{"id":919,"date":"2007-09-07T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2007-09-07T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/upvarrons.org\/wp_tudla\/?p=919"},"modified":"2016-10-12T10:10:50","modified_gmt":"2016-10-12T17:10:50","slug":"the-45th-an-affair-to-remember","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/upvarrons.org\/wp_tudla\/the-45th-an-affair-to-remember\/","title":{"rendered":"The 45th: An Affair to Remember"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Joey Austria (Montreal ’76)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"45th
\nA Varrons anniversary celebration, whether it is in August or January,\u00a0 is something each of us looks forward to excitedly.\u00a0 Several months before the event, organizers try their best to free themselves from their work and plan how the celebration can be a memorable one with the aim of encouraging the most number of alumni members to attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
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This year\u2019s preparation for the celebration of the 45th \u00a0anniversary was no different. As early as the celebration of the 40th \u00a0anniversary of the UPVL Forestry Chapter last January, plans were already being discussed by the UP Varrons Alumni Association (UPVAA) officers and UPVL undergraduate members.<\/p>\n

My task as overall coordinator was made easier through the help and cooperation of many dedicated Varrons, both alumni and undergraduates.\u00a0 It was made much easier through the UP Varrons egroup and the UP Varrons website (Tudla), which serve as the centers of virtual contact among all Varrons. Through the internet, it was easy sending out of invitations and requests for assistance and asking for comments and suggestions. We received a lot of positive responses.<\/p>\n

The attendance during the anniversary ball was a big surprise. Vrod Tancho De Guzman (Humane Batch \u201874)<\/span> reported that there were 132 Varrons who registered. Including family members and guests, the total number of attendees was more than 200 based on the number of plates served during the dinner.<\/p>\n

The celebration started at 6:00 a.m. Saturday through a Thanksgiving Mass as St. Therese Chapel. It was followed by a Sportsfest at 7:00 a.m. at the Splash Mountain Resort covered basketball court.<\/p>\n

Early that day, I hitched ride with Vrod Wilbur (Batch With No Name \u201974)<\/span> in his brand-new Toyota Fortuner.\u00a0 Before that, I received a text message from a Sis\u00a0(I think it was Sis Carla Cari\u00f1o-Onza, Batch Reparian \u201879<\/span>) <\/em>who said that their delegation from Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) has just arrived in Sampaloc, Manila. She asked if they could hitch a ride with any Varron on the way to LB. I told her they can ride with us in Wilbur\u2019s vehicle. Since, Katipunan is far from Sampaloc, her group decided to take the bus instead. Almost at the same time, Sis Dix Bravo (DST \u201977)<\/span> texted me if she can travel in convoy with us. She was coming somewhere near the SLEX. However, she decided not to join us upon seeing the traffic that was building up at SLEX. The two text messages that I received early in the day were a welcome relief to me because these were sure indications that a lot of Varrons were starting to be on their way to Los Ba\u00f1os that day. I was not wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
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To view more pictures of the 45th anniversary in a slideshow, please click this link.<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Wilbur and I arrived at Splash Mountain before 10 a.m. The first basketball game was going on.\u00a0 The faces I immediately saw included Dodie Torres (Victorious Octavians \u201889)<\/span>, Tancho, Pola Credo-De Guzman (Interaksyon \u201875)<\/span>, Abe Mandac (Batch \u201866)<\/span>, Verong Vergara (Batch \u201868)<\/span>, Mae Macariola (FQS \u201978)<\/span>, Ericson Jacinto (FQS \u201978)<\/span>, Emerson Jacinto (ESQ \u201880)<\/span>, Mutya Quintos-Manalo (Batch With No Name \u201874)<\/span>, Nestor Manalo (Batch With No Name \u201874)<\/span>, Rod Fuentes (Montreal \u201876)<\/span>, Pat Malabrigo (BUTA \u201891)<\/span>, More Santander (Batch NAME \u201893)<\/span>, Deo Palacpac (Tanglaw \u201896)<\/span>, Persie Guevarra-Tubig (The Circle of Three \u201882)<\/span>, Vic Nazareth (Twin Stars \u201884)<\/span>, Cathy De Guzman, BUTA \u201891)<\/span>, Myla Gucilatar (Youth of Liberty \u201889)<\/span>, Kevin Latiza (Philantrophist \u201905)<\/span>, Bonnie Pasion (Anino \u201905)<\/span>, and Jhonber Castillo (V-TEC7)<\/span>. There were many other alumni and undergrads whose faces I failed to match with the names that I have memorized from the egroup.<\/p>\n

