La Sallian Boys Club 2012 Affair

The La Salle boys of Southern California definitely know how to put on a show. In September, they put on a week long festival that gathered together mostly La Salle guys in the West Coast. Batch63 guys from California who joined this annual affair (now on its 17th year!) were: Gary Salcedo; Art Sicat; Manolo Carrillo; Lou Madamba; Joey Zamora; and Victor Sy. A visiting guest from Manila was Oni Mayo.

The Boys Club festival organizer supreme and generous host is Nestie Teoxon. His spacious 3 bedroom unit at Hilton was the festival “office / clubhouse” and his SUV was the festival “carrier”. His supportive wife Jeflin Teoxon was the Boys Club ‘kunsintidora numero uno’. Nestie is DLS Commerce Batch68 who knows many Batch63 guys. His enthusiastic and sincere invitation was one of the reasons Oni made it a point to pass by the West Coast when his real destination was the East. 

The La Sallian Boys Club people know how to party. Not only are they all engaging and witty personalities but they grace the dance floor like anything! The night at the Gold Coast Hotel Casino Ballroom was the Grand Event of the festival. It glamorously displayed the “dress-to-impress” affair exemplified by elegant pairs who swung to boogie woogie, meringue, chachacha, tango, rhumba and other oldies music. I understand that a few years back, the Boys Club wanted to do away with the Grand Ball in consideration of the economic situation.Understandingly, the ladies would have none of it. Why am I seeing Batch63 attitude in this situation? 

Gary Salcedo was the (perennial) emcee for the Grand Ball. New participants to the festival got a special introduction while Batch63 was especially acknowledged as a group for supporting this La Salle event. The enthusiasm was high and Gary announced that Batch63 could consider sending a delegation to the La Sallian Boys Club affair next year since it’s their Jubilee year. With that, the Batch63 guys there were given time on stage to do some special numbers. After two retro songs (‘Words’ and ‘Do You Want to Know a Secret’) led by Joey “Cliff” Zamora, the group burst out into their finale “Hail One La Salle”  Batch63 anthem. Choreography was difficult to do since they needed to gather around the single copy of the lyrics while peering through prescription spectacles. 

While the Grand Ball was the main event, the week long festival was punctuated with fun activities such as a tour of Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam (tour guide was Binky Estrada); a Golf tournament (organized by Art Sicat complete with trophies and prizes); a Dinner night (with lechon) at the large house of Sonny Gonzalez (DLS Commerce Batch68); group lunches and dinners in specialty (and not-so-specialized) restos; and just plain loafing along the Strip with its many Casino-hotels. 

In ending, I’d like to cite the cooperation and participation of Batch63 ladies who put up with their Batch63 husbands over the festivity period. These were Nanette Sicat, Eileen Sy, Amy Zamora and Bili Mayo. There were more than 50 pax who attended the Grand Ball. Apart from the initial personalities mentioned above, below is the list of the other California-based Boys Club members who participated. 

Bobby & Imelda Razon; Jun Hernaez & June Baert; Rene & Juliet Cinco; Binky Estrada & Honey White; Eric & Teofi Javier; Joel & Bing Lacambra; Gus & Ethel Mercado; Henry Hernandez; Allan & Tina Estrella; Eric & Marilou Hernandez; Ila Villavicencio; Ed & Cynthia Bondoc; Lito & Babs Bisnar; Tom Umali & Lorna Sarmiento; Dan & Loreli Balais; Willy and Rose Salgado; Manny Noguera & Ludy Argouarch; Bobby & Marilou Marella; Cesar & Paulita Lumba; Jun & Sophie Teves; Sonny & Grace Gonzales; Bert Sebastian; and Wili Reynado. 

Hasta la vista, amigos. I’m now in NYC where I hope to touch base with other Batch63 guys there.

Lake Mead:    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Mead

See slide show more photos.

Northern California Batch63 Guys

Manny Relova 

In San Francisco, this Batch63 roving representative met up with Manny Relova. As everyone knows, Manny has established his career (during and after PAL) in San Francisco. He knows the city like the back of his hand. Earlier this year, Manny was on his usual vacation in the Philippines. He hooked up greatly with Batch63. Pursuant to that, It was nice to have still another chat with Manny but this time in his home base. 

As many know, Manny is a veteran marketing man in the travel industry. He knew the dining places and he recommended a Japanese resto for dinner. Manny’s savvy in and about the city was reflected in the way the resto proprietor familiarly greeted him. Over dinner, Manny accommodated my questions about his career and his family. 

