shankered down in their own abode, as if handing down the entire Naples to the visitors. Actually, someone quipped ( not me ) that maybe the reason why GG asked us to join him, is to boost the population and economy of Naples. He,he,he. After a long furlough at the airport ,Butch plane landed. Shortly after, the host, Roy,Mila and Carol came to pick us up. Rented vans convoyed the streets of Naples. I can recall Immukalle, sounds like visayan word to me (  Imu ang kalye ). It was close to midnight, worn out and hungry, we were treated ( as Mila expressed ) at the best restaurant in the area…..Big M.

Gloated, we were driven to our own places, beautifully and personally prepared by the host’s wife Ruby. Eat your heart out, Ritz Carlton……you’re no match. Soon we met the rest of the throng….Charlie n May Capati, Bino n Baby Perez, Norma Dy, Angie Dingcong and Mary Aguinaldo.A lot of pleasantries were shared.

          Boys are boys and girls are girls. Each had their own agenda. Boys- golf course. Girls – shopping mall and touring. The dawn break was at the Tiburon Golf Course. The golf and the company was enjoyable and fulfilling. Roy killed us with a score of 81. But what I enjoyed most was the 19th hole. Seated on the patio ,on a round table, facing the 18 th green, ,Charlie bestowed upon us the Holy Spirit in the guise of Stella Artois.The gathering was jovial, we were once more toddlers. The topics were both riveting and emotional. Monikers were revealed. The sharing of experience, both as students and parents, led to some sweaty eyes. Butch portrayed himself as both St. Augustin and his flip side is Bumble Bee with his deadly stinger. JB’s moniker is Cobra, as he tried to mesmerize his subject before delivering the fatal blow. The communion of saints and the forgiveness of sins was broken only by the appearance of Charlie’s angel as she handed him the cheque.

         After a quick shower we headed the the big house. We were forewarned that the host will not sit with us if we don’t smell fresh. The dinner was sumptuous . The group serenaded the host with a B-day song ala Mon  Domingo ( without the guitar ). The night was surreal, electrifying and entertaining. The blotters, babblers, bloviators and gasconaders came out of the shadow. Of course , eavesdroppers were all over the place too. Vocabularies were enriched. I learned that Kadyut is a nice word, nindut is palatable but inuulaul ( inu- ula – ul ), as coined by JB is more exciting and compelling.

         My last day in Naples was graced by the presence of the host as we played Arrow Head G.C. As the narrator, I take this opportunity to bloviate and eviscerate and more so claim the bragging right back to the west as I hit 1 over Par 73 and JB 5 over Par 77 ( as of this writing).

          I’m now home safe in LA and I would like to personally thank GG and Ruby Grajo for being a gracious, amiable and warm hosts to the Class ,making the event meaningful and worth re-creating. You’re beautiful and you belong to  USTMD70. Kudos to you and to the rest of the group….. Thanks for the memories. This has been a dumbfounding and galactic experience.

USTMD Class 70 , thanks for sharing.

Ed C

P.S.

If you find yourself in Naples, Florida and would like to meet GG, don’t tell the information or the operator Dr. Graa- who.  Say Dr. Gray- Joe; otherwise, you get pummeled. Just exercising my fatherly instinct, guys.

The golfing buddies: L-R: Ed C, Charlie C, Balbino Perez,Roy G, Butch G, Monet A, Jun B

Tiburon Golf Course

The Ladies: L-R: May C, Mila G, Ruby Abragan, Angie Dingcong

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 Lew’s bunso

Check out this accompanying video on YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnBszShBDJs&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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 Monet’s visit to Sunny Los Angeles

 Norma’s despedida party for Monet and Ruby:

Seated L-R: Jessie, Norma, Nareng, Espie, Concep, Carol, Ruby, unknown

Standing: L-R: Tony, Manny, Jun B, Ed, Roger L, Money, Max, Harry

 Seated: JunB, Espie, Romo, unknown, Manny,  Nareng, Concep,Carol

Standing: Harry, Ed, Ruby, Monet, Jessie, Tony, Max, Norma

 Seated: L-R: Tony, Boyski, Carol, Rita, Nareng, Espie

Standing:Ed, Norma, Harry, JunB, Jessie, Monet, Max

 

 Freddie C on drums, Romo with guitar

 

 Seated: Norma, Nareng, Espie Romo, Jun B, Freddie C, Max B

Standing: Boyski, Carol, Monet, Ed C, Rita, Jessie, Tony, Harry

We May Not Always Realize

We may not always realize
That every thing we do,
Affects not only our lives
But touches others, too!

For a little bit of thoughtfulness
That shows someone you care,
Creates a ray of sunshine
For both of you to share.

Yes, every time you offer
Someone a helping hand …
Every time you show a friend
You care and understand …

Every time you have
A kind and gentle word to give …
You help someone find beauty
In this precious life we live.

For happiness brings happiness
And loving ways bring love;
And Giving is the treasure
That contentment is made of.

From Carol Manahan

Tony Catipay’s dinner for Monet and Ruby

Ruby, Monet, Tony, Tony’s wife, Concep, Carol M

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 A Cleveland Clinic article by Dr. Ronan Factora, son of Myrna (Mangcucang) and Gabby Factora

Link: Health.clevelandclinic.org/2012/05/the-right-way-to-exercise-after-65/

The Right Way to Exercise After 65

Getting older doesn’t mean you have to live a sedentary lifestyle. The American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association recommend all adults over age 65 exercise.

But how much is enough? Ronan Factora, MD, a geriatrician at Cleveland Clinic, says walking just 30 minutes a day is a good place to start.

“You walk around [for] a half an hour, if you get tired take a break, but then pick it up again and then start walking some more,” Factora says. “The people who actually get the most benefit from physical activity or exercise are the ones who move from the couch to just getting up and walking around. You get the most benefit from that and you don’t even have to break a sweat.”

Factora says the 30 minutes can be broken into 10-minute increments throughout the day.

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Dennis Mariano, the son of Ted and Lynne, is shown above in a green shirt.He plays the guitar , drums and some vocals with Thunder Body , a raggae band .

THE WAY WE WERE

Rosario Fernandez (left) and Mini Festin (right) during medical internship

L-R: Romulo Par, Joey L, Florante Lomibao, Cesar Llamas, Rose C, unknown, Lew H

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I SEE THE DOG PEOPLE

I see dog people.You do too.They are in your neighborhood, parks, highways and dog shows. In our neighborhood, some religiously take their dogs for a walk. Some have pet owners have no kids. They call their dogs, their kids or family.

Dogs have names, even stray ones in RP have names if you could trace the owner. When we lived in RP, we had a dog named Jerry. We could have name him Bantay after that dog in my first book, but I thought he should be named after people. So we named him Jerry after Jerry Lewis who always made us laughed. Jerry was a puppy when given by a neighbor. He had a thick brown and white fur. He had no tail and I don’t know if he was an expensive breed or was a freak of nature.I used to pick up his fleas and ticks and no sooner I erupted with blisters on my legs and turned to sores. I learned in medical school later that there was a fancy names for those which was impetigo. I cleaned them with warm soap and water and they usually heal.

 When Jerry was 4, one day he disappeared and never to be found again. Did a motor vehicle struck him and his body thrown by the river?

Did someone stole him and given as a pet for a child? These were just guesses and more plausible, though we have no proof, he was caught by those who thirst for gin and Tanduay, whenever they see dogs. Jerry was the first and last pet we ever had that I knew, unless you consider pigs and chikens as pets. We had those too. I fed the pigs with darak and water and the chickens with rice seeds.

When I came to America,my family in Quezon City got another dog. Sadly, they wrote me, he suffered the same fate, worst because my father saw a man in a jeep who swung a rope lasso on the dog and drove away. My family gave up raising dogs for good. In the city,we did not have chickens or pigs or  for sure the neighbors would complain, besides we had little space for them. I surely missed provincial life then, but not as much for then I was in college, being busy at school. I spent a lot of time studying, which gave me a good excuse from doing household chores. No more pets for me of any kind.

 In RP, dogs are usually given by neighbors, while in the US one has to buy them and they could be very expensive especially the pure bred.

If one don’t care, a mestizo dog will be cheaper. A pet store near where we now live is always full and have varieties of pet dogs, some very expensive.

One of the doctors in town has  Toyota van exclusively used for his dogs. He owns a Maserati, a Rolls Royce,a Benz and other fancy cars..

He told me he has 8 car garage for his 8 vehicles. One of his bumper stickers shows a picture of a little dog with a caption, the Rolls Royce of dogs. I have not seen it and have no idea what kind it is. It must be expensive. 

Dogs in the US are well cared for. They have special food, have to be taken to Vets for Immunizations and even for some minor ailments.

The owners don’t care. Do that CT scan, Chemotherapy, the cost does not matter. They’ll pay for it and cuddle the animal to the Vet day or night.

Grandma at the Nursing Home would have to wait for a visit. She is not as cute. Should the dog die from illness or simply old age, expect some weeping  and and wailing, that they would not buy another, it’s just that, their dog was” irreplaceable”, never mind that in the same breed they all look alike. Have you seen those pictures of dogs that look like their owners? You see them too in real life. A walk in the neighborhood, you might see some poodles in tow by owners in white curls. In Winter, some dogs have a body sweater that matches the owners.

Sorry if you live in RP you don’t see this spectacle except in pictures but you would not want to imitate or your neighbors there would think you’ve lost your sanity. Here in the US it is cute , just another show of affection for one’s pet. Some people either deliberately or subconsciously buy one that looks like them. If you are here in the US, you’ve seen them too. You don’t have to go far, they live in your  neighborhood.

 I like Max dog Magnum. He looks menacing to kids and probably adults too.That’s one well fed dog, even travel with his owners. If he was to be in a flight, there are special cages for him for an extra fee.  I’m sure Magnum makes good company better than children fightingat the backseat. I just thought it would be better if he was named after people. After all, dogs are man’s best friend who gives unconditional love which no sane person would do all the time. I would have called him Marvin or Bob. No, not Marvin his son but Lee Marvin or Bob Dole. Won’t you agree?

I see dog people and I know you do too.

Happy Fourth of July. 

JDLeoncio

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Aidan Gabrielle, Charles Dunifer’s first Philippine Grandson

4TH E-MAGAZINE

Fourth USTMD70 E-Magazine

March 31, 2012

Photo by Orlando

Happy Chinese New Year! (Photo by Orlando)

HERE COMES THE NEW YEAR 2012

To leave the old with a burst of song;

To recall the right and forgive the wrong;

To forget the things that bind you fast

To the vain regrets of the year that’s past;

To have the strength to let go your hold

Of the not worth while of the days grown old;

To dare go forth with a purpose true,

To the unknown task of the year that’s new;

To help your brother along the road,

To do his work and lift his load;

To add your gift to the world’s good cheer,

Is to have and to give a Happy New Year.

Happy New Year!

From Carol Manahan

The Hope of Easter

There is something better in the future.

Rise after a fall,

Triumph after trials,

Reconciliation after conflict.

Health after sickness,

Work after being fired,

Love after heartbreak,

Freedom after slavery

Calm after a storm,

Spring flowers  follow winter doldrums,

Thaw after a freeze,

Dawn follows the night’s darkest hour.

Glory after humiliation,

Redemption after sin,

And the greatest victory after defeat,

The Resurrection following  the Crucifixion.

There is no Easter

Without Good Friday,

Where there is Hope,

There is no Despair.

 

 Mini

After an initial competition  in a local VA Creative Arts Festival,  this poem qualified to compete  in the Nationals.  Mini read it at a local public TV.

Easter Flower

Happy Easter to the Family and USTMD!!!

We were blessed by an unusual Easter flower.

This tree was a gift when my son Patrick was born in 1976.

It flowers every year and fills the house with a great aroma for about 2 weeks. Roy & Mila

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Where there’s life, there’s hope

“It matters not how strait the gate

How charged with punishment the scroll

I am the master of my faith,

I am the captain of my soul.”

My friends,

1)  If we will only pause for a moment or two and look at the things around us, we will realize that a great deal of improvements have been achieved for the past decades, the rising skyscrapers, the monorails and cable cars in lieu of the time consuming ordinary means of transportation, the complex subway systems. All these and more were far-fetched ideas which in man’s wildest dreams would not have been made possible and real were it not for man’s ingenuity and insatiable desire to conquer the unknown and achieve something.

Life would have been a humdrum existence if ideas which continuously flash into our minds were not allowed to crystallize and be a part of reality. A lot of obstacles stood in their way, but this did not prevent them from achieving, these marvelous feats. If they would have yielded to the vexations and calamities besieging them in the midst of their laborious work, perchance noting of such laudable achievements would have been accomplished. They were eager for improvements, for changes. They used every means available. They kept their eyes open at opportunities at hand and they were willing to sacrifice even, life itself.

My friends in much the same way that these great men before us have struggled to bring about these changes, we of the present generation are not also far behind in our desire to surpass their accomplishments. Gradually men are learning to wipe the dust of the windows into the unknown. Nevertheless, every single drop of dust of the windows washed away is equivalent to millions of energy exerted by a few in different parts of the world. These few, as we can say,  are not exactly adept in their lines, but what you called men who try.

I believe that if only every individual will move to show or give something even if not the best, we would not reach the point where everything is antagonizing each other. Realizing that we are now in such a place where the atmosphere of terror and vandalism lies is a known fact.

My friends, we are facing this situation now. Perhaps the people of today were born with a lighter weight of the spirit of Invictus that led them now to loosen from their chains resulting into student and laborer’s unrest. This is a simple vivid picture of unsatisfied troubled Filipinos who oftentimes forget that life is a struggle, a sacrifice. How many among us here are put in a dilemma more than once or twice a day. Henceforth the need for a man who in all aspects is worth emulating with that grim defiance to fight despite the formidable clutches of despair. Similarly, like Invictus, who, without fail, will try to make both ends meet and attach another string to the thread of happiness. One should go on unhampered by a frustrating disease filled with passionate devoutness that hopefully will burn alive, despite the many claims of skepticism in these times.

Let’s bring our minds and visions in a hospital, in a room with a dying patient and her husband beside her. She is trying to struggle with death and simultaneously showing her beloved one that she, like Invictus, will live and remain unconquered and full of hope.

“Where there is life, there is hope.”

Ma. Rizalin Galit-Flickinger

HURT FEELINGS

In P.I.  hurt  feelings is  synonymous to amour porpio  or  false pride.  For  what ever it was, the term was  not well defined to me but whenever  my  feeling gets hurt, I try to justify it with an assault to my amour  propio/love for ones self or others defined it as  “false pride. ”  Some people  get violent when  their feelings get  hurt.

I did pass the  hurt feeling by not reacting to the situation/words (speech) or

action.  By focusing on the big  picture, it  diminishes or trivialized  any reaction

to my reaction.  Example:  If  Mother Theresa,  in the beginning of her ministry,

listened to all the negative comments, hindrances,  discouragements, etc. of what she was going to do, then  she would never be the saint she had been. She focused on  her goal unwavering, undaunted that whatever you throw at her way, she  will defiantly  pursue her calling—-to help, house, care the lowest caste  of  people in  India….

We all want to do great things  for ourselves and others.  It is the inner voice inside us that prevent us from  being  great.  The  hurt feelings of the past imprison us  in  the present  and reverberate and surface when  we hear a comment, a remark that  awakens  our past experiences.  My suggestion is to clear  and  make an effort to close the past. If it is connected to our traumatic past, have  a closure.  If it is  a relationship, call the person and have a closure in such a way that the ugly head of the past will not resurface again and finality can be achieved.  When our mind is empty of the  burdened past, then our mind  will not  attach meaning  to comments that can hurt our feelings  anymore. Our life becomes empty  and  meaningless.  Only  then we can create  new possibilities for our  lives  so we can live in peace, fully expressed  and fulfilled….jb

What is LIFE all about, Bird?

Photo by Lew

Hey, it is ABOUT HOME!
JESUS’ COMES HOME!
He does not leave Heaven.
But Earth becomes His Home.
And so too are our hearts

.It is about HOME.
The children bringing their children to hang out with Donita and Lew.
My son Jon, wife Sarah from Toronto with Little Sofia and baby Nathan.
Jason from Louisville, Jeff from Austin,TX. JoAnna is back in Lexington.
Jerry is in Louisville. From Georgia Candi, Bryan and 4 kids. Junior,
and 2 kids. Did Romeo the teacup pooper yorkie got kenneled?

It is about HOME!
The catastrophic typhoons and the massive relief effort in the Philippines.
The unseen magnetic field that moves the wild geese back to South America.
The old man’s ticking heart, the arthritic hips, the ubiquitous mind, the iPad.
ADVENT: “venire ad domum” ( to come home ).
Lew

See photo below: Lew and Donita

A Will and A Way by Ed Quiros

Except for a few, the rest of us who join or participate in the surgical or medical missions probably do not know or wouldn’t bother to know, the effort and the logistics involved in planning and carrying out these undertakings. These missions are planned well in advance after an organization such as the Society of Philippine Surgeons in America  (SPSA) gets invited by the local host or organization, usually a year or two before the expected mission. Between the Society and the host, a constant communication and dialogue in the interim goes on during the planning process to insure a successful outcome.

Sometimes, however, things go awry at the last minute that a mission in the making suddenly gets aborted. Take the planned mission this year to Butuan City which has been in the works for over a year after local leaders verbally agreed to host the event. One of the SPSA mission coordinators even made a trip last year to discuss the logistics involved with the upcoming mission. Having been given tacit and explicit go-ahead, the Society shipped medical and surgical supplies to the city; those who signed up for the mission arranged and booked their flights accordingly and looked forward to helping ameliorate the health of the under-served in the area. Few weeks before the mission was to commence, the hosts had a change of heart and pulled out of sponsoring it, the event and the people of the city falling prey to the vagaries of politics.

But someone’s loss can become another person’s gain. Despite the very short time to decide and take on the five-day surgical mission, the neophyte congresswoman with her husband’s encouragement, brought the SPSA team to Ormoc City — the very first time ever that a surgical mission of this magnitude transpired in Representative Lucy Torres-Gomez’ congressional district.

The success was clearly evident with more than 800 surgical procedures performed during the five days the missionaries were in town. The congresswoman and her staff,  including the local leaders in the city, pulled all the stops to bring a much-needed health benefit to the indigent people of the city.

It was Mark Twain who once said , ” Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.”  The congresswoman and the people of Ormoc not only gratified many people and astonished the rest, but showed us that there is really something to the much- often-quoted saying, if there is a will, there is a way. That is if we still subscribe and believe in this old cliche.

L-R: Ed Q, Congressman-Dr Lucy Torres-Gomez of Ormoc City, Richard Gomez,, Bing

Cardinal Rosales Visits Boston

The first Sunday of October 2006 was extra-special for the New England Filipinos. His Eminence, Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, fresh from celebrating the San Lorenzo Ruiz Feast Day Mass in St. Patrick Cathedral, New York City, was the main celebrant in a traditional high mass in the Holy Name Church. Joining him at the altar were five co-celebrant priests, among whom were Rev Anthony Luongo, Rev. Reginald Malicdem, Rev Celestino Pascual, Rev. Mike Pineda, SJ and Rev. Peter Pojol, SJ.

The plan to invite the Cardinal was initiated by Mrs. Lou Arsenio of Caritas Philippines. She had come to Boston in the spring of 2006 to promote the jewelry created by poor Filipinos from paper and to distribute flyers of the Cardinal’s Mass in St. Patrick Cathedral. She met Minnie in Evita’s house. Minnie, who was close to the Cardinal’s aunt

 Dr. Remedios Rosales in Chestnut Hill, suggested that the Cardinal visit  Boston after his trip to New York City.  Upon her return to Manila and after consultation with the Archdiocese of Manila, Lou e-mailed Minnie  to request Fr. Pascual, the Filipino chaplain in Boston,  to coordinate the proposed Cardinal’s Boston visit. Without wasting any time, Minnie promptly contacted Fr. Pascual. That’s how the Cardinal’s Boston visit started.

How does Cardinal Rosales Love the Poor?The following  account of Cardinal Rosales is an excerpt from Wikepedia.“Gaudencio Borbón Cardinal Rosales  was born August 10, 1932 in Batangas City, Batangas, Rosales mother, Remedios Mayo Borbón, was the first cousin of the great Filipino nationalist, Claro M. Recto. As a boy, he wanted already to be a priest. On March 23, 1958, he was ordained priest by Bishop Alejandro Olalia, and then assigned to teach for 11 years in the seminary of the Archdiocese of Lipa. In 1970, he was given his first parish assignment—an obscure barrio named Baay-baay. He was told by the other priests not to stay long there because there was nothing much to do there. He replied with the spirit that has characterized his whole priestly life, “I will look for something to do.” And he did. He visited practically every house in his parish, meeting with everyone in the process. Up to now, the people in the place which he served for two-and-a-half years remember the tall, kindly priest.Soon afterwards, he was named auxiliary bishop of Manila. At the request of Rufino Cardinal Santos, Archbishop of Manila, Rosales was appointed by Pope Paul VI on August 12, 1974 to become auxiliary bishop in the nation s capital. Rosales was officially ordained as bishop in a ceremony on October 28, 1974. In 1980, he was assigned as rector of the major seminary, San Carlos Seminary. His term as rector was brief, though, for on June 9, 1982, he was appointed coadjutor bishop to the then controversial and prophetic Bishop Francisco Claver, of Diocese of Malaybalay, Bukidnon. In this moment of difficulty, Rosales recalled that a stampita (holy picture) dropped from his breviary (liturgy of the hours). It was from Mother Teresa of Calcutta. When he picked it up, he saw the writing at the back. It read: “Allow God to use you without first consulting you.” These words brought peace to his soul. On September 14, 1984, Rosales succeeded the Bishop of Malaybalay taking complete authority over the diocese. He started his ministry in Malaybalay by forming with his people, especially the priest and religious there, a vision of the diocese: that of the total development of every person and all persons, brought about by Jesus Christ. In that difficult assignment, he was able to bring about the unity of the clergy as they struggled especially for justice, peace and environmental protection. He often looks back to his days there as the golden moments of his ministry.Rosales was appointed on December 30, 1992 to replace retiring Bishop Mariano Gaviola, bringing him back to the diocese where he began his priestly ministry. Rosales was elevated to become Archbishop of Lipa. With the announced retirement of Jaime Cardinal Sin, one of the beloved architects of the People Power Movement of the EDSA Revolution, the Papal Nuncio told Archbishop Rosales of his impending nomination as archbishop of Manila. He begged the Nuncio with tears not to have him appointed, but the Nuncio did not relent. Appointed by Pope John Paul II on September 15, 2003, Rosales was installed at Manila Cathedral on November 21, 2003. Pope Benedict XVI raised Archbishop Rosales to the rank of Cardinal in  March 24, 2006. Pope Benedict told the new cardinals: “I am counting on you, dear Brother Cardinals, to ensure that the principle of love will spread far and wide, and will give new life to the Church at every level of her hierarchy, in every group of the faithful, in every religious institute, in every spiritual, apostolic or humanitarian initiative. Archbishop Rosales has been considered by church insiders and analysts as a moderate.  Rosales has been distancing himself from politics.  Instead of directly engaging in politics, he launched his long-time advocacy which he began when he was still Archbishop of Lipa, the Pondo ng Pinoy (literally translated as Filipino Funds ). This drive is to urge people to save 25 centavos and donate them in bottles or recycled soft drink cans for the poor.”___________________________________________________________________________Cardinal Rosales Celebrates The Eucharistic MassTaking into account the rainy weather and the limited parking space, close to a thousand Filipinos from every economic strata and from all walks of life gathered in the Holy Name Church. Some of them came from as far as Springfield. MA, NH and RI. People considered the Cardinal tantamount to a visiting dignitary. They were not disappointed.  The event was well-coordinated by the Boston Filipino Apostolate.As one entered the church, the marshals were hard to miss. They stood out in barong and a red arm band  and were posted  strategically in different areas of the church to guide the attendees to their  respective pews. The red carpet was laid in the middle aisle, flanked by fresh flowers in the pews. Many nurses were on hand for any medical emergency. Most men and women came in Filipiniana attire. A large contingent of Couples/Singes/Youth for Christ came to join in welcoming the Cardinal.The mass  at the Holy Name Church in West Roxbury began at 1 pm. Rev. Anthony Luongo, Vicar of Holy Name Parish,  welcomed the Filipino people to this once-in-a-lifetime event. The first reading was performed by Mila S. She was followed by Ledilla F who sang the  Responsorial Psalm with the people in a beautiful velvet voice. Art P  did the second reading. After the readings, C Bondoc, a cousin of the Cardinal, recited the Prayer of the Faithful. Throughout the Mass, the well-rehearsed Sto. Nino Choir, under the direction of  Gloria P  and accompanied by the  pianist Marites Z, led the congregation in song. There was a special vocal performance by soloist Ed P of the ever-popular  Schubert’s “Ave Maria,”  from the choir loft. The lyrics to the Tagalog religious hymns were projected onto  two giant screens on each side of the church for easier viewing. There was a sense of community and of family as the people sat closely together in the pews.Fr. Peter Pojol performed the Gospel reading.  Then the Cardinal, eloquently  gave an inspiring and enlightening homily.  He emphasized the value of  daily giving, no matter how small, out of love.  In Jesus’ parable of  the Rich Man and Lazarus, the Gospel tells of a rich man who feasted daily on good food while Lazarus, a poor beggar, whose infested legs were licked by dogs, would be brought to the rich man’s door, hoping to eat the bits of food that fell from the rich man s table. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit with Abraham at the feast in heaven. The rich man died and went to hell where he was in great pain. The rich man was condemned not because he was rich. He went to hell because he did not allow even a small thing such as a “crumb” fall in the way of Lazarus.The Cardinal had embarked on a new evangelization. He started  Pondo ng Pinoy, where people give scraps of money or anything to this project (25 centavos or half a penny). The money is lent to the poor with no interest. As hoped for and expected, the poor Filipinos pay back Pondo ng Pinoy when they can afford to. He called Pondy ng Pinoy the hope of the Filipino people where poverty afflicts the majority of the population.This project seems to be getting support from all over the world. It is not enough to have a good heart. The good heart must be reflected in doing something good, no matter how little. And this is to be done everyday in all  kinds of activities. His point is, even if it is a small start, as small as a mustard seed,  so long as it is continued daily and it pervades all of one s daily life, it results in great things, just like a big plant sprouting from a tiny mustard seed. He suggests putting the pennies in a soda bottle or tin can. Then, when it is full, the money can be turned into a check and sent to Pondo ng Pinoy.”Right before the offertory, a long procession of October birthday celebrants and representatives from different Filipino organizations was led by the flag-bearers, Emily V and Nards G, to the altar.  Monetary donation from the offerers for the  Cardinal’s favorite charity, Pondo ng Pinoy,  was taken up to the Cardinal. Cardinal Rosales’ family in MA brought up the rear of the procession with the bread and wine as offering.The following different organizations were represented:Families in Christ, Couples for Christ (CFC), Singles for Christ (SFC), Youth for Christ (YFC), Santo Nino Prayer Group(North), Santo. Nino Prayer Group(South), Gawad Kalinga (GK), Boston Filipino Students Association, Dance Philippines, PAMAS,   LexingtonPinoy, Philippine Dance Company (PDCO), God the Father Group, Martyrs of Motril Group, Iskwelahang Pilipino (IP), KASAMA, Bagong Kulturang Pinoy  (BKP), Fil-Am Association of Newport, RI, Filipino Association of Greater Boston  (FAGB), Philippine Nursing Association of New England (PNANE) , Fil-Am Friendship Society of  New Hampshire, The New England Society of Philippine Health Professionals (NESPHP).Because of  the  relatively short notice, The Filipino-American Charitable Trust  of New Hampshire (FACT-NH), PAGASA, Central Massachusetts Filipino-American Association (CMFAA),  Boston Filipino Young Professionals (FYP-Boston). Fil-Ams_MA, Christian Life Program MA  and  Springfield Filipino Association could not send a representative.To accommodate the big crowd, the Holy Communion was distributed by four priests.  The Mass was also graced by the attendance of Consul Millie Sta. Maria-Thomeczek, who stood for Consul-General Rebong  who was away on other duties.  She traveled four hours in heavy rain from New York to participate in this joyous event. At the end of the mass,  Jenny, Chairman of the Pastoral Council of the Filipino Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Boston, graciously  thanked the many people who  participated and helped in the event.  After his rigorous schedule,  the Cardinal looked tired. Still he patiently sat for photo sessions with the various Filipino organizations, which was provided by the roving video/photographers, Ricky M, Lito B and Roland Z. What could easily have been a chaotic situation was executed smoothly by Tony C and the many ushers.L-R: Fred & Mini  Navato, Redemptorist Fr. Manoling Tomas, Mr. & Mrs. Mercado during Cardinal Rosales’ visit.After the mass, it was time for fellowship. The people made their way to the  Parish Social Hall for a delicious merienda cena waiting for them. The Filipino Apostolate,  composed of enthusiastic volunteers from the Quincy Chapter, Malden Chapter and the West Roxbury Chapter, hosted a memorable reception. In typical Filipino fare, the people savored dinuguan, pancit, various pasta noodles with meat and tomato sauce, and sauteed chicken and shrimp vegetable dishes. They munched on an array of delicacies including a to-die-for cassava cake. Just as Filipino songs sound different, Filipino food taste different. To continue his acquaintance with the people, the Cardinal, accompanied by some Filipino Apostolate officers, dined with the attendees. When he was given the Blessed Leon book by author Mini Festin, he started reading it immediately. Following the sumptuous salu-salo, a Karoake sing-a-long entertained the people. Joe K, the DJ,  opened the program with a wonderful rendition of Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Night.” Danny T and Greg A assisted him in the sound system.Working committees were the following:Steering Committee, Apostolate Banner,Entertainment/Karaoke Committee,First Aid Committee, Flyers and E-mails Dissemination,Food & Refreshment Committee, Marshals and Ushers, Missalette Committee, Publications Committee, Photography,Projectors, Transparencies and Reminder Posters, Transportation Committee, VIP Invitations & Names of Organizations CommitteeIn the end, the Filipinos went home with a deep appreciation of the group effort of the Boston Filipino Apostolate. Despite the heavy rain and the long walk in unfamiliar terrain, they felt  so fortunate that they made it to the Cardinal’s Mass. They departed with a warm feeling that they participated in a memorable Filipino event in Boston… the first time in so many years that the Filipino organizations joined together in a common effort.Editor’s note: 79 y.o. Cardinal Gaudencio Borbon Rosales retired at the end of December 2011 and  Archbishop Tagle took over.Originally published in PinoyAdsCentral.Com

BIRDS’ NEST

The Bird’s Nest is usually found hanging or attached to some big trees in the forest or underneath a big tree. They are the Air Plants, as you said. I planted mine over the “anotong.” Mon, you are still reminiscing your childhood days…pacupacu in salad.