Vrod Wilbur did not play basketball this time but opted to stretch his muscles through his bike at the UPCFNR road networks. The star of the first basketball game was Vrod Verong who was able to score several basket points.\u00a0 Who says oldies can no longer play a physical game?<\/p>\n

And there was\u00a0Sis Belinda Apuya-Lalap (Batch \u201881)<\/span> who introduced herself to me as the sister of Vrod Nestor Apuya (Flood Victims \u201872). She was helping out in the registration table.<\/p>\n

Later, a charming lady introduced herself to me as Sis Belle Vilela-Chua (Crystal \u201877)<\/span> who came all the way from Davao City. She told me about her egroup problem which I was able to resolve the following day. Then there was Sis Agnes Perez-Bartolome (FQS \u201878)<\/span> who came from Los Angeles, California and timed her Philippine vacation with the UPVL anniversary.<\/p>\n

I had to go out to breathe fresh air as it was terribly hot inside the covered court.\u00a0(Parang pugong!)<\/em>. Thanks to Vrod Verong for bringing in a pair ot electric fans which somewhat cooled the lower rafters.\u00a0 Outside, I got acquainted with Vrod Nanding Antolin (Batch \u201869) who brought a case of soft drinks which was very timely for the already thirsty basketball players and fans. Later, Cyril Coliflores (Zealots \u201885)<\/span> arrived, followed by Art Castillo (Dirty Dozen \u201867)<\/span>, Manny Bonita (Magnificent 7 ’67)<\/span>, Pabs Ofrecia (The Queen and the Jesters)<\/span>, Alexis Lapiz (Dreamers \u201888)<\/span> and Cesar Odi (Admirable Sixers \u201888)<\/span>. Then Tonton Contreras (Survivors \u201878)<\/span> and his wife Jenny Bandong-Contreras (D\u2019 Authentic Twelve)<\/span> arrived bringing with them part of the cookies contributed by Ryan Jaranilla (Batch ’84)<\/span> who is now a chef based in Los Angeles, California, USA. The cookies were just in time for late snack and early lunch combined.\u00a0 Later Peck Mapusao (Original \u201962)<\/span> and his wife arrived with Aymeeh Mendoza-Diaz (Thorn Among The Roses \u201884<\/span>) and Emma Castillo (Zealots \u201985)<\/span>.\u00a0(Vrod Peck has an open invitation to all Varrons for a visit and get-together in his farm in San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan. I hope Sis Aymeeh, Vrod Peck\u2019s neighbor can arrange the gimmick.)<\/em><\/p>\n

While the basketball game was going on, many were doing the Varrons handshake and the usual beso-beso. Cameras kept on clicking to record the memorable scenes. The heat inside the covered court was exacerbated by the excitement among Varrons who have not seen each other for years.<\/p>\n

An hour before noontime, some fund-raising was done to buy something for lunch.\u00a0 In less than an hour, the group of Vrod Deo arrived with three big plates (or bilao) of pansit guisado and canton, loaves of bread, bags of ice cubes and several containers of purified water.\u00a0(I miss the days when we used to drink water direct from the faucets inside UPLB campus).<\/em><\/p>\n

It was decided that if the final basketball game will end at about 2 pm, the business meeting will be held immediately inside the basketball court. The game ended past 2 pm. However, many Varrons especially the older ones had to leave and take a rest in preparation for the anniversary dinner and party. Several Siss were insistent in leaving for them to be able to make themselves prettier during the night affair. Hence, the business meeting was cancelled and re-scheduled before the opening of the anniversary program.\u00a0 It was during this time when the Varrons were about to leave Splash Mountain when Olah Romero-Aldemita (DST \u201977)<\/span> arrived, looking so fresh and ready for any party.\u00a0(She missed the delicious pansit.)<\/em><\/p>\n

It was too bad that only basketball was played because of time constraint and the uncooperative temperature inside the covered court. Nevetheless, some Vrods and Siss played chess for fun in the sidelines. Much of the time though was spent on greeting and hugging each other and reminiscing memories of the past.<\/p>\n

\"Nestor

The 'Three Tenors' in the making: Nestor Manalo, Alexis Lapiz and Joey Austria.<\/p><\/div>\n

