The La Salle boys of Southern California definitely know how to put on a show. In September, they put on a week long festival that gathered together mostly La Salle guys in the West Coast. Batch63 guys from California who joined this annual affair (now on its 17th year!) were: Gary Salcedo; Art Sicat; Manolo Carrillo; Lou Madamba; Joey Zamora; and Victor Sy. A visiting guest from Manila was Oni Mayo.
The Boys Club festival organizer supreme and generous host is Nestie Teoxon. His spacious 3 bedroom unit at Hilton was the festival “office / clubhouse” and his SUV was the festival “carrier”. His supportive wife Jeflin Teoxon was the Boys Club ‘kunsintidora numero uno’. Nestie is DLS Commerce Batch68 who knows many Batch63 guys. His enthusiastic and sincere invitation was one of the reasons Oni made it a point to pass by the West Coast when his real destination was the East.
The La Sallian Boys Club people know how to party. Not only are they all engaging and witty personalities but they grace the dance floor like anything! The night at the Gold Coast Hotel Casino Ballroom was the Grand Event of the festival. It glamorously displayed the “dress-to-impress” affair exemplified by elegant pairs who swung to boogie woogie, meringue, chachacha, tango, rhumba and other oldies music. I understand that a few years back, the Boys Club wanted to do away with the Grand Ball in consideration of the economic situation.Understandingly, the ladies would have none of it. Why am I seeing Batch63 attitude in this situation?
Gary Salcedo was the (perennial) emcee for the Grand Ball. New participants to the festival got a special introduction while Batch63 was especially acknowledged as a group for supporting this La Salle event. The enthusiasm was high and Gary announced that Batch63 could consider sending a delegation to the La Sallian Boys Club affair next year since it’s their Jubilee year. With that, the Batch63 guys there were given time on stage to do some special numbers. After two retro songs (‘Words’ and ‘Do You Want to Know a Secret’) led by Joey “Cliff” Zamora, the group burst out into their finale “Hail One La Salle” Batch63 anthem. Choreography was difficult to do since they needed to gather around the single copy of the lyrics while peering through prescription spectacles.
While the Grand Ball was the main event, the week long festival was punctuated with fun activities such as a tour of Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam (tour guide was Binky Estrada); a Golf tournament (organized by Art Sicat complete with trophies and prizes); a Dinner night (with lechon) at the large house of Sonny Gonzalez (DLS Commerce Batch68); group lunches and dinners in specialty (and not-so-specialized) restos; and just plain loafing along the Strip with its many Casino-hotels.
In ending, I’d like to cite the cooperation and participation of Batch63 ladies who put up with their Batch63 husbands over the festivity period. These were Nanette Sicat, Eileen Sy, Amy Zamora and Bili Mayo. There were more than 50 pax who attended the Grand Ball. Apart from the initial personalities mentioned above, below is the list of the other California-based Boys Club members who participated.
Bobby & Imelda Razon; Jun Hernaez & June Baert; Rene & Juliet Cinco; Binky Estrada & Honey White; Eric & Teofi Javier; Joel & Bing Lacambra; Gus & Ethel Mercado; Henry Hernandez; Allan & Tina Estrella; Eric & Marilou Hernandez; Ila Villavicencio; Ed & Cynthia Bondoc; Lito & Babs Bisnar; Tom Umali & Lorna Sarmiento; Dan & Loreli Balais; Willy and Rose Salgado; Manny Noguera & Ludy Argouarch; Bobby & Marilou Marella; Cesar & Paulita Lumba; Jun & Sophie Teves; Sonny & Grace Gonzales; Bert Sebastian; and Wili Reynado.
Hasta la vista, amigos. I’m now in NYC where I hope to touch base with other Batch63 guys there.
Lake Mead: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Mead
See slide show more photos.
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