Phebe

ASIAN WATERBIRD CENSUS

Pete, second from right, front row

ASIAN.WATERBIRD CENSUS  (AWC)  OF PAOAY LAKE

This is the mid-winter yearly census synchronized with the rest of the Asian censuses. After tallying the AWC of Paoay Lake and updating the “bird count board,” this picture was taken.  Thinking of 2013 AWC already. You are all invited. Cheers and happy birding! Pete

ABBY

Photo by Lynne

Puppy love

Where have you gone
Puppy ,my sweet
Are you sitting on a cloud
or chewing your biscuit
Come walk with me
Puppy , my sweet
The grass is fresh
With dew from the morn
The wind is warm
Summer can’t be afar
Come play with me
My heart is heavy
Come sit with me
My heart is lonely
Come run with me
To the mountains we climb
To watch the setting sun
and the deer run
Come swim with me
To the Y lake we dive
To wash the blues
and be refreshed a new
Where have you gone puppy, my sweet
Will you wait for me when life is complete

(For Abby who passed away a year ago this month.)

Lynne

Our  Catholic Church

Here is picture of our church  in Guagua , Pampanga. There are many churches just like this around the country. I took this picture in 1995 and what impressed me was it was largely unchanged. Once again, I smelled that mix of wax and incense that was so familiar then.The town was not what it used to be but

 the church was impervious to change. Built on solid rocks during the 1800s, it withstood weather, war and the toll of time. Many generations has passed on and

 for sure this was one place of serenity, a solace from the complexities of life.

The altar used to be at the center not far from the communion rails that were no longer there. The place was well kept,and open all day long. Not seen in this picture were 2 altars on each side where masses were done for late comers.

Those were usually fast, takes 15 min. No sermons…ideal for those in a hurry or simply lazy to spend too much time in church. This was where I had my first Communion after my first confession at age 7. I remember among my sins were missing some Sunday masses and answering back my parents. It must be tiresome for priest to hear confessions like this, week after week. I don’t mind telling you this as more than likely

you had the same sins.Don’t worry, it’s normal, a vestige of that pivotal age of 2 when we learned to how to bite well and say no.If one did not do this, they could

be behind in the Pediatric percentile trajectory growth path.

During fiestas which is Dec 8,the town comes alive especially at night where a crowd takes part of the festivities. The Circus comes to town along

with the Ferris Wheel operator which were the main attractions. The Circus also exhibited, the girl who at birth had a” twin”, a snake, a python that curled around her

half naked body which was really part of the show. On another enclosed shed was a Giant boy who was no more than a obese youngster probably with Hyperpituitary

dysfunction or simply forced fed well for the show. Have you ever seen a magician who “cuts a girl in half”. We have magicians like that in RP as well.

This was all fun stuff for kids, We did not mind  pushing through the crowd smelling  perspiration and bitten by mosquitoes attracted by bright lights and people.

The place was usually well lighted by a series of bulbs strung around, hanging on bamboo poles and supplemented by Coleman lamps on the gambling tables

Beto-beto gambling tables  were our favorite especially if the woman who shook the dices was all made up,perfumed and had a low neckline.All one needed was a

 5 or 10 centavo and one was ready to play.I had very little money if any and usually lose all in no time,which was probably good or back to the confessional booth I go.

We love the town fiestas for without them the caravan of shows that came once a year would not be there.And of course, without the churches, there would be no fiestas.

One can’t’ ignore and forget the church for it made it’s presence by the bells that rang and heard throughout the town……Joe Leoncio

MUSINGS OF MY YOUNG LIFE

Thanks for your description,musings and reminiscences of your young life in Guagua.

I recall being curious then of  your Lenten practices in the Central Plains and one Good Friday  actually went to the San Fernando Church  or was that a Cathedral in the hope of capturing  the ambience of a Kapangpangan Good Friday.

It seems  your Fiestas are more colorful. I suppose these traveling Circus,being in the Centrtal Plains, find it easy and facile to move from one city to another or one town to the next whereas it would require a huge boat to transport  them to Zamboanga ,with our City literally isolated at the tip of the Zamboanga Peninsula.

I will try to describe a little bit of  my hometown,Zamboanga. It  is a Port City in previous days only then accessible by Boat or by Plane- PAL,FAST. As a child, I recall we had the Japanese Marus, the Scandinavian Maersk Lines coming over to haul Copra, Timber to the Foreign countries. It was always then a treat as a child  to drive to the Port and watch these boats,enjoying their cool breeze of the Sulu Seas while  enjoying ” alulas” de Lanzones or baskets-cylindrical about 1 1/2 foot tall made of fresh Coconut fronds or eating some freshly roasted peanuts.

We had our own CawaCawa Boulevard along the sea- about two kilometers long-very picturesque just like Dewey Blvd.

Most of the kids either went to the Jesuit-run  Ateneo de Zamboanga or at the Pilar College ran by the RVM sisters. The Cathedral was then under the care of Spanish Claretians. and sermons were all done in Spanish except for the 10 AM mass which was English officiated then by a priest from Chicago, a Fr Briskley.  Zamboanga then was an island to itself and though I knew of the outside world, it still was a surprise. We led a very sheltered life. By the time I came to Manila, I had only seen 2 tagalog movies  ( didn’t understand nor speak tagalog) with one of them being  a fund raising movie called Troop 2 by Dolphy.

Mon D.

MD LIFE AND TIMES

“Times are achanging” —Bob Dylan

I was making rounds seated ,writing on my chart beside a Filipina physician , a specialist who likewise was writing on her chart.Nearby was a nurse also writing on a chart. I don’t know how it started, she told the nurse that she has a cousin, who with her husband, both 65 years old went to Costa Rica and did the slide roll. Feeling ignorant, I asked what is a slide roll? She said, it’s a cable on a tree where one hold on a pulley, which slides you down to the next tree. I said, they must be physically fit for I know I would probably have a hard time if I ever participate in the  Zumba. She asked what is a Zumba? The nurse nearby smiled, doctor you work too hard, you should go out once in a while. I know what she meant. There were posters on the elevators and for $ 6.00, one can show up for Zumba classes a few days a week at the second floor of the hospital near the Cafeteria. The physician is probably in her mid-forties or close to 50’s if not more She is single, attractive, petite, the last person to need Zumba. She maybe too dedicated to the profession unmindful of what is life out there.

Such is life.

Moving along, I was talking to this nurse who must be about 35, who by her account, met her husband in the Army while both were deployed in Iraq. The marriage did not work out and she is now divorced. She is trying to save money to pursue a BSN degree but it cost so much, she needed a sugar daddy to help her. I told her we will have to find you a rich boyfriend or husband. Under my breath I told myself, lady, it ain’t gonna be me.

I don’t usually ask personal questions but sometime out of the blue people have an urge to talk, maybe no different from me writing this. She said she would be seeing her Dad on the weekend who is turning 62 years old. What? Her Dad is younger than I am? Ouch!  I looked around and saw all the nurses nearby, all about 25 to 35. That means their parents must be younger than all of us. Ouch, ouch, ouch!

We were at my sister in law’s house for Christmas. She is married to an American and they have an only son, a mestizo who does not appear to have any trace of Filipino blood. He is 13, has a light brown tousled hair and was wearing a suit and a vest, very preppy.I told him he look like Paul McCartney to which he replied, “Who is Paul McCartney?” I was taken aback, it made sense, he is just 13.What about the hair? No that was not Paul’s, it’s Justin Bieber’s. I felt ancient, my generation is past.

Do you listen to the new songs and know who sings them? What about the rap? Do you know any? In America, do you see people singing in the streets? Music has become personal; many wear ear buds connected to their Ipods. One doesn’t even see anyone whistling in public. One thing about music, it tells you an estimate of how old you are according to your musical taste. Do you recall that our parents had different musical taste from us? It’s generational taste and so let the kids have their own gibberish fun.I don’t know if anyone of us like theirs or maybe it’s just us–not so young. I know we all listened to the same songs growing up, since in RP there were only 3 radio stations. So besides, being classmates,dear friends, we had many things in common.

We had been exposed to the same music and culture of our times.Now in social conversations, for us now ,it would be safe to say we like the Broadway songs like Memory, Music of the night or Sunrise, Sunset. Please stay away from old songs as they are dead give away of how old you are. Songs like, “When the twilight is gone, My Prayer” from the Platters, “ Hang on your head Tom Dooley. If you like these, keep it to yourself or the class,– you will be safe. By all means,deny that you like or even heard of” Papa loves Mambo, Mama loves Mambo” for if you do, the listener might  be thinking

“Why aren’t you in a wheelchair yet?”

Happy Sunday and have a good week,

JDLeoncio

THE FLIGHT

Last month the 2^nd week of March, I packed a luggage for my CME in Texas. It was my wife’s idea for me to bring some clothes for a carry on bag just in case my luggage gets lost. I never lost a luggage and I usually travel light and so, reluctantly I agreed. I did not think it could happen but we know lost luggage in transit are real.

I took a Southwest Airlines. They are very informal, if you enjoy looking at pretty slim stewardess, skip this one, matter of fact, I think those days are over. On board the airline,the stewardess who was heavy set and middle age, possibly old enough as grandma, announced all the usual pre-flight warnings:

Fasten your seat belts, turn off all electrical devices, and carry on items on the floor please. Another stewardess started demonstrating the all just in case items, the floatation device under your seat, wrapped it around your chest and blow the rubber tubing. That will keep you afloat in case of water landing. She told the ladies, to make sure they put on their make up because if we land on water, we shall be on TV. Last was the oxygen mask, make sure you put the mask on yourself first, before helping a child besides you or one that acts as a child.There was laughter on the cabin, enough to allay the flight jitters. So there it was, another nuance on what is new in the” friendly skies”. I now know, these jokes on flights one reads in the Internet are real. If you rather see dancing pretty stewardess, fly Cebu Airlines, that’s what went viral on the Internet one year ago. You guys who flew to Cebu,did you see any of  that?

My lay over  stop was Baltimore. I took time looking at the shops when I heard my name being paged. That’s funny; I thought that was just for lost kids or parties losing each other. It turned out I and one other passenger also being paged. Whew, that was close, thank you Southwest, thank you Baltimore, I don’t think they do this anywhere just to wait for a passenger. We had a similar experienced before when in Orlando, the plane left my wife and me. We were given a voucher for lunch at the airport minus the drink, which we had to buy. This time I made it in time and even got a good seat at the isle; destination, San Antonio. I‘ve been there before so there was nothing new except the anticipation of seeing the Riverwalk again. That was such an exciting place to visit around Christmas as all the trees near the river were decorated with multicolored lights.

 I made it to San Antonio by lunchtime and ate by the river veranda of the Grand Hyatt.

There is a walking path on each side of the river where restaurants and hotels catered to tourist. It was a good stroll after lunch. I wanted to buy two t-shirts at the souvenir shop The only problem was the lady asked for my ID or drivers license after I gave her my credit card. Well, this was Texas; do I look like an illegal alien? Maybe it’s the MD after my name on the credit card. The girl at the bank who just copied my business check sent it to me like that. It was too much trouble changing it but I had to be wary of waiters expecting a larger tip or in case of this other lady; did she thought I stole it? Maybe it’s the khaki pants, the short sleeves and jogging shoes I wear, not exactly what the” dressed for success” book recommends.

What if I left my misplaced my driver’s license and left it at the hotel? Would she have called the border patrol? Mexico is just south of the border and my name Jose does not help. I bought the shirts after all of that, although I know they were probably overpriced.

By nightfall we had a reception for the CME attendees, the usual wine and hors d’

oeuvres served while the officers and preview of the 4 day Geriatrics program was discussed.. While there I struck a conversation with a lady who was standing eating in one of the tables. She was a Geriatric Fellow who attended this meeting for the first time.

She was divorced, has 4 small kids at home. She was rather distraught; the airlines lost her luggage. Lucky for her, Macy’s was at walking distance from the hotel and conference center. I told her my wife was right in insisting I bring clothing in my carry on bag.

Those who attend, CME’s, you know they are much different now. No large books or handout of topics to bring around, minimal handouts if any. All is online which one has to download. For me, I just want to listen., no need to take extensive notes as I used to do. When I was a resident, I even brought a tape recorder. Now, it’s more of a relaxation and time to get away, maybe escape is a better term, lounge around the restaurants, sip wine and enjoy food and company if any.

For those who see patients in Nursing Homes , the trend is to keep patients comfortable and do no harm. Many patients have but a few years to live so once diabetes is reasonably controlled, just do away with acuchecks. The statins can be discontinued, as it is too late by then to prevent something, that way no need to monitor for liver enzymes or CPK’s.

For everyone, you might be interested in complementary techniques for natural healing which I will share with you.

One of the presenters, a Palliative care physician was a Reiki master, trained by a direct descendant of Micao Usui, a Japanese monk who started Reiki.It is not a religion, not yoga but more of a meditation technique.. Keep your, hands in prayer mode across your chest and concentrate on slow controlled breathing. This is Grosha in Japanese. Do this twice a day or as often as necessary and meditate on these precepts.

Today only

Do not anger

Do not worry

With gratefulness

Work diligently

Be kind to others

Be placid in the face of praise or blame.

Even so, a rock remain solid in the rain or wind

At the end of the conference, I was waiting outside the hotel lobby for the airport shuttle to take me back to the airport when a taxi came by. The lady physician I met at the conference got off while the cab driver helped her get her luggage out, apparently just recovered. She was well dressed in a crisp light brown suit; one can almost imagined it was taken off a mannequin with the price tag still on. The conference was over and  people are heading home. Can you just imagine how much aggravation she must have felt? This is exactly this type of situation where one needs Reiki or Grosha. She smiled and got back at the hotel lobby probably to check out.

My ride came, the airlines had to go to Orlando, Florida before going to Virginia.

The plane was full, many children and crying babies on their trip to Disney world.I ate a late lunch and. I was mindful of how in the past; we were left behind in this airport before so I looked on my watch frequently while looking around the shops.

It was getting late 400pm, I am not about to miss this return flight and I walked in close to the gateway and sat down. Just about when I got settled down, across my seat was our hospital pharmacist. I told him is this really you or am I dreaming? He and his girlfriend came from a conference in New Orleans and were also on the way home. They were called first as they were in business class. He told me he’ll reserve a seat for me which he did .I sat by the isle, he in the middle. On our way home he asked if I’m interested in buying one of his condo.He would sell it for $ 110,00.00 for me otherwise he’ll put it to market for $ 145,000.00.

At today’s market, that price is good. I told him I’d think about it. As we were about to land, he pointed one of his 3-story condo by the edge of the oceanfront, which he rents. That is not for sale. All in all, he has a total of 18 properties around town. He bought me a glass of wine using a coupon usually given to those in business class. I got his number and the address of the condo but seriously; I was not interested. Would I want to take another mortgage this late? I thought of Reiki. Today only, do not worry. True but tomorrow I would have to worry. No, I’m not taking this flight into the uncertain future with a mortgage to think about.

We landed safely, my wife Marife was waiting at the airport where I picked up my luggage at the carousel. Once we got into the van, which she drove, she asked,” So how was your trip?”

Well, this is it, the full story and glad to share it with you.

.

Weekend Sojourn in New England

On a whim , I suggested to fly to Boston to visit our 2 younger sons, Mark and Dom, for Ted’s birthday .
Dom is single . He has a girl friend.
Mark is married with a son, Ben ,age 7 and daughter, Izzy, 2 .
It was dark when the plane touched down at the Logan airport.
I texted Molly, who came with the children .
Plainly, the kids were thrilled to see us.
It was 10 PM, way past their bedtime when they finally fell asleep next to each other on the air bed . Ted and I shared Ben’s bed .
On a table and everywhere were hundreds of pieces of Lego .
Deja vu .
Did I not use to see those pieces before ?
Ben talked about Star Wars , clones and droids.
Have I not seen or heard of them before ? C-3PO, R2D2, Yoda , Luke Skywalker and others?
Ah the circle of life !
It seems so long ago .
As I closed my eyes , I felt a heavy load was lifted from my back.
I sighed in thanksgiving to the Almighty One for all the blessings .

There is nothing sweeter than being awakened by children’s laughter , Saturday morning .
There is nothing more liberating than being involved once again in child’s play . Endless scenario being presented complete with scripts and sound effects .
Amid the noise and laughter , everyone else slept .
I looked at their innocent faces .I see God . How beautiful is Your creation ! How wonderful are Your works !
I sighed again in thanksgiving .
It was 1 PM ,by the time , we had “breakfast” at the Gaslight restaurant onthe South End .
Then, to the South Shore Mall to shop for children’s clothes .
Cute outfit’s .
It has been so long since the boys were little .
The years went by so quickly it seems. It is a blur .
Oh look ! Lego store !
a whole store with just Legos !
Of course , Benny wanted some more . Can Lolo refuse ? Of course not .
Back at their house ,
Molly reminded Ben that his room has to be cleaned before he can open the box of Legos .
He asked me to help and I did. “so we can start with the games sooner” Ben said .
With me sitting on top of the covers and Ben standing at the foot of the bed , we opened the box of Legos . 98 pieces spilled out . Quickly , Ben assembled into droids and clones . I got to help taking instructions from him .
In the process , we chat about his friends , school
and other things .
He shared that sometimes , people think he is a girl .
I asked how he felt about that . He said ” embarrassed ”
But you look “very boy ”
“Sometimes people say things that may hurt you , but they don’t really mean to hurt you . ” I said.
“Can you forgive them ?”
He nodded .
Then ,back again to the Battle of the Caminos with all the sound effects and action .
To be a in a child’s world again is wonderful!

An inviting aroma of meal cooking made my stomach grumble more .
We hurried down at the call ” dinner “.
There is nothing better than a nice home cooked meal prepared by
by someone else .
Rib eye, Kobe , fillet mignon , lemony asparagus , red onions perfectly grilled by Mark and Molly .
Cauliflower , baked potato with butter and sour cream on the side .

Bed time was at the usual time tonight for the kids .
I gazed at the view of the city from the window.
I whispered ” Thank God for small and big favors .”

Sunday is a good day for dim sum at China Pearl in Chinatown .As Molly said ” Everyone is happy right away as the food comes almost immediately ”
Then , a quick drive through Cambridge , Harvard Square , Alston.
JP Licks for ice cream was a good idea although it was a bit chilly and drizzly .
Pistachio ice cream is my favorite .
Then back to their house, a nap would be nice on a drizzly afternoon .
I crawled under the covers while Ben worked on the Legos .
This time , it was the battle of the Naboo.
I awakened after an hour and a half.
I did not realize I was so tired .
After evening mass at St. Gregory Church in Lower Mills , off to Anna’s Taqueria in Brookline .
This is a Mexican restaurant owned by a Japanese .
They have the best burritos in town .
I think better than anywhere . Carnita super burrito is my favorite.
More play time , then it’s time to pack the bags for an early flight in the morning .
But first , the birthday cake and some mint tea .
It is bedtime story time by Lolo.
Hugs and kisses
Good night !

Lynne

Boston’s Back Bay with the Prudential Tower in the background.

Photo by Lynne

Pagoda Archway at the entry of Boston’s Chinatown

Photo by Lynne

Heading Home

It was 4AM when the MP3 beeped .We had to get ready. Mark offered to drop us off .We tiptoed and whispered so as not to disturb the children.

There were not too many cars on the streets of Boston . It was a quick drive to the Logan International airport.Though it was quite early , there were long lines for the security check. It took almost hour to get through .This is not Rochester, I remind myself .
Most are business people , I think  . They were dressed like they were  headed to a business meeting .Dark suits , briefcases , iPhones.  Yes ,iPhones , everywhere
people doing something on the iPhone , sitting , standing ,walking.
Finally , we settled on our seats. It was great having a window seat.
I could see the glimmering lights of dawn slowly brightening the horizon.
Wow !
What a Sight !
Orange , yellow , pink gradually erasing the darkness of the night.
I was in awe of the beauty before me and below me . The ocean, the little islands .
I say a prayer of thanksgiving to the Creator of this beautiful World .
The clouds looked so fluffy , like white cotton. I stared at the clouds and wondered about heaven . So soft, so light. The clouds made me think of heaven .That must be the feeling light , happy , no pain , no worry ,no tears , just smiles, yes ,lots of smiles.
No words, because we can read each others thoughts ?
My reverie was interrupted . “Would you like something to drink?” It was about an hour and a half flight. Then,  back to work  immediately . Somehow , I am not the same person that left home Friday evening .In just a weekend , my attitude and perspective had changed.
I am more relaxed and peaceful. I had a taste of heaven.

“He is Risen” holds a promise . That one day , the faithful  will be united with Him in heaven, our final home.

Happy Easter to all, Lynne

MOST OUTSTANDING ALUMNUS

To my classmates, co-alumni, friends, ladies and gentlemen

Good evening to you all. I am deeply honored to be given the award of
most outstanding alumnus of the year 2011. Our class Batch 1961  has
many quite successful members who are equally or more deserving of this
award than I. To those who I am referring to, you know that as well as
I do.  With you, I share this great honor and recognition.

The passage of time has been very quick. As that letter to Dear Eddie
says, “parang kahapon lamang”, it seems like only yesterday. When I was
studying at Holy Angel Academy, there were only three buildings. Fifty
years and fifty pounds later when I visited today, Holy Angel
University has so many buildings I lost count. We left upon graduation
full of dreams and uncertainties and we all spent the next 50 years
fulfilling those dreams and conquering those uncertainties. Many of us
have departed into the other world and among them I would like to
recognize three greatly successful classmates who could very well be
standing before you tonight instead of me.

Edmar Dizon, one of our past Batch 1961 presidents, provided hundreds
and hundreds of jobs through his ever-growing real estate construction
business that spread through Central Luzon. He generously shared his
wealth helping the poor in so many ways. Ricardo “Bebot” Flores Jr. the
son of our principal during our time was also a past Batch 1961
president. He with his wife Beka who is here tonight, tirelessly worked
to send numerous indigent students to vocational school using their
personal funds and through fund-raising. They were also into feeding
programs for the hungry for many years and continued even now by Beka.
Three months ago I had the privilege of giving an eulogy in honor of
Romy Yusi. From real humble beginnings, Romy steadily went on to become
a highly successful businessman. With his security business, he
employed thousands. He became a leader of the Angeles business
community and was widely recognized throughout the province and even
nationally. He too was very generous in sharing his success.

This leads me to the theme of my speech which is “Bawat Pilipino
Bayani”, every Pilipino is a hero. We all become heroes to our love
ones when we go thru great lengths to help them. From the house girls,
“katulong” coming from the typhoon ravaged areas like the Bicol region,
Samar and Leyte who sacrifice greatly for their families back home to
the new generation of caregivers throughout the world overcoming
loneliness and long term separation from family. House boys, drivers,
gardeners on to maritime sailors, cruise and container ship staff.
Students became professionals, doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers,
etc. The common goal was to seek better opportunities to work and help
their families and in return also live a better live. I was no
different. When I graduated from UST medical school in 1970, I left for
the USA the following year and went on to become a board certified
radiologist. In the process, my wife, Myrna and I supported our
remaining 8 brothers and sisters to complete their education.
Presently $18 billion is remitted to the Philippines by all heroic
overseas foreign workers annually and is growing every year. All these
local and overseas Bayanis have sustained our native land all these
years. It was once mentioned that if all Filipinos stopped working, the
world will be at a standstill.

We have a unique word in our language called Bayanihan, a state of
being heroic to one another. In the past and even now, when it came to
planting or harvesting rice, we organize a “pasugu” where the community
helps with the planting or harvesting. A more widespread form of
Bayanihan now is the Gawad Kalinga movement of holistic community and
nation building. Through the spirit of Bayanihan, communities are built
addressing not only shelter but values formation, health and nutrition,
child and youth development, environment, productivity programs and
community empowerment through the neighborhood association. Having been
convinced that the ideals of Gawad Kalinga will lead the Philippines
from 3rd to 1st world country status, I worked very hard to spread the
movement in the USA and the Philippines. Nearly 400 out of the now 2000
Gawad Kalinga villages all over the Philippines were built with
sponsorships from the USA.

I am proud to be a Pilipino. I love my heritage. Let us all be proud as
Pilipinos and love our country the Philippines. Let us all be heroic to
one another. Let us practice the spirit of Bayanihan. Bawat Pilipino,
Bayani!!