Since there were still three more hours before the dinner party, some Vrods decided to do some bonding and re-bonding\u00a0(read: sip and later gulp SMB). <\/em>Nestor, Cyril, Vic, Cesar, Alexis, Pabs and I decided to drop by Sally\u2019s videoke bar, near the road leading to La Vista Pansol Resort. Vrods Cyril, Cesar and me hitched a ride with Vrod Vic in his brand new Toyota Vios. We were later joined by Vrods Wilbur and Jimson Solatre (Youth of Liberty \u201889)<\/span>. Vrod Nestor started belting out songs of the heart especially for our inaanak (Pablito). With beer freely flowing and steeling our nerves, it was not long in coming when each of us competed for the possession of the only microphone around to sing songs of our time. (AIM graduates\u2014Ayaw Iwanan ang Microphone!). <\/em>Although Wilbur did not have a single sip of beer, he nevertheless sang. It was my first time (since 1974) to hear him sing seriously.<\/p>\n

In singing The Impossible Dream, the Varrons\u2019 rendition was full of passion and seriousness. Without any cue, we all\u00a0 stood up to give justice to the song. Never mind the different gesticulations brought about by the early afternoon stupor, the song remained the same. The videoke winner? It was all hands down to no other than Vrod Nestor, ang dating kampeon! (You can view the pictures at the photo section of our yahoo egroup. Too bad, Wilbur\u2019s face is not included in the pictures posted so far. Paging Alexis. Kailan mo i-post ang mga kinuha mong pictures with your camera?)<\/em><\/p>\n

At half hour before six, we decided to break up the pre-party and proceeded to La Vista Pansol Resort. Wilbur had to leave for Manila for an urgent matter. By 6 pm, registration has already started. In an hour, the hall was already filled up with Varrons. Aside from the usual Varrons that I meet for the past four years, were old and many new faces.<\/p>\n

At the start of the registration, \u00a0Mr. John Ching set his photo equipment in one corner of the hall to take pictures for the UPVAA ID card. There were 97 Varrons who had their pictures taken. In addition, a registry book was passed around for Varrons to sign in their names and addresses. The red hardbound book is one of the requirements in the full registration of the UPVAA with the Securities and Exchange Commission.\u00a0 There were 116 Varrons who were able to register that night.<\/p>\n

A little past 7 pm, dinner was served as the crowd was already hungry. The food was good. There were two lechons. One was courtesy of Vrod Peck despite the short lead time of my request through Sis Aymeeh; the other one was provided by Vrod Ted Jimenez (First Quarter Storm \u201978)<\/span>, who is now based in Nova Scotia, Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
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The program started before 8 pm. There was no more time to hold a business meeting. Hence, I decided to make my short report as part of my welcome address. I took note of the suggestion of Vrod Rolly Uy (21st BCT \u201867)<\/span> to include somewhere in the program a recitation of the Varrons\u2019 Pledge. This I did before I ended my welcome message. With Vrod Deo manning the laptop and projecting the pledge in a wide screen upstage, I asked all Varrons to stand up and \u201cdo something that probably most of us have only done once as a Varron through all these years\u201d. With all the lights off inside the hall and the only light available was that of the projector screen, I urged every Varron to raise their right hand and repeat the pledge after me. So far, I do not know if the recitation of the pledge made a difference. I hope it did.(Thanks Vrod Rolly for your suggestion.)<\/em><\/p>\n

After my welcome remarks, the introduction of batches (from the latest to the oldest) was made by Sis Grace Penales-Marza (BUTA \u201891)<\/span>, the night\u2019s emcee. Almost all batches in both aggie and forestry chapters were represented by a least one member. This was followed by Sis Cion\u2019s introduction of\u00a0Vrod <\/a>Pons Batugal (Honorary Member ’64)<\/a><\/span> who was the night\u2019s guest speaker<\/a>. A special dance number was presented by the undergrads after the inspiring message of Vrod Pons.<\/p>\n

The 45th year being a milestone event, the UPVAA decided to give out lifetime achievement awards in the fields of Higher Education and Government Service. Vrod Ramon Razal (Skylove \u201873)<\/span> chaired the Awards Committee with Vrods Dodie and Deo, Sis Cristina Madamba-Bajet (Innovation Batch \u201871)<\/span>, Eva Ferrer-Dacumos (Controversial \u201882)<\/span> and Mutya Quintos-Manalo as members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Read the citations in the following links (pdf format)<\/strong>:<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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