Reserve the Date!

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Probably due to Paul McCartney’s song, Gabby Valdes has classified 64 years as a milestone date in one’s life. On November 7, Gabby will be rightly humming “When I’m 64”.

Gabby is a La Salle boy through and through complete with ever-ready rosary beads in his pocket. Aside from being a past DLSAA President, he is a most active supporter of Batch63’s regular Kapihan. At the last Kapihan, Gabby once more expressed his advocacy for things La Salle when he volunteered the idea of holding a Batch63 get together event at his house on November 7.

With Gabby hosting, I can already see the great food, music and dancing. Gabby, will there be DI’s? Gabby is enjoining Batch63 to bring their spouses so that his better half Pam will have fair company to enjoy with as well. The event would be on a Saturday so that should give you old people all day Sunday to recover from what should be a fun night.

The details of the event are as follows:

What : Gabby's 64th
Where : No. 2 Banyan Road, North Forbes, Makati (Gabby’s residence)
When : November 7, 2009 / 6pm
Attire : Casual (aren’t most of us?)

RSVP : 0917 897 1107 (Gabby’s mobile)

In the vein of successful Grand Joint Birthday celebrations that Batch63 conducts monthly, Gabby’s birthday bash would be a welcome variation insofar as Batch63 get together goes. It would be an opportunity to rekindle Batch63 spirit and camaraderie in a cozy non commercial place. Especially for the Batch63 recluses, let’s not miss this one then. I’m sure Gabby and Pam will be happy to see you all.

September Morn

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This morning, Batch63 got together again at Manila Polo to celebrate with its September birthday boys. Bobit Damian, Boy Carlos, Ben Ang and Francis Horn were the ‘taya’ this time. This business of joint birthday celebration every month has given new meaning to Batch63 Kapihan. To the surprise of everyone, rare birds would take the time to show up during these joint birthdays when they normally don’t come. Their presence inspires a lot of new conversation and greetings. Apart from the celebrants who are truly rare birds themselves, the others who came this morning are Ed Lim, Art Alvendia, Steve Hontiveros and Arthur Antonino.

When he arrived, Arthur Antonino went directly to Bobit Damian and said: “Bobit Damian! Ikaw yung nag-dodrowing noon ng mga eroplanong namamaril, di ba? Happy birthday!” Arthur is the eldest of the Antonino boys who all went to La Salle. Politically, he is in a quandary since one brother in Mindanao is visibly opposition while his youngest brother is an eloquent spokesman of GMA’s political party. Arthur, wala kang talo!

You can also never tell what gimmicks the crazy guys are up to. Bert Saenz came in with a lion tamer’s whip and started cracking it in front of the guys. Some claim that he was inspired by Chavit Singson who raises wild animals in his house. Then there’s Joey Ingles with his new short hair look (attempt to look credible?). As you know Joey is a mad scientist who makes elixirs. He repackaged his elemi that is supposed to mitigate fine lines and creases of the face. The built in instructions however hints that you must have hippo hide since the elemi is not for sensitive skin!

As of this writing, we miss our DD friend Nilo whose ashes is now laid to rest beside his wife Roxanne in Pangasinan. Gary Salcedo and Boy Fernandez (Nilo’s friend) represented the Batch in the interment ceremony in Pangasinan last week.

Goodbye Nilo

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Nilo Villanueva passed away last Sunday evening. Before that, he had been confined for about 2 weeks in Makati Medical Hospital for his respiratory ailment. He was getting better and about to be discharged when complications set in. Batch63’s Vince Misa was the first to hear about the tragic news - Nilo’s friend Boy Fernandez had informed him immediately. By Monday, Bert Saenz had sent out the news-text bulletin to the entire Batch63. The next day, Tuesday, Nilo’s one-day wake was held in Don Bosco. It was purposely made a brief wake since Nilo has very limited kin in the Philippines. In lieu of immediate family members however (most were in the States), Nilo had Batch63 who occupied a good size of the available space in the Hope Interment Chapel during the funeral mass.

Boy Tumpalan (aka Boy Roadside) was Nilo’s best buddy from grade school and who led the Batch63 condolers. Nilo’s few aunts and relatives at the wake knew Boy Tumpalan but they were not clear just who exactly were the noisy old men occupying the rear pews during the wake. After the mass, Cecille Gatchalian, Nilo’s cousin, called for speakers to deliver eulogies for Nilo and so the family finally got to meet the infamous Batch63 guys. Bert Saenz started it off by introducing Batch63 to Nilo’s family (that included his brother Gil ‘Toti’ Villanueva).










