February-March Boys

The Februrary Grand Kapihan is the second of six official events of the Jubilee Festival Week. This Wednesday’s Grand Kapihan featured ten February-March birthday celebrants - which is a good thing.  (There would be more of them to share the cost of hosting the Grand Kapihan).  As we know, a bunch of Batch63 guys are in town for the DLS Homecoming (that's a lot of buffet coupons). All in all, 45 guys attended the February Kapihan per Vince Misa’s kapihan list. 

The birthday guys who hosted the Polo Club breakfast are: Alex Ledesma; Joe Assad; Boy Nazareno; Ed Lim; Art Sicat (balikbayan); Joey Ingles; and Victor Sy (Balikbayan). The other birthday guys who couldn’t come but who sent in their share of the blow-out are: Arthur Antonino; Jaime Ortigas; and Linggoy Araneta.

Aside from two balikbayan celebrants above, the Balikbayans guys present were: Celso Lontoc; Lou Madamba, Adrian Novnario, Manolo Relova; Ramy Salcedo; Mike Sun; Joey Zamora; Tonichi Grey; and Patrick Go. The local guys who came were: Vic Corpus; Vic Romero; Gem Yabut; Mandy Ilustre; Francis Horn; Joey Angeles; Bambi Goco; Quito Moras; Chito de Vera; Oni Mayo; Gary Salcedo; Ernie Cuyegkeng; Bert Saenz; Benny Ang; Tony Estonina; Joey Estagle; Ed Oleta; Patrick Go; Mari Duarte; Gabby Valdes; Boy Palanca; Eboy Cosme; Steve Hontiveros; Lito Quiogue; Polding Arnaiz; Douglas Marcaida; Aderito Yujuico; Jackie Arellano; Raffy Villarreal; Boy Carlos; Vince Misa; and Paqui Campos.

While more or less the same guys are meeting up again after the Bienvenida party last Sunday, the conglomeration of the lot - on a morning, in a smaller hall - had a different kind of dynamics. At Cameron Forbes resto, it was now possible to be more intimate.  More than intimacy however, maybe it is more about talking up  absurd matters as Batch63 is prone to do! For instance, the irrepressible Tonichi is sore at Joey Estagle for dethroning him as the Elvis Presley of Batch63.  In his mind, Tonichi thinks he is the reincarnation of Elvis!  Overall, the Kapihan was an opportunity to  relive the fun during the Bienvenida party three days ago.

There are also those who made "pahabol".  While they missed the Bienvenida event, Paqui Campos and Paqui Ortigas still managed to make good on their P4K dues payment. ( I only hope there’s extra Jubilee shirts for them. The shirts had been mostly allocated already as far as I know.) Anyway, the breakfast Kapihan ended just because it was lunch time already. Prior to parting ways, the subsequent Festival Week events were discussed and those concerned took notes so that they can attend again. Next on the agenda is the Day of Reflection on Friday. See you there!

See slide show for more photos.

Bienvenida Jubilee Event

The Homecoming Bienvenida of Batch63 was scheduled for 6:30 PM at Pergola Place in Roxas Blvd. As early as the morning of the event however, Vince Misa and Bambi Goco were already at the venue to oversee the equipment and accessory installations for the event.  By 1:30PM, the participants of the Stars of Yesteryears show trickled in for rehearsals. More than an hour before the event at 5:00PM,  guests started arriving and where Batch63 wives took their place in the seats fronting the stage. 

By 6:30PM, most of the guests had arrived.  They milled about the cocktail tables at the entrance enjoying the drinks. Vince Misa’s family took it upon themselves to man the registration desk. Just before the dinner at around 7PM, the venue was a cacophony of sounds as can only be expected when old friends meet. From time to time, shrieks and friendly curses can be heard above the din as rare birds like Adi Novenario, Celso Lontoc, Bobit Damian, Aderito Yujuico, Joey Zamora and Victor Sy came into the hall. This list of balikbayans does not include yet the other set of balikbayan guys who arrived from the US earlier (Mike Sun, Manny Relova and Bobby Dee). 

The noise and action in the hall was such that Emcees Gary Salcedo and Manny Relova can only look at each other in helplessness.  They found it hard to get the attention of the crowd to settle down so that at least the National Anthem and the Grace before Meals prayer can be started to officially open the event. Finally it was dinner time and a video treat was presented on the large screen.  This video is the “Batch63’s Old La Salle” video show specially prepared by Bambi Goco for the Homecoming.  A copy of this special CD shall be provided to all those who paid their P4K dues.

Right after dinner, the Stars of Yesteryears show (created by Vince Misa) opened with fanfare. Climax music pervaded the hall when Joey “Elvis” Estagle  mounted the stage to kick off the Stars show with his rendition of “Don’t Be Cruel”. Vince “Marty Robins” Misa followed with “The Ballad of El Paso”, Joey “Cliff Richard” Zamora sang “The Young Ones”, Oni “Jack Jones” Mayo crooned the melodious ballad “She” and Mari “Frank Sinatra” Vargas sexily sang “the Way You Look Tonight”. Baby “Mat Monroe” Angeles sang “Walk Away”, Bert “Johnny Cash” Saenz rendered his cowboy version of  “I Walk the Line” and Manny “Dean Martin” Relova sang the Italian “Volare”. A hit was Doug Marcaida’s “Phantom of the Opera” which he sang with a young female partner (the photogenic Douglas came complete with half-mask and cape). The finale number was of course by the professional singer of the Batch, Lito “Rod Stewart” Domantay, who cooly sang “Smile”. The show was a spectacle due in part to the theatric costumes of the participants. Mostly, the song renditions were of acceptable good quality (if you ask me). Some of the ladies in the crowd indicated how they were impressed with the large number of comparatively good singers in the Batch (and no, these ladies were not necessarily the wives of the performers, heh heh). 

And then there was the dancing and the Karaoke time. Seven DIs were there to ensure participation and gracefulness on the dance floor. During the respite between dance sets, the open-mic karaoke facility was availed by singers in the batch who felt that the Stars singing show was not enough. Even the wives got into the act as Mely Corpus and Bili Mayo sang a duet at the insistence of some in the audience. A surprise number on the stage was the performance of Anna Tirol, Alex Ledesma’s friend. Anna is not only a pretty face but she is also a classical singer who brought the house down - initially with a cantata number and finally with “The Prayer”, an encore she did with a game Joey Zamora. 

Finally the event was over especially for the guys who were beginning to feel their Senior limitations. As the guys filed out, Joey Angeles distributed the Polo shirts to be worn during the Taft Homecoming on March 2. Under the contract with Pergola, the venue was available only up to 11PM. It was a good thing that Vic Romero was there throughout to appease his sister-in-law (the proprietor of Pergola) since some of the guys certainly enjoyed too much and took their time going home.

For the record, the guys who came to the bienvenida were:

Batchmates			Guests
1.	Ang, Benny		1.	Lilia Ang
2.	Angeles, Joey		2.	Nesie Angeles
3.	Arellano, Jackie		3.	Marilou Arellano
4.	Arnaiz, Polding		4.	Anton Arnaiz
5.	Assad, Joe		5.	Mely Corpus
6.	Carlos, Boy		6.	Michaela
7.	Corpus, Vic		7.	Randy Estomago
8.	Cosme, Eboy		8.	Boy Cantada
9.	Damian, Bobbit		9.	Tessi Estagle
10.	Domantay, Lito		10.	Kang Goco
11.	Estagle, Joey		11.	Anna
12.	Estonina, Tony		12.	Gina Lontok
13.	Estrella, Jimmy		13.	Myra Clemeno
14.	Go, Patrict		14.	Bili Mayo
15.	Goco, Bambi		15.	Jane Misa
16.	Grey, Tonichi		16.	Cely Novenario
17.	Ilustre, Mandy		17.	Nene Quiogue
18.	Ingles, Joey		18.	Baby Salcedo
19.	Laureola, Rikko		19.	Lucy Sun
20.	Ledesma, Alex		20.	Eileen Sy
21.	Lim, Eddie		21.	Amy Zamora
22.	Lontok, Celso		22.	Vixei Misa - Reception
23.	Marcaida, Douglas		23.	Nympha Lucero - Reception
24.	Mayo, Oni		24.	Che Figueroa - DI
25.	Misa, Vince		25.	Louie Jacinto - DI
26.	Moras, Quito		26.	Janeth Dalida - DI
27.	Novenario, Adie		27.	Rommel Menguito - DI
28.	Oleta, Ed		28.	Azineth Goña - DI
29.	Quiogue, Lito		29.	Rone Lemuel - DI
30.	Relova, Manolo		30.	CJ Ramos - DI
31.	Romero, Vic
32.	Saenz, Bert
33.	Salcedo, Gary
34.	Salcedo, Ramy
35.	Sicat, Art
36.	Sun, Mike
37.	Sy, Victor
38.	Valdes, Gabby
39.	Vargas. Mari
40.	Vera, Chito de
41.	Yujuico, Aderito
42.	Zamora, Joey

Note: Thanks to Joey Estagle for the many photos herein. He really put his XLR to work this time.

Slide show photos from Joey Estagle.

Slide show photos from Leon Mayo.

Billy Manotoc

The Wednesday Kapihan was exceptionally well attended today. The day's agenda had two things in mind. One is the meeting of the Golden Jubilee core group to finalize details for the Homecoming. The other is the rare visit of a Batch63 fellow who is now a permanent resident of Switzerland. Yes, Billy Manotoc is in town and his friends came to welcome him home again. 

The regular Batch63 guys and the GJ Core Group members who came were: Oni Mayo, Bambi Goco, Joey Estagle, Polding Arnaiz, Gabby Valdes, Joey Angeles, Joey Ingles, Gary Salcedo, Vic Romero, Vince Misa, Francis Horn, and Chito de Vera.  The rare birds who especially came to say hello to Billy were:  Ed Oleta, Tony Estonina, Linggoy Araneta, Mari Vargas, Vic Corpus, Wally de Leon, Steve Hontiveros, Douglas Marcaida, Mandy Ilustre, Eboy Cosme and Ed Lim.  

The experience of meeting his childhood friends anew was a happy, if not an initially confusing one for Billy. It was clear that he couldn't immediately make out the likes of Polding Arnaiz, Mandy Ilustre and Ed Oleta. The first names of the people were however enough clue to make his face lighten up in recognition. According to Billy, some guys who managed to mainly look the same after all these years are Gabby Valdes and Baby Angeles. Billy is looking fit as ever and he is amused when he sees a former team mate like Vince Misa. During those years in the La Salle NCAA basketball team, Billy remembers Vince as reed thin and sinewy but who is now showing the effects of too much San Miguel beer in his system. 

Unfortunately Billy cannot stay longer to attend the Batch's Homecoming events since he still works in the bank. He is however due to retire this year where he may have more time for travel (although his wife who is younger than him is still working). He kids that his working wife is his pension plan.  He has two boys – age 17 and 15 – who are sportsmen (golf) like their Dad. Billy is just home for two weeks (with planned forays to Boracay and other places) hence his schedule is very hectic. He made it to the Kapihan though where we hope he enjoyed the Polo food and the presence of the Batch63 bandidos.

See slide show for more photos.

Start-of-the-year Celebration

The Batch63 January birthday celebrants are Ed Oleta, Tony Estonina, Mandy Ilustre, Oni Mayo and Mon Arnaiz. As per tradition, birthday celebrants host a Kapihan event for the whole Batch. Ed, Tony, Mandy and Oni were there at Polo Club to greet their January Kapihan guests. Busy businessman Mon Arnaiz didn’t make it but he promised to send his contribution to Vince Misa (founder of the Grand Kapihan series). 

The Batch63 guys who came to the party were: Vic Romero, Joe Assad, Joey Angeles, Ed Lim, Doug Marcaida, Boy Palanca, Jackie Arellano, George Cunanan, Francis Horn, Gabby Valdez, Gary Salcedo, Steve Hontiveros, Raffy Villarreal, Poldy Arnaiz, Tonichi Grey, Quito Moras, Boy Carlos, Chito de Vera, Joey Estagle, Bert Saenz, Joey Ingles and Vince Misa. 

The proximity of the Homecoming day festivities (where many balikbayans are expected) created a lot of passion about La Salle from among the Batch. Chito de Vera began by taking center stage and making a pitch for the term La Sallite (instead of La Sallian). This brought about other issues such as using DLSC (De La Salle College) for our logo instead of the official DLSU. Douglas Marcaida (who is expected to bring his motorcycle as a prop for Homecoming day) talked about his biking adventures in the Ironman event. Many were concerned about the Jubilee shirts to be ordered for the Homecoming.  Already, there have been several requests regarding a change in the size of the shirt that they had given before.

Golden Jubilee 

Since the Homecoming fervor was already there, the Batch63 GJMC (Golden Jubilee Management Committee) held an impromptu caucus after the breakfast. The committee would like to announce that as of today, 43 souls have paid their Jubilee dues (P4K) to the GJMC and thus are expected to show up for the Homecoming affair on March 2. Apart from the Jubilee dues, the other sources of funds for the logistical requirement of the GJMC are: 

• Special contribution from 6 selected Batch63 principals. This campaign was facilitated by 

   Gabby Valdez, and 

• The transfer of the Fun Fund to the GJMC. The Fun Fund is the surplus moneys from the Story of Us project and which was held in trust by Bert Saenz.

As everyone knows, the Jubilee celebration consists of many fun activities before and after the actual March 2 homecoming itself. Due to many requests for the final schedule of these activities, the major Batch63 activities are: 

Batch63 Jubilee Week

Feb 24 Sunday / Bienvenida Dinner Party at Pergola (Roxas Blvd) 

This is the time to renew old ties. Wives / partners are invited (your P4K dues payment entitles you to bring one wife / partner). There will be a show – The Stars of Yesteryears Part 2 show that will feature musical numbers from Batch63 rockers and crooners complete with costume. We guarantee that everyone will enjoy this extravaganza. 

Enjoy the Filipino dinner, Karaoke open mic set and all-night dancing afterwards. There will be DIs to make everyone look good on the dance floor. The tee shirts and chaleco (part of the package for your P4K dues) will also be distributed to the batch members at this time. These garments are what we will use for the Taft assembly on March 2. 

Feb 27 Wednesday / Feb Grand Kapihan at Manila Polo Club 

The Grand Kapihan will fete the February birthday celebrants. Enjoy the free breakfast at Cameron Forbes Polo Club courtesy of Vince Misa’s selected celebrants. This Feb Kapihan should be the mother of Kapihans – a whole bunch of Batch63 expats will be there to mix it up with the local guys. Watch out for Jackie’s traditional Kapihan reminder text in both English and Royal Spanish language. The English will be for the benefit of the US guys and the Royal Spanish will be mainly for genuine and would-be Batch63 Conyos.

Feb 28 Thursday / Golf-all-day at Canlubang Golf 

The participating swingers (literally) will be Batch63 guys - local-based guys and guys from the US. The US guys are coming from their successful La Sallian Boys tournament (September Las Vegas) and are eager to show off their wares including fashionable equipment and attire. The local boys are however fully confident of their golfing skills. Not only are they playing on home ground but they live the Pinoy lifestyle where year-round golf is possible. Gabby Valdez and Gary Salcedo will be hosting the lunch at the golf club for the participants. I understand that there will be prices galore for the low scorers. 

Mar 1 Friday / Day of Reflection at Christ the King Parish Hall in Greenmeadows, QC 

This will be an assembly organized for Batch63 guys who would like to express their gratitude for having been part of DLS education. It’s true that all the blessings we have received in this life are due in large part to the training we got from DLS. We like to think that La Salle not only technically equipped us but also spiritually. The event will be an exclusively Batch63 affair featuring inspirational talks, sharing moments, group singing and fellowship bonding. Those who are slated to attend are Batch63 religious, Batch63 active parish officials and including known sinners of the batch. 

Mar 2 Saturday / DLSAA Homecoming day at the DLS old Taft campus. 

And then THIS IS IT! The day! The celebrating Batch for this homecoming year includes Golden Batch63 (50 years since high school). This means that Batch63 will have a special presentation on stage in front of the entire alumni body and officials of the school. The Batch stage show will consist of a script in three entertaining parts. This script was put together by the GJ core group and has been approved in principle by the DLSAA director for the event. There will be rehearsals that will be called for this when the balikbayan boys are in town. At this point, the Batch63 Memorial Video will be given out to the boys. The Video handout is part of the P4K dues package and which is the handiwork of Bambi Goco and Ned Bulatao. 

Mar 4 Tuesday / Despedia Evening Cocktails at Pergola (Roxas Blvd). 

After Homecoming day many will be heading back to their countries and provinces. The despedida affair is where the Batch guys will wish each other good luck and Bon Voyage. For sure, new ideas for future activities of this indefatigable Batch will crop up. Featured for the night will be the things that appeal most to the Batch – dining, drinking, music and . . we’ll leave it at that. Spouses are invited to this affair as well, you know. Till we meet again! 

See slide show for more photos.

December Boys

December is the birthmonth of Jimmie Gonzalez, Eboy Cosme, Tonichi Gray, Babes Alvarez and Stephen Ty and so they threw a party.  The party is of course Batch63's “Grand Kapihan” style as organized by Vince Misa. Babes and Stephen were actually unable to attend the celebration but they managed to send their ‘toka’ to Vince Misa. The food was great as usual. In behalf of Batch63, thanks for the real nice breakfast December boys! 

This birthday celebration of the December boys at Manila Polo Club also turned out to be the Christmas party of Batch63. The dual objective of the party brought about a holiday mood for Batch63 who lingered on for more coffee and interesting conversation long after the Kapihan breakfast fare had been put away and the waiters were preparing the lunch menu. 

Apart from the celebrants, Batch63 guys who came from far and wide were: Joey Ingles, Joey Estagle, Gary Salcedo, Joey Angeles, Paqui Campos, Bambi Goco, Francis Horn, Raffy Villarreal, Oni Mayo, Poldy Arnaiz, Ed Lim, Steve Hontiveros, Gabby Valdez, Ed Oleta, Tony Estonina, Bert Saenz, Jackie Arellano, George Cunanan, Quito Moras, Gem Yabut, Boy Carlos and Vince Misa. It was good to have dashing balikbayan Tonichi Grey once again.  He will be leaving for home (in the US) soon but  he made an effort to be in Manila for his birthday. A rare bird is suave Paqui Campos who livened up the discussions with his wit. Paqui is a tried and true cosmopolite who is found in high end parties where there are usually society reporters around.  For the Kapihan however, he knows he will have to settle for the Menagerie and photos from my old Canon point-and-shoot. 

Since a critical mass of Batch63 guys were present, the GJ group (Golden Jubilee core group) took the opportunity to be productive. A consensus for the Bienvenida food fare (on Feb 24, 2013) was agreed.  Read: yummy lechon de leche, pare! GJ Treasurer Gary Salcedo was also seen going around the tables to cajole those who hadn't paid their GJ fund P4K still.  Re the Tee-shirt project, Oni Mayo sought out Steve Hontiveros to try and pressure the supplier to start the work.  As we know, Steve is trying to get a good deal for the Batch from such manufacturers. 

Pitches for the other events for the reunion week were also made. For the golf, Raffy Villareal and Quito Moras confirmed that they will be joining Gary Salcedo, Jack Arellano and Gabby Valdez in the list of the local team. Attention Art Sicat, maybe we can have a US-Phl dual meet.   The venue and date for this event however still remains to be finalized. For the Recollection Day activity, Francis Horn is trying to come up with attendees to enlist but is hard pressed to find qualified people from the Batch.  Don't quote me, but I'm sensing hat he has not extended his invitation to Tonichi.  Before he left the Kapihan, Francis however promised that he will be advising soon re the possible venue and damage that will be required for the event.

See slide show for more photos.

November Grand Kapihan

The November Grand Kapihan feted the following birthday celebrants: Steve Hontiveros, Bambi Goco, Douglas Marcaida, Gem Yabut and Gabby Valdes. Another festajado was Jimmy Estrella. Although Jimmy is based in Pangasinan he had planned to join the Kapihan. On his way to Manila however, car trouble prevented him from making it so he just sent in his contribution to the affair. To all the November celebrants, a happy, happy birthday from Batch63. 

The Batch63 gang who participated in the Grand Kapihan were: Boy Carlos, Joey Ingles, Joey Estagle, Joey Angeles, Oni Mayo, Ben Ang, Vic Romero, Ed Lim, Poldy Arnaiz, Gary Salcedo, Lito Quiogue, Tony Estonina, Ed Oleta, Francis Horn, Lito Domantay, Tonichi Grey, Bert Saenz, Quito Moras and of course, the organizer Vince Misa. 

The Grand Kapihan is really a great vehicle for seeing old friends again. Gem Yabut was out of sight for years to most of the group until this November Kapihan. Gem is a lawyer and must have been very busy. He is thus one guy who welcomes court cases. Tonichi Grey is another rare class mate. Some years ago, he had been actively coming to the Philippines but then his visits became less. Seemingly, he opts to stay home more in his Washington area home . . until today. Yes, the macho conyo is back in town and I presume, creating ‘lagim’ once again. 

Everytime the group gets together nowadays, they end up discussing Batch63 proposed activities for the GJ week.  For the benefit of the Batch herewith below is the list of activities for our Golden Jubilee homecoming event:

February 24, 2013 – Bienvenida Party & Stars of Yesteryears show 

February 27, 2013 – February Grand Kapihan
February 28, 2013 - Batch63 Golf (tentative)

March 2, 2013      – Homecoming Day 

March 4, 2013      – Despedida Party 

In addition, the rehearsals for the participants of the Stars of YesterYears will be before Feb. 24.  Thus, the participants in the Stars of YesterYears show are enjoined to be in Manila days before then.  Two other activities which are still being planned are the Batch63 Golf and the Batch63 Recollection Day. We will keep you posted on the details of these activities once they are firmed up. In the meanwhile, hasta la vista muchachos. (Sorry for the late Blog Tonichi – I got tied up.)

See slide show for more photos.

DLSAA Meeting

Joey Estagle is Batch63’s perennial representative to the DLSAA. Last week he invited Batch63 GJC coordinator, Oni Mayo to attend the DLSAA meeting with him. The DLSAA directors (headed by the incumbent President, Mr. Johnny Sy) conducted the breakfast meeting.  In brief, the major activities for the 2013 Homecoming are proposed by the DLSAA as follows: 

1.    Jubilee Fellowship Night (around Jan 2013; dinner and dancing). 

2.    Bro. Ben Memorial Golf tournament (Feb. 26, 2013 at Valley Golf) 

3.    2013 DLS Homecoming (Once again at La Salle Taft grounds on March 2, 2013) 

The prospective theme (not yet final) of the homecoming is “Back to 1”. It’s a play on the ‘One La Salle” theme. It’s a statement to highlight the fact that despite the expansion and diversification that the school has embarked on in the past decades, everything is now consolidated to signify unity still. In other words it’s an effort to capture the singular spirit that was natural to the school when it used to be alone in Taft once upon a time. 

The meeting was also an opportunity to understand the plans for the various presentations on Homecoming night. There will be several batches making presentations but Batch63’s presentation is the highlight show of the night since Batch63 is the Golden Jubilarian. The DLSAA advised that all presentations be streamlined and fun since the audience will be hard-to-please mixed generations. The idea that comes across is that the organizers prefer a musical show of sorts. 

Long haired Tony Atayde is the DLSAA program director for the homecoming presentations. Batch63 shall coordinate with him regarding the content and duration of its presentation. Props, video screen and sounds on stage will be provided by DLSAA. The groups preparing their presentation will need to provide their own show material. There will be a rehearsal the evening before the Homecoming and as everyone now knows, the Homecoming show will again be in the Taft campus (where it used to be before the construction of the Centennial building).  The new Centennial building is called the Henry Sy building.  It is in the finishing stage and its vast ground floor open lobby shall be the venue for the show. 

Batch63 guys are enjoined to attend the coming Kapihan on October 24 so that we can brainstorm the prospective stage presentation of the Batch among other things. Thanks to Joey Estagle for the photos herein covering the said DLSAA meeting. Animo La Salle!

See slide show for more photos.

The Boys of the Fall

Happy Birthday to the September - October Batch63 celebrants! These guys are: Boy Carlos; Francis Horn; Vic Corpus, Lito Domantay and Joey Estagle. While Jon Arcenas and Mari Vargas were not present, they are also celebrants.  According to Kapihan organizer Vince, Jon and Mari are expected to wire in their due ‘contribution’ to the blow out. This time, the Cameron Forbes Room of the Polo Club came up with a delicious buffet menu for the occasion. (I’m wondering whether this pleasant accommodation by the Club was due to Polding Arnaiz. In last week's Kapihan, the voluble Polding demanded in no uncertain terms that food service in Cameron Forbe needs to improve). 

The Batch63 guys who shared their time with the Birthday boys were: Joey Ingles, Vic Romero, George Cunanan; Gabby Valdes, Ed Lim, Oni Mayo, Tony Estonina; Ed Oleta; Boy Palanca; Joey Angeles; Jackie Arellano; Gary Salcedo; Quito Moras; Steve Hontiveros; Douglas Marcaida; Vince Misa and latecomer, Chito de Vera. As usual, the large group fell into clusters and discussed myriad topics.  Chito de Vera dramatically came in very late.  He had on hand a sapling Ipil tree plant from his nursery. Chito is expressing his appreciation of the work of the GJ Committee and so he was gifting some of them with the sapling trees. 

On another Batch member's related activity, Vic Corpus explained to the boys what he is doing lately. The ever-optimistic Vic is now working on an idea that could revolutionize the power industry. He has established an experimental plant in Canlubang where he is in the process of producing a prototype power generation machine. From my layman’s understanding of Vic’s description, the machine would ‘feed’ itself with electrical power (pumped-prime by the wind). With the use of a maglev turbine system he has invented, the machine would then produce eternal air power than can be made to drive specific mechanical elements. Vic Romero who came from the power sector (Meralco VP) expressed special interest in the project. More power, Vic Corpus. We can’t wait to see you in commercial production. 

Overall, the Batch is still high with its GJ Homecoming activities so it was a recurring topic during the noisy celebration. The suggestions came far and wide for the handling of the original and new activities proposed for the year long event. The details of the GJ proposals shall be presented in the GJ Committee Bulletins which the group will be receiving shortly. In the meanwhile, we are placing a call to all Batch63 to already send in your pledges (P4000) so that you can be counted to join in the Homecoming activities.  As explained earlier, the P4000 will be for the bienvenida, despedida, Stars of Yesteryears show, shirts and vests (to be worn during the stage presentation), and the "Friends" Batch63 CD.  The amount also covers the participation of spouses to the events for those who will bring them along.  

We are also trying to raise a fund to subsidize some classmates who may not have treated the Jubilee Homecoming as a priority investment area for them today. In this effort, some guys have already come through.  (Thanks to Manny Relova and Art Sicat for sponsoring two classmates). The money pledges can be sent to Gary Salcedo (for guys in the Philippines) and to Art Sicat (for guys in the USA).  Hasta la vista companeros. Animo La Salle!

See slide show more photos.