It was a thrill to learn that a Filipina and Manny’s eldest – Monique – has something to do with the success of Apple’s IPhone product. Monique was a photography major in college. Per Manny, the Apple company hires a lot of non-IT people so Monique got to work with Apple. Monique’s case is a lesson in the benefits of specialization (multi tasking is passé?). Manny proudly displayed on his IPhone the patent certificate that Monique holds (together with another) for the development the IPhone’s camera system. Meaning to say – all IPhones bear the touch of Monique on it. His two other children are productive as well doing IT and marketing work.

Manny hopes to retire soon in Manila by next year. He is excited about the Batch63 Golden Jubilee celebrations and is actively participating in the GJ Committee's programs.  At the dinner, Manny entrusted $200 to Oni - $100 for his Homecoming fee and the other hundred for his friend Boy Tumpalan.  (See foto).  Manny said that he ate too many free hamburgers in the past at Roadside Cafe (owned by Boy's dad)  and this is his way of giving back.

Lou Madamba

After staying in San Francisco for several days, I transferred base to Foster City. There I met up with Lou Madamba. Lou drove all the way from San Jose for our meeting. (I told him that was the only way since I’m scared stiff to drive in the USA.) After his Engineering course in La Salle, Lou immediately immigrated to America. Unknown to many in Batch63, Lou eventually worked his way to success as an entrepreneur in the USA. 

Lou said that having no track record in the US when he arrived, he couldn’t find work as an Engineer, Thus he got sidetracked and started working in the electronics industry. Gaining experience in both the software and hardware side of the industry, Lou and a couple of partners eventually established and operated a firm that produces motherboards and the like. For a long time, this company supplied some of the current big players (Apple, HP, etc.) when they were all young and still on their way up. 

Today, Lou is on easy street and claims he is semi-retired. His experience continues to be in demand so he is an active business consultant for both local and international companies (HK, China, US, even one company in the Philippines). If I understand it correctly, Lou acts as the link between IT companies that may have a need for each others’ products. 

Lou and I ended up in a specialty resto in San Carlos which Lou claims was part of his work territory. We were so engrossed talking that we ended up closing the resto. Lou complained why they have to close so early. To this the chef-owner exclaimed: “Give me a break, guys - It’s 10PM. This is San Mateo, not NY!”

Lou remains in the pink of health. He attributes this to his Japanese wife who steered him away from fried foods. I was tempted to refute him using Vince Misa and Jack Arellano as examples of fried food eaters. Recalling Vince’s one dozen pills that he had to take a day and Jackie’s expanding waistline, I decided to hold my piece. 

 * * * 

It was interesting interacting with these two guys in their home turf. I’m now preparing for the Vegas DLS reunion next week where I expect to meet up with the South Cal Batch63 guys. Watch for my report on that one. Hasta la vista, hombres!

See slide show for more photos.

Dendi, He Will Be Missed

Being currently abroad, I regret not being with my friend Dendi during his wake, but Batch63 more than makes up for this. To Helen, Katrina and Anna – please accept Batch63’s heartfelt condolence on your loss.  Below are three commentaries from DLS Batchmates who saw Dendi off for the last time.


From Lito Quiogue
Reporting on the wake night allotted to Batch63

Dendi's wake was not of the traditional offering of prayers and condolences not to mention the pall of grief and regret that pervade among the survivors and friends of the demised person laying state in a memorial chapel.

As Dendi would have it, the eve of his interment last Tuesday was a roaring farewell with the blaring twang of electric guitars and songs of the good ol rock and roll era of the 60's. A motley group of talents from HS63 provided the unusual manner in consoling the bereaved relatives and friends of Dendi.

Joey Estagle dished out his trademark Elvis songs while Lito Domantay's renditions of R&B stars like Ricky Nelson and Everly Brothers were accompanied by the tandem of Jimmie Estrella and Ben Umali who jazzed out their talents with their electic guitars. It was more of a rock concert than it was a wake. The affair would have been complete just like those Saturday night shindigs if we had hotdogs and spaghetti in addition to the cornips, barbeques and 3-in-one coffee. It was nevertheless a memorable rocking party for our beloved friend.

Sail on, Dendi !


From Joey Angeles
Reporting on the machinations of the Group for Dendi 

Those who were present for the Sept1 6pm mass during the wake were:
 1. Joey Angeles
 2. Bobby Erum (DLSC67)
3. Bambi & Kang Goco
4. Alex Ledesma
5. Raffy Villarreal
6. Polding Arnaiz
7. Eddie Oleta
8. Vic Corpus
9. Boy Carlos
10.Buddy Palanca
11.Lito Domantay
12.Robert Dee
13.Lito Quiogue
14.Mr. & Mrs. Ben Umali (DLSC67)


From Joey Estagle 
Conmmenting on the request of Dendi’s family for Batch63 to lead the last night of the wake 

He did not want us to grieve, he wanted merriment.

See slide show for more photos (compliments of Joey Estagle)