Acceptance Speech by Carlos Capati, MD
Sole awardee on Awards Night at the Holy Angels University
Batch 1961

EVENTS

Norma’s Bday bash 3/31 at her residence.

Seated: Rita, Jessie, Norma S, Rechie, Carol

Standing: Ed C, JB, Max,  Harry, Elmo, Manny

Wow! Wow! Wow!

Grandiose, par excellance, surreal !

Just some of the superlatives muttered by the denizens who have the genes are in attendance.

Comes the celebrant..gorgeous ,elegant and beautiful welcoming everybody with that sweet smile. Harry, the ever good-looking hubby, by her side.

What a day. What a gathering. What an unforgettable occasion.

Thanks for sharing your day with your friends and loved ones.

The day started with a prayer. 2,000 rosary’s were recited.

We were hoping to be there by the time the 1,999th rosary is done. We failed.

The street at the Summit in Beverly is full. Oh , valet parking. Thank God.

Visitors came in spurts just like the raindrops which blessed the occasion.

Rain? Not to worry. The entire place is covered, protecting the guests.

There’s going to be a mass . Yes, mass . Where? OMG , there’s a chapel .Indeed, there is an instant Chapel within the residence. I smell food. Gosh! A lot of food. Well it’s all in the dining room. That’s alright. Oh no! Also in the basement, and the outdoors. But wait, it’s raining. Gee-whiz, it’s covered with tents. The whole place is dry. There’s food all over.

OK, it’s time to attend the mass. This is the tennis court. They converted it into a chapel .Food? Yes, food. Inside the chapel? Yes. That’s for the employees’ place after the mass. Got you.

The priest is here. Quiet. No, there are two. The mass started  and kept going and going . Readings were long, too long. Finally, it’s over. But wait. There will be speeches. Everybody has something to say, nice and very encouraging words, all praising the celebrant and thanking the Lord for all the blessings solely bestowed on the Salceda’s . I hear noises. No, that’s your stomach growling. Wait. The celebrant is going to say something. Wow, can you believe that? She s thanking us and the Lord for all her blessings. But we didn’t do anything . Only God did everything for her. Shut up , you’re celebrating with her. That’s more than enough. But she’s so nice and pretty. We know that already. Just keep quiet. OK.

They’re calling us now. We’re going to eat. Oh my. we have our own table…… for classmates and friends .Great. I’m one of her classmates. Hey JB, Concep, Max, Evelyn,Carol,Rita,Jesse Tony,

The Orlino’s are all settled. Where’s my partner,Oma? She’ getting you nourishment. Golly, long line. My good Lord, lobsters,crabs, Shabu-Shabu ,salmon, Alaskan crabs,adobo.Way too much, enough. No…I love this guinatan, palitaw, Oh no, even the giant plates can’t accommodate everything, Cakes, pastries. What? Latin food also. I give up. Dont look .Let me gently unbotton just one. Ahhhhh! That feels better.

Look ! The band is playing. Dancers in uniform? No, they call the DI. What’s that? Don’t interfere? No. Dance instructors. OK, let’s shed those calories so we can taste the other pastries. Wait, I don’t feel good . Go straight and turn right. It’s to your left. Come on, come on. Open the door please.

Next, thanks. Hey, did you see that thing that you seat on? Press a button and it turns. Very sanitary indeed. Sigh. Feels good.

Boxes? Yes. Why? Food. If you don’t take it ,they’ll just dump it. Sayang. You know, it’s the economy, you fool. Yeh, but I don’t see any sign of bad economy. Not here, dummy. Outside.

I mean outside of this area. Got you.

Are we leaving now? Yes. Did you say goodbye and thank you to the host? No. It’s ok . They can’t attend to all the 250 guest at the same time. We’ ll call them tomorrow .

I’m behind you. Don’t walk fast, I feel heavy.

What are you whispering? Nothing. Yes, you are. Tell me. I wish Norma’s B-Day is every day.Shut up. You haven’t digested and expelled everything you ate and here you go again.

Hey the gate is opening. We’re out of here. Bye.

Till next invite. Goodnite.

Ed

Ed, excellent eyewitness account of the event!

But Gee whiz! Did you notice all paparazzis?

They were all over the place.

Three videographers taping all the action simultaneously.

During Holy Mass, two cameras aimed front, one to the rear!

Four professional photographers roaming the premises

And shooting anything that is moving or still.

Recognized Joe, the official photographer of

Asian Journal. Make sure you check out the

Next issue, see how we look in there.

Doesn’t it remind you of the Grammy’s award?

Reminds me of the GMA live TV shoot of Pacquiao.

Haven’t seen the paparazzis since Britney Spears

Tony Catipay and wife celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary with a sumptous dinner March 18th at Max restaurant  with their family and classmates 

L-R: Carol, Ed, Tony, Rita, Max and JunB (& Concep)

Greenhills, Gloria Maris Reunion 2/2012

L-R: seated: Angie M, Brenda C, Rosalina Ota Bernardo                                                   standing: Monet, Raffy P, Ping D, Ota’s husband Rene

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L-R: Alice, Ando, Angie

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Greenhills Gloria Maris 2/12

L-R: Ota Bernardo-Joson and spouse Rene, Efren R, Luz D, May Capati

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L-R: Luz D, Sylvia Wenceslao, May and Charlie C.

L-R: Lord Bernabe, Ando, Alice, Neon Corpuz, Max, Emeng Concepcion

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Cris’ 2nd retirement  dinner from the US Army at the Ginza Restaurant, Elizabethtown,  KY

L-R: Cris and Lew (Photo from Lew 2/10/2012)

Thank you, Mini, Charlie, etc…..And to Lew & Donita Hortillosa who drove approximately an hour to attend the despedida dinner.I was truly touched with the gesture of the Filipino group @ Elizabethtown headed by Dr. Leovigildo & Elisa Garcia who gave the going-away party dinner…Lots of memories.Leaving Fort Knox, Kentucky, I have a lot of good memories and sad. “The Duke Brigade soldiers are back from Afghanistan after a year tour” with approximately 70 casualties There  are still remaining solders in Afghanistan. Continue your prayers for their safe return.   Cris  (Leaving Fort Knox)

December 9, 2011 Military Holiday Ball, Louisville, Kentucky

Military Holiday Ball, Fort Knox, KY

Happy, happy second retirement, Cris!

Cris, Annabelle

See below: Cris, unknown, Lew

August 4-5 ’12: Keuka Lake future reunion Rte 54, NY

It is about 5 hours drive from Boston .Our kids who live in Boston take the drive every summer.

It is a favorite vacation destination during the summer months .There are a couple of hotels / many bed and breakfast inns within 15-30  miles from us.2 golf courses nearby, several wineries ,

Camp grounds, tennis courts,s wimming, fishing in the lake , etc. I can not block rooms due to high demand season, most likely.But I will check.

I  will give information about lodging  as soon as I can. So anyone can book ahead and plan their vacation accordingly .But , if one is not that fussy, we do not mind if people “crash” anywhere in the house or in our backyard . (Or front yard ,view is better ,hehe). Totally casual, relaxed , “do as you please “weekend.

We plan to host a picnic on Saturday , Aug 4,starting at 3 pm till whenever .Then,Sunday  brunch at 10 am  till. Otherwise, you are on your own , as you please.

These planning will make the cold long winter go by quickly  for us .

We are excited to welcome all of you to come to our neck of the woods.

In the next few weeks, I will compile relevant information about the Finger lakes Region .including driving directions , churches , etc

Ted and Lynne (Photo by Lynne)

Keuka lake house:

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Cris 2nd retirement

My second career — PhD in child-care!
March 2012 — apo-stolic work for a 2 year 7 month girl and
a 7 month boy. (once a week and PRN!)

Gone fishing!
Cris and brother Alex — deep-sea fishing –the boat tilted!;
Cris hung on and brought in this 50-pound salmon!

January Birthday Celebrants:

Letty Molina-Padolina, Rechie Flores, Henry Chua. Rose Climaco (19th), Nilda Balbago (21st), Jo Bumatay (20th)

February Birthday Celebrants:

Nieves De Guzman (2/2), Leyte Asuncio-Saldana (2/3), Amanda Palaganas & Tessie Camaya (2/6), Phebe Lim & Zeny Andaya (2/7) and Pol Lasala 2/9, Corazon Panlilio 2/13, Norman San Agustin 2/15, Flormond Garcia 2/14,  Ismael Holipas (2/27), Nestor Reyes 2/16

March Birthday Celebrants:  Ralph Rances, Esperanza Tinio (3/12), Art Venturina (3/11), Tessie Querubin, Patty Cruz (3/22), Ted Mariano, (3/23), Danny de Leon (3/21) Cris Cosas (3/21), Norma Salceda (3/31), Efigenio (Boy) Bautista

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RECOGNITION

Hey Folks,

Just sharing the picture of Chris (son – extreme right)) with the US Ski Team in Austria. They will fly to Belatuz next week then to Italy next month. This team will most likely be the members of the US Ski and Snow Boarding team at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sushi, Russia.

The 2014 Olympic Games will probably be a wonderful trip to consider. We had an awesome experience at the Summer Olympics in  Atlanta and Los Angeles but never been to the Winter Olympics. So the invitation is on and you are mostly welcome to join us.

Chris is the same son who run the NY Marathon, SD State Tennis doubles champ and 5 handicapper.

My best regards to all,

Manoy ( Boy Maga)

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Congratulations to  UST70MD class  who gave a sizable donation to the Typhoon Sendong victims  on 2/12, the amount of which exceeded  expectations.($12,100.00)

Art Jurao, Efren Regio, Tony Bernas, Ralph Rances, Joe Leoncio
Max Basco, Evelyn Basco, Harry Salceda, Norma Cunanan Salceda,
Teddy Mariano, Lynne Mariano, Gally Grajo, Gloria Uy, Ramon Domingo
Luz Bunuan Cuaresma, Cecil M Liangco, Puring Cruz,
Amanda Palaganas, Leddy Dizon Jazmines, Bene Balagtas
Rancy Ragon Tolosa,  Luz Duque Hamerschaimb,  Boy&Lily Samala,

Boy Maga (Lucio Margallo), Deng  Sitjar, James Zipagan, Manny De Sagun
Brenda Sison & Evelyn Austria (combined), Boy & Lily Samala, Rosita
Soriao-Hernandez, Vicky Pingul Petrillo,  Emilia Panday, Phebe Tan, Desiderio Ines,

Rita Rubinstein, Pol &  Lourdes Polintan, Toy & Beng Aure,  Rene/Tessie Grabato, Levi Guerrero, Mini (Phil Jesuit Foundation), Mon Domingo, Charlie&May Capati (Gawad Kalinga) & the other classmates who requested to remain anonymous donors.

UPDATE ON CLASS REUNION: MAX BASCO

It was a great pleasure to spend time with our classmates back in Manila. After hosting dinner at Gloria Maris restaurant in Greenhills, I took a flight to CDO with my older brother to meet Monet on Feb 24 and drove to Iligan City same morning to meet the Vicar of the Iligan Diocese, Fr. Vera Cruz and his Bishop.  (photos sent previously). Deed of donation was signed  with Monet as witness. We then proceeded to the site of a new village where construction was ongoing, passing typhoon victims temporarily housed on tents provided by the Red Cross along the way. We also saw the devastation from the typhoon Sendong, the remnants of houses along the river banks and the collapsed bridges. Around 290 million pesos have been donated to the  Phil Gov’t but the not much has been used for the rehab. Much of the water supply have not been restored. After deliberations, we agreed that the best use for the USTMD 70 donation is for the construction of a deep well and water tank tower for the new village.

The next opportunity to spend time with classmates came when I got invited to join  them

In a trip to Cebu to survey the venue of the 2013 reunion. Together with Monet Abragan, Ping Duran, Danny De Leon, Pura Caisip, Seth Policarpio, and Linda Reyes, we flew to Cebu on  Fri. March 9 and stayed two nights at Movenpick Resort Hotel using two 2 bedrm complimentary suites. The resort is located at Mactan, near the international airport and also close to the Shangrila resort and the Plantation Bay resort. We had the opportunity to evaluate the three Resorts and Monet gave us a preview of the sites in Mandaue and Cebu City that will be included in our 2013 program. After considering all factors, we think the Movenpick is our choice venue. Monet will be negotiating our group rates. We will block all their 2 bedrm suites which is really desirable considering size and cost. We are also considering a one-way cruise to Cebu. There is a new cruise ship going to Boracay from Batangas City, starting March 1, 2012.

Our classmates in the Philippines also have plans to join us in a 2014 reunion here in the USA. They have a suggested time and venue which is Feb. 14, 2014. Plans for an October cruise is still on.

 .

 Update on Typhoon Sendong donation: Max B

 Firstly on the fundraising, we had a grand total from USA USTMD70 of $9,400.00.  In addition, we also received $2000.00 from a very wealthy Filipino businessman who wants to remain anonymous. I got a pledge of donation of 30,000 pesos from Ms Angela Painter, wife of a wealthy Briton who spent a month distributing monies to the flood victims.  Our grand total including the pledge is $12,100.00 earmarked for our  project.
We have exceeded our target of $10,000. Our trustee Monet has received the the total of $11,400.00 $5000.00 or its peso equivalent from Phebe, 276,000 pesos from me.
We are providing the water supply to a new village of 100 homes on real
estate donated by the Diocese of Iligan with the construction of houses funded by the Order of Malta. Our initail plan was to construct a deep well and a tower mounted
10,000 gallon water tank using motorized pump to store water in the tank. The homeowners will then be organized to be responsible for the upkeep of the deep well pump and tank. Because of concerns that organizing a large number of homeowners could be problematic in the long run according to our Donee, Vicar, Fr. Vera Cruz, they
tought it would be better if we construct more deep wells and water tanks limiting the number of homeowners liable for the upkeep. Instead of one large water tank, they will get
8-10 instead.
I am not sure if the outcome will be better this way or the other. Might be good idea to research the matter in terms of total cost, and maintainance cost.
We probably have enough or more than enough money to build the one big
tank, not sure if enough to build multitude of smaller tanks. If and when the need
arises, we can try to solicit more donations from wealthy friends in the Philippines and the
UK Foundation. I certainly believe our USTMD70 has found a charitable endeavor worthy
of emulation that we should all be very proud of. When the water tower finally
rises, one can see emblazoned from the distance,” A Gift from the members of USTMD 70 to our friends citizens of Iligan City.”
Update on GK Class village: from Charlie C.Total donation: $13,450.00. Donors: Aure Medical Association, Elvira & Gerardo Balbin, Max Basco, Carlos Capati, Manny De Sagun,  Mon Domingo, Ma. Rizalin Galit-Flickinger, Rosemarie Climaco, Rolando Singson, Levi & Ofelia Guerrero, Ishawar Jagasia, Jose & Marife Leoncio, Murillo & Ofelia Mangubat, Victor & John Petrillo, Esperanza Ragon-Tolosa, Evelyn Villena, Rey Lazaro, Levi Guerrero.

More than 90% of those who responded voted that our class, USTMD70, will go ahead with building our Legacy GK Village. The extent of commitment is very encouraging. We are optimistic that not only will we be able to provide for the minimum it takes to donate a village but we may even provide for more families to be included in our village. The very likely site of our Gawad Kalinga village is in Sta. Rita, Las Pinas, Rizal where a  site ready GK community will be shared by GK villages donated by the UPMed Fraternity and the St. Louis, Missouri GK chapter. It is all up to us to make a genuine heartfelt commitment to this very worthwhile project that will forever tie us and our children to our Filipino heritage.

Let us just mention that Gawad Kalinga is a 501C3 charitable organization with a Federal Tax ID #35-2361640. All donations from all over the USA are tax deductible and tax savings based on your tax bracket from 15% to 36% of your donation will be tax deductible. Thus a donation of $1000 will effectively cost you only $640 if you are in the 36% tax bracket.

This brings us to the scenario below:

Donation               Cost              18 mos. Amort.                 Net cost at 30% bracket/mo.2 houses @
$2600 each        $5200             $290                                $200

11/2 houses          $3900             $218                                $150

1 house                $2600             $145                                $100

½ house               $1300             $73                                  $50

Other                   $1000             $55                                  $34

                           $500              $28                                   $19

As you can see we can use this installment method preferably by post-dated checks to make it easier for all. Many of us are now receiving social security checks and with 2012 increase of over 3%, we can apply the increase to our monthly donation as Mila Gonzales suggested. We hope with the above schedule we could all set our sights higher so we can help more families and their children rise out of poverty.

A committee of classmates composed of Brenda Sison, Luz Hammerschaimb, Max Basco and Roger Liboon will do follow up calls on donations. Please write checks to GK USA with memo for USTMD1970 Class Legacy Village and send to GK USA, C/O Pita Rina, North Central Financial Coordinator, 2919 Bartlett Court, Naperville, IL 60564. You can contact her at 773-934-3386 or ross.pita.rina@gmail.com. We will be monitoring the donations regularly whether we are in or out of the country. An acknowledgement of the donation will be given to donor by GK USA. A memorandum of agreement between GKUSA and USTMD Class 1970 will be signed by Max Basco, USTMD70 president and Tony Olaes, GK USA president. Periodic progress reports will be made available. Strict accountability will be observed. Our goal is that by the time we attend our 2013 January reunion, our GK village will be at least 50% finished so we can visit.

Charlie and May Capati
USTMD70 GK Legacy Village Project Coordinators

Our goal is to raise about $40,000 by July so we can start our village
with at least half the houses. We can then visit the village which is
in Las Pinas , Rizal and have a ceremony for the first recipients of
the first half of our village when we have our reunion in January.Please send your donations to Pita Rina, North Central Financial
Coordinator, 2919 Barlett Court, Naperville, IL 60564. You can contact
her at 773-934-3386 or Ross.pita.rina@gmail.com. Write checks to GK USA
and memo below, for USTMD70 GK Village. from Charlie Capati

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Rebuilding site for victims of Typhoon Sendong.

L-R: Donee Vicar General Veracruz, Trustee Monet, Donor Representative  Max

Iligan photo:  L-R: Monet, Max, Archbishop Galido, priest, Vicar-General Veracruz, priest

THE TAU MU PRESIDENT

Congratulations to Monet Abragan who was elected President of Tau Mu Alumni on Feb 4, 2012 during the celebration at the Hyatt Hotel. Part of his speech came from Robert Frost’s “On a Snowy Evening.” This was quoted by President John F. Kennedy during his inaugural speech as President of the United States.

“This was my closing remark speech when I was inducted President of the Tau Mu Sigma Phi Frat Alumni Phil. Group held at Hyatt Hotel in Pedro Gil Malate, Manila:

    ” Our New Inductees to the Frat, Our brothers from the US, Past officers of Tau Mu, All the Brods and their Charming and Lovely Ladies, our sisters from the Sigma Tau Delta Sorority, Guests Ladies and gentlemen Good Evening!

      Giving the closing remarks on an occasion such as this gives me so much pleasure as it is one of those rare moments that I have the last say…… with due respect to the ladies around!

       To the new Inductees, my sincerest welcome to the fold of our fraternity and don’t you ever forget that henceforth people will look upon you not as yourself but as a Tauan, so conduct yourself always as a gentleman, a true Tauan!

        I am honored and privileged that you have given me the challenge to lead the Alumni group of our beloved Tau Mu Sigma Phi for the coming year. I am aware of the difficult task this organization is facing at the moment, problems from within and from outside forces, but knowing the qualities every Tauan possess, this challenges shall be overcome as we have done to undergo the trials of becoming a member of this distuinguished fraternity. We have stood the test of time since we were founded 66 years ago because of the bond that ties us together, the spirit of brotherhood.

         At this juncture, let me therefore appeal to each and every member, student or alumni alike, to give your share to bring our beloved Tau Mu Sihma Phi to greater glory and cope with the fast changing modalities of our times.

        No one can do it alone, but if we all join hands together, nothing will be impossible to achieve.

        Before I end, allow me to read a favorite poem that is very inspiring, In fact, the late John F. Kennedy qouted this poem during his innaugaral speech as president of US of A.

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               Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening

                        By Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know

His house is in the village thoiugh

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake

The only other sounds the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flakes

The woods are lovely, dark and deep

But I have promises to keep

And miles to go before I sleep

And miles to go before I sleep

        To all of you, I pray for your safe travel to your homes, thank you for all your support, Mabuhay po tayong lahat, Hzail Tau Mu! “

 Monet would  like to acknowledge  the  generosity of  the  following classmates:
1)  Harry &  Norma  Salceda
2)  Charlie  &  May  Capati
3)  Ed  Capitulo
4)  Boy  Margallo
5)  Max  Basco
6)  Roy & Mila  Gonzales

7) Jun Bautisa
8) &  especially  the one  and  only  BUTOY (Gozo),  who  single-handedly organized  the trip of Monet  & wife Ruby  to  USA.  This  is  a powerful  demonstration  of  what  a  handful  of people  whose  only  desire is  to make  a little  difference  in  the life  of  our  beloved  classmate  Monet.  It  does not  take  a ton of money nor  lots of talk  to  do  what  these  guys  have  done.  They  simply  agreed to  help  a  classmate who  wish  to join  in  the birthday celebration  of  our  good  friend  Gally in Naples, FL.on May 2nd and 3rd.
The  number   of  attendees  swelled  to  an incredible  20  people.  Another  testimony  to  the  enduring  care and love  bestowed  to  our  good  friend  Gally.  I  congratulate  the class of  ’70  in  showing  an overpowering  generosity  and love  to  each  other.  Let  us  not  forget  that the most powerful bond is   brotherly love.  It  transcends  everything…….Gud nite—JunB

News Items: An emergency assistance  fund (EAF), proposed by Deng, is in the making, solely for emergency assistance to future Philippine disaster victims. Members are Yet, Gally, Ledy, Phebe, Lynne and Puring. Puring is the treasurer and accepts donations. Phebe and Puring are the signatories. Donors are Mon, Yet, Gally, Lynne/Ted, Charlie/May, Art J, Jim Z, Roger Leva, Lew H, Ledy D, Deng S, Rosita S, Luz B and Roy/Mila, Rober Liboon, Espie/Romo Kabatay. Boy Maga, Evelyn Villena, Amanda Palaganas, Roland Singson, Ofie Ramoso, Evelyn A, Rod and Lourdes Polintan, Manny De Sagun, Ed Capitulo

We now have five fund-raising projects:

1. Slush fund:    for classmates in need. (Mini)

2. Class fund:   for our national class reunions and for UST legacy (Norma)

3. GK Village:   tax-deductible donations (Charlie/May)

4. Typhoon Sendong:  for Cagayan de Oro/Iligan victims.  Monet/Max

5. Emergency Assistance Fund (EAF): for future RP disasters (Puring).

 THE FIRST GRANDCHILD: Charlie, Charlotte & May

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GUESS WHO?

Although pulled into the limelight occasionally, she’d rather be in the shadows. .

3rd issue’s baby photo is that of Charles Dunifer

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THE WAY WE WERE

Clerks’ photo in Villa Maria resort in Talisay, Batangas

L-R: Max, Bote, Frank Banzali, Ador Baylan

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Manila Mini Reunion 2012

 L-R: Federico Gatchalian,  Danny De Leon, Paul Garcia, Roy G, Ric Galang

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Medical students 1968

 L-R: Paul Garcia, Federico Gatchalian, Roy G, Ric Galang

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 UST fourth-year pre-med students 1965

 Philadelphia interns 1972

L-R:Mila G,  Riz G, Linda A

L-R seated: Mon D, Evelyn G

Standing:Alice D, Riz, Mila G

L-R: Evelyn G, Mila G., Riz G, Mon D, Alice L, Ruby P

L-R: Seated: Mon, Evelyn G, Ruby P, Marietta L, Alice

Standing: unknown, Mila G, Rosita S.

  Mini-reunion in Mila and Roy’s Residence in Ohio

 L-R: Alice D, Mila G with baby, Ando with baby

 L-R: Letty, Gadi , Mila G, Angie, Noel, Gani L

L-R: Pete (back facing camera), Rechie, Rita, Letty, Patty, Angie, Mila, Gadi, Noel, Gani

 Thanks for posting these pictures, never seen these shots before or maybe I did but time has relegated it to a forgotten corner in my mind. Of course I know the occasion, Roy & Mila and Gani & Gaddi and others from Akron visited us at Steubenville at our apartment, you & Angie on the 2nd floor and Letty & me on the 1st floor for a brief get together. I think I am the one trying to get some more green apples in our backyard on the 2nd photo, our first experience of this sort in the new country. Those were exciting days where we felt we were on top of the world. Good you are a camera bug and  had the foresight to record happy carefree moments in our early enthusiastic years that will never come back but could still be ?relived or contemplated on if reminded by photos like these. Cheers. ptc

Connecticut interns 1972

L-R: Linda Navarro, Luz Marcelo, Linda Aguilar

L-R: Vicky Pingul, unknown, Linda Aguilar, unknown, Letty Molina with Dennis

L-R: Letty Molina, Evelyn Nebrida, Bing Panlilio, Linda Navarro, Linda Aguilar

Happy Easter from Charles Dunifer

Lynne’s Spring Flower Collection From Her Garden

After a winter that wasn’t, spring has sprung!

Top to bottom : Azaleas, Daffodils, Frisythias, Heather, Magnolias

THIRD USTMD70 E-MAGAZINE

USTMD70 E-MAGAZINE

DECEMBER 2011

HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY, PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!

HAPPY, YUMMY THANKSGIVING!

BITE YOUR TONGUE, HOLD YOUR PEN

It has been six months since the piece was written, five when the firestorm started raging that lead to his fall from grace, getting up one of the most prestigious position in the surgical world even before he was to be installed, and four months since he vacated the seat from where it all started. And it will be in October, in San Francisco three months from today, at the 97th Surgical Congress, when the American College of Surgeons will hang the Presidential Medallion on the neck of a woman surgeon from upstate New York, Patricia Numann, MND FACS, 1st Vice-President Elect, instead of Lazar Greenfield, MD FACS who was the President-Elect. It will not be the first time that a woman will be the president of one of the world’s most prestigious surgical societies in the world. In 2005, Kathryn D. Anderson, MD FACS from San Marino, California was installed as the first woman President of the American College of Surgeons in San Francisco during the College’s 91st Annual Congress. But it will be the first time in memory that an incoming President-Elect won’t be installed because of sexist allegation based on an editorial which Dr. Greenfield wrote “to amuse rather than to offend.”

On February of this year, in a Valentine editorial “Gut Feelings” penned by Dr. Greenfield who is the Editor-in-Chief of Surgery News, the official newspaper of the American College of Surgeons, he opined that meeting one’s significant other might have a physiologic basis, proceeding to discuss the mating habits of fruit flies. He then cited research from the Archives of Sexual Behavior, which found that “female college students practicing unprotected sex were less likely to suffer from depression than those whose partners used condoms” and that “their better moods were not just a feature of promiscuity because women using condoms were just as depressed as those practicing total abstinence.”  The study also found that the “benefits of semen contact were seen in fewer suicide attempts and better performance on cognition tests.” Noting the therapeutic effects of semen, he concluded, “So there is a deeper bond between men and women than St. Valentine would have suspected, and now we know there is a better gift fo that day than chocolates.”

It was this last statement that did not sit well with some women groups. It spurred a lot of protests about how someone from the high echelons of the College could write something so “offensive to women.” One prominent female professor of surgery at a well-known institution who claims she was “aghast” even publicly resigned her membership at the College in protest. Despite Dr. Greenfield’s explanation and apologies, he had to resign his editorship of the newspaper which he helped launched, and his President-Elect status of an organization that has 77,000 surgeon-members who proudly append the word “Fellow American College of Surgeons” (FACS) after their name.