As we know, Bert was appointed ‘next of kin’ of Nilo in the absence of any family members when Nilo was first hospitalized. Bert narrated about the details of Nilo’s ailment and how Batch63 showed their support for him throughout his stay in the hospital. After Bert, Bambi Goco talked about Nilo’s escapades in his younger years when he was known as ‘peklat’ due to a head scar. Then Gary Salcedo took the cudgels for Nilo’s US buddies and described how generous and committed Nilo was to his Batch63 group and other La Salle friends there.



















Nilo’s younger brother Toti came all the way from California to take Nilo home when it was thought earlier that he was getting well. Now he had to deliver instead the family response to the eulogies made. In his speech, Toti concurred that his Kuya Nilo was indeed known as a generous soul who has helped many friends who were in need. Knowing about Batch63’s unsolicited effort to fill in for family (taking turns in the ICU) when Nilo was confined, Toti graciously thanked Batch63 for coming through when it was Nilo’s turn to need support.

After everything, it is clear that Nilo was a man of the world. Nilo was a frank man with a wry sense of humor. Nilo so loved his friends that they became a priority in his undertakings. But most of all, Nilo was a Batch63 La Sallite who was a competent professional (practicing auditor/accountant) with a vigorous zest for life! With Nilo’s helpful ways, positive outlook and following Vince’s Unichurch theory (your destiny is what you want it to be), we are certain that Nilo is in a good state today. Here’s a salute then to Batch63’s fallen mainstay wherever he is: A toast to you our DD friend – we will certainly miss you!

General Assembly

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Vic Corpus is slated to leave for Washington in Sept so Batch63 held an impromptu despedida party for him at 7th Note in Makati. Vic came to the party with his wife Mely Corpus, hence some of the guys brought their better halves along as well. The wives took their places around a table close to the stage while the men milled around the bar area where the liquor and stag talk flowed.

Those who came from afar were Chito de Vera (from Sorsogon then Bulacan) and Babes Alvarez (from Bacolod). Those who are rare birds as far as Batch63 get-togethers are concerned (but managed to come that night) were Manolo Cristobal, Vic Romero and Benny Ang. The rest were no strangers to 7th Note as can be seen from their familiarity with the protocol there if not with the waitresses.

It was ‘go easy’ night for the Batch without any restricting program to follow. The bar guys took to the drinks and pulutans and traded corny jokes. The wives politely listened to the music of the lady crooner who did her lounge act even while the rowdy Batch63 men caroused in the bar area. Eventually, 7th Note honcho Lito Domantay got on stage and sang jazz standards. The new repertoire was a refreshing change from Lito’s familiar Everly routine.

On another note, many of the guys who came for the despedida visited the recuperating Nilo Villanueva beforehand in nearby Makati Medical. Nilo is now strong enough to sit down on a chair and looking much better. He manages to trade jokes with visitors although his speaking voice is hampered by the open tube in his throat. Vic has visited Nilo several times in the hospital and Nilo expressed regrets that he cannot reciprocate and join the despedida for General Vic.










Vic will be facing a new life again. We all know that Vic was a quiet boy who lived in Fort McKinley and studied in La Salle. Then he was a PMA cadet who lived in Baguio. Then he lived in the mountains and jungles of Isabella. Then he was in a Manila jail with other political prisoners (Pres. Ramos was overheard asking him at the book launch: Vic, are you in jail again?). Then he lived in military outposts in the South from where he propagated environmental and community development projects. Then he was quartered and isolated for security purposes in Camp Aguinaldo (while heading ISAEP). Now coming from their house in Manila, Vic and Mely will be living in Washington DC. It’s really quite an exciting life for someone who didn’t ask for it.

Vic played an important role in Batch63 unity. The birthday celebrations in the 90s (complete with rock band) that initiated Batch63 group activities today actually started in Camp Aguinaldo when Vic was the main man in the ISAEP compound there. Through it all, his childhood friends remained with him and who today raised their glasses in salute to Vic, seeing him off. Even Vince Misa who has given up his beloved San Miguel beer (due to health concerns) took exception from his ‘dry’ regimen. At 7th Note, Vince was observed clutching that famous brown beer bottle again as he celebrated with the rest of the boys. From Batch63 then, here’s a sincere message: Bon voyage, Vic and Mely!

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