Batch63 Baguio Gig

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Last week, 12 Batch63 guys had a bonding , golfing and epicurean 3-day session in Baguio. The photos and write up are courtesy of Lito Quiogue who chronicled the events. From the reported activities, you would think that the group did not include Dirty Dozen hardcore mainstays (Bert, Doug and Tito, que pasa? Lito must have been clueless about covert nocturnal activities). Below is Lito Quiogue's report on the event albeit edited by me.

This Baguio gig was initiated by Gabby Valdez a couple of weeks ago at the Kapihan. He offered to host a cookout in his vacation home in Baguio. Jackie and Bambi liked the idea and the excursion was set. A boutique family hotel called Villa Cordillera near the Country Club would be the hotel of choice.

On Thursday, the motley group of Jackie Arellano, Bambi Goco, Jon Arcenas, Gary Salcedo, Boy Carlos and Lito Quiogue proceeded to Baguio in two vehicles. In Rosales Pangasinan, Jimmy Estrella joined the group and who finally reached Baguio after three hours. Given the stops along the way, the total travel time took about seven hours. Lunch was finally at Baguio Country Club. Later the group went to survey the Valdez estate near Mines View Park. The place was one of those old grand houses of Baguio complete with fireplace. The unique feature of the house is its large flat yard (constructed by Gabby), a terrain configuration that you don't usually find in hilly Baguio.

Bambi, ever the Chef, brought along the provisions for the cookout. In addition Jon had packed a generous supply of fresh prawns and crabs flown all the way from Roxas City, Jon's place. Bambi took charge of the cooking supported by Pam, Gabby’s wife. The dinner talk included the plight of other guys who suddenly didn't make the trip. But this is another story that you can ask Vince to relate. Half-way through dinner came Steve Hontiveros who can always spice up events with his stories. At midnight the group headed back to the hotel where they had their night-cap before retiring at 2:00 am. Steve returned to Green Valley (where he has a unit) hoping that perhaps Joey Estagle and Vince Misa would still arrive . They didn't.

The Villa was comfortable and the service was good . The guys had the whole floor which has a huge family area complete with fireplace and cushioned chairs to themselves. There were actually enough beds to accommodate seventeen guests.The next morning, Jimmy, Jackie,Gary and Gabby went golfing in Camp John Hay. Bert Saenz and Doug Marcaida finally arrived in Baguio but decided to just get some shut eye first before joining the guys later. And so the non-golfers ended up accompanying Chef Bambi to SM for cooking stuff needed that evening. Lunch was finally with the golfers at the BCC where some settled for talking with the young waitresses. (walang nangyari?)

Dinner was again at Gabby's mansion that now included Bert, Doug and Gabby's neighbor, a Dutch guy married to a Pinay. The dinner consisted of appetizers (grilled fresh prawns with red wine and green salad), anti-pasto linguini with white sauce, and the main courses composed of steak, grilled fresh sea bass, fabada, tenderloin sautéed with mushroom. After more steaks and grilled prawns, the dessert and coffee finally came. Man,that was quite a feast ! It was really a great event. An affirmation of friendship, a discovery of each other’s generosity, commitment and dependability.

April Celebration

XXXXXXXXBatch63's legendary monthly birthday affairs continue on. Bert Saenz, Ernie Cuyegkeng, Art Alvendia, Mari Duarte, and Gary Salcedo, are not exactly regular patrons of the weekly Kapihan but they came today since it's their turn to treat Batch63. I understood that Aderito Yujuico is also a celebrant who did not make it to the party but will participate in the blowout expense. For this celebration, Batch63 came in force. As expected, the resulting table conversation was loud, cacophonic and many times strongly off-color much to the discomfort of other patrons in the hall who could not do anything about it.

Of the some twenty plus people who came that day some rare faces that graced the occassion were those of Jon Arcenas (direct from Roxas City), Babes Alvarez (in and out of Bacolod) and George Cunanan, Boy Carlos, Jimmy Ortigas, Vic Corpus and Steve Hontiveros. Part of the reason people came today was also to discuss and firm up the forthcoming Batch63 Baguio Summer Jaunt scheduled for next week. Organized by Jackie Arellano, Joey Estagle, Gabby Valdez and Bambi Goco, the Baguio Jaunt has attracted some one dozen Batch63 guys who are set to join. Some things to expect in Baguio would be the grand cookout (to be orchestrated by Bambi in the large yard of Gabby's vintage manor house), the night life in the City (preferably near City Hall as suggested by Tito Lucero for some reason), the evening 'kwentong lasing' and 'bola-bolahan' at the hotel function rooms before retiring , and the opportunity to delude themselves that they are like Tiger Woods at the Country Club.

The large turnout was fun. As he came, Steve greeted most of the mestizos with a crisp "oye conio va ( ?)" while flaunting his trendy IZOD metalic hued tee shirt. The elusive George finally ended his hibernation but only to face the enigmatic logic of Joey Estagle, the experiments of Joey Ingles and the quaint prayers of Boy Carlos. Meanwhile, Mari Duarte is seen sporting a cropped look for his remaining head of hair while Doug Marcaida is growing his mane white. With their office barongs, Ed Lim and Ernie Cuyegkeng are trying to look serious and show that there is some dignity still for Section A guys (whom Gabby and Joey describes as psychologically-challenged and over-sensitive characters). I'm telling you, you just gotta be there to absorb all of this. Felix compleanos y gracias a los seis celebrantes. Hasta manana, brujos!