Nowhere has there been more awareness and sensitivity these days to social issues such as equality grafted to sex, age and race than here in this country. Some statement may represent the speaker’s or the writer’s true intent. Others may not really mean what they say or say what they mean. Others still can be misconstrued or misinterpreted. No matter what, one needs to be mindful of what he or she writes or says especially if that person is prominent or well known. The scrutiny by what somebody calls “speech police” of public pronouncements be it spoken or written that they are not ‘offensive’ or ‘demeaning,’ can be so rigid. Whether it is fair or not, whether it is justified or not, is what provokes debate and controversy.

Not too long ago, former Senator Alan Simpson, a Republican from Wyoming and appointed Co-Chair of the Debt Commission by President Obama, was vehemently criticized and asked to resign from his post at the Debt Commission by the National Older women’s League, an advocacy  group when he e-mailed their Executive Director comparing Social Security to “a milk cow with 310 million tits.”  He subsequently apologized for his inappropriate analogy, did not resign and remained in his post as a Co-Chair. Larry Summers, former Secretary of the Treasury and recently a member of President Obama’s economic team, earned the ire of women students and advocacy groups in 2005 when he was president of Harvard University. He stated off-handedly that women are inferior to men in their ability to excel in mathematics and the sciences. The statement spurred protests that eventually he had to leave the University. A North Carolina basketball referee avoided harsh punishment for “sexist” comments in a girls’ basketball game when he was given “corrective action” and not a suspension. Ron Franklin, the longest play-by-play announcer of ESPN, working football and basketball for the network since 1987, was let go for “insulting and sexist comments to a female reporter whom he called “sweet baby.”  Recently, in April of this year, a Jersey City Superintendent of Schools caused an uproar when he was quoted while speaking at a public function that the school system’s worst enemy “is the young ladies. The young ladies are bad.” Despite the apology, he offered for his insensitive remarks, the Superintendent has not resigned.

The landscape is replete with spoken or written word, usually in a sentence or two that may be abrasive to the sensibilities of some. What it inflicts may be real or imagine. The eventual outcome may or may not be satisfactory to the parties involved. For what he has been portrayed to be because of what someone called “Semengate” editorial, Dr. Greenfield has a number of women surgeons on his side who considers him as above reproach and a member and advocate of women in surgery in his previous capacity as Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University and later at the University of Michigan where he retired as professor-emeritus. After a meeting with the ACS Board of Regents where again he apologized, he stepped down from his position as president-elect, so that the College “will not be distracted by any issues that would diminish its focus on improving care of the surgical patient,” so says Dr. Carlos Pellegrini, Chair of the Board of Regents.

There are many surgeons, however; men and women, especially those in academic and surgical society hierarchy who prefer not to comment on the matter for fear of repercussions. I may not have written 128 chapters in surgical textbooks, edited two surgical textbooks, authored and published 360 peer-reviewed papers, or developed a surgical device that literally saved thousands of lives. But whatever miniscule reputation and lifelong accomplishments I may have, I certainly do not wish to have them wiped out by a single sentence I have spoken or written which has been misconstrued or misunderstood. I would have put up a vigorous public fight and not let what I consider an innocent and amusing single statement obliterate what professional reputation I have carefully nurtured all my life.

This much I can say though — I am still a Fellow of the College in good standing. So I better bite my tongue and hold my pen. And I will attend the meeting in San Francisco.

Edward E. Quiros, Editor in Chief of “The Philippine Surgeon,” the official publication of the Society of Philippine Surgeons in America, Inc.

FALL IS HERE

Autumn foliage photo from Lynne

” The sudden dead of Summer had left quite agog,
Distinctly I remember it wasn’t such a long ago
Wither had thee wander from our trysts of yesterdays,
Forgive me if I ponder, “What it from my dev’lish ways?

The Autumn trees are churning Autumn leaves high & low,
but forever I’d be burning from your love that wasn’t so !

-Sir Charles Dunifer

WHEN ZINNIAS ARE A- BLOOM !

WHEN ZINNIAS ARE A- BLOOM

ALL THE WORLD’S A GLOW

PRISMATIC, LIKE A RAINBOW

BE STILL MY HEART…I KNOW

WHEN ZINNIAS ARE A-BLOOM!

– SIR CHARLES

RAINBOW

Lord, just the other day,
I saw Your Rainbow pass on by.
And thought I’d ask You why,
But then I decided, no way,
For You call all shots Lord,
Only You have the last word,
And we humans resign and say:
“The Rainbow hath worked so hard,
He is to be with You, his reward,
Clearly, surely, no shades of gray.”The Rainbow showed us its colors,
Digital messages and bright images,
To last through ages upon ages.
Digital sounds and many flavors,
Reaching out to cyber space,
So delightful to follow and trace,
No doubt helpful to us road warriors.
We Facebook, Twitter and say hello,
We Skype, we type: ” wuzzup, yo! ”
We iTunes, we iPad, nothing us bores.We iPhone, we iMac, we email,
We’re in touch, we’re everywhere,
We have no limits,we’re here and there,
We find the head and tail,
We joke, we teach,we walk,
Multiple languages we talk,
We boogie, we fly, we sail,
We twist, we shout, we prance,
We can do lots and take the chance,
We can speed or slow down like a snail.Lord, thank You for the Rainbow;
It has enriched our lives,
It helps us venture out of our beehives,
Of course Lord, You already know.
Thank You for the WWW and Internet,
Everything’s from You we shouldn’t forget,
For You lift us all creatures low.
Lord may every mind and heart
Not from You ever depart,
And never away any gift from You throw.

Lew Hortillosa

Nature’s Medicine

The rhythmic sound of the waves lapping the shore
gently nudged us into consciousness.
The sea beckoned.
Tiptoeing out and then skipping as we headed towards the sandy shores.
The wind is salty .
The sand tickled our bare feet.
We ran .We walked .We laughed.
We stopped to examine treasures from the sea.
We wrote our names on the sand.
We watched the pelicans fly away with their catch.
There was not a soul on the beach.

We note flickering lights from a distance, against the dark blue -tinged sky.
The moon is still high.
The stars twinkled and winked .
After three miles of our foot prints on the sand , we retraced our path back home. It is daybreak. We watch the sun rise from the East,
The warm waters of the sea caress our tired feet.
We are always grateful for His provisions.

Lynne

Dawn to Dusk by Lynne

Dawn to dusk
Dusk to dawn
Ever present
Ever steadfast
Burning as the mid day sun
Gentle as the cool morning breeze
In stillness , you utter
Our hearts gather
Devotedness unending
Reason can not decipher
Your power manifested
In the beauty that surround
Freely they fly
Merrily they cry
Deep as the blue sea
High as the azure sky
Such is Your love
Thankful all must we

CHRISTMAS ACTUALLY CAME EARLY FOR FILIPINOS IN BOSTON

The Advent celebration came in the form of the San Lorenzo Ruiz statue’s long journey from  Manaoag, Philippines to  Malden in Massachusetts. It happened in September 2007.

For several years, the Boston Filipino Apostolate (BFA) members had always prayed before a San Lorenzo statue on loan from Dr. Lee. This could no longer go on. In late August 2007, Dr. Lee said that she could no longer allow them to use it. The Boston Filipino Catholics were in a quandary. They did not procure their own icon because they  thought it would always be there for their use. Now was the time to get one of their own. The San Lorenzo devotees did what they do best. They prayed for guidance in resolving the problem.

Mini (4th from the left) with her prayer group. Fred, her husband, is farthest right.

This posed a problem. No one could go to the Philippines just in time  to get one for the San Lorenzo  Feast Day in September. J. Manuel, the Filipino Apostolate Liturgical Coordinator, approached Ate Glo, the coordinator of the Santo Nino Prayer Group.  What a coincidence!  It turned out that Gloria’s sister lives close to the town of Manaoag in the Province of Pangasinan. This town is known for its excellent craftsmen of religious statues. Within ten days, a huge box containing the San Lorenzo statue arrived on the doorsteps of Ate Glo’s house. That was incredibly fast! The box was quickly opened. The statue was carefully unwrapped. The prayer group of Gloria P, Virgie P, Esther O, Paz M, Minnie and Fred N gazed at the four-foot high statue of a praying San Lorenzo Ruiz.  His hands were clasped together and  his face was looking up to heaven. It was as if the icon was inspiring the congregation to pray as well. No one knows how San Lorenzo Ruiz looked  like but the image was more Spanish than Filipino or Chinese. The prayers of the San Lorenzo devotees were heard. Truly, one cannot underestimate the power of prayer. Prayer works!

Now the “M & M” Twin Cities

Manaoag and Malden – “M & M”–as the San Lorenzo Ruiz devotees now call the twin cities — have more in common than just being linked by a Filipino saint who lived in the 1600. Established in the 1600s, these old places have a similar population of about 53,000. Malden’s area of five square miles resembles Manaoag. But the similarity does not end there. The Filipinos in both places have a strong devotion to the Holy Rosary. A Living Rosary precedes the Filipino Mass in Malden while In Manaoag, Filipinos venerate “Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary.”

The town of Manaoag in Pangasinan province,  famous for its “Lady of the Most Holy Rosary” shrine, has seen countless miracles and healing powers attributed to the Virgin Mary.  Located some 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Manila, it is about a five-hour leisurely drive. Its Church of the Most Holy Rosary was established 300 years ago; it is older than the churches in Lourdes, Fatima and Guadalupe. The shrine is visited by almost a million visitors during its peak months making it  the town’s biggest tourist attraction. Thus, the town is dubbed the Pilgrimage Center of Northern Philippines. It is also known as the “Antipolo of the North.” Antipolo is a town in Rizal province that is a famous Marian site of the “Virgin of Antipolo,” also the site of many healing miracles.

Malden is a suburban city just five miles north of Boston. Once the richest city in Massachusetts, that label no longer fits. Malden has changed a great deal. Old money has moved out.  Ethnically diverse, young suburbanites flooded in, drawn to it  by its close accessibility to Boston with its two subway stations. Like some  American cities,  it is a city of contrasts. The slim majority is the early white immigrants  while the rest are the fast-growing recent immigrants. The city’s population is 20% Asian. Out of the town’s total population of 53,340, a recent census showed that 157 are Filipinos, about 0.3%. Despite the population change, racial tolerance has long prevailed in the city. Here in this welcoming  atmosphere, the Filipinos found a place to gather, meet and worship.

In the greater Boston area, Filipinos can always avail themselves of a Filipino Mass every Sunday, replete with Filipino cuisine and socialization after the Mass. A regular Filipino Mass is held every second Sunday in the St. Joseph Church in downtown Malden.  Other Sunday Masses where the Filipino congregation come together are the following: West Roxbury (first Sunday), Boston College (1st & 3rd Sunday) and Quincy and Braintree (4th Sunday).  Established in 1902, the St. Joseph Church reflects an international and ethnical awareness that comes from the city’s diversity.  Its current pastor, Fr. William Minigan, has welcomed the Filipinos wholeheartedly. He prepared a special place for the San Lorenzo Ruiz statue on the altar.

San Lorenzo Ruiz

Very little is known about San Lorenzo Ruiz. He  was born in Binondo, Manila, of a Chinese father and a Tagalog mother. His father taught him Chinese while his mother taught him Tagalog. Both of his parents were devout Roman Catholics.

Ruiz served as an altar boy at the convent of Binondo church. After being educated by the Dominican friars for a few years, Ruiz earned the title of escribano (calligrapher) because of his skillful penmanship. He became a member of the Cofradia del Santissimo Rosario (Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary). He married and had two sons and a daughter with Rosario, a native. Life for them was generally peaceful, religious and full of contentment.

That’s about to change in 1636.  While working as a clerk at the Binondo Church, Ruiz was falsely accused of killing a Spaniard. Due to the allegation, Ruiz sought asylum on board a ship with three Dominican priests, a Japanese priest and a layman who was a leper. Ruiz and his companions left for Okinawa, Japan on June 10, 1636, with the aid of the Dominican fathers. These missionaries will ultimately perform the conversion of the natives by preaching and teaching, not by violence. At that time, Japan was a place of grit, steeped in a history of violence and a legendary aversion to outsiders. Ruiz and his companions probably knew  of the danger ahead of them and were prepared to meet the challenge. But nothing, nothing in their past, could prepare them for a future ordeal.

The Tokugawa shogunate had earned the reputation of  persecuting Christians by the time Ruiz had arrived in Japan. Tokugawa wasted no time and the missionaries were arrested and thrown into prison. They did not stay there for long. After two years, they were transferred to Nagasaki to face trial by torture. That was a customary  judicial procedure at that time. If you survived the torture, then you were innocent.

On September 27, 1637, Ruiz and his companions were awakened at dawn and taken to the Nishizaka Hill, where they were to be tortured by being hung upside down a pit. This form of torture was known as tsurushi (釣殺し) in Japanese or horca y hoya in Spanish.

That’s their way of investigating at that time. The method was supposed to be an extremely painful and slow torture. Though the victim was bound, one hand was always left free so that victims may be able to signal a recantation of beliefs. In such cases they would be freed. Ruiz and their companions were hung upside down with their heads inside the well.

Their temples were slit open to let blood drip slowly until they died from blood loss and suffocation. It was a painful, slow death. Despite their suffering, Ruiz and his fourteen companions refused to renounce Christianity to spare their lives. Their body was cremated and their ashes where thrown into the sea. Before he died, he reputedly said:

“

Isa akong Katoliko at buong pusong tinatanggap ang kamatayan para sa Panginoon, kung ako man ay may sanlibong buhay, lahat ng iyon ay iaalay ko sa Kanya.

”

(English): I am a Catholic and wholeheartedly accept death for the Lord; if I have a thousand lives, all of them I will offer to Him.)

San Lorenzo Ruiz was the kind of man who could die for God and religion a thousand times if he had to.   Canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 28, 1987, San Lorenzo Ruiz holds the honor of being the first Filipino Saint, the “most-improbable of saints,” as Pope John II described him during his canonization ceremony. Why the most improbable?  I have no idea and I won’t try to guess. It remains a mystery to me.To mark the arrival of the San Lorenzo Ruiz Statue, a solemn Tagalog Mass was held at St. Joseph Church on Sept. 9, 2007. The Mass was preceded by a praying and singing procession that took place in the church grounds. The statue brought up the rear of the procession, which was the place of honor.  Some parishoners were just glad to spruce up the statue.  Cely C and Paz M had decorated it earlier with a lei of sampaguita flowers and rosary beads. It stood on a platform borne by Nards G, Peping V, Jose C & Danny T. The attendees solemnly prayed the rosary together during the procession to show unity in prayer with Christ. The procession ended in the church where the statue was carefully carried to its special place on the altar.

The church was full of devotees. Fr. Celestino P, the spiritual director of the Boston  Filipino Apostolate, concelebrated the Mass with six other Filipino Jesuit priests from Boston College. The popular Malden Filipiniana Choir, led by the versatile pianist Evelyn D, sang the stirring Filipino religious music of Fr. Eduardo Hontiveros, SJ, the Father of Philippine liturgical music. Special prayers to San Lorenzo Ruiz were recited before the recession. To mark the end of the Mass,  the lively San Lorenzo Ruiz hymn was joyously sang. After the Mass, there was a fun-filled reception in the Parish Hall, where food, camaraderie, stories, entertainment and picture-taking were shared. A participant was heard to say, “I am so glad I am here. I wanted so much to join in the prayers of the installation ceremony.”

This is just one of many examples of how the religious spirit continues to thrive in the Filipino community in Massachusetts.

Editor’s Note: A second Filipino saint, Blessed Calungsod of Molo, Iloilo, has been approved for canonization. Molo is a Chinese town in Iloilo where the famous pancit molo originated. This article was originally published in MabuhayRadio.com. 

Fred Donaire (with wife Florie), Director, San Lorenzo Ruiz Association of America, Inc.

This is not the pancit Molo I remember from Prince’s Kitchenette or Fatima on Calle Real in Iloilo City but it was good. I used store-bought wonton wrappers and they worked just fine. I processed the filling in my ancient Cuisinart, a mixture of pork, shrimp, garlic and yellow onions and made stock from a whole chicken I boiled with slivers of ginger, Italian parsley and celery stalks. I found out that adding surplus filling that I dropped in half teaspoonfuls into the boiling broth made the resulting soup taste closer to what I remember. Then I added my own emendations: baby bokchoy and a few drops of sesame oil. Photo and article by Orlando.

RESTAURANT REVIEW

The New Formosa Seafood Buffet, a Review

In the Philippines, Chinese restaurants were everywhere and were, outside of the mercado, often the only choice for dining out. The situation is changed now. Restaurants offering native Filipino food but spruced up for the modern palate are sprouting as expression of a reborn nationalism, especially among young, educated Filipinos. My nephew even opened a traveling kiosk selling various flavors of guinamos, that lowly, smelly, native counterpart to the Western European anchovy!

The change in the U.S. is even more marked. Until the 1980s, ethnic restaurant meant Chinese restaurant, and Cantonese-American at that. Now, of course, we have Indian restaurants and sushi joints at every corner and Mexican groceries and restaurants are appearing even faster to serve the fast-growing Mexican expatriates. These are usually families with many children (Catholics, you know).

The new Chinese restaurants are no longer your familiar Cantonese. Insular Americans, even here in the Midwest, are finally getting their palates tickled by the rich variety of regional Chinese cooking. China is a gigantic country and its culture bespeaks the gigantic diversity. Surely this is the global village social gurus have been predicting and that we’re now in ferment of comprehending, fighting off (xenophobia is universal), and, for some of us, appreciating!

8 China Buffet (eight is a lucky number among the Chinese) used to be my go-to place after the now defunct Forbidden City (that in its day was the first to offer a Far East, not just Chinese, menu). Forbidden City is gone and 8 China has been floundering since The Journey opened in Fishers. Now the owners are trying to recapture their cutting-edge position riding the new popularity of seafood (yes, even among native-born Hoosiers) as our population think “healthy” and “cholesterol-friendly.”

Formosa Seafood Buffet opened today. When I called at eleven this morning the guy who answered the phone told me there was already a long line of people trying to get in. When I got there shortly before noon, the parking lot was full. Yes, it may just give TJ a run for the Chinese-food-lover’s money.

New uniforms outfitted many of the same people I knew from 8 China Buffet but the place was bustling with new staff, too, each cadre distinguished by their distinctive uniform. Maitre d’ staff had white and gold blouses, waiters rich maroon jackets, busboys had plain white shirts, and wandering from table to table were largely Caucasian (they spoke English!) manager surrogates in long white jackets. The latter asked the diners if they needed anything, anything at all, and if we did, the need was quickly taken care of! This is unheard of in two-dollar-sign restaurants!

Five long rows of steam-heated dishes line the central room whose stadium-like spaciousness was not mitigated by pillar, wall or partition. I was reminded me of an Asian market, lines of vendors under an open sky. Close to a half of the offerings were the old standby from 8 China but there were more than a handful of new dishes. At the top of my list were: pork rind in a rich sauce with veggies, spinach buns (the wheat pastry was thin like wet napkin, unlike the Middle Eastern spanokopita), crispy squid (thin pieces so they were tasty-crisp through), steamed white fish (tender and just the other side of mushy), fried “spring” chicken, crispy pork ribs and beef sticks (thin fillets of marinated beef still hot from the grill). One of the front desk staff who knew me from 8 China told me that the weekend brunch include wandering dim sum carts!

Formosa (recalls the old name of Taiwan, meaning “beautiful”) has some ways to go to seriously compete with The Journey but the new dishes were wonderful and all freshly cooked. It certainly has promise and the price, same as that charged at 8 China, might mean the inevitable demise of the older restaurant.

Part of my interest in the new restaurant hinged on how the owners designed a new restaurant. There is the choice of food to serve but beyond that, what other choices do a business owner take to separate himself from the competition? FCB tried to go for elegant. The booths were Chinese rosewood, the napkins were thick cotton oversized hankies matching the waiter’s jackets, the chopstick were long, lacquer-like black heavy plastic sticks. The dining areas were spacious but more people-friendly than the buffet room. You should see the bathroom with OVOToilet fixtures in gold against black faux-marble countertops. Instead of the goop most buffet offer as ice cream they had nine flavors of real ice cream and in addition to the restaurant-supply Chinese cakes good Bundt cakes. (The lemon cake was terrific.)

The staff was perhaps the big difference. The Chinese staff seated the patrons but the waiters and wandering quality-control staff were Caucasian or Hispanics who spoke English. The busboys, of course, were Mexicans. I was most impressed, after the food, by the incredible number of staff floating around. I congratulated the new manager, a former veteran waiter at 8 China. He was decked in ill-fitting Mao jacket but beaming with pride.

Just having a floor manager seemed to me a most unusual feature. Several members of the Chinese family that owns the new restaurant were also floating around, not interacting with the diners (unlike at the old Forbidden City where the owner herself went from table to table) but checking to make sure everything was running smoothly.

Here once again we see the Chinese showing us how they do business! Big and elegant they know how to do but now they’re borrowing a thing or two from American restaurants, like providing staff who speak the language and can explain the dishes and address diners’ needs. Viva diversity and the new global economy! (Written by Orlando G).

RAIN IN THE BARRIO

Tiny Violets Photo by Pete Calope

Nothing to do on this gloomy, dreary and rainy day. As you can see in the picture the somber ambience, the farmers’ hamlet is just barely visible due to the curtain of the falling rain. Humidity now is at 80% fortunately the temperature is just 77 or 25 deg Centigrade barely above sweater weather temp. The whitish irregular perpendicular line right of center is the falling water from the spout of the gutter. Down below the falling water is the ideal place to finish off the “ligo sa ulan”…but not this time, the temp is too cold to enjoy the rain, it should be done  and enjoyed only on hot sizzling summer days, preferably with the apos against the protest of their parents, hehehe.

This is that kind of day that sucks the energy to move out of anyone and wish just to stay in bed and just lazily snuggle with the love one or with the apos. Or get the inertia out, go to the kitchen, get a bahaw, lace it with taba from the top of the adobo “bring house” from Lolo’s fiesta left overs, and dab the rounded glob of “rice con lard” on a guinamos or bagoong or just to plain salt to taste, looking out the window, contemplating on the pititap pitititap sounds of the falling rain,….aah, reminiscing the childhood barrio of long ago. Or some times when available, roast a mature green banana on an open fire in the “abohan”, yellowish or ripening banana is not recommended for this childhood delight. After the roasting is done but the skin is still intact…..peel off the skin and see the steam escape from the cooked white starchy banana. Like the rice with taba, we dip it in the patis of the bagoong or guinamos and enjoy the weather.

How about you from the Northeast, how is the foliage by now, hope you post some pictures too, share the visual bounty and don’t forget the winter wonderland too as it come upon you. Thanks and God bless.

– Pete Calope

Nora and Ismael Holipas (4th and 5th from the left) on a medical mission in Zamboanga

Presidential Address at the Philippine Medical Association in America, Inc.

Good evening and greetings to everyone!

As your PMAA president, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to all officers, and the different committee chairs and members, for your full-hearted support of hte PMAA 2010-2011. Likewise, I lift up my hat to salute the PMAA history for its 64 years of existence.

The PMAA is an organization by the , of the, for the Filipino physicians of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware areas since 1947.

Our objectives area as follows….(1) For continual quest for knowledge by upgrading ourselves, so as to give our children to follow our footsteps, and be an asset to the community, (3) To extend our humanitarian effort through our traditional “Medical-Surgical Mission” in the remote areas of the Philippines. Out last mission was held in Dapitan and was indeed an achievements and an accomplishment to be proud of.

Only through the concerted effort and cooperation of both Filipino physicians, nurses, medical technologist and volunteer that we can say our mission endeavors was accomplished in great success.

Tonight, I continue to challenge each and everyone to support our future mission in the Philippines and with that, I congratulate our jubilarians for supporting our mission.

At this point, I wish to thank my lively wife, Nora, and my daughter, Norita, who are my inspiration to succeed. I love them both!

Good night,

Ismael A. Holipas, Jr, MD

Current President of the Philippine Medical Association in America, Inc.

Santa Maria de Guadalupe “The Virgin of Guadalupe”

Photo by Lynne

On December 9,1531, Our Lady desired to have a church built on a hill in Central Mexico.
Juan Diego, an Aztec indian was a recent convert to the Christian Faith. He was chosen by our Mother Mary to relay a message to the Bishop of Tenochtitlan , Fray Juan de Zumarraga.
On Tepayac Hill , our Mother Mary , appeared to Juan Diego on three occasions.
The reluctant messenger had to produce evidence to the Bishop that his story was not a figment of his imagination.On her third appearance to Juan Diego, our Lady provided proof of the veracity of his account . A tilma is an apron made of cactus fiber , which peasants wore back then. Juan used his tilma to carry the roses back to show the bishop as proof of Mary’s apparition. It was cold in the mountains , not the season for roses, and yet , there were beautiful roses on the hills .
Following the instructions of Mother Mary, Juan gathered the the roses and used his tilma to carry the roses back to show the Bishop. Juan opened his tilma and let the roses drop to the floor. The bishop and his companions, fell to their knees .The image of our Lady of Guadalupe was imprinted on the tilma exactly as Juan described her to the bishop .
Mary, as Santa Maria de Guadalupe is the God- bearer . This image shows that she was with child , carrying the son of God, Jesus.She actually looks Hispanic in this image, with her dark hair and olive skin, like a Filipina .
Our Lady of Guadelupe is the Patroness of the Americas and Filipinos abroad .
Her feast day is celebrated on December 12. To this day,the miraculous tilma can be viewed at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Tepeyac ,Mexico City, Mexico.
The tilma with the image of Mary remains intact . It is a mystery how the image was imprinted . It’s creation is unexplainable . The tilma shows no sign of deterioration after more than 4 centuries .It survived a bombing, fires , constant exposure to the elements and flash photography. It is indeed a miracle.
This Marian Apparition attained Holy See approval on May 25, 1754 during the time of Pope Benedict XIV . In 1987, Juan Diego was declared venerable by Pope John Paul the ll
And was beatified on May6, 1990 by Pope John Paul ll. He was canonized in 2002 as Saint Juan Diego Cuahtlatoazin.Our Lady is known as “the protector and advocate of the indigenous people “.She is the “one who crushes the serpent”. “The Queen of Mexico”

Lynne

My Hometown, Virginia Beach

The San Lorenzo Spiritual Center was built around 1995.Filipino presence in this area of Virginia started just after World War 11 when  RP sailors were abundant and many retired in this area. There could be as much as 20,000 families here. The large Naval base is home to this area called Tidewater or Hampton Roads. Since Filipinos have been here at least 5 decades, there has to be some ways we can congregate. The Philippine Cultural Center is another proud achievement of Filipinos here. Sometimes both centers compete but for the most part we are glad they are both here.The Cultural Center  predated San Lorenzo  in it’s inception and was only built a few years later because of financing competition with San Lorenzo.

The arrival of Fr. Manalo from New York to work  as a hospital chaplain was the beginning when things started to happen. Several members of the RP community brought this idea to him of a Church or Parish just for us. He was quiet receptive and he started reaching out to the community for this project. It would not be easy, but the Bishop

was easy to deal and we had to make a case.This was presented to the Bishop and our argument was there are many Filipinos here. If he allowed a Vietnamese and Korean parish somewhere around Richmond area,why not Filipinos? I think he would have agreed  for a Filipino parish had it not for his concern about the sensibilities of other area priests.

I was fortunate to be part of the presenting team in the presence of the Bishop. There must be about 5 of us, each looking at the different aspects of the project, it’s financing, location and it’s need to minister to older Filipinos who might not be able to speak English well for confessions.I tackled the cultural aspect of this project and made my own research.

Here is what I recall. God is present in every culture and manifest Himself differently in every places. All attempts of Christianization in the past by invaders of other lands missed that God is there even in primitive tribes. The Novenas, the processions,

 the fluvial parade of the Santo Ninio, our devotion to the Blessed Mother, are almost foreign to Americans but that’s how God manifest himself to Filipinos. Furthermore, we have a culture of close family ties which we are losing slowly but surely.

      In conclusion, I added, studies shows that when two cultures merges, the larger culture absorbs the smaller culture, not the other way around, hence the latter cannot

be preserved unless there is an environment to facilitate that. That is the reason for the San Lorenzo Spiritual Center, the only one of it’s kind in the United States. It is settled in a 6 acre land, financed by Filipinos. It is  worth about $1.5 million dollars, paid up it’s mortgage in 5 years. It is a  place where we have Novenas, Mass during Fiestas but not allowed on Sundays for fear of drawing area Filipino parishioners from other parishes.It is simple in design, it’s not a Cathedral, not a parish, not a church but simply a center for religious as well as social functions or events. It is something we can call our own.I believe it is bearing it’s fruits slowly as present and future generations are now able to congregate and be proud of their identity.

Joey

BOOK REVIEW

Morning after another last week I woke up wanting to get to the computer to start writing. It’s all because of Jewish-American writer, André Aciman, whose first feature book, Out of Egypt, put me under his spell.

Aciman had given a talk on his latest book, Eight White Nights, at Washington, DC Jewish Community Center on March 14, 2010 and I listened to the recording several days in a row while working the treadmill at my gym. Hearing him talk about his writing had me hot and bothered and ready to go: do my own writing!

I found Eight White Nights (published Feb. 2, 2010) at Half Price. I read four pages then dipped here and there throughout the book. I knew I wouldn’t read it through so I returned it. What happened?

I love reading memoirs when they are written to evoke that certain quality we have as children and that consummate writers alone can recreate. Out of Egypt was such a book. More than any other book I’ve read before or after, the book is the very incarnation of a book on nostalgia, that quality of remembrance so sweet to many of us maybe because nostalgia is our first experience of love. The sum of vivid memories from our childhood—the fragrance of flowers, the trees and foliage outside the door, the aroma of cooking food and the feast days of our childhood, the look and texture of images like cloth woven from our richest store—on this we model love long before we’re old enough to know what love is.

Love here is not love that is the biological basis for relationships that grownups mean when they conjure up the word. Love here is something more fundamental, something closer to the soul perhaps, the basis for everything we are that as adults we forget in an avalanche of grownup understanding. To evoke nostalgia is to go back to that first love we had when love was like food or breath of air or thoughts incandescent.

Reading Out of Egypt I not only entered Aciman’s childhood world of Alexandria; I entered into my own childhood in La Paz on the banks of the Iloilo River in the Philippines. Reading Aciman’s description of his family and what they all did in those days I met my own nostalgia for those things in the past that are forever lost to us and that we seek not in life again but in art or literature or the highfaluting philosophies or religions of our adult years.

In fact, after Out of Egypt, André Aciman’s next book was Call Me by Your Name, a book about first love. For me, this second book fulfilled the promise of the first. It was not as richly larded with details of memory but “trailing clouds of glory” still, not yet cut off from the naïve love of our childhood when as Wordsworth wrote we were closer to our beginnings, to God “that is not now as it hath been.”

Did he perhaps exhaust his store of nostalgia, that primordial energy seeking its source in divinity, writing Out of Egypt, then Call Me by Your Name? One would hope not. Novelists often find the seeds for their first book or two in these pregnant memories and those that become writers must find other sources within themselves. Eight White Nights is not the book that establishes Aciman as a fiction writer.

What were missing were the trailing clouds of glory. And admittedly, for me, the setting. As much as I love New York City, my first home town after coming to America, the Big Apple does not evoke the powerful attraction close to the soul that places around the Mediterranean hold for me. We can’t go home again but in a world that turns like a ball we can go to another part of it that is like that source home we came from yet different enough that we can be “a child” again with what we have learned along the way to becoming an adult.

The settings that appeal to me have bougainvilleas and oleanders, palm trees and mountains that lie not far from beaches kissed by briny breezes or stalk the shores with towering cliffs and over everything sun and sunshine. Out of Egypt was set in Alexandria, a little bit of Greece on the southern shore of the Mediterranean, Call Me in Italy across the Roman Sea.

We are the products of our past, the adults that grow from the children that we were. Writing on nostalgia can be indulgence in feelings unless writers can couple them with artifice, the craft of altering intent to suit the needs of the moment. Through these natïve emotions a man reaches back into his childhood for that forbidden fruit he was once privy to—when the world was Paradise and he was Creator of the little known world, the secret world of procreative energy.

Recommended books from our USTMD70 classmates: The Help, The Elegance of the Hedgehog, Still Alice, Call Me My Name, Out of Egypt

CARTOONS FROM SIR CHARLES

BIRTHDAY CELEBRANTS

SEPTEMBER: Fred Donaire (Sep 2), Marietta Lozada (Sep 3), Johanna Valencia (Sep 7), Art Jurao (Sep 10), Jose Robles, Alice Lachenal-Dijamco, Freddie Custodio

OCTOBER: Luzbella Marcelo (10/1), Luz Bunuan, Gil Marasigan, James Zipagan, Charles Dunifer, Glo Montinola, Yet Dizon., Suzette Correa-Miclat (10/20). Boy Margallo, Evelyn Villena, Dado Castillo, Raffy Poblete, Florante Lomibao

NOVEMBER:  Joe Leoncio, Connie Arceo, Erlinda Santos, Noel Guanzon, Charlie Capati, Mirla Manito, Mags Tiamson. Evelyn Basco, May Capati, Herminia Gayos, Vivien Gamo, Carmelita Mirabueno, Angie Espinosa, Cora Golez, Gani Laurencio, Greg Aglipay, Rod Polintan, Max Basco, Ronnie Jariol, Dulce Dungo

DECEMBER: Rancie Ragon-Tolosa, Deng Sitjar, Ed Quiros, Roger Liboon, Jessie Navarro, Evelyn Austria. Vicky Co, Seth Policarpio (12/25), Efren Regio

RECOGNITION:

WJW-TV 8 – Dr. Ronan Factora, a Cleveland Clinic geriatrician and the son of Myrna and Gabby Factora,  comments on a new study that suggests high cholesterol is linked to Alzheimer’s.

Chris Margallo, the son of Boy Margallo ran the NY Marathon 11/7/11. Christopher’s photo and his medal as a finisher in the 2011 New York Marathon. He run a respectable 4 hours 2 min. He ended up 15,974 out of 47,494 participants. Boy’s youngest daughter Jonelle is performing a concert with Lea Salonga and Paolo Montalban on  November 7th.

Roger and Leyte Saldana appeared in the Jan 2012 section of the Kliplinger Personal

Finance Magazine under the Real Money Section titled:

Real Money: Should I Invest Retirement Savings in a Variable Annuity?

To view the entire article, go to http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/invest-retirement-savings-variable-annuity.html?topic_id=37

Lynda Baquero of NBC did a video interview of Norman San Agustin  on December 1, 2011. As published in People Magazine over a decade ago, Norma and Biba’s only child died of a head injury from a ski accident. over a decade ago. Since then, they went on a mission to promote helmets for children in ski slopes and for a well-equipped and well-staffed medical emergency plan in ski slopes. Because of their efforts, New Jersey became the first state to impose helmets on children and teens below the age of 18.  Nowadays, kids skiing without helmets is history.  Watch the video on this link:http://www.nbcnewyork.com/video/#!/on-air/as-seen-on/Finding-The-Right-Helmet-For-Ski-Safety/134872768

Congratulations to Charlie Capati for being the Gawad Kalinga (GK) guest speaker during the  GK Thanksgiving dinner hosted by the GK of Hampton Beach, VA. He was the recipient of the Most Outstanding Award for Community Service from the UST Medical Alumni Association of America.

Mini Festin passed the Subspecialty Neuromuscular Medicine Board exam and the Spinal Cord Medicine Board exam this year.

Wedding of the Year

Rebecca Preston and Joseph Cosas wedding 10/22/11 FLA

Cris and Annabelle: second from the right

GUESS WHO?

Here I am, circa ’49 astride my trusty wooden steed,” Zorro” in search of high adventure in our own backyard (can you believe that?). The long curly locks I’m sporting was my Mom’s idea as she wanted me growing up a dame(yuck!).But as I  look up on the bright side of things, I can  honestly say that I am our generation’s first “flower child”!

The high take off on the forehead hinted even then of lots of hidden spaces to store

 life’s memories. It was also at this tender age that I started to dabble into the mystical world of art.

                    Guess who I am and win a $100.00 prize from a Dr. Rances !

July issue’s baby photo was of Ted Mariano

EVENTS

WEST TEXAS MED ASSN PIX: 9/11

L-R: Jing, Jing’s wife Vangie, Mila, Mon; Photo by Mon

LOS ANGELES Mini Reunion in Max’ house 10/11

Seated: L-R:

Rechie, Luz B, Norma S, Jessie N, Carol M, Rita H

Standing Ed C, Elmo, Nap C, Pepot, Jun B, Harry S, Tony R, Boyski, Manny, Monet, Max

Photos by Max

Clockwise: sitting: Max, Pepot, Rechie, Rita, Luz C, Jun B

Standing: L-R: Harry and Norma S, Ed C, Monet, Carol, Boyski, Jessie, Manny, Tony R

The day was Oct. 20, 2011. Another important event etched in the history book. After the East came the West. Our frequent flyer and organizer for the 2013 class reunion was in town. The place was at the Presidents house and what a host he is,Max. The nutrition was expressly delivered from Norma Salceda’s kitchen. Attendance was close to perfect. We had some out of town classmates in the likes of Nap and Luz who were visiting family members in San Diego and Pepot Robles who came from the Lone Star , Texas. By now you might have seen the pictures Max has sent so I’ll skip the roll call. We viewed the videos of potential sites of our next reunion. Monet and Max will give us the details and the majority vote. The food didn’t only look good in the picture but will stimulate the appetite of even the worse anorectic. There were a lot of exchanges between groups and anywhere you see a crowd,there will always be eavesdroppers so at the end no secrets are unturned. The occasion was ” regaled ” by “Chivas”which led to slippery tongues making the atmosphere livelier. Entertainment was provided by none other than the class. Didn’t know we had too many crooners in the person of Monet,JB,Elmo,Max and yours truly. The cajoling was interrupted by a text call from Robby Diaz to Carol Manahan, warning her of a possible gatecrashing from Robbie who is riding his reindeer truck. The guy must have been kicked out of the house, no wonder he’s calling in the wee hour of the night.what made the evening more especially is the resolution of old grudges between some members lending to a more memorable and meaningful evening of camaraderie. Of course, Monet must have been the architect. Kudos to him. Despite the difference in time and venue ,between the East and the West, the purpose was attained. Success of the upcoming event is imminent because the is unity amongst us. Hoping to see everybody,soon,and in one venue.

Goodnight and a big bang to all October Birthday celebrants!

Ed Capitulo

CHICAGO Mini Reunion in Roger’s house: 10/11

Seated: L-R: Luz B, Puring, Rose C, Bene Balagtas, Phoebe Lim, Butch G

Standing: Max, Yet, Monet, Myrlie, Roger; Photo by Yet

Greg Aglipay and Butch in the Chicago Mini-reunion; Photo by Yet.

NEW JERSEY Mini-reunion in Norman’s residence 9/17/11

Seated: L-R: Ando, Ismael, Rod Polintan, Roland, Robbie &, in the foreground, Ralph, Max

Standing: Espy, Alice, Brenda, Gloria, Norma Dy, Nora D, Beng Aure, Luz D,Vicky Pingul (sitting), ?Linda M (partially hidden),  Norman, Atoy, Bing, Rancie, Fred, JoBum, Evelyn

Here is Robbie’s slideshow link the mini-reunion at Norman’s residence.

https://picasaweb.google.com/100192066115598019490/USTMD70MiniReuionNormanS?authkey=Gv1sRgCPre8Nq7srjshgE#

OHIO MINI-REUNION in Mila and Roy’s house 10/11 (golf tournament)

L-R: Seated:Roy, Gally, unknown, Monet

Standing: Butch, Mila, Charlie C, Jun B, unknown

Golfing buddies, Roy, Charlie, Gally, Monet, Butch and Jun B, donated $500 from their

golf tournament to the class slush fund. Photos by Roy.

L-R: Mila, JunB, Gally, Monet (standing), unknown, Butch; Photos by Roy G

Hampton Beach, Virginia Mini-reunion

L-R: Joey, unknown, unknown, Marife, May, Angie, Charlie, Noel

PHILADELPHIA mini-reunion at Luz Duque’s residence, 12/17/11

Photo by Robbie

Standing (L-R) Charlie C, Evelyn and spouse Ed Westhead, Boy S, Ando, JoBum, Norman, Ralph, Roy, Ted, Fred, Robbie’s wife Angie, Brenda’s spouse, Caloy Sison,

Sitting: JoBum’s wife Cristi, May, Lily, Ofie R, Alice, Brenda, Luz D, Mini, Marietta, Linda M,

Mila, Evelyn Basco, Biba San Agustin

Photo by Evelyn A

James Zipagan and wife Ciony in Philadelphia reunion.  Photo by Evelyn A.

Here is Rob’s slideshow link to the Phila Xmas party and hope you like it. Enjoy!

Xmas Party @ Luz’ residence

https://picasaweb.google.com/100192066115598019490/USTMD70Xmas20112?authkey=Gv1sRgCMS8x47E8YPCcg#

Having flown into Philadelphia from St. Louis, MO. and now looking at this majestic mansion lit with festive Christmas lights, I felt a surge of excitement at the wonderful evening that was about to enfold. The great hall with really tall ceiling and shiny hardwood floor with elegant double staircase easily embraced the party goers promising a night of continuous chatter, drinking, singing, dancing, music playing and picture taking. A choice collection of wine and other spirits as well as a wide selection of cheese and appetizers beckoned us. Inniskilin ice wine was brought in as promised by Ted and Lynn. Jobum brought a green Black Label.

After everyone arrived, warmed up with their favorite drink, Luz, our elegant and gracious host started a brief meeting welcoming all of us. Max, our class president then reported on the results of the survey. There was an overwhelming support for the GK Class Legacy Village with over 90% in favor. A large majority also went in favor of Cebu for our next outing in 2013. Other matters were discussed such as a plan to cruise next year about September or October in the Mediterranean which was approved. JunB’s suggestion to expand the fund for classmates in distress was discussed and a suggestion to just give voluntarily when a particular dire situation arises was adopted instead.

I went on to speak about GK and told the group that I was deliriously happy and that we will not regret our decision to leave a lasting legacy that will provide a bright future for at least thirty poor families. It will give us and our children a common bond to remind us of our Filipino heritage. It will also lead us to share our good graces, giving with our hearts to this great GK movement of community and nation building. The site of our GK Legacy village will most likely be in Las Pinas where the UP Medical Fraternity Village led by Dido Feliciano, husband of Leonor “Nong” Testa will also be built. This is a site ready to build so as soon as funds are ready next year, our village can be built in time for our grand reunion in 2013. More on GK in the next email.

The much anticipated dinner came. We were led to a large room where a long elegant table filled with mainly native dishes such as Afritada, Laing, Pancit Malabon, Kare-Kare, Jamon, Barbeque and others was waiting. Another table filled with coffee, tea and  mouthwatering desserts such as puto kutsinta and others beckoned. We all dined on four large round tables in an adjoining high ceilinged hall, next to the great hall. White and red wine was served by house staff. After the superb dinner, festivities continued with music provided by Ted, Max, Norman and Ralph. Line dancing was led by Jobum, Angie Diaz, Evelyn Basco, Norman and Biba. Christmas carols prepared by Minnie were sung accompanied by Ted, Ando, Max and Ralph. Keyboard music was also performed by Lily, Ando, Max and yours truly. Sixties music and dancing went on into the night up to the last minute twisting the night away. We were all so pleasantly surprised to see Vicky Pingul-Petrillo coming thru the front door! One week post her surgery! Her husband John  accompanied her carrying her walker when she was not using it When it came time for her to leave we all gave her a hug and I  told her she gets an A+  for effort . She sure added a lot of good cheer to the gathering. It was a most memorable and most fun night to remember. Thank you so much, Luz. The only thing I regret is that I forgot my camera at the hotel.

Brunch at the hotel was simply great. The spread reminded me of the Bellagio buffets, sumptuous and classy. I heard it is the best in the area. Thank you Marietta, Nieves and Mike. We missed you Mike.

Charlie Capati

Editor’s addendum: Survey showed that 49 of our classmates support a GK village. A

West Mediterranean cruise is planned towards end of 2012. The choice of our 2013

grand reunion is Cebu. GK fund is now $9100, class fund (Max) is $17,000, slush fund (Mini) is $2632. The slush fund committee is composed of Jun B, Max, Marietta, Lynne, Brenda and Mini.

THE WAY WE WERE

L-R: Carlos Albert (deceased), Greg Aglipay, Erlinda Aguilar, Soledad Bernaldez, Teresita Camaya, Evelyn austria, Ramon Abragan, Brenda Caparros, Amy Briones, Melba Abadilla, Lito Atienza, Wilfredo Alarcon

L-R: Seated: Willie, Lito, Carolos, Greg, Monet

        Standing: Sol, Brenda, Linda, Amy, Tessie, Evelyn, Melba

“Baby, we’re the young once.”

L-R: unknown, Deng, Mike De Castro, Joey, Vicky, Gally G

_________________________________________________________

L-R: Angie, Noel, Norman, Joey, JoBum, Ismael (see pix below)

To the class of USTMD70,wishing you all wherever you are, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. From Joey (St. Joseph) and Marife (Blessed Virgin Mary)

Perception, Our Unique View of a Slippery Universe by orlando gustilo

A friend who has moved away used to visit in the summer bringing me her herbed vinegar in long-necked, amethyst-colored bottles with simple garland and fruit designs. One does not usually think vinegar when remembering someone fondly but somehow those bottles have come to iconize the brief times we spent together.

How I perceive events, how others too appear to perceive events especially events we’re privy to together and divergently describe them, endlessly fascinate me. Not that by dwelling on the observable nature of perception understanding would necessarily purify its objects for me because nothing approaching human seems powerful enough to be its alembic but because the faculty of perception itself seems so at the core of what we call experience that any attempt to see it in action feels somehow right, even a responsibility for anyone interested in what makes us human.

To purify perception is antithetical: by its nature perception is subjective, a phenomenon of the inner self, mind sailing into its native harbor, its home port, its own part of the sea where it naturally belongs.

Mentioning those summer gifts to my friend, I heard back from her: “Oh, if I’d known you loved my purple basil and garlic vinegar, I’d have kept you supplied!”

Friends, mirrors of our different worlds, provide tiny escapes from perceptions that bind us in ignorance. Relationships  are so beautiful because they add to our otherwise hermetically closed worlds that we can glimpse other worlds outside it, beside it: we don’t have to live alone as we  do; we connect.

Awareness of the operation of perception may be end in itself. It’s not necessary to rid ourselves of experience. Imagine life stripped of perception and it’s life without meaning! For perception infuses an impersonal world momentarily with our presence and presence is, like it or not, what creates meaning.

I raise herbs on my tiny deck facing the lake so concocting herb-infused vinegars is no great feat but my vinegar would not be anything like my friend’s. Perception would have been so far from the icon I remember. It’s the old lila of Hindu philosophy, so is nothing new.

As humans we are immersed in the sea of our own making and perception is one of its creators. To be human is to live immersed in our unique “seeing,” our own karma-mediated perception and intoxicated we identify appearance as reality. Should we avoid intoxication?

Without the intoxication of perception would life still be the delight (and terror) it is to live?

So we take the entire spectrum of experience as it is, consoling ourselves when we’re located on an unpleasant point to see we’re moving endlessly on a slippery slope, now down but later up again, motion that distinguishes us for being alive, being human.

“It won’t be the same,” I wrote my friend, “but I’ll do it anyway. For the sake of our friendship, for the sake of what is gone.”

Indeed we might like to keep our friendships where they were when they showered us with grace and abundance but letting go too is human. Letting go we turn the carousel round: what goes up comes back down, what is gone returns. Maybe not in the form we recognize at once but it all comes back.

Merry Christmas to all and to all friendship, love and return!

orlando gustilo

Many thanks to the contributors of our e-magazine. Without them, this

e-magazine would not have been possible.

Second USTMD70 e-magazine

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SEPTEMBER 2011 SECOND USTMD70 E-MAGAZINE

THE GREAT AMERICAN

BY LEW HORTILLOSA

THE ENDEAVOR OR STRUGGLE TO MAINTAIN THE  CENTER AND BALANCE OF LIFE by Lew Hortillosa

It is not unusual to encounter in my quotidian life, either professionally or socially, some persons who are out of kilter or off balance. It is neither unusual to hear “There’s just too much going on. I am down to my last raw nerve. I cannot cope anymore. I am about to pull my hair.” In the clinic, most likely, they are looking for a “nerve pill”. In reality and seriously, these persons need more than just a crutch or band-aid. As Physicians, we all know that automatically. Just to assure or improve their quality of life, such a person needs a minuscule dose of an anxiolytic, plus that extra reality of an “extra mile walk”. Yes, but it is not “for a Camel”. Remember the old commercial? That walk is the ” Teach me ” walk. “Sir/Ma’am, the nerve pill will not fix your problems. Nobody dies from anxiety, not even from Panic attacks. All those symptoms you experience come from the Adrenalin cascade or rush, very similar to what goes on when you are at the front row of a Rock ‘n Roll concert. Now, go to your therapist or counselor to learn some coping strategy and hopefully you will find your balance.” In the normal scheme of things, life is a true balancing endeavor.

From my own experience following a “derailment,” I re-awakened to the fact that it takes more than just behavioral therapy or counseling to maintain the balance in thinking, feeling and performing our roles  in life. It needs CENTERING. To remained centered implies a deeper approach, i.e. a SPIRITUAL ” thing. ”    To many,     the spiritual aspect is ” different strokes for different folks “. To Christians, of course, GOD is The Centre, through Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. To Jews, Buddhists, Moslems, and others, it is something else. You tell me. This is an idea so easy to say or propose. But, in the reality of daily life, it is a true endeavor, nay struggle. First off, it is a difficult thing to even remember to do it. What to do? Tie a string around your index finger? Have your cellphone’s voice tell you hourly? Surely everyone has different ideas. Please tell?

  Lew H.

ON WRITING  From Joe L.

While thinking about what to write, the thoughts of Lolo and the US immigration man

keep popping in my head.”Bakit siya nandito, hindi marunong magtagalog?”

I have seen Americans, who lived in RP, who could speak Tagalog well, but let them try writing in Tagalog and we’ll see how far they could go. I know it’s funny but wait, let’s look at how we fare.

       The truth is neither we know Tagalog that well. We had Tagalog subject limited to reading “Ibong Adarna” and “Florante at Laura’. We were not required to write an essay or composition in Tagalog. In English subject, we had to, but had no instructions on how.The assignment was given and, pronto, submit it before bell time. I was squirming in my seat, not knowing what to write. It was torture. It’s almost like teaching a kid how to swim by forcibly throwing him in the river. As you know,  we all have instincts for survival and so we had to learn our way, right or wrong, as long as we float for dear life.

         So now you know, we get by, myself included, somehow struggling in our sentence structures, tenses which we all mixed up. There is hope, which I tried to do in the past year, to just write with abandon on just about anything. I racked my brain to unlock memories seared in my consciousness at a time when my world was so uncertain. There were things I should have left unwritten; nevertheless, they served as a feedback on what I

should stay away from. There were many errors in my writing I saw that I tried not to repeat. I now scrutinize everything,  but I know there will always be errors. Not necessarily useless,  for unless seen in print, I will never see them.

         Fortunately, we have a forgiving group; we are not experts. In college, we had very little time to write and we understand each others’ difficulties. Now it is the volume of writing that matters.  The content is secondary and, if that matters to anyone, well and good but that should not be the goal. Writing itself is the end point and, hopefully, with time,  we get better. Wherever you live, whether in RP or US, please drop us a line or two.

Lolo will be happy.

Jose Leoncio

A LIFE PLAN BY JOE D. LEONCIO

What was it like during the student days? The day to day activities were studying, taking test after tests. Going home was more of studying and an occasional breaks for movies parties, fiestas, pool tables and back to the province looking for high school classmates. Dating was for the lucky few and even then, that was done clandestinely. People looked and talked and parents worried. Worry was minimal in our life then. What to wear and where to have pants sewn was important, on to Manlapat or Manlapaz tailors, not Mccomber.A Tancho tique for the hair and some money for the pool table,that was good enough. For food, tuyo, tsitsaron,sardinas and boiled corn was our fast food. I can only speak for some of the men. As for the ladies, I did not know what they liked. A hairdo fad, Jackie O or Susan Plashette look, head bands, dangling earrings and short skirts? I’m guessing; they were in that other world across.

We were closed to finishing school and on what was next, we cared little. The US, a world largely unknown was in the subconscious and for many, it just happened like a natural course of events. A life plan? Who cared? Who went where and what hospital in RP they went, did not matter. Everyone for himself It did not really matter where we found ourselves.For the most part we all lost connections as a class, splintered into small tribes. Some who became Residents in the University were the lucky ones For the rest, it was a life of drudgery, enslaved as doing H& Ps, starting IVs, inserting Foleys. The nights were no fun but came daytime, life was not so bad.  Remember HB in RP? Those were the sweet little pleasures of anticipation. The drug Rep. was Santa Claus.

We turned the page and we were Interns in the USA. A signed contract was all we needed; it did not matter where or how much was the stipend This, we thought, was everything we wanted, not knowing there were other things in life we needed to know, like– some plans. This country was the marketplace of all life survival plans. Foremost of these was the Insurance business selling their wares: Life insurance, Disability, Health, Malpractice, Long term care, Cancer and Diabetes insurance, Car, Homeowners, Renters, Business. Then there were the Retirement Plans: Self-employment, 401k, Annuities. Most of these cost money and we grudgingly put up with those we absolutely needed.

There was one thing we in the US or, American citizens, have in common, and that was the Social Security we are qualified to collect now or soon now being of age.Yeah, a time to reap. It’s payback time from Uncle Sam. To all who anticipate getting Social Security checks this year or next, you might want to read the New York Times Magazine last weekend. In it, the author recommends that, if one is healthy and has enough to get by till age 70,waiting might be a wiser option. One would then anticipate an additional 1/3 increase in the check amount. If one is still working and plans to stay that long, this might be of interest to you. If one takes that option and live a long time, the ladies probably will, then one may come out ahead. The alternative will be left to the imagination. I’m sorry but, at this age, no doubt, life span becomes part of the equation for mathematical calculation. The older generation  calls this predicament as, someone is in a jam or “Catch 22.”

The kids think of situations like this very lightly, being that they have yet to experience the complexities of life. Never mind telling them about it, but if you do, please expect no commiseration except for a short quip “that sucks”. Would they stay for dinner? No, sorry, they have plans and they go their merry way. Darn, why can’t I be young again and have my own little plans? Joe Leoncio

LOVE’S LABOR LOST  BY JOE LEONCIO

Once upon a time in RP, the year was 1970-1971, in one hospital in Manila.here is one story I like to share with you.It is a complement to a friend but I would rather, he not be identified.One should just focus on this story.It could be similar in part to your story or someone you know, a Filipino tradition of how men court the women they love.

Joaquin was a physician ahead of us by a few years. He liked Surgery but there were only few slots at the medical school, he had to work as a house Resident in one of the hospitals in Manila.In that hospital, there were a lot of surgery to assist which suited his area of interest.The house residents did all the  H&Ps, started IVs, insert foleys and assisted in surgery. There was very little learning that took place but was a respite from the medical school where one was forced to read everyday and passed exams.

Every morning at the doctors lounge, the Residents congregated to wait for the drug rep which was usually one of the highlights of the day.The day schedule and what one does was predictable except the house call request from outside which came 2 to 3 times a week. Joaquin did all the house calls. He asked me to come with him once. We took a jeep to the sick person’s house, an old lady who had fever. She was given a shot of anti-pyretic and a prescription for aspirin and antibiotics. He was paid 50 pesos which he shared half for me.

One can only go so far in a life like this and once boredom comes in a way, what was more exciting than showing interest in a woman one gets attracted to. Joaquin fell in love with Lucy, an attractive girl who worked at the Lab. It looked like they were a good match.She was about 5 feet and 4 inches.

Joaquin was tall, nice and personable physician, socially adept, liked  by everyone.The surgeons like him as he has big arms that can pull retractors well for long operations.Joaquin hanged around the Lab a lot and fantasied about Lucy that maybe she would be the girl he would marry but at that point, they were just friends and murmuring at the hospital discouraged too much togetherness. He was much preoccupied about Lucy, it gave him reason to stay in that hospital despite the meager salary of which he liked to buy 33mm records for his stereo.

One weekend when the girl was on vacation in the province, Joaquin decided to visit her and meet her family. I wasn’t sure whether it was a surprise visit which may well be as phone service were not always available.They were from neighboring provinces. He took a bus and  reached the place by nightfall and by then it started to rain. He had to asked where she lives by asking neighbors as not all the houses had numbers. He waded through mud and gravel ,his shoes and umbrella were dripping wet when he got there.Her father by his account,warmly received him ,and as a “pasalubong”, he had a basketful of “ bangus” That much of the story, he shared with me.

Unfortunately, the relationship did not have time to mature which by curse of fate it would be rudely interrupted by this Gorilla, Uncle Sam.The girl’s visa was approved for an employment to the US. I doubt Joaquin proposed marriage He could not support a family.He could not follow for various reasons.Should he have proposed marriage anyway and let her make that decision to accept or not? If I was any wiser, I probably would have urged him to do so, knowing he liked her a lot.

If she considered, it might have been a leap into the unknown, a sense of uncertainty that would have discouraged her.There was one Filipino tradition of eloping which is usually for those impulsive ones especially when  families object to either partner.That was not the case here and it didn’t happened.

At the time the girl was to leave, he took a jeep to see her one last time at the airport. Crowds of relatives and friends stood there with her who were all excited to send her off. Joaquin could not get close,she was always talking and smiling to all who were like a cordon around her. He lost his will to get any closer and he decided he wanted to give her that time for her relatives who might not see her again for sometime.Their eyes met, he longingly waved goodbye from a distance.He went back to the hospital with a heavy heart.

I know he could managed this what he thought was a great loss.He was not prone to brooding. He had enough social connections to distract him. Besides there was work that must be done, a chore at times but a real therapy for the idle and idle he was not.He spoke to everyone, from the telephone operator to the clerks at the desks.I’m sure some of the nurses like him or the physician ladies who he always had a good talk with.

About 3 months later he  shared me a photograph of her which she sent from San Diego. She was wearing a horizontal black striped  white T shirt very well fit for sailing at the bay.She was with her  2 girlfriends and they were about to  board a small boat along with 3  Filipino men who were US Navy guys. I kidded him that one of those guy might end up marrying her, a comment meant as a joke which I regretted for following that I saw a sadness in his voice and his face.In RP, we don’t say I’m sorry, we just keep quiet and change the subject as soon as we can which I did. I would not see another photograph or letter or at least he did not share again.

There was something about coming to the US, that one has to live in that world and soon ,friends from RP seemed so far away. In terms of men and women, unless they are married, the gap widens as time passes That gap would disentangle whatever emotional attachment for someone of the opposite sex. For some it is a long goodbye till another person fill that sense of emptiness.

I have not seen Joaquin since I left.The only two times I went home, I wanted visit that hospital, but there was no parking lot. People normally get off the side road from a jeep and walked. If one has a car, it was almost impossible to park. In Manila one could get lost easily and stopping was a risk, Besides I was not sure if the people I know were still there if I came.

Some years had passed and I at times wonder whatever happened to him. Some of those nurses at the hospital then are now in the US. It’s a small world. I met some of them here and I asked about Joaquin. I was told he married one of the nurses at the hospital maybe 3 or 4 years after I left. I was not a bit surprised.

Joaquin is now a practicing Surgeon.He never left RP and stayed in that same hospital.The senior surgeons there I’m sure taught him hands-on learning.

As for the girl of his dreams, Lucy, no word about her and her whereabouts. My best bet is, like us, she stayed in America and maybe somewhere, married with , perhaps with grandchildren. She may well at times mistily remember Joaquin whose courtship was one the best of its  kind—only in RP.

Joe Leoncio

SUNSHINE IN THE BARRIO  by Pete Calope

After two typhoons following one another a few days apart, the dark stormy clouds that have been hovering above have finally cleared and now allowed the sun to shine and smile on the water lugged land in the barrio. Early in the morning, the women folks were already by the creek and wells washing the accumulated lavadas. After an hour or so, the clothes lines were heavy with festive like drying garments reminding the locals of a fiesta atmosphere or more colorfully…like prayer flags of the Himalayas, all these surrounded by verdant fields in different shades of green, ? like prayers saying “Halelluja for the rains”.

In our yard the fresh abundant green foliage sooths the eyes. I made the garden round early eagerly anticipating the growth provided by the replenishing rains. The once water-stressed plants have recovered and, in fact, have quenched the thirst more than it can handle and caused the over watered saplings of “suha” or grape fruit to bend due to over hydration.. The guapples  too that came from Max and Jun are water ladden and drooping. The zinnias from MonD are starting to bloom but bended too,. Ahh, yes, the squash are doing well too, about 5 to 6 feet long now; some are climbing the fence but most are content to stay on the grassy ground. The trails in the yard have been overwhelmed by the thick weeds and creeping vines, trying to obliterate and reclaim the strip that was once a pathway. I will send some pictures as soon as I can borrow a camera to document these all.

There is something in the air this sunny morning too;after gloomy and misty days, now we are swarmed with fluttering butterflies. I wonder where they came from. Were they able to hide safely when the rains were falling? Or  are these newly metamorphosed cocoons and chrisalis that just waited for the weather to change and broke out of their cocoons when the weather became friendly for flying? Oh before I forget, the butterflies are here because the wild trees and bushes  are blooming. After a storm there’s a golden sky, as the song goes….. I say amen to that and God bless.

IN SEARCH OF MY ROOTS by Herminia Perez Festin-Navato

Never in my life did I think that I would trace my ancestors over several generations. Never in my life did I imagine that I would have fun writing about them. The search for my roots begins in Banton, one of seven islands in the province of Romblon. Romblon is located right in the center of the Philippines. My mother, Patria Yap Perez, came to this world on January 12 in Banton. It was 1928. The United States was at the height of its prosperity. However, the following year, the stock market crashed and ushered in the Great Depression. You would not know it in Banton, one of about 7000 islands in the Philippine Archipelago which was  acquired by the  the United States after the Spanish-American war. The Great Depression did not affect the Bantoanons. Modern civilization seemed a thousand miles away in this tiny island. The Bantoanons lived in a world of their own. They received news of the outside world from vacationing relatives and friends several weeks or months after the events happened.

It is so isolated or remote that, in the old days, anyone who got seriously ill had no choice but to pray and pray and pray — not to recover but to plead that the welcome at the gates of Kingdom Come by St. Peter would not be unfavorable.

The Rocky Island

The name Banton means rock from the Visayan word ´bato.´ Banton is an island of rock. Sharp rocks dot the island. Banton’s boulders are so numerous and huge, and its terrain so rugged that there is hardly any flat land.  It is hilly with few arable fields.The island was so poor then that famine, especially during the months-long rainy typhoon season when fishing was impossible, was not uncommon, and it is so small that one can walk around it in a few stumbling hours.  Since there is very little flat land,  people are forced to live in steep hillsides. Good farmland is also scarce. Hills, which are not good for farming, cover most of the land. Forest grow all over the island like moss covering stone. Banton was dependent on nearby Mindoro for rice, its staple food. Life was harsh in Banton and people would work tirelessly to farm its little precious soil. From this harder way of life came a kinder and more tolerant attitude. Many of Romblon’s professionals come from Banton. Unfortunately, the unpromising future in Banton drove these professionals to leave and seek greener pastures elsewhere.

Mom and Dad

Miss Commonwealth of Romblon Patring, as my mother was affectionately called, grew up, under beautiful rural circumstances,  in a quiet farming and fishing community in Banton. The wives grew vegetables in their small garden plots while their husbands either went deep sea fishing or raised crops. It was the kind of village where you worked hard from dawn to dusk even if, at the end of the day, you could only bring  home a few fishes and some vegetables for dinner. Patring spent the first ten years of her life in Banton before she and her family moved to nearby Simara island where land was cheap. Her father Alfredo Perez had taken the job of municipal treasurer of Corcuera, Simara and  built the biggest house in the island. Despite the move, the hard-working habit of the Bantoanons left a lasting impact on my mother. An island girl, she cultivated a strong work ethic and had big dreams. Throughout her life, she firmly believed that hard work and perseverance brought success. Growing up with few material comforts, she believed that personal success meant success in economic terms.  I was brought up to believe in hard work, perseverance and taking advantage of every good opportunity that came my way. A strikingly beautiful woman, she was tall and slender with milky-white complexion and jet black hair. At the age of 15, my mom won the provincial Miss Commonwealth beauty contest and  Uncle Eking (Enrique Fallarme) was her prince consort.

A Bataan Death March Survivor My father (Napoleon Famadico Festin) was different. He was the product of an upper-class upbringing and Manila schools. To him, a better indicator of personal success was the contentment with which we viewed our lives. The story of my father also began in Banton. He could trace his roots to barrio Sibay in the island. Almost all of Sibay’s population is a Festin or originated from a Festin. I still have many Festin relatives living there. Many Festin’s became priests and nuns. In the 1990s, Cardinal Sin honored the Festin clan for raising many priests and nuns.A Festin uncle (Augusto) donated land to establish a major seminary in Odiongan, Tablas, another Romblon island. My family donated a church to the Archdiocese of Romblon while the clan gave land and money for a Gawad Kalinga village in Tablas. My dad signed up voluntarily to be a soldier in WWII. While hiding behind a tree, a bullet almost grazed his cheek but he survived the war unscathed. Otherwise, I won’t be here.

The Colonial Life under Spain By order of Governor General Narciso Calveria y Zaldua, the Spanish friars started baptizing the natives of Romblon on November 21, 1849, choosing their surnames from the “Catalogo de Apellidos.” Thus, everyone in Banton had a last name that began with the letter F – Fabella, Fadriquela, Fabicon, Fadrilan, Falqueza, Fajutrao, etc. (It´s a good thing we did not get a curse word from the catalog). In Spanish, ´festin´ means a small festival. Three-hundred fifty years of Spanish rule gave us our names, our religion, and influenced our music, cuisine and language. The melodious Romblon dialect, like Spanish, is a phonetic language. It is pronounced as it is written. The Spanish catalog was also used in the neighboring island of Sibuyan, where names begin with ´R´, and the main Romblon island, where names begin with ´M.´ To learn about the Spain of 40 years ago, read Romblomanon Eddie Calderon’s article on this link. http://sanrokan.com/newsanrokan/archives/jan04/op_ed_spanish3_calderon.htm. Elderly folks in Romblon still remember the legend of Ulo Aweng, my great-great grandfather. Here is how the legend goes.

The Legend of Ulo Aweng, the Jono of Barangay Sibay Early in the 19th century, Ulo Aweng, the village philosopher, was one of those unfortunate islanders who was believed to have been taken as a slave by the Muslims. He served his masters well. Aweng certainly gained his masters’ trust and confidence for he became a constant fishing companion of the Muslims.  Aweng later was allowed to fish alone. These solo fishing expeditions gave Aweng the opportunity to escape. One night, Aweng packed his bags and sailed his masters’ outriggger boat northward. He reached an island, but, much to his dismay, he found out that it was still Muslim land. Aweng did not panic. Out of the blue sea, a big fish appeared. Aweng yelled, ´If you were sent by God, come to the shores and take me home.”  Somehow, the fish edged  to the side of  Aweng and off they swam to another island. The Spanish authorities believed Aweng’s fish story and he was brought back by boat to Banton island. Ulo Aweng was baptized and given the name Manuel Festin.

Lolo Enyong Auntie Ely Auntie Perla, Uncle Pepe

Lola Incay

The First Filipino Gobernadorcillo of Romblon Lolo Aweng, credited as our family patriarch, had 5 children, 3 sons and 2 daughters. One son, Eugenio Festin (Lolo Enyong) was my great-grandfather who moved to Odiongan around 1860 during the second wave of migration of the Bantoanons to Odiongan. The first wave occurred in 1840. He became a judge in Tablas and later gobernadorcillo of Romblon. Tough as he was to other people, he was gentle at home, almost hen-pecked by the formidable Lola Inkay. Because of the Spanish-American war in 1898, the Spanish friars left Romblon and Lolo Enyong became an Aglipayan priest to fill the void. He was also creative, concocting many herbal medicines for the people’s ailments. As a result, he acquired many large tracts of lands in Tablas. One son (Santiago) became the deputy governor of Davao. His only daughter, Felipa Festin, married to Susano Negado, NAWASA Director, became the Dean of the Philippine Normal College.

Mama Mariana Auntie Nitang Uncle Bebs

Papa Nardo

The Traditional Politician Lolo Enyong’s other son and my grandfather, Leonardo Festin (Papa Nardo or “Papa”), was the longest-serving Assemblyman (now called Congressman)  of Romblon from 1916 – 1946. A lawyer, he founded the Nacionalista party in Romblon early in his career. He started his political career when, fresh from law school, he was elected to the Municipal Board of Odiongan. Odiongan was then the seat of the Romblon government. He went on to become the President of the Municipal Board (1910-1913). Following this stint, he caught the eye of the Provincial Board of Capiz and was then appointed to the Board. At that time, Romblon was still a part of the province of Capiz. At the age of 29, while a member of the Provincial Board, he was elected representative (congressman)  of the third district of Capiz (including Romblon)  from 1916-1919. As a representative, he enacted several bills into law, among which was the Electoral Reform Law which removed Romblon from the jurisdiction of Capiz in 1917 and made it into an independent province. This is his most noteworthy achievement. He became Romblon’s first assemblyman  which lasted  thirty years. Together with the Governor of Mindoro, he transferred Sibale from the jurisdiction of  Mindoro to Romblon. In the lower House, he was elected the Majority Floor Leader and  also the Speaker of the House at one time. Following his stint in Congress, he became the Commissioner of Census.

Papa Nardo was noted for his fiery, passionate and powerful campaign speeches delivered in a booming voice that could be heard a kilometer away without a loudspeaker and drew a huge crowd.  His eloquent oratory, powerful debating skills and his  mastery of parliamentary rules and procedues earned him the status as the “Dean of the House.” My grandfather was an authoritarian figure and an honest man. When Vice President Lopez gave him a gift of P25,000, he thought it might be a bribe and returned it. He said his duty was law-making, not million-making.  There was no mistake about it.

Nanang Buric (Fainsan) and Tata Salo Famadico

The Fabon-Fainsan-Fondevilla-Famadico-Festin connection Leonardo Festin’s grandfather on the maternal side was Bruno Arcenas of Capiz. When Bruno was accused of being insolent to a Spanish friar, he decided to leave Capiz. He remembered a tiny, remote island which was not even on the map. It was quite a distance from Capiz, far from the long arm of the law. And it was sparsely populated where it would be easy to assume a new identity and start a new life. So, under the cover of darkness, he sailed away into the night, bound for Simara. Bruno Arcenas changed his name to Bruno Fabon, moved from Simara to Tablas and married a local girl. His daughter was  Francisca Fabon (Lola Incay), my great-grandmother who married Lolo Enyong, His son, Papa Nardo , married another Bantoanon native, the reclusive Mariana Fainsan Famadico of Despujols, Tablas. She was the gentle and quiet  only child of wealthy landowners, Dolores Fainsan (Nanay Buric) and Nazario Famadico (Tatay Salo). A caretaker of their vast land holdings, the well-dressed and sociable Nana Buric acted the imposing boss of Colis that she was. The father of Nana Buric was Teoderico Fainsan, an Indian deserter of the British Army which invaded and captured Manila in the early 1800s during the Seven Years’ War, “the first world-wide conflict.” Dolores had a sister Leoncia (Nanang Onsa) who married Andres  Fondevilla who belonged to the largest documented clan in the province.

The Story of Papa Dako In Madras, India, the British Army combined with the East Indies company to recruit Indian soldiers, one of whom was my great-great grandfather. They sailed from Madras to conquer Spanish Philippines. During the two-year British rule of Manila and some parts of northern Luzon, they inflicted horrible atrocities on the Spaniards and native Filipinos. My great-great grandfather could not stand these brutal acts and escaped from the British army. He found his way to Banton, far away from the seat of the British government in Vigan. Upon his arrival in Banton, he was baptized Teoderico Fainsan. He opened a big store in Banton with supplies from his frequent trips to Manila and became the richest man in town.  The town folks nicknamed him “Papa Dako” because he was tall, dark and bulky. “Dako,” in the Banton Asi dialect means tall and big.

He married Tiburcia Mapili of Romblon, Romblon, with whom he had two daughers. One daughter was my great-grandmother, Nanang Buric. An older daugher Leonza married a Fondevilla with whom she had 8 children. The Fondevilla’s originated in tiny Simara and many Fondevilla’s still live there. The word Fondevilla means “founder of the village” of Corcuera, Simara. There is now a Fondevilla shipping line, plying the route between Romblon and Manila making some Fondevilla’s wealthy. My Indian ancestry explains why  some of my relatives look like Indians.

Back to Banton,,,

Eons ago,  underwater volcanoes in the South China Sea erupted, giving rise to submerged mountain ranges. About 300,000 years ago, the sea level fell, exposing the mountain peaks, which formed the islands. The Tres Islas , which comprise Banton, Sibale and Simara,  were some of these volcanic islands.

Marble Country of the Philippines

The main island of Romblon, Romblon (the marble island), has a special place in Philippine art, architecture and industry. In the remote past, its rock was heated and molded by magma (underground lava) which rose close to the surface. The rock deformed under heat and pressure and re-crystallized to natural marble formations of different shapes and colors.  In fact, Romblon is the only place in  Southeast Asia with marble deposits of commercial value. All the islands of Romblon have marble but Romblon island has the richest deposits. European tourist ships would periodically dock in Romblon to view its scenic harbor (see picture above) and buy native marble products. Its naturally well-protected harbor is the most landlocked harbor in the Philippines. It is the seat of the Provincial Government.

The Sister Island of Boracay       The aboriginal mangyan and negrito tribes who inhabited Tablas island earlier were driven to the hills when the more advanced people from neighboring islands occupied the lowlands. Eventually, they fled to Carabao island where they are now settled as a community. Carabao island, one of the islands that make up the Romblon province, is only a half-hour boat ride from Boracay, currently the most famous international resort in the Philippines. Carabao Island is being developed by foreign nationals as the next Boracay. Carabao Island has the most beautiful beaches in Romblon, without the crowd.

Photo below of Carabao Island beach with Boracay in the background.

Sibuyan by the Sea     A small German community has sprouted in Sibuyan, the second-largest island of Romblon. They brought their own equipment from Germany and cultivated a community which has attracted many European scuba divers to the island. Snorkeling is also popular. They have their own medical clinic and airplane. Some Germans have married local women who bore brown-skinned, handsome children. Slowly, they have infiltrated Romblon politics and someday may become a political force in the province. My Ruga ancestors come from Sibuyan. Sibuyan is noted for its difficult-to-climb Mt.Guiting-Guiting mountain (see picture above).

The Tree island

Tablas is the largest of Romblon’s major islands. The word Tablas is derived from “tabla” which means a large plank of wood. Fine beaches and inlets abound in Tablas. It is also blessed with beautiful waterfalls and exotic coral reefs. With rolling hills thick with coconut trees, it has a good covering of natural forest.The Romblon State University and the airport are located in Tablas. Odiongan, the main town of Tablas, is the richest town in Romblon. Since it is the economic fiber of Romblon, my Festin and Famadico ancestors settled there. I saw my Famadico relatives only a couple of times in my life. As a result, there was no bonding between us and to date, I have no contact with them. A Romblomanon priest, Fr. Famadico, is probably my relative.

Photo of the Aglicay beach in Alcantara, Tablas

The Greatest Naval Battle in World History The Battle of the Sibuyan Sea went down in history as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, naval battles in WWII. The Battle of Sibuyan Sea was the opening act and a turning point in the famous Battle of the Leyte Gulf, the greatest naval battle in the world. The Battle of Leyte Gulf was a massive, four-pronged Japanese attack involving the Sibuyan Sea, the Surigao Strait, the Leyte Gulf and the Alaska Strait. The total number of warships involved was the largest in naval history. It involved the largest number of Japanese and American war planes, battleships, transport ships, destroyers and cruisers. It was also the first time that the Japanese used kamikaze suicide pilots to bomb the American fleet. This suicide tactic was first used when Gen. MacArthur landed in Leyte on Oct. 20, 1944, with devastating effect on the US Navy. My uncle, Professor Nestor Famatigan  PhD, covered this battle comprehensively in his book,The Great Battle of  Sibuyan Sea, and wrote that   many Romblomanons  perished in this Battle.

L-R: Papa Nardo, President Manuel Quezon, two unnamed officials on a trip to Leyte.

The main drama of the  Battle of Sibuyan Sea took place between the Main Imperial Japanese Navy and the US warplanes/bombers in the waters near the Tres Islas of Sibale, Banton, and Simara.  When the Japanese Main Armada got wind that General McArthur had landed in Leyte, they sailed to the Leyte Gulf through the Sibuyan Sea to wipe out McArthur and his small army. En route in the Sibuyan Sea, they encountered numerous Tres Islas guerillas in sailboats (baroto) armed with slingshots, stones, guns, machetes, bolos and rifles. It was David against Goliath…… and David won.  When the Japanese naval commander spotted the numerous sailboats, he ordered his ships to turn back, contrary to the Japanese spirit whose motto was “Die rather than surrender.” The flagship Musashi of the Japanese Imperial Navy with her 2,399 men on board sank in the waters of Sibuyan Sea. But why? The Romblomanons, thinking they had scared the Japanese Imperial Navy into retreating, claimed victory for the Japanese ships’ turning back. The Romblomanons still talk about their victory in the Sibuyan Sea to this day.

Up in the north, the Alaskan Japanese Armada planted a decoy and created a commotion as if to attack Leyte. So, the stronger bulk of the American Navy went after the Alaskan Japanese armada. The Alaskan Japanese Armada succeeded in luring the main American Navy force towards Alaska where several Japanese outposts were located. Japanese history books  documented that the Japanese Navy commanders could not believe that the Japanese decoy plan actually worked and mistakenly assumed that many American battleships still remained in the Leyte Gulf. They feared that the Japanese Navy in the Sibuyan Sea were outnumbered and were no match to the (actually outgunned) American battleships. My suspicion is that they also thought that their Japanese reinforcements in the Surigao Strait were weak. Following the sinking of the flagship Musashi and two aircraft carriers, the Japanese Admirals wanted to preserve the Japanese warships for the defense of their homeland. The Japanese commanders did not want to go home to Tokyo with a major portion of a defeated Japanese Armada decimated. That’s why they turned back from meeting the American fleet in the Sibuyan Sea. Actually, unknown to the Japanese, the decoy plan worked 100% because it drew the stronger bulk of the American warships towards Alaska away from Leyte, leaving a very weak defense for McArthur. So the landing of McArthur in Leyte went without a hitch and changed the course of world history. After McArthur occupied Leyte, Japanese use of the Pacific Ocean to carry their reinforcements, supplies and resources was blunted. The American soldiers could now launch attacks on Japan from the the Philippines. That was a miracle whether somebody else prayed for it or not.

Auntie Nen

Uncle Malvs

Before this, the American experience in fighting the Japanese made them in awe of Japanese disregard for their own lives in battle. But the Japanese Admiral in the Sibuyan Sea acted out of character. He turned back even before he could reach the Leyte Gulf where McArthur’s landing was in progress.

Another drama had unfolded in the hills of Tablas where guerrillas and townspeople were watching the Japanese ships ply the Sibuyan Sea. Also watching was the Americans’ secret weapon, a radio operator who supplied the Americans minute-by-minute account of  the movement of the Japanese warships in the Sibuyan Sea. It is possible that the American commanders didn’t know that a huge Japanese Armada was on its way to Leyte slipping quietly through the back ways of the Sibuyan sea and that was crucial informationn. As documented in history books, the Americans would not have won the Battle of the Sibuyan sea without a certain guerilla radio operator. None can match the sheer spirit, courage and cunning of that radio operator who was my father’s brother,  Malvar Festin, a guerrilla communications engineer stationed in the Southern Tagalog provinces.

The beautiful Auntie Nen had to smear her face with mud so as not to attract the attention of the Japanese soldiers who often visited them, desperately hunting for Uncle Malvs who had escaped to Mindoro. Already, some residents in a sitio in Despujols, when they were identified as those who hosted Uncle Malvs one night, were massacred. They put to death the residents of an entire sitio  whom they believed were hiding Uncle Malvs. The entire Festin family was taken hostage for several days. They were released when the Japanese were convinced that they were telling the truth and that they were really ignorant of their brother’s whereabouts.  The Romblomanons  would flee to the mountains when they hear of the coming of the Japanese , or the  American soldiers too, even if they were just passing through. They were afraid that their women would be raped or their men recruited for hard labor. And, surprisingly,  the Japanese soldiers would not follow them to the mountains for fear they would be shot by snipers.

The Filipinos would obey the Japanese  quickly; otherwise they would be slapped repeatedly, or worse. They also saw the Japanese officers do this to their own for the sake of discipline. When the Japanese soldiers occupied a town, the American soldiers would come and pulverize their defense structures and the Japanese would retreat. Uncle Maning, who was a doctor, treated Japanese and American soldiers from the camps or houses they occupied with low rent. Some of them had a high level of education and, at that level, some Filipinos became friends with them. How could we kill them?

The Oldest Burial Cloth in Southeast Asia

The majestic island of Banton rises above the shimmering waters of the Sibuyan Sea, still largely unspoiled. It is an island of dramatic beauty, surrounded by exotic, lace-like coral reefs and white powdery beaches. Coconut trees are everywhere. I used to sit on a rock in the beach and gaze into the horizon, admiring God’s handiwork. I could feel like I was on the edge of the world. Sometimes, I can hear the island calling me in my dreams. One of its artifacts is a boat coffin with a well-preserved mummy and a pre-historic burial cloth. The 12th or 13th century burial cloth is reportedly the oldest in Southeast Asia. (see photo below).  I would like to visit the Guyangan cave where this burial cloth was found.This is where my journey in search of my roots begins. This is my ancestral home.

Credit for my ancestral photos goes to my cousin, Manoling Festin-Martinez, the youngest delegate to the Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) and former Press undersecretary.

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The Mariano's

OUR HOMETOWN, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK BY TED MARIANO

  Rochester has been our home since 1973. After a brief stint in Meriden, Connecticut and Boston, we moved to this city in uptate New York. When I told my colleagues in Boston, their only comment was that is snowy in Rochestser and very cold. We were sad to leave Boston, a place we enjoyed very much. They were right about the weather. But my friends failed to mention that the city is home to a few of the biggest comopanies in the world. Kodak, Xerox, Bausch and Lomb, Taylor Instruments, Ritter, Castle Company and many other high tech small companies. There were many things we learned about the city after we got here. University of Rochester, Rochester Institute of Technology, Eastman School of Music are the three main higher institutions of learning. Strong Memorial Hospital is a world-class medical center with extensive medical research facility.

There are more attributes to the city. Recent ranking by MSN Real Estate and the Sperling’s Best Places puts Rochester number one in the country’s most lovable metropolitan area. They cited the region’s “big city culture, highly educated population, picturesque scenery, affordable housing, high tech job base, relataively low unemployment and short commute time.” It has one of the best public school systems. It is a medium-sized city with big city offerings. It is a good place to raise a family, we found out.

Kodak, in many ways, have touched our lives. We took pictures with its cameras and films. We have recorded memorable pictures on film, both black and white and colored. Kodak was called “the big yellow giant.” George Eastmen did not invent photography but found a way to mass produce and make them available to the masses. Xerography was invented here. It started as Haloid Corporation. Its name changed to Xerox after inventing the dry copying method. It became a household name like Kodak. “Mag Kodakan tayo.” Remember the microscopes we used in the laboratory? Made in Rochester by Baush and Lomb. Rayban glasses? Or the contact lenses you are wearing? Two of my examining tables are made by Ritter. Craftsmanship is excellent and they are still working decades later.

Things have changed though. Taylor Instruments, maker of the thermometer and sphygmomanometer, is gone. Ritter company, make of OR lights and sterilizations, this company no longer exists. They were bought out by other companies. Kodak is not the same company. They had 66,000 employees in Rochester in the 80’s. Currently, it is about 6000, a casualty of changing technology and lack of foresight. They invented digital photography but this was not developed. According to one of my patients, a retired Kodak employee, they had the capability of storing data in tetrabytes back int eh 80’s. They decided not to pursue it because they were making so much money in film. Xerox is holding its own. Bausch and Lomb sold their sunglasses division, stopped making micorsopes and binoculars. They continue to make  contact lenses and eye care products.

Today, Rochester remains economically stable due to the many, small high-tech companies. Pay Chex, the biggest payroll service in the USA, was established in Rochester and its headquarters remain in Rochester. By Ted Mariano.

On Work

                           orlando gustilo | 

Image via Wikipedia

Back to back programs on public TV last night (Ape Genius, How Smart Are Animals) featured studies on animal intelligence suggesting that the animals studied had abilities that lay at the heart of what we think of a “culture” among human beings e.g. communal rituals, memories, technology, etc. I’ll set aside thoughts about culture for future examination and today concentrate on what I consider a feature of human intelligence, purposefulness of activity, a feature of what ordinarily we call “work.” Work or contributing to the Gross Domestic Product of the country is such an integral part of being a member of society that we often don’t tease it out for specific (i.e. species-focused) examination. Everyone simply assumes that as long as you’re able (unless you “retired”), you have to work unless there is something wrong with you—you’re disabled or, worse, lazy or a “burden on society.” As a social construct, work is any activity involving physical or mental effort (maybe even spiritual effort although here we enter into theoretical controversy depending on our understanding of spirit and spirituality) to achieve a purpose or result. Effort is part of its definition along with purposefulness. In normal usage (by which I mean thoughtless, unmindful or conventional usage), effort is struggle. It denotes what in Buddhism is called dukkha, suffering. It does not come easily, as, for instance, thoughtless, unmindful or conventional thinking or activity. Effort implies attention and the focusing of energies whether physical or mental in deliberate or intentional awareness resulting in action. Culture is often created with the same deliberateness and effort although in modern times and in the so-called industrialized countries, with the overwhelming choices around us, poorly examined or intentioned contributions to culture are increasingly the norm. Someone initiates an action or idea and with the 100th monkey it enters into the lexicon of general culture and everybody takes it for granted i.e. automatically includes it in any unmindful iteration of commonplace phenomenon (i.e. the norm). I often conceptualize work employing the definition of mechanical work in physics (the study of physical energy and matter). work is the distance (and direction) that energy travels. More accurately, work is the distance (and direction, which is purpose or intent) created by energy focused and utilized to create it. To me therefore work involves space, energy, time (the occasion of applying energy and the succeeding occasions that display the resul) and consciousness (both awareness and intent). Stated this way, work equals being alive. To be alive is to labor, as suggested in Bereshit, the first and pivotal book of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis 3:17-19):

• Because you listened to your wife and ate of the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’
• Curse be the ground because of you.
• By toil shall you eat of it all the days of your life.
• Thorns and thistles shall it sprout for you
• And your food shall be the grasses of the field.
• By the sweat of your brow shall you get bread to eat
• Until you return to the ground—for from it you were taken;
• For dust you are and to dust you shall return.

According to Divine Revelation in the Jewish tradition, to work is inherent in being human. From this derives the metaphor of man and woman coming from the dust of the earth, the earth cursed by its Creator (Father) that they must cultivate it with the sweat of their brows to bring forth what the need to nourish and sustain life. Life is hard because to live means to labor to sustain it. YHWH, of course, didn’t content with human ingenuity. Maybe Adam and Eve ate not of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil but of the Tree of Knowledge period. Maybe knowledge has no inherent morality or being good or evil, morality created as Buddhists believe, in the motivation for its use or the activity it inspires. The Creator didn’t anticipate (so much for omniscience forward into finite time) that humans would discover agriculture and, even more powerfully arguing against their eternal dependence on YHWH, husbandry for humans learned they could get more highly concentrated “energy-for-life” by eating the flesh or synthesized products of other animals. Animals process life source into denser forms of energy, not through the primary action of the sun and other celestial lights that YHWH created but through the “learned” secondary action of life itself—biochemical reactions—and someday we we may even be able to create energy from submolecular activity since we learned to split the atom and access energy like to that of the sun! Already in the West we are redefining work. Some may wish for manufacturing work to return to North America but it is more likely that increasingly the work we shall be doing in industrialized countries will be through mental effort. Land was “real” property when manual labor was the norm. Now intellectual property is the source of Western wealth and power. No matter. Work is still intentional i.e. directed or focused energy or effort resulting in the desired result. (Desire is a whole new field of inquiry which must wait for another day.) If it were just effort or suffering, we would not be so inclined (some of us even “addicted”) but there’s a silver lining to work. Through work we get rewards, again of two kinds (three if we invoke spiritual work): material or psychic reward (which latter falls into the same realm as desire, of which as I wrote I shall later explore). Christian monasticism (largely absent in the Muslim and Jewish religious traditions) prescribed manual labor as part of the monk’s day. There is good reason for this. Physically moving the body is itself work but work that activates the body’s capacity to use energy. If this is confusing, it is confusing because we rationally divide a seamless reality into categories like matter, energy, spirit. But in our conventional world we live conventional lives i.e. lives according to conventions. Language itself is convention so I have to be satisfied with what language can achieve, itself a kind of work, but here work of delight!

On Publishing

by orlando gustilo My goal for my literary and graphic output is to make them public. Only by mass distribution can I market to a large enough viewership to find those few who’ll like them enough to either pay me to own the work or commission similar work they can specify from what they’ve seen. Obviously there are works I may not believe good enough for viewing by Joe or Jane Q. Public, especially if marketing is my goal i.e. to acquire paying customers. I don’t want potential customers to see something that doesn’t pass my quality standard. There is more than enough mediocre work floating out there. Publishing his or her work, the creator risks that others won’t like what he or she has created. Critics, someone once wrote, are frustrated artists. Their is not the skill of the creator; their skill is criticism. They are a necessary element in the world of creativity. We need the varied aspects of the enterprise, even those seemingly opposites or even adversarial. We need critics to fan the flames of interest to attract more viewers but their presence is not for the faint of heart. It requires guts to enter the marketplace. How do we find the guts to take “the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune?” Shakespeare too must have known the risks to pen these lines for Hamlet, surely the original ambivalent fellow:

• “To be or not to be: that is the question;
• Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
• The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
• Or take arms against a sea of troubles,
• And by opposing end them? To die; to sleep;
• No more; and by a sleep to say we end
• The heartache and the thousand natural shocks
• That flesh is heir to, ’tis a consummation
• Devoutly to be wished.

We make the best product we can then send it on its way. It’s like anything else we decide to do in life. Survey the landscape, aim our arrow and let it fly. Wherever it lands we have the chance (and oh, it’s an enviable gift!) of picking it up again to resend it on its way. We don’t always hit the mark but experience may show that where the arrow does land is often better than where it was originally intended to lodge. Biographies of great and successful producers of art and literature, philosophies or inventions abound in anecdotes of how they shilly-shallied within themselves sometimes for years before deciding their work was “good enough” to take the onslaught of public criticism. Good enough and they can be sent out into the world to face those foreign armies with their slings and arrows but where is that point and can we be sure we’re there? Anything we create is always perfectible but only God, if one believed in such an incredible entity, makes perfect things because She is perfection itself. An artist has to decide sooner or later to let her prodigy out into the world, ever fearful and gut held in, fearful that the child is no match for that onslaught of outrageous fortune. Do we protect them from hurt and keep them at home until they’re themselves grandparents of protected offspring or, worse, dead like a fearful Hamlet? No, we send our children into the fray and more often than not they’re fine. The conflict may not even occur or if it does the child proves master of the worst scenario we can imagine and write. How else to experience success if we don’t try? To create for public consumption is to adulterate our genius (from Latin gignere, to beget) with a skill few if any possess—divining what others like or want. For me this is the true essence and strength of capitalism. It’s when we mix in something from outside us that it takes life beyond our private (from Latin privatus, withdrawn from public life) means to create. It’s a mixed blessing but adulteration is at the heart of creating art. Who was it said that the greatest artist or writer was he who plagiarized from the most sources? Picasso himself said, “To copy others is necessary, but to copy oneself is pathetic.” Exposing our work to potentially hostile onslaught is the final polish we put on a gemstone, the friction this begets rubbing and rubbing it until it shines.

HEALTHY FRUITFUL EATING

Easy Summer Fruit Sherbet

Making sure we eat plenty of fruits should be part of our nutritional plan for healthy living. Using the ubiquitous kitchen blender for making healthful shakes for breakfast or snacking is one easy way to do this. I recently junked my old Cuisinart blender and bought an updated model that also doubles as a food processor. I’ve put away my 30-year old Cuisinart food processor and saved precious counter space, one gadget taking the place of two. Having a blender again has been sheer delight. Summer, of course, is great for blending fruit drinks. And you can just about put anything into your blender shake. Since I don’t have an ice-maker, I use frozen chunks of banana that I keep in freezer bags. Whenever my banana supply starts turning brown, they get sliced into blend able pieces and stored in the freezer. I could do the same thing with any fruit. This eliminates the need for ice cubes and the result is more concentrated flavor! I concocted this morning’s after-the-gym breakfast from frozen banana, fresh, ripe peach, cooked Irish-cut oatmeal, whey protein, orange juice, goat’s milk yogurt, and whole cow’s milk. The result is fantabulous! And I had surplus I poured into a jar for snacking the rest of the day. Frequent small meals is another way that nutritional experts say enables the body to better utilize food and avoid glycemic peaks that lead to obesity and diabetes mellitus. I should know this, coming as I do with a strong family history of the latter. But consciousness about health is surely just one consideration when designing our lives. Physical health is the foundation for happiness but it’s like the sponge cake in a torte. We add layers of it and in between sandwich smaller quantities of pleasure, challenge, confidence, productivity, creativity, friends, family;  the blender result is more likely to create that happiness we seek.

As the sun blasts us and the earth in July and August, we can still take comfort in the abundance of fruits and vegetables burgeoning from the fertile earth. What to do with this bonanza while trying to stay cool? Think fruit sherbets! The old way if you don’t have an ice cream maker is to blend the mix, freeze in an ice cube tray, stir every 15 minutes while the mixture solidifies until you have a smooth frozen concoction. My way is easier. Freeze chunks of fruit, process quickly in the blender and voila! Sherbet that satisfies the sweet tooth while keeping your fat and cholesterol intake low. Here’s the recipe for blackberry peach sherbet: For two huge servings, take 1 C. of frozen banana,1 C. fresh chilled ripe peach, 1/2 C. frozen blackberries, 1/4 C. each orange juice and whole milk, 2 Tb. whey protein powder and a basil or mint sprig for garnish. I use Bally’s Performance Whey Protein that is sweetened with Splenda but you can use any good quality whey protein and skip the sweetener or add a little demerara cane sugar or honey. Pulse in the blender and serve!

BOOK REVIEW: THE HELP BY KATHRYN STOCKETT BY EVELYN AUSTRIA  For those interested in participating in the book club, our selection for the month is “THE HELP” BY KATHRYN STOCKETT.

 I just barely turned the end page and will start the conversation rolling, I hope. This fictionalized story of black women during the Martin Luther King/John Kennedy era was set in the center of the racial ugliness, Mississippi (Yikes, did I spell that right?). Inventively written with strong hints that it may not be just fiction. The women worked as maids for affluent white families and are befriended by a young white woman determined to become a journalist. They collaborate and weave stories from the maid’s point of view. Of the 3 characters, I found Minni fascinating……tough, sassy, a creature with immense potential. Miss Hilly was my poor second choice but her characterization is portrayed as so mean spirited, there is no saving grace in her. Many times during the reading (took weeks to finish as too many other distractions at home). I stopped and thought about how maids were treated back home. I believed we were kind and gracious, but really, for me, they sort of disappeared in the kitchen, were poorly recognized and most often remembered for “bad events.”  Was this your memory of them too? I had a yaya but only for a short while as a child and I don’t remember her at all. How very sad to be so beholden to someone and not even know her name. I enjoyed the book at lot. Thanks for the suggestion of Cherie Co-Barnett. Comments? Evelyn

Book Review: The Help

The Help is the first novel written by Kathryn Stockett. Published in 2009, the setting is Jackson, Mississippi in the early 60’s. As Aibileen remarked, “when the civil rights movement was like a pot of boiling water.” Ms. Stockett lived in Jackson until the age of 24. Then, she moved to New York city where she wrote the book. The book, I feel, is a love story, inspired by her love and pride for her birthplace, Jackson Mississippi and her love for her nanny, Demetric. She wrote the book as an attempt to know and understand fully the person of Demetric, whose love left a lasting influence on the author. Many African American women helped raise white children in those days. When one is loved, one cannot but love in return. This is demonstrated by Ms. Skeeter and Constantine, Mae Mobley and Aibileen, Minny and Miss Celia and Mr. Johnny.  And others in the book. That love is unconventional, transcends skin color, social status and the prevailing prejudice that existed in those times. Prejudice that exists today.

The book helps us understand people, humanity, love, courage. It is not a religious book in any shape or form. But as the story unfolded, one cannot but think of Christ and His teachings on love. Aibileen, Miss Skeeter and others embraced His teachings on love. In contrast, one is dismayed by the antithetical emotions held by many at that time. But then, hatred, injustice, indifference, guilessness exist today.

The story is narrated by the three main characters.  Miss Skeeter and others took turns telling the story from their own perspectives. It is quite interesting and delightful with differences in personaly and style. There are 34 chapters. Aibileen opens the story in Chapter 1 and closes the story in Chapter 34. They talked about their day to day life and how the women of different color and status worked together courageously to effect much needed change. Int he last chapter, we find Aibileen walking away thinking “Maybe I ain’t too old to start over and I laugh and cry at the same time at this.” The mean Miss Hilly accused her unjustly of being a thief.

Included in the book is a short essay by the author, “Too Little, too Late.” She explains the point of the book and I quote “What is the point of the  book? For women to realize we are just two people .Not much separates us.  Not nearly as much as I’d thought.” It is one line in the book she truly prized, she said. At the end of the book is a reader’s guide iwth discussion questions for book clubs. It is well-written, easy reading, exciting, touching. It seems that, as a nation, we have come a long way from black and white buses, schools, toilets, And we are all grateful for that. But then again, is it still “too little, too late” in one form or the other, at present? Enjoy! The movie is great also.

Ted and Lynne Mariano

Ed. note: This film is currently showing in theaters.

TRAVEL

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN TRIP BY RAMON AND MINDA DOMINGO 9/13 – 9/16 2006September 13, 2006 It was a sunny, pleasant day when my wife , Minda, and I left Midland, Texas flying about 1-1/2 hours by Continental Express to Houston to catch the Air France plane to Paris, Charles De Gaulle (CDG) airport, then to Barcelona, Spain. Our Indonesian friend, Linda Nagy, drove us to the airport with 4 luggage and 3 carry-on with one filled with my usual accoutrement of books, magazines, maps and my books in French, Spanish and Italian as well.I was quite excited having now the chance and opportunity to finally see this center of western civilization; that part of Europe which the Romans used to call the “Mare Nostrum” or Our Sea. The Cote d’Azur or French Riviera, Rome, the seat of Catholicism since Sts. Peter’s time. Anticipating a wonderful time in my life, I was extremely excited but with some trepidation in speaking once more in Spanish or French. I believe my Spanish will be okay. I had only yesterday made reservation for an 8:15pm Flamenco Show, sin comida and when they did not send the confirmation, had to call Barcelona by phone. Had no difficulty in communicating with them in Spanish about my predicament…Somehow, 9/11/06 was a National Holiday.We arrived at the Bush International Airport, Houston and proceeded to go to Terminal D- on the Shuttle train. Left Houston  about 4:10pm and arriving Paris, CDG at 8:45 am the following day, Thursday. My watch still had Manila time which I had not corrected since arrival to the US, end of August. It was getting to be confusing for me. Tried to speak to the air stewardess “Je suis en vacances et Je voudrais parler et pratiquer mon petit francaise  a vec vous.” My seatmate on the right was from San Diego and was flying to Paris to Istanbul whereupon she would taking a 2-month cruise through the Black Sea, Straits of Bosphorus, Sea of Marmara and Dardanelles Straits then visiting the Greek isles, Marrakesh in Morocco, Gabon, the Cameroon in Africa, South Africa and ending in Brazil after crossing the Atlantic Ocean.  It sounded very exciting and interesting. The Air France flight was a little disappointing. I was hoping we would be offered pate de Foie Gras or at least have Escargot but none was offered. I did drink some champagne. However, the food was so-so but written in French.We approached Paris by air and at outskirts of Paris,  saw the usual geometric designs of arable fields with houses made with “toit rouges” or red roofs, presumably, red tiles. The new airport at Charles de Gaulle looked spectacular in Crystal Glass like the I.M. Pei’s Pyramide, the entrance to the Louvre in Paris. The “Correspondence” was chaotic. We had to descend down to a bus and be transported to the plane at the tarmac at a distance. I am not so sure whether the aeroport was really that impressive but I suppose being in Paris even though I was just at the airport was a thrill for me. The flight from Paris to Barcelona was better. However, outside, the ambience at 10am was one of a gray and dreary day, similar to the time when we flew to Paris 2 years earlier on an autumn day. The Air France Airbus was spacious and airy. My wife, Minda, was by the window and next to me was a young man of 25 or so with his wife and a young infant son across the aisle. They were from Brazil and only spoke Portuguese. I only spoke a smattering of Portuguese, and it was frustrating to carry on a conversation, though attempting to do so in Spanish. BARCELONA   : September 14 – 16, 2006Barcelona is a great and fun City along the Mediterranean. We arrived at the “el Prat de Llobregat” airport about 12 noon or so, flying from Paris. The City was wet with puddles of water along the landing field and depressed area. At the airport, and for a moment, we saw unrecognizable signs written in a strange and alien language above the obvious Spanish ones below it but realizing quickly that I was in the land of separatist Catalunya. I quickly changed my vouchers for the Barcelona Cards and also the Turistic Cards at the airport.  We decided to take the taxi to center Barcelona rather than taking the bus or train. It would have been a sight lugging and pulling those many “maletas.” I immediately started talking to the taxi driver in Spanish. In his Castillian lisp and inflections, he responded that it had been raining since Tuesday and only started clearing up Thursday, the day of our arrival. I tried to imbibe and relish the city as it presented itself to this traveler. The trees were lined by “planteros” tress along the boulevard. They reminded me of the Marroneriers lining the boulevards of Paris.Finally, we arrived at out B and B place at 11 Ronda Universitat near the Plaza de Catalunya. This was the very first time we ever tried a B and B place but which actually tuned out to be a hostel place. I was shocked when I saw the old antiquated elevator that could barely fit anything and which I had to take with two maletas to the 4th floor and leaving my wife below. The Hostel was closed for lunch. I had told Thomas, the proprietor that I would perhaps be arriving in Barcelona by 1 pm and here we were and he was out for lunch at 2:30pm. I was shocked not only because of the antiquated elevators which we are not accustomed to in the US but because we were tired and needed to rest. Fortunately, an English speaking couple from Germany opened the hostel and let us in. So far, I was disappointed by the whole series of events and was in remorse by my attempt to have an adventuresome stay in Barcelona and with everything seemingly a mess for my poor wife and myself.  However, Thomas told us that we were not staying at this location but at another one and brought us to the 25 Ronda Universitat where we had a large suite with a balcony overlooking the Ronda Universitat with wooden floor and refrigerator, good private bath/toilet for ourselves and very close to the Metro at the Plaza de Catalunya and the Ramblas. I was pleased with the accommodation.The main Plaza in Barcelona would be the Plaza de Catalunya. The Rambals which is a famous pedestrian boulevard, lined by the trees. Planteros extend from the Columbus monument at the Port area and runs diagonally to the Plaza de Catalunya and then proceeding on a northwardly direction. Ramblas is an Arabic word, Remla, which means sandy riverbed. They had transformed it into a wide pedestrian boulevard for promenade. It is the most famous of boulevards in Barcelona similar to Champs Ellysees in Paris or Fifth Avenue in New York but pedestrian friendly and teeming with people, restaurants, tapa bars,  lining the outer edges of the boulevard and stores including pet stores, birds etc lining the inner course of the Ramblas. There were two metro stops – the Dressenes and the Liceu along the Ramblas going towards the Columbus monument. My wife and I had both Barcelona Card and the Turistic Card which allowed us to use the tourist buses to see the interesting spots and with the Barcelona Card being able to move around Barcelona the faster way with the Metro. Time was valuable in this short trip to Barcelona. After settling ourselves at our hostel, we took a leisurely walk along the Ramblas with the idea of going to the Boqueria de St. Joseph for a late lunch. The Boqueria was just like it was pictured  on the guide books. There was an entrance arch of wrought iron with intricate designs, a jamon/sausage stall on the right and fruit stands or stall with heaps of colorful fruits of all kinds and sorts. After we quickly glanced through the market and including the Tapas Bar on the right, we decided to have our late lunch but at 3:45, the tapas bars were closing down by 4 pm. Fortunately, we espied one which was still open. This was our first visit to Spain or Barcelona at that. I was too excited and, like a child in a candy store, ordered as much Tapas and delicacies I could order, ranging from sardines, bacalao or cod fish to gambas, cuttle fish or squid cooked tempura style, fiedeos, patatas bravas, amba tomate and including the San Miguel Beer which originally came from Manila.After the meal which we relished immensely and excited by being in this exotic place with a foreign tongue, we then strolled through the Boqueria. It was an exceptional market similar to the one in the Grandville island market in Vancouver or the Quincy Market in Boston.  I have not seen one as spectacular a sight as this one with countless stalls with heaps and piles of fruits of various hues; a vision to behold and enjoy . we bought some fruits which included a carton box of cherries, a whole box of extremely large purple figs, grapes, the sweetest I have ever eaten which the lady told me in Spanish as being “Italian Muscatel.”  Though I must confess the ones in Paris were also sweet and noticeably  aromatic and fragrant. I went over and spoke with two hombres selling jamon serranos and cured meat and chorizos just inside the entrance to the Boqueria and asked them whether they had “chorizos de Bilbao” explaining that I was a Filipino. The man responded and saying “that all Filipinos have asked him whether he had any chorizos de bilbao. He then said “El chorizo de bilbao no existe and there was no such thing. I then told him that as a child, I had seen them with my own eyes in large red and gilded cans like a half gallon ice cream containers filled with lard and chorizos and until now were real.After the late lunch, Min and I, as planned,  took the South Trip (red), which for us commenced at the Plaza de Catalunya on the Turistic Bus and passing though the Casa Batlo, Plaza de Espanya, Montjuic Park, We got off the Port Vell area, near the Columbus monument.We continued on with a promenade along the Ramblas, joining the throng on this wide pedestrian thoroughfare lined with countless stores, stalls or booths, shops along this tree-lined boulevard. It is probably more than a kilometer from the Columbus statue to the Plaza de Catalunya. Live human statues, powdered and gilded or bronzed on pedestals lined areas of that Boulevard between Dresenes and Liceu exits and for a Euro or so would pose for a photo with you; people on stilts; musicians performing and playing their instruments or some teenagers troupe doing gymnastic gyrations. Barcelona to me is a vibrant, exciting and memorable city. It was as exciting as an Easter Parade on Fifth Avenue. I was able to get tickets to the “Tablao de Cordobes” flamenco show for 8:15 pm on our day of arrival through the Internet. It was entertaining but with the glass of wine and the evening getting late,  I was getting sleepy despite the “Zapatiadas.” Took the Metro from “Liceu” to the Pl. de Catalunya after getting some baguettes with jamon Serrano, pastries and a few cans of San Miguel beer. I found it incredible buying these jamon serranos from a man who looked like an Arab, selling pork products. He must not have been a devout moslem or was just a hired help manning the store. We took the Metro. Like in New York, I just grabbed one of those long poles rather than look for a seat. A man and a woman was holding on to the same pole. As the Metro was reaching the next exit, I felt and senses somebody almost toying with the lassoed end of the strap around my neck which held my secret security pocket containing my document and money tucked into the recesses of my trousers. I quickly turned around and am quite sure that I heard her say “sorry” as she quickly exited out of the train.FRIDAY – 15th of September, 2006Woke up a little late and ate some of the baguette with jamon Serrano and the fruits. Min and I took the Metro to the Sagrada Familia. A Filipina in the train told us that there were 18,000 Filipinos in Barcelona and that it was a pity we could not meet them. Had a quick breakfast again with café and pastries and with Min having chocolate. The word “gaudy,” my daughter tells me is derived from “Gaudi,” the architect and developer of the Sagrada Familia. He was a fervent Catholic and a Catalan loyalist. His art to me, like a Modernistes, appeared fantastic, imaginative and playful. Who could imagine such towering spires adorned with Venetian globules or globes sesemingly like a sprig of oranges or grapes or fruits on top these towers. Who could imagine such towering columns quadrifurcating like tree trunk? We joined the crowd to take the elevator to the top and viewed the whole Barcelona on this clear day from Mount Montjuic to Tibidalo…MontJuic by the way means the Jewish Mountain and like the Canal Judaica or the Jewish Canal in Venice, must signify a large (financial) role played by the Jewish community in these cities. We then took the Metro to the Parallel Exit to experience the “Funnicular” whatever that was and to go up Montjuic. It was almost like a Metro train but one hugging the mountainside and climbing uphill to Montjuic. Wandered through the Miro Muserum followed by the Museo Nacional del Arte de Catalunya. The Museum was atop the Mountain overlooking the city. It was a very clear day, sunlit and bright. The view from the wide extensive frontage of this magnificent building was spectacular and fantastic. It was a perfect day or so I thought. Having learned of this fantastic restaurant with a fantastic view from the guidebooks, tried to dine at the restaurant at the top of the Muserum but, because it was already 1:30pm, was told that the tables overlooking Barcelona were already all occupied and reserved. We were then seated. We quickly had a change of hearts and I explained to the waiter in Spanish, that without the view, we would decline having lunch here with them but would go elsewhere. We then took the elevator and had lunch at the Museum’s cafeteria and ordered most of the interesting tapas or delicacies available to choose. We  then had sardines in oil with Vinaigrette, jamon Serrano, Panini with tuna and other stuff and a “torte de Naranjas” – a slice of a round big Cake washed down with sweetened expresso coffee.  After lunch, we proceeded to see the exhibits, paintings and the special Numismatic collections of the Mediterranean. Chatted in Spanish with the young curator about my interest in these areas and having studied and translating from Latin the “Campaigns of Gaul” by Julius Caesar as a high school kid and which commenced with the sentence “Omnia Gallia in Triae haec partes Divisa est” or All Gaul is divided into three parts !  I was astonished when he commented and said that “I must be a doctor!” Of course, my wife and I were surprised by his accuracy. I proceeded to tell him about my limited knowledge about Barcelona and, in the past, having learnt that this was originally a Carthagenian colony, named after Hamilcar Barca, the Carthagenian father of Hannibal, though it seems there was a subsequent Roman General called Barcino involved in Barcelona’s history, thus making it a big confusing for me at this point to determine which version was correct. Tunisia (previously called in history Carthage) is so near Spain, just across the Mediterranean Sea and where the dye for purple Royal Toga (Roman) came from some sea shells of that region of Carthage. It so happened that the curator’s father and his brothers were physicians and surgeons and, of course, he was not a doctor. I replied in Spanish: Cada uno, su gusto or in French:  Chacun a son gout or to each, his own taste !!!From the MNAC or the Museo Nacional del Arte de Catalunya, took the Turistic bus to go to the Aerial Tram to cross over from the mountain, Montjuic to the Port Vell area down below but unfortunately, it was a windy and was closed for the day. I really had wanted to see Barcelona from this aerial tram but couldn’t .  Took the Turistic bus again and got off at the Columbus monument and took the elevator up that tall pedestal of a column up to Columbus feet. That column actually holds an elevator and about 4 or 5 people can get into it.We then took off and went to Parc Guell, getting off at the Lesseps Metro exit. I do not know if there is an easier way to get up that mountain but we did climb that steep mountain although there were two or so long escalators that helped the tourists or residents help climb that mountain – walk, walk, walk then escalator followed by climb, climb, climb then escalator, then climb, climb, climb. By the time we reached the top, we were exhausted and tired especially my poor wife, Minda. We come from flat West Texas and were not used to climbing steep mountains. The Parc is quite unique with what is termed as “moderniste” design and with characteristic designs by Gaudi. It was commissioned by a wealthy individual  by the name of Guell and designed and done by the same Gaudi of Sagrada Familia fame. Going down the mountain was certainly less strenuous but had to wait in line with the rest of the tourists and then took the Red Line to finish seeing the North route of the city. It was late when we arrived at the Plaza de Espanya but just in time to see the magic Fountain show at 9:30pm. At this point, it was not only a delight but a relief to be able to get a response from the street vendor to my pressing question: donde estan aqua los banos? With a response: en aquel hotel, al otro lado del camino y por la derecha el entrar el edificio. Meaning which was across the street on that hotel, on your right as you enter the building. We enjoyed tremendously the Magic Fountain show which was a performance done by the water fountain spraying and spouting water from this huge fountain while being bathed in successive different shades and hues of colored light. Barcelona, like the rest of Europe, is famous for thieves and snatchers. After the Dancing Fountain show, we then took the Metro connecting the Plaza de Espanya to go to the Plaza de Catalunya which was about one kilometer away. It was about 10pm. The Metro was huge and cavernous and brightly lit. There was an inscription in Latin on the left wall. I have forgotten what was inscribed. Minda  took a seat while I was holding onto the metal rail. About the third stop or so, I noticed two women and a man come into the train. The man grabbed the metal pole or rail which I was holding to. I actually was musing whether these people were possibly a trio of con artists or thieves. I saw one of the women with two gold bracelets on her wrist. Surely, I told myself, she has enough gold on her body and so, surely she was not a con artist. I, however, continued to secretly observe them. The next stop was our stop to exit to the Plaza de Catalunya. I noticed one of the women go towards my right to the front of me and the other woman went, from the corner of my eye, went to my back, on my left side. As the doors of the train was opening, we  were all set to cross that door, when I suddenly sensed something was amiss on my left pocket. I had a digital camera dangling on my neck and was carrying a small canvas bag on my right hand, like a briefcase. I quickly glanced to my left pocket and saw a lithe hand actually inside my left trouser’s pocket and the rest meaning the palm still outside. I quickly grabbed and held onto my left thigh. I looked to see who it was and I saw the same woman with gold bracelets. Instinctively, I shouted and kept shouting at her even as we were all crossing over to the platform: “Maldita, Maldita, Maldita (meaning Bad girl, Bad girl, Bad girl). Subsequently, my wife who doesn’t speak Spanish told me that she was at a loss on why I had kept shouting and shouting in Spanish in the middle of that busy Metro platform. On reaching Midland, TX, I looked up the meaning of this word and it actually meant “Wicked, Wicked, Wicked.” She certainly was wicked. From a distance, I espied her nonchalantly looking away and elsewhere, unperturbed and defiant in her wicked ways. The $200 dollars, however, were still in my trousers. I became extremely agitated and felt violated even as I kept on shouting at this thief. However, despite this experience, I still love Barcelona.We were running out of Euros and wanted to have some for the next day. It was Friday night and the whole Ramblas was teeming with people. We went inside a chic brightly looking restaurant called Café Catalunya and decided to have supper here and to calm down from our ordeal. They accepted credit cards. We then proceeded to order a lot of stuff including the following : Cadiz Bacalao, amanida; Chorizo Pamplona; chipirones fritos, patatas bravas, paella mixta, Cava champagne, Crema Catalanta for dessert and , Cana Barril (San Miguel beer).I felt very at ease while in Barcelona. It truly was a joyous experience to be able to express and communicate in Spanish, the mother tongue of Cervantes. Yet, deep within me, I am sure, my Spanish could be better improved by more Immersion Spanish or perhaps with a long Spanish sojourn.Saturday, 16th of September 2006Saturday morning, we explored the Barrio Gothica and saw the Barcelona Cathedral taking the Juame metro exit and prayed at this huge Cathedral with a large plaza fronting the cathedra. Prayed and lit votive candles at one of its side altars to the Nuestra Senora de la Virgen del Pilar, the patron saint of Zamboanga with its feast day being October 12. Saw the Swans at the Cloisters. We had pictures taken with a thin Don Quixote on his pedestal with his grey-colored armor and sword. I whispered in Spanish whether he also could sing. He responded that they would throw him out from the square if he started singing (Echar fuera). We proceeded to go to the Palau National de Catalunya to see the famous stained glass ceiling using those colored covered motorized rickshaws. It was a disappointment. It was our last day in Barcelona and we couldn’t get in to see the theatre.From here, we went to the Museu Picasso and saw his pieces including a roomful of erotic ones. He certainly had a wide range of works. Ended up by sauntering through this area of narrowed pathways with one wondering if one could ever be hopelessly lost in this narrowed pathways  seemingly like a maze. An old lady told me in Spanish how to get out of this maze and pointed where the Metro was. However, I espied a “Basque” tapa bar called Pinxtos and where the Tapas are put in place with a toothpick.  You may eat to your heart’s content but do not throw away the toothpicks because they determine how much you need to pay or how much you have eaten by counting the toothpicks. Between my wife and I, we had 11 toothpicks at 16 euros plus a glass of Spanish wine about 1.5 euros per tapa. They were all delicious and for me an experience in delight with at least a chance to partake of a Basque meal from Euskadi, (the Basque name for their homeland or region while trying to get autonomy from Spain situated along the Pyrenees mountains made famous by Hemingway). One of our most famous of Saints, the Jesuit Ignatius of Loyola is a Basque. I seem to have lost the list  of tapas we ordered. It would have been nice to know the delicacies ordered if not just to remember the dishes by their basque name. At about 2:30 pm,  Satuday, we proceeded to go to the luxury ship, “Voyager of the Seas, a huge ship with possibly 1000 to 1500 passenger tourists en route to Marseilles and Nice in France, to Livorno the gateway to Tuscany’s Pisa and Florence, then to Civitavecchia, the port city to the Eternal City, Rome and thence finally to Naples to see Mt Vesuvius/Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. This ship is a huge floating city with 14 floors. We checked in into this huge building prior to actually boarding the ship. There were about 20 or so counters to facilitate and see that all the necessary documents and visas were in order. Chatted with the personnel in Spanish at the registration booth , explaining that this was our first voyage to Spain and the Mediterranean. Wasn’t too sure about the genders of some words but it seems things were understood and answered back in Spanish. Spoke with a Filipina who, after 20 years in Spain, carried now Spanish citizenship. Asked me whether I was an Ilocano – with a name like “Domingo.”Left Barcelona for Marseilles at exactly 7pm. Had to attend a medical meeting with a 14 hour credit dealing with Women Medical issues. Had cocktails at 8pm and had champagne and tried a martini (actually my first). This was part of our CME lecture group of 25 or so of us followed by dining at the Windjammer dining on a wide selection including Chicken curry, Sushi, Roast beef, etc. Tom and Norma, our friends , had ordered a bottle of wine and enjoyed their company for that first night. Sunday, 17th of September, 2006It was still dark when I woke up and from our veranda, saw flickering lights from what possibly looked like fishermen’s boat off the coast of France. Immediately took a shower and dressed up to see the city as we approached the coastline. The famed Basilica could be seen up a hill from afar and brightly lit. The ship swiftly and efficiently docked to its harbor while we all hurriedly took our breakfast a t the 11th floor of the ship. Min and I were the only ones among our group who took the excursion to Arles and Les Baux. After we convened at the theater, we were all assigned to designated numbers corresponding to the excursion bus we would be using. We passed through the outskirts of this city and sped through this rugged rocky limestone like mountains, almost bald except for some short shrubs or trees, made bald by wild forest fires, perhaps arson done during the period of the “Mistral,” a north wind that sweeps down causing the temperature to drop down to 20 degrees below and being sub-freezing  if it came during the winter months. Supposedly as well, these mountains were part of a seabed but during one of Earth’s geological cataclysm, the earth’s crust shot up and was uplifted producing the hills and mountains with sea life fossils atop these mountains. The depression made low by these uplifted earth crust subsequently became the Mediterranean sea. (This is a similar explanation for the extremely beautiful rugged beauty of Highway 1 on the Pacific Highway from Santa Barbara to Carmel wherein one can’t just be amazed by this spectacular Blue Pacific on one side, the towering mountain cliffs on the other side and with a canopy of blue heavens above you on a clear day). The hills towards Arles were dotted with vineyards and olive trees and very picturesque; a forgone expectation of the Provence countryside. Reached Arles and saw the Roman Arena and amphitheatre. The tourist guide explained to us the Church façade with the façade illustrating Christ and His teaching for the illiterates (except the Clergy and Nobility who were educated). The area was colonized by the Romans and was called Provincia or (Roman) Provence. Next, we went to a mountain top overlooking the Valley of Le Baux. Le Baux – wherein the word Bauxite was derived and being a mineral used in the aluminum production-Le Baux had a citadel above the mountain top and was a stronghold for the French protestants, called Hugenots or Calvinist of followers of John Calvin who taught the heresy of predestination. It was under Cardinal Richelieu’s orders (the Prime Minister of the Realm) when this Huguenot citadel was ordered destroyed to protect the Crown from heretics and dissidents. Le Beaux from this mountain top overlooked a picturesque valley of green vineyard and olives. Had lunch at this wonderful restaurant with a spectacular view with wonderful French cuisine, vin rouge et blanc, French baguette followed by a salad with tomatoes, cheese, olives; a main course of beef stew consisting, per my French teacher,  of a Camargue bull taureau simmering overnight in vegetables, followed by dessert and a demitasse of sweet expresso. It was a jovial table with all of us interacting and talking. Tried to practice my French at all possible times.  Bought some souvenirs. On the way down the valley, passed through a town celebrating a feast day or a festival because the moutons were being brought back from the mountains. Men and women wore their native costumes of the region. From the bus, one could see stalls selling olives, lavenders and delicacies of the region. A woman was playing a “flute” and eight or so couples were prancing around doing their regional dances. Left Le Baux and Marseilles at 7pm without seeing downtown Marseilles. The ship slid quietly through the breakwaters of Marseilles and we proceeded to go to Nice. My regrets include not having eaten the bouillabaisse in Marseilles and not having visited the famous ‘Garde” Basilica wherein the founder of the Oblates (St. Masenod) is buried or interred. This bishop was so holy that supposedly Victor Hugo who was not well known to be a friend of the Clergy was actually describing this saintly bishop in the first chapters of Les Miserables.  As the story goes, the whole town was scared of this mean-looking man (Jan Valjean) who wanders through the town looking for an inn or at least a bed to rest for the night with no one helping him in fear until one woman points to him to go to the house at the end of the road. This bishop as one recalls, despite the protest  of his housekeeper,  allows the released convict  from the galleys  to stay at his house; invites him to have supper ordering the best silver to be used and give him a bed to rest for the night. However, later in the middle and silence of the night, one could hear the sounds of footsteps through the house and with the convict stealing the bishops’ silverware.  The man flees in the darkness of the night but was apprehended at a distance by the police with his sack full of silverware.  He claims they were gifts given to him by the man at the end of the road. He was brought back to the Bishop’s house and when confronted, the Bishop responded that indeed he had given the silverware to this man, the convict. At this instant, the man undergoes a Mestanoia, a religious and spiritual conversion with a change of heart due to this saintly priest, the bishop, and thereafter leads a virtuous life.  However, later as the story goes, Inspector Javert hounds him when he recognizes not as the successful wealthy businessman (with his initial business capital from the purloined silver) he had become but as the convict from the galleys. NICE, FRANCE  September 18th, 2006Arrived in Nice, France the following day, 9/18/06 Monday, after an overnight sail from the harbor of Marseilles and anchored off the coast of a place called Villefrance. We had to take the Tenders which commenced to ferry the tourist towards land at 8am. Again, had to assemble at the theater called La Scala (not in Milan) and then the individual groups depending on what shore excursions they had chosen would then take the shuttle boats, called Tenders  and from Villefrance would take our tour buses. We had chosen to take the Excursion to Nice, Eze and Monaco. First, we drove to nice and saw the highlights of the City which included marc Chagall’s Museum, the Russian Church and residence of the vacationing Tsars and Tsarina and the huge hotel for the English crown. The English and Russian royalties and other lesser royalties would vacation and spend their holidays, during the summer in Nice. Nice, being nice, had cool weather during the summertime with the French Riviera being cooler along the coastal cities. Took pictures at the Promenade Des Anglais, like our CawaCawa Boulevard, named after the English Royalty and entourage who would parade in their finery along the boulevard fronting the Mediterranean. The Russians had a huge yellow-colored residence and the English had their now called “Hotel Victoria” overlooking the Riviera and huge enough to house 400 of her majesty’s entourage. Went to the flea market. Tried to look for a restaurant featuring the “Succa” and couldn’t find one. Succa, unlike the ordinary crepe, was made of the flour of “garbanzos or chick peas.” From Nice, we went to Eze and Monaco taking the “moyen route” or the middle of the “Coirniche Drive.” It was a long and winding road on the mountain side  overlooking the Mediterranean sea. She pointed out houses and villas owned by prominent individuals and including one previously owned by the King of Belgium who apparently was a very astute businessman and not too well-liked. I told her that, in my childhood, I remembered there were two Congos during the Colonial times, the Belgian Congo, Leopoldville, now Zaire, and the French Congo, Brazzaville. She then  stated that must be the reason these properties and assets, though owned by Kind Leopold, were actually registered officially as “Congo,” I presume a corporation or business entity. Eze is a very picturesque town at a mountain top  overlooking the French Cote. Cities of this sort were perched and situated up the mountains to secure some protection from the marauding pirates which I presume were the Ottoman-controlled “Barbary Coast pirates” from North Africa and wherein, I believe, the so-called “gunboat diplomacy” was first applied by the United States.  We had lunch at Eze. Of course, they served us a wonderful salad called “Salade Nicoise” or Nice Salad consisting of tuna, lettuce, tomatoes, olives and olive oil followed by beef slices with pommes frites fried in distinct flavor of Olive Oil with lots of baguette and wine followed by sweet expresso. From Eze, we went to Monaco, a very picturesque city, perched on the mountainside and overlooking the French Riviera and Yacht basin  and alon ghte French coast. It is the “Principaute de Monaco” ruled by the Grimaldi family. When Nice was taken over by France from Italy, they stopped the gambling in Nice and so the Prince of Monaco had this brilliant idea of developing Monaco’s Monte Carlo and inviting the rich émigré to gamble away in Monte Carlo. He commissioned Garnier, the architect of the French Paris Opera to build an opulent Casino, an Opera and a nearby Hotel worthy of the nobility. Monte Carlo has a mountain cliff with the promontory at the mountain top called “La Tete de Chien” or Dog’s Head. Somehow, it was mistranslated from “top military” Headquarters  to “Dog’s Head.” The guide led us around and saw the Museum of Jacques Cousteau, pointed out Stephanie’s and Caroline’s residence, brought us to Monaco’s Cathedral of the “immaculate Conception” wherein Princess Grace and Prince Rainier and the rest of the Grimaldi’s were buried behind the altar; the Prince’s Palace with its huge cobblestoned plaza and with a great view of the Cote’D’Azur.  Thence, we proceeded to the Casino, with the hotel on its left and a huge plaza directly in front of the casino and restaurants, stores and people dining on the sidewalk  trattoirs on the right. We had to pay 10 euros each to enter the casino. Lost 9.50 euros and kept 0.5 euros and kept the casino token for souvenir and two orange plastic bucket with the casino’s inscription. The casino was high-vaulted, gold-gilded with plush thick carpets. The boat left for Livorno, or Leghorn in English, for Tuscany, Italy, at exactly 7pm while we were dining for the evening. Our waiter was a Filipino and a Hungarian assistant (a Magyar). The headwaiter was an Indian who thought it was unusual that I knew of his birthplace, Varanasi or Benatres of Rudyard’s Kipling’s fame, of the Ganges and its Gats,  of fakirs and widows who atone for their conceived ideas of sin; that they were the cause of their husband’s early death in life and now had to spend their life along this hole river that would cleanse them from their sins. They made special dishes of pancit, adobong beef and curried chicken for our table. Our whole group which consisted of about 20 plus Filipinos was a lively group. LIVORNO, ITALY September 19th, 2006 – Tuesday We docked in Livorno at 7am. Livorno, the seaport gateway to Tuscany, is the region where Italian cites like Pisa, Florence or Firenze, Assisi, Sienna are located; famous for its Chianti Wine and its vineyards and olive. Went first to Firenze.  Along the way, saw the Apepenine mountains to our  left; vineyards and olives and dried sunflower fields with good irrigated fields. It took us about 1 and a half hour to reach Florence. Stopped at a rest stop and got a Biscotti for the group of us. The guide explained that the mountains to our left were the Appenine mountains. The marbles used to fashion David came from these same mountains from an area called Carrera. I recalled reading the biography of Michaelangelo when I was in high school at the Ateneo de Zamboanga. The bus stopped a few blocks away from the Duomo or the Santa Maria del Fiore, the Cathedral with its huge, famed dome built by Bruneneschelli and with the Baptistry fronting across the Cathedral, and the Tower towards the right of the main altar. After the flood wherein Arno River flooded Florence, the huge Baptistry front door illustrating Christ’s life was removed and sent elsewhere, replaced with a copy. END  MOVIE REVIEW The Tourist orlando gustilo | September 1, 2011 | We’re all tourists if we think how short and ultimately inconsequential our stay here on earth is. We’re all tourists because to most people that we meet in the course of our workaday day we don’t matter. We’re ships passing in the night: here this minute, gone out of mind and of the world we memorize minute by minute. We’re all tourists until someone asks for our name and touches us, and we enter each other’s world: we become real. Donnersmarck’s movie, The Tourist, is about a fantastically elegant, sexy woman who meets a ho-hum-boring guy, as forgettable as the next stranger we pass walking down a train. He turns out to be a tourist on his way to Venice. Elise sits down across from Frank who can hardly believe his luck that this gorgeous woman has chosen to sit with from him. Well that’s for starters. Elise talks him into inviting her to dinner on the train then they separate, they get back together then separate, get back together then separate, back together separate. Meanwhile their identities change and unravel until the final identity revelation that ends the movie with heart-stopping panache. The director has a moniker you wouldn’t expect a tourist to have: Florian  Maria Georg Christian Graf Henckel von Donnersmarck. If the name sounds Teutonic it does because Donnersmarck was born in Cologne. He moved to LA at age 34 and took back the princely “von” in his name. Only in classless America can royalty wear their titles with impunity and class. I first encountered Donnersmarck in the movie, The Lives of Others (2006), engrossing but nothing like The Tourist with its gorgeous scenery, gorgeous costumes, and two outstanding if a rather unlikely pair of stars: Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie. To tell the truth, I had not seen Jolie in a movie before. All my images and stories of her came from news reports about her fantastic life with Brad Pitt, their adopted third-world children, and the very public charities the two have dedicated their non-starring lives to. Pitt and Jolie redeem their fellow stars by work with less fortunate people that their wealth and names enable them to help. They could just as well sit at home, count their Oscars or shop till they drop but don’t. Not tourists, these two. Donnersmarck says his movie has three stars. Venice, the doddering old lady of the Adriatic, gorgeous as the movie’s human stars but infinitely older is to my mind this biggest star of the three. Initially the director hoped to shoot there for 3 weeks but the producers went hog-crazy. Instead of building sets in London why not use Venice and really do her proud? Elise and Frank stay at the iconic Hotel Danielli but the director found more suitable hotel interiors at the Palazzo Pisani-Moretta. Filmmakers luxuriate in an embarrassment of riches in Venice. Every corner, every bridge, maybe even every water-logged brick on which a pigeon is hopping on Piazza San Marco makes an extraordinary setting for any movie, especially one as drenched in romance and Hitchcock-like suspense as The Tourist. And you have choice, more than tourists on package tours have, which sights to include in your adventure, which to double the pleasure of seeing again. I visited Venice in 2006 and 2008. The first time we arrived via the Marco Polo International Airport on the mainland and took a launch to our elegant, little hotel in Canareggio, the second largest sestiere in Venice. The following day we took a water taxi down the Grand Canal for a dramatic view of and entrance into the St. Mark’s piazza. In 2008 we had a nine-hour layover at the airport and a friend and I decided to trip the light fantastic and see Venice from the backdoor. We grabbed an ACTV bus to Piazzale Roma. We shared the bus with the locals, making us feel a little less like tourists, more like people who lived there and were not blinded by its tourist glow. Once at the piazzale (big square; piazza is just square; piazetta is little square – don’t you love Italian?) it was just a few steps to the Grand Canal station where we took a vaporetto to San Marco. If I had a chance to visit Venice again, this would be the way I’d want to come, through the backdoor. Flying to Italy via Venice is a seasoned traveler’s secret. It is small, almost third-world and eases entry into the splendors of Italy that we don’t stare like star-struck tourists. Chat up a teacher or housewife on that bus and you’ll step out of the movie, become real as these people are. For movies are about living our uncinematic lives, not as tourists but with guts enough to know, touch and be touched by others. And for all the gorgeous visual feast that Donnersmarck’s movie offers the viewer, maybe as important is the hint it gives about the primacy in our lives of enduring friendships, of relationships that last like moldering but beautiful cities on a distant sea. Ed. note: You can catch this move in Starz2. In Boston using Verizon, it’s on channel 342.

JULY BIRTHDAY CELEBRANTS Ando Dijamco, Puring Cruz-De Los Santos, Butch Gozo, Lily Berroya, Toy Aure, Vicky Pingul, Nora Dalman, Jun Bautista

AUGUST BIRTHDAY CELEBRANTS Dante Ragasa, Emilio Salazar, Manuel Franco, Mila Galang-Gonzalez, Tony Bernas, Harry Salceda, Cata Guzman. SEPTEMBER CELEBRANTS: Fred Donaire (Sep 2), Marietta Lozada (Sep 3), Johanna Valencia (Sep 7), Art Jurao (Sep 10).

THE WAY WE WERE

L-R: Seated: Mirla Manito, Baby Sagnip, Ofie Ramoso, Alice Dijamco, Luz Duque; Standing: Jessie Navarro, Elsa De Guzman, Zeny Andaya, May Capati, Nieves De Guzman, Angie Diaz, Grace Duque-Dizon, Evelyn Gonzalez, Ando Dijamco;Last row:Roby Diaz, Ma. Rita Hernando, Mike De Castro, Rod Polintan, Rommel Mangubat

L-R: three unknown, Luz D, Grace D, Evelyn A.

L-R: Luzbella M, Grace D, Luz D, unknown

L-R: Jing O, Nieves De Guzman, unknown, Linda S,  Evelyn G, Yet D.

L-R: unknown, unknown,  Brenda C, Luzbella M, unknown, Luz D, unknown

L-R: Deng S, Ruby Padolina, Joey L, unnamed, Baby Sagnip

ANSWERS TO GUESS WHO? BABY PHOTOS IN FIRST E-MAGAZINE:

SOLO: RALPH RANCES; BABY WITH MOTHER: LEW HORTILLOSA

Guess Who???

Clue: ” Tom Cruise?…Brad Pitt?…George Clooney? Close, but no cigars, folks For this adorable little bundle of joy was born in the historic province of Bataan sometime on March, 1946.With guile, a savvy disposition coupled with dogged determination and
sheer audacity of haracter, he managed to weather and finished his Medical education at our prestigious regal & pontifical university without a hitch.And with the same constellation of attributes, he asked the hand in marriage of one of our own, who obviosly turned his life right-side up according to friends & relations.He then when abroad to further his education
in Internal Medicine at the St. Mary’s and Strong Memorial Hospitals in Rochester, New York. After which he embarked on to practice as an Internist-Cardiologist and is presently
dividing his time between such and family. His is an awe-inspiring life though based on a stereotypical generic format which makes it a challenge  for anyone to decipher who he really is.So, if you would try to guess, I’d advice that you do so on a wing and a prayer though my money is still on George Clooney !

EVENTS November 29, 2010:  Birthday party for Max Basco. Southern CA classmates were present. Dado and Cora Castillo flew in from Alabama to attend the bash. October 2011:  Golf tournament at Roy and Mila Gonzalez’ residence in Ohio. Monet Abragan, current President of the Phil Chapter, will be there. September 17 2011:  Mini-reunion at Norman & Biba San Agustin’s house, Mendhan, NJ

The class is proud to recognitze the efforts of BOY Margallo, GIL Marasigan &

    Jun Bautista for their successful efforts to get Dr. Tacang and Lim for preceptorship

    in the US.

~ A congratulatory note to CHARLIE Capati  for being Head of our Gawad Kalinga,

~ A recognition to RIZ  Galit for  her volunteer work at Birthright.

~ Ed Quiroz for being the President of the Philippine Society of Surgeons in

  the USA and Editor  of its magazine.

~ Ismael Holipas who was elected President of the UST Tri-State Medical

  Association, after he was  President of the Lions Club. One of their

  projects is organizing Medical Missions to RP.