Batch 63 Christmas 09

XXXX

The third Wednesday (or Kapihan day) of December happens to be two days before Christmas. The Batch decided that it would be a great opportunity to make this Wednesday Kapihan as the Batch's Christmas party. For good measure, the wives were invited to the morning gig - a precedent setting action. There were five guys who came with their better halves. The couples were Art & Angel Alvendia, Jack & Marilou Arellano, Joey & Tess Estagle, Boy & Norma Palanca and Vince & Jane Misa.

The other guys came stag. These were Dendi Abdon, Ben Ang, George Cunanan, Joey Ingles, Lito Quiogue, Gabby Valdes and Oni Mayo. Probably due to the presence of the ladies, a more healthy and elegant fare (consisting of bibingka, ensaimada and hot chocolate drink) were observed arrayed for sharing on the table instead of the usual Batch63 lamon favorites (crispy bacon, angus beef tapa and salty danggit).

After the breakfast and the unusually polite conversation (for Batch63), the kodakan activity was implemented upon the urging of Joey Estagle. Joey showed off on how to take dramatic photo shots. He grouped everyone together and then fired away with his camera from different angles. First he had a standing position, then he jerked to a half-squat position until he finally settled on a tight kneeling position (for an artistic upshot?). Since Joey's wife Tess was seated in the front row of the posed group, someone quipped that the kneeling Joey is just showing how he asked forgiveness from Tess for his errant ways. Personally, I think he just needed to go to the toilet after the heavy breakfast.

Feliz navidad, amigos. Thank you to the Batch for their sense of humor and tolerance of the Menagerie quips this whole year.
XXXX

Christmas Season Birthday Celebration

XXXXXXXXx

It’s Kapihan Grand Breakfast time again featuring the December celebrants. Despite living in faraway Laguna, Manolo Cristobal was the first celebrant to arrive. He was becoming nervous until Jim Gonzalez eventually came. Organizer Vince Misa was seen frantically trying to call the other celebrants (who had committed to the blowout). He finally succeeded with Babes Alvarez who came to Polo Club half-awake - he had forgotten the affair! Eboy Cosme couldn’t make it since he was stuck in Makati City Hall allegedly trying to get a building permit for his building project which is almost finished.

The wild Batch63 was their usual boisterous selves. For the information of people, Linggoy Araneta is henceforth known as “Oy!”. He comes to the Kapihan sporadically so if you forget his name, he promises to respond to “Oy!” He said anyone who forgets a name can actually now call anyone “Oy!”. Steve Hontiveros finds this term as too hoi polloi for his taste. He will respond if it’s “Oye” for him. Jack Arellano has his own version of endearing terms. Upon spotting Poldy Arnaiz whom he hasn’t seen for some time, he shouts “Hoy Pangit!”. Everyone else, he calls “Tambien Conio!”.

Getting on with the more serious conversation, Babes was overheard suggesting summer plans to Linggoy. He said that they should meet each other in Boracay come April next year with their respective yachts. Joey Estagle was overheard wincing, “Paano naman kami?”. I guess Joey will now be looking for a yacht to buy before April. Towards the end of the party, the enterprising Joey Ingles was seen promoting his herbal products to Jim Gonzalez. From his usual one page product technical description, Joey has now improved his marketing pamphlets. He put photos of bikini-clad girls with the technical write-up even if they have no bearing on the product. Now Jim is asking if the girl in the photo comes with the sale. Hmm, it may not be a bad idea at all, Joey.

For the others who attended this celebration please see the attached photos. One day, I’ll have to stop describing all this profound activities by the batch. The readers may find it too high-brow for their taste and accuse us of being elitists and intellectuals. But for now, here a Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas to the December celebrants from Batch63! Hasta la vista, muchachos! Gracias para el desayuno.

November Grand Breakfast

by Lito Quiogue

This month's Birthday Boys are from left to right : Douglas Marcaida, 65; Steve Hontiveros, 64; Bambi Goco, 64; Jimmy Estrella,64; Gabby Valdex, 64. (like it or not guys, you are no longer spring chickens, di na puedeng i-deny!)

The rest of the 18 attendees were the ff: Vince Misa, Joey Ingles, Boy Carlos, Joey Estagle, George Cunanan, Boy Palanca, Jackie Arellano, Ed Lim, Francis Horn, Gary Salcedo, Quito Moras,, Bert Saenz and Lito Quiogue.

Vince announced that next month's Grand Breakfast will be on the 16th. On the folowing Wednesday, 23th, is the regular Kapihan and everyone is enjoined to bring their respective wives. This suggestion of Joey Estagle raised a furor among some of the boys who are not used to be accompanied by their wives. Jackie was quick to react saying, "ano? si Joey pa?" or somethng like that. But Douglas boldly announced that he may bring both of his live-in patners.. Lucky for Bert, Oying has arrived from the U.S. after a long absence. I overheard that he gave her an ultimatum lest she'd find him gone with another woman. Pa-macho talaga!

The morning wore on with the usual discussions on a variety of subjects. One interesting thought voiced out was the fact that if we were otherwise progressive as some of our Asian neighbors, like Singapore, HK or Malaysia, Filipinos generally would not have the luxury of maids, yayas, drivers, ala-lays, etc. For most of us (HS63) it would only be wishful to be able to meet every week at the plush Manila Polo Club and spend the rest of the day saundering in the malls.

(Photos courtesy of Bert Saenz)
xxxxxxxx