It was definitely an affair to remember...

Our 20th year high school reunion turned out to be a great success. Thanks to everyone who took the time out of their busy holiday schedule to join us in an afternoon (and evening) of food, fun and of course walang katapusang kuwentuhan, tawanan at chikahan. The Girls. First on board at carol's new digs (beautiful, beautiful house - as my daugher Ysa would say it - miss carol, congrats!) was Maritone Suansing (Olaer). Hindi kita nakilala Maritone! You wouldn't believe she already has a 14 year old daughter! Thanks for helping with the preparations...

Hats off to Carolyn, sporting a long hair-do and all up and about just 2 days after surgery (gallbladder nga ba talaga o tummy tuck?! heh-heh) Bilib talaga kami sa yo. I know pigil na pigil ka na sa pagsasayaw during 80's music playing Street Beat! And of course, Ms JJ BAdiola (Ramos) still knew all the 80s moves! Thanks for gracing us with your batch '82 presence. Hindi ka pa rin nagbabago. Saludo talaga kami sa batch ninyo. Sana kami rin ganyan ka-solid. Sybil Montegrande (Baldovino) and I drove together (convoy) with our hubbies and my kids. Her twins had to babysit Lolo and Lola who just arrived from the Phil the day before. Thanks for staying extra longer Sybil - lalo na for GK and for the games.

Alam mo naman hindi uubra ang volume ng boses ko. Kailagan pa rin namin ang Batallion Commander voice mo. Super-sexy, Janet Olbes (Hopkins) was already there -- all the way from Florida! (Sandra Bullock look-alike daw sabi ni Tatiana) Thank you so much for making the long trip (and the airfare). Ngayon kilala mo na 'ko - puwede na kita sunduin sa airport next time ;). Siyempre, the ever-sophisticated Cecille Beech was also there - minus her hubby and 4 little girls - para serious ang pakikipag-chika? Any real estate questions, just email Cecille ... o ano, Janet? Lilipat na ba! And of course, our charming mestiza, Pinky Hemedez with her more mestiza 2-yr old daughter, Alexa also joined in the fun. Thanks for coming again Pinky! Maaasahan ka talga!

And what's a reunion without Tatoots?!?! (and without our traditional t-shirts!). Tatiana, hubby David and super guwaping Andre drove all the way from Las Vegas. Tatiana, without you - hindi talaga mabubuo itong mga reunion natin na ito! And last but not least, Honey Sacro (Libao) -- again from Batch '82 -- together with her brood. 3 "tweens" and the cutest, littlest 3 month old baby, Natalia! (May isