The Boys of February and March

Those Who Came

The birthday boys of February and March came through with gusto for the Grand Kapihan today. The Batch63 celebrants were: Alex Ledesma, Boy Nazareno, Arthur Antonino, Joe Assad, Ed Lim, Joey Ingles and Ramon Arnaiz. Victor Sy and Jimmie Ortigas missed the event but were clearly counted. Before he left for home (the USA) this week, Victor gladly gave to Vince Misa his share for the Grand Kapihan party. Jimmie Ortigas likewise sent his contribution.

As we know, the Grand Kapihan is an event sponsored by guys born in the same month for the enjoyment of the Batch. Due to the almost complete attendance by the concerned celebrants, there was a sizeable surplus of funds remaining after all the Kapihan bills were paid. In line with the policy set for such a situation, the surplus was donated in behalf of the celebrants to charity. Fashion pate and adopted Conyo Boy (but lay minister) Steve Hontiveros was assigned the task of selecting the charitable institution.

The fund surplus is in spite of the fact that a horde of hungry Batch63 guys came today. Balikbayans Tonichi Grey, Manolo Relova and Boy Lumba were seen savoring the moment with old friends they haven’t seen for some time. Rare birds like Dendi Abdon, Doug Marcaida, Steve Hontiveros, Boy Carlos, Francis Horn, Polding Arnaiz, Joey Angeles and George Cunanan came around. Those guys who complain that their house is too far from Makati and so don’t regularly come to the Kapihan like Bert Saenz, Ed Oleta and Tony Estonina came this time. Kapihan regulars Gabby Valdes, Jackie Arellano, Boy Palanca, Joey Ingles, Oni Mayo and of course Grand Kapihan organizer Vince Misa were present.


Celebrants’ Update

The boys of February and March have one thing in common. They are all good businessmen and are leading fulfilling comfortable lives because of this. Arthur Antonino and Joe Assad are typical owner-managers lucratively involved in the Securities and Real Estate management business. Alex Ledesma, a building contractor and developer of note, is today also a real estate mogul. What can I say about Ramon Arnaiz? Ramon continues to run his ATR KimEng that have survive the ups and downs of today’s global downturns. Ramon must be doing something right.

Boy Nazareno is a management and finance man par excellence who after a career with Citibank (now Citigroup), was past president of Government’s PDIC some years ago. He tried to retire for a few years due to health reasons but today, he has been tapped by the Aquino government to be Chair of the Philippine National Railway (PNR). You can’t put a good man down, right Boy? Ed Lim thought he can enjoy retirement after being a career senior official of BPI but today he is back in the saddle as President of Isla Bank. Isla Bank is a smaller bank which suits Ed’s desire for a productive and interesting professional life still but without the hassle of big business. And who does not know Jimmie Ortigas? Jimmie holds office in his family firm (Ortigas Y Cia) located in the family subdivision (Ortigas Center). Outside of work, Jim gets involve with Rotary civic work.

Victor Sy successfully competed as an entrepreneur in the highly competitive USA business arena and is comfortably retired today in his five acre Estate in the San Francisco mountain resort area. Today Victor shuffles between Manila and the USA. He comes to Manila not only to support his sisters in the family business (and meet up with crazy Batch63 guys) but also to engage in worthwhile advocacies for the Filipino poor. Joey Ingles got tired of gallivanting around all of his life and is today engaged in the essential oils business. From his little operations a couple of years ago, Joey today has a market niche that include 3 distributors who regularly buy his products today.

Overall, the Batch63 boys of Feb and March are in good health and on easy street. Some of them have had their share of senior medical ills but they had all survived these. Boy had multiple bypass while Joe had angioplasty. I think Vic also had a procedure done on him some years ago (further south of his torso?). Some remain ridiculously healthy for their age. Alex, Arthur and Ed act perky as ever. But for a surprising few pounds on them, Ramon and Joey look like the same hunks they did then when they were in school.

These guys with the same birthday month seem to live parallel lives without meaning to. Many of them have 3 (at most 4) children. Strange (why not 1 or 5). One child continues to live with them. Strange (most of us are empty nesters at this stage). They are actively engaged in the family real estate rental industry. Strange (most community resource of families would have been sold already). Many are effectively into Securities trading. Strange (why not different industries). And they are all Christian gentlemen. I would say that’s really not too strange (since they are DLSC Batch63) .

It was fun talking to the guys. I can't wait until the next Grand Kapihan. Here’s wishing you guys un feliz compleanos. Muchas gracias para el desayuno en Polo Club


See slide show for more photos