Get2s

U.S.A. 2007 Get2gether
September 29, 2007
Venue: A Chinese restaurant in the Fremont , California area.

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..Hello to ALL! What a day to remember!!!! It is by far the best-attended GET2 we ever had. The local folks did a great job searching for our lost friends to join us for a social dinner and of course, great camaraderie. The attendees were: Bay area folks (Francis Rueca, Amor Rodriguez, Bob Ong & Sandy Manahan) joined by newly found locals (Carlos “Bobby” Zialcita and Ernesto “Boy” Noriega); Willie “Babes” Reynado from Southern CA; Tony Chua from Washington; David (Hua Beng) Tan and Sonny Ocampo from Canada; our special guest from Motherland, Ed LaChica, who is here visiting relatives; and a surprise guest, Dr. Allen Fletcher from Arizona.

Our celebration was held at a Chinese restaurant that accommodated our extended stay for dinner and a walk (mostly talk) through memory lane. It was a night to remember as we shared stories of the past (our school days and the past forty some years), what we're currently doing (or not doing anymore) and what we plan to do (or not do) in the future. Though we left Motherland years ago for greener pasture in our new home ( USA ), we have not forgotten our teen days, filled with experiences with our fellow classmates. It's also appropriate we celebrate the SBC back-to-back championship victory of our basketball team.

Most of us recall being classmates or 'jogging mates' at the ' University of Abad '. It was nostalgic to recall how the detention hours were given and how we served the 'awards'; and various tales of the march around the football field (apparently not to the sound of the 'When the Saints go marching down') but under the watchful eyes of 'Napoleon' in the grandstand (use your imagination and mathematical skills to figure out how many laps around the field one can do in an hour). The march provided all of us the time to brood and also build relationship with our fellow classmates. This was part of the curriculum for a well-rounded education.

Here's a math story for all. There were three (or more) of us that would share a cigarette in campus, and one of us would suggest 'fifty-fifty tayo'. That was our practical HS math.

Here are some updates of our classmates Bobby Zialcita accelerated from the 5^th grade to 7^th grade while his cousin (Lorenzo “Yoy” Zialcita) chose to stay with our class year. He was good academically and sports-wise (playing soccer and basketball). He came to the States in the 80's. He's retired (from working), enjoying life and resides in the Bay area. Its great Sandy has been able to be in touch with him as well as spend time together since they live not far from each other.

As for Boy Noriega, he left the rest of us at SBC after 3rd year HS and finished at a school not too 'far' (FEU) from SBC together with a few other classmates. He came to the States in the 80's and is currently working for a beverage company. He's still active playing basketball with other guys from SBC & DLS. He was located through a friend from his childhood neighborhood ( Talayan Village , or is it 'Talahip'). Boy is still the jolly guy that we all remember.

Tony Chua has attended all four of our US-GET2 and has provided great company with his warm and friendly personality. Though he also attended DLS & Letran, he keeps his ties to our group. As a student at SBC, he was also a top student (or is it frequent visitor) at the U of Abad.

Like a lot of our classmates, Babes Reynado went to DLS after HS and came to the States in the early 70's, first to freezing NY before moving to sunny California . He currently lives in Glendale (is that Armenia in California ?). Willie has attended all of our GET2 and we're glad to have him share the fun. David Tan is the top student of our class, hands down. He went to M.I.T. (that's Massachusetts , not Mapua) a year after HS for his engineering degree and moved to Canada , thereafter. Currently, he's retired and still living in Canada .

Our surprise guest, Dr. Allen Fletcher is a retired doctor (OBGY) living in Arizona . After HS, he went to UST with a few of our classmates to study medicine and came to the States thereafter. While in HS, he's quiet and easy to get along with. However, don't underestimate his other side (silent water runs deep), as he's also a student at the 'U of Abad'.

There are other classmates that we have located. Someday, they'll join us for a cup of coffee or tea, glass of beer, or better yet, our next GET2. When you're in town, give the bay area folks a call and we'll do our best to meet with you. Attached are some pictures for all of you to enjoy......................Contributed by Bob Ong October 4, 2007

The Get2 at Fremont, CA. was a huge success. Head count is now decently creeping compared to Manila . This is highly encouraging. I am so impressed with the leadership of Bob Ong who persistently called each & everyone to attend. He arranged for the place in Fremont accessible to everybody. He even took charge in ordering the delightful food more than enough to make a donation to the Food Bank with the leftovers.

A private room was reserved to accommodate 24 people in two tables but we just moved the tables close to each other to make the sharing more intimate. For those who were not present, they missed the personal interaction with our classmates, some we have not seen for 45 years. It is very refreshing to trace back the nostalgia of our yester-years, from our days at San Beda to the present as we prepare our life for retirement, and for some of us who now enjoy it. There were stories of our youthful mischief in classes, the Geritol treatments of the present, and the different applications of Viagra and the like for the future.

For personal appearance, there are guys who like Noriega and Tony Chua, have grown taller. All the rest except Lachica & Ocampo have grown wider. David Tan, who can only utilize half of his brain because of a stroke, is still better than mine. Carlos Zialcita has retained his tisoy look and is now balbas sarado. Lachica because of his hard to maintain bigote has the debonair look of the evening. Allan Fletcher, a retired OB-GY Md, has a prominent look of someone who gave up using Rogaine; like Babes Reynado (joke lang). There are few among our classmates who are fortunate that they can still fit into a size 34-inch waistline but I am sure Sandy Manahan and I cannot fit this size. Sorry Sandy , I think the habit of Fr. Benabarre might fit you better. Amor Rodriguez appeared to be the most reserved in the group (maybe he misses being on the dance floor). For those who are still addicted to drinking Coke or Pepsi, Noriega has enough Shasta Cola to make you swim in the manufacturing plant where he works near the San Mateo Bridge . Tony Chua retained his baby-face look and is now a good-looking six-footer Chippendale retired. Joke again!

As we wrap up the evening, Bob Ong provided everyone a CD. As my wife & I drove back home we enjoyed the CD, all favorites of the sixties, seventies & eighties -so nostalgic and looking forward to another GET2, maybe in Seattle Wash. Hasta La Vista Baby!

…….Contributed by Francis Rueca, October 4, 2007

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