MINI-REUNION AT KYMA 27 October 2018

MINI-REUNION AT KYMA  27 October 2018
TEXT AND PHOTOS by Geraldine Gomez-Pinder

It was good to see everyone again! Thanks to Ely & Hilda who decided to accept Merle's invitation to go to New York City and watch the opera with her. So Merle thought of gathering classmates who live within the tri-state area & are within driving distance to the city. Two days before the appointed date & time, the weatherman predicted possibility of a thunderstorm, heavy rains all day & high winds. Oh..uh.. Were we ready to venture in that kind weather? Texted Merle the day before. Well, she says, she already made the reservations at Kyma, a Greek Seafood restaurant. Ok, I said, we'll see what it would be like in the morning, as predictions are notoriously known to change. And silently prayed, it would. I so want to see Ed, Angie, Mandy & Chi. Manny & Alice came  the week before to the opening of Godfrey's Society of Philippine American Artists exhibit at the Philippine Consulate. It would be nice to see Merle, Ely & Hilda again, even though all three were at the San Francisco Annual Grand Convention of UPMASA in the summer. Hoping that Linnie, Rene, Benjie and Clem would be there too. True enough that Saturday morning, there were high gusts of winds and rain in New Jersey. Called Merle. Only a drizzle in Manhattan, she says. Ok, we'll brave the weather. God will protect us. And He did! By the time we reached New York, it was just a constant drizzle, occasional wind, but not as gusty as predicted.  So wonderful to see 11 of us come. We missed Linnie, Benjie, Rene & Clem. The food was excellent from the appetizers which we shared: grilled octopus, calamari stuffed with cheese, zucchini fritters, pita bread, chicken soup; the entrees: Tsipoura (choice of mediterranean fish, grilled) Tiger Prawns, Swordfish skewers; to the desserts that we all shared too: baklava* topped with pistachio ice cream, cheesecake & 2 other Greek desserts.  Amazed that everyone was health-conscious. It was quite evident that everybody looked fit. Nobody ordered meat, although it was offered in the menu: lamb chops, steaks, pork chop. Appetizers and dessert were shared among each other. We had very good service. The waiter was very friendly and accommodated our numerous requests to take our pictures from different cameras! LOL! He even offered to make me taste 2 different kinds of wine as I don't like dry wine at all.  I'm not much of an alcohol drinker. I like Moscato, although I know it's a dessert wine. (All the connoisseurs looked askance at me).  But I've had one before, during a meal that was not as sweet, and the alcohol did not make me sleepy. So he made me taste another wine, this time a Riesling. That was not bad at all. Godfrey thought I had a good deal - getting to taste what I would like. LOL! The when it came to choice of desserts, he announced I know what you all like: Turon-turon & Halo-halo! And everybody chimed in a YES! Of course he was kidding! The conversation centered mostly on grandchildren's antics, and a show-off of their pictures - grandparenting tales that portray the stage of our lives we are in now, inspite of the fact that we all endeavor to look young by striving to hide the grey hairs, tucking-in that stomach bulge & smoothing the creases on our faces (which Mandy offers so generously to do).  Of course, jokes and updates about Class 71's plans and "peace offerings" were part of the lively discourse that contributed to the camaraderie and great fellowship.  Then, since we were in the city, Godfrey was supposed to pick up his art piece from the Philippine Consulate, where the exhibit of the SPAA ( Society of Philippine American Artists) was held. So we all traipsed there. Fortunately, some of the paintings were still there to enjoy and another photo-op took place. One of the artists whose painting won an award was moonlighting as the guard during the weekend and he let us in. He richly deserved the award as he showed us more of his paintings on his iPad.     *Nans, is baklava related to bakla crab? Photos Photoshopped a little bit kaya maganda lahat! Unlike Mandy's creation, this just took minutes, not hours, and no healing period required. Vicente Velasco, Blogmeister

FEL AND DOMES' DESPEDIDA PARTY AT TIUSECO'S HOME

DESPEDIDA PARTY FOR DOMES AND FEL AT CHOY AND TONY'S HOME
September 21, 2018

by Johnny Fong
ABS-CBN Entertainment News Reporter


Choy and Tony were perfect hosts for Domes and Fel's despedida party.

         Maganda kayong lahat. Sabi nga ni Pong, if he knew that the ladies would look this               good in their 70s, he would have made a pass at you during medical school.


Food was excellent and delicious. Each of us had our favorites. Domes and Linda P tackled the crispy pata. Ting showed his Chinese roots and devoured the chicken feet. Elmar loved the corn soup. The ever demure Edwina and Fel tasted a little bit of each food. I loved the ukoy.

From the top: Crispy Pata 1, Chinese Lumpia, Grilled Head of Maya Maya (Red Snapper), Crispy Pata 2.

(Masarap talaga ang crispy pata, may sequel pa.)

LAING

CRISPY UKOY

CHICKEN ADOBO SA GATA

CHAPCHAE KOREAN NOODLES

                                     CHICKEN FEET IN TAUSI


Ting was the life of the party. He was his usual self.  He drank. And he was merry. After his 8th beer he confessed that he had kids all over the world. (Don't be surprised if Ting's progenies will establish health co-ops globally.)  And that he married Edwina 3 times already.  He discussed his 2 books and cracked jokes. And in moments of minimal cognitive impairment, Edwina fed him his next line. He played the piano and he sang old classics.

It was the perfect party. When it was time to go Ting asked Edwina to point him to his car so he can drive Edwina home.

Before leaving Ting tried to kidnap Choy's two cooks. He wanted to bring them home with him to Davao. I think he got home okay. He was not in the nightly news.

Vicente Velasco
Blogmaster

UP MED 1971 ILOCOS TOUR JAN/2018

Narrative by Ging Dizon-Moore       
Photos by Art Flores

Yesterday  turned out a perfect day to visit Ilocos Norte. We started with some downpour going to  Paoay  to see the oldest San  Agustin Church. 

Then a stop over in Bangui, the wind mills and Marcos Malacanan of the south.  

Pagudpud was our main stop. The road was a little bumpy but the scenery of the ocean became better and better as we approach  the place were  the Philippines Sea meets the Pacific Ocean. Unending shorelines with  huge waves. We had a  specially prepared  lunch in a  3 story home overlooking the surf and also a zipLine! What a sight and worth the drive. 

We were in 2 vans. We did not mind how long it took to reach our destination. We  were laughing so hard at Pat's jokes until we were coughing and I was afraid I wiould have an asthmatic attack. In between we  munched on our garlic corn, potato chips bought from the street stalls along the way. We sang  songs even with our hoarse voices.There were a lot of teasing and wondering what the classmates in the other van where doing and talking about.  For sure it was about us. We bonded  more and more. No texting or Viber as there was no wifi.

We were so  lucky to have Art doing all our professional photo shoots.He  was not contented with the colors of our  attires. On our way back to Bangui, he was so gracious to buy each one a souvenir shirt  for our last memorable perfect picture.

Last night  after dinner  and special fresh buko, bought  along the way, we said goodbyes to Pat. He had to go back back to Manila .

More highlights

Calesa ride on Calle Crisologo

Dancing fountain and LASER show

Heritage City

Sitio Remedios in Paoay, Ilocos Norte

Someone please identify location of following pictures, in order, in Viber.

Lady of Lourdes
Grotto in Baguio

Once upon a time there was a tavern
Where we used to raise a glass or two
Remember how we laughed away the hours
And think of all the great things we would do.

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way.

Tuloy and ligaya at kainan post Ilocandia hosted by Choy and Tony