The Boys of Summer

Grand Kapihan Attendees

Cameron Hall of Polo Club was enlivened once more with the presence of Batch63’s raucous group. Yes, it’s the joint birthday bash of George Cunanan, Joey Angeles, Quito Moras and Jack Arellano. Two celebrants who contributed to the blowout but didn’t make it were Polding Arnaiz and Bro. Ray Suplido. Bro. Ray is somewhere in LA and no one knows where the moody Polding is. Whatever, Feliz compleanos, hombres!

The 22-strong attendees to the Kapihan included rare birds Paqui Campos, Raffy Villareal, Vic Corpus and Dendi Abdon. Paqui is his usual funny self who claims that he will not marry again (it’s 3rd time around for this amorous guy). When others doubted his claim to not marry again, Paqui said it’s because of the pre-nup he signed that stops him from claiming what used to belong to him (does anyone understand this statement?). In the case of Raffy, he is undergoing a forced vacation from business that he hopes will not last. Raffy owns Auto Carpets Inc, a company that supplies rugs to Japanese carmakers who we all know have completely stopped producing cars for a while.

Vic Corpus is looking good and who is onto something again - in Tuguegarao. Vic said he is involved with something like turbine emplacements that’s good for the environment. (Call Vic for details - the madcap setting at the Kapihan did not allow me to get further info about this.) Finally, one guy everyone was glad to see in good form and spirit is Dendi – the original Batch63 submariner! Dendi is faring well considering the recent special surgery he had for a blocked rectum. Keep it up, Dendi! The other guys who were at the Kapihan were: Joey Estagle, Joey Ingles, Oni Mayo, Tony Estonina, Ed Oleta, Steve Hontiveros, Ed Lim, Joe Assad, Gabby Valdes, Doug Marcaida, Lito Quiogue, Boy Carlos, Bert Saenz, and Vince Misa of course.

Celebrants Profile

Joey Angeles
Joey A is semi retired depending on how you look at it. While he has time to be involved in social work with his barangay (Joey is Senior Citizen adviser for Barangay San Antonio where he resides) and to service family requirement (tigas), he continues to conduct management seminars (team building and strategic planning among others) from time to time. Joey honed his professional skills while working for both the private sector and Government (Department of Budget). He and his wife Nessie have worked all their lives and now he wants to do some real traveling. He will have to wait though until Nessie retires this year from DOT where she is a career official.


George Cunanan
George’s life is an example of a successful one. From a fulfilling banking career (VP, Citibank - now Citigroup) in the 80s, George went into early retirement during which time he adroitly managed his assets while indulging in his hobbies (golf, tennis & photography). Between his wife Maricel and him, they are happy today to support the professional careers of his successful children in whatever way they could. George is doting grandpa to three grandchildren when he is not sending out inspirational emails. I asked George if there is anything else he would like to do today given the limited window of opportunities that we Seniors face. George thought long and hard and said that he might just learn to play guitar. Attaboy Georgie!


Quito Moras
Just last April, Quito suffered a TIA (mild stroke) that gave him temporary amnesia. It was surprising news since Quito is fit and an up-and-about kind of guy every time we see him. Although hospitalized for a while, Quito is his usual again at today’s Kapihan. We expect more attendance from Quito to the Kapihan in the coming months since he and his wife Karen are moving to Makati (from Alabang). While Quito is retired from his long time role as project executive for mega condo projects (the Comunidades business), the developer in him remains. Today, he wants to be involved again in the industry but with low rise apartments instead of high rise condos. Quito is fully recovered from his amnesia. The downside to that is that he will get to remember again the shameful antics of Batch63 buddies.


Jack Arellano
One of the pillars of the Kapihan, Jackie was an advertising proprietor who retired long ago. After retirement, he engaged in vintage car collection, playing golf and other adult pursuits (?). Today however, he is once again a proprietor. Yes folks, Jackie with his daughter Sandy are the owners of Sandy’s Pizza (try out their salted fish-laced Pizza!). His latest branch is located in Makati near the Rockwell area. Among the important roles of Jackie today is to send out text messages about Kapihan events to Batch63 at all hours of the day or night. His messages are usually in odd Spanish sentences that our Conyo boys find hard to understand. Jackie claims that his words are so high-hat that they can only be fully appreciated by Spanish aristocrats or men of noble lineage. According to Jack, there are few who are at par with his nobility. To rub elbows with him, Jackie set as criteria the following: 1) You should understand the Spanish language the way he says it; 2) you should have a vintage car preferably a Jaguar or some European car; 3) you should play good golf; and 4) you should be a man of the (under?) world. Today, he is still evaluating if he will accept Gabby Valdes and Linggoy Araneta in his exclusive noble circle.


Bro. Ray Suplido
In school, Ray Suplido was a nice quiet nerd (?) from Section A. Hence it is not surprising that he would eventually hold masters and PhD degrees today. Ray is Batch63’s contribution to the alma mater’s Christian Brotherhood movement where he was Brother Provincial at one time and where he served for many years as a member of the Brothers council in Rome. Today, Bro. Ray is the president of La Salle’s USLS school in Bacolod (since 2007). He is happy to be working in a place where he can also enjoy the company of his 5 siblings.

For those who are not familiar with the USLS school system, it is a huge institution with two progressive campuses (and a prospective third campus) thanks to the vision of the Brothers community there. USLS’s current 9,000 strong student population is about the same size as the Manila DLS campus system and growing fast. Moreover, the USLS has all kinds of courses (preschool, integrated school, collegiate, post graduate, arts and crafts, etc.) that would rival the best Manila schools in facility, type, quantity and quality.


Polding Arnaiz
Polding Arnaiz is Batch63’s typical Conyo boy. While he has not been consistent in coming to the Kapihan, Polding is ever present when the Batch63 event concerns more adult fare. Before I get into trouble, adult fare means essentially premium alcoholic drinks and pulutan! Polding is a well-traveled guy (probably why he didn’t join us today) since he is in the travel agency business. To date, he has resisted the request of some Batch63 friends for him to organize a sex tour of China.


Jubilee Event

Vince Misa and Joey Estagle are doing their jobs as reps to the DLSAA and are enjoining the Batch to come to the Jubilee celebration next month. They are trying to muster a group of 10 so that they can reserve one table. Those who have already signified are Joey E, Quito M, Tony E, Eddie O, Gabby V, Raffy V, Joe A and Ed Lim. For further info, please contact Vince.


See slide show for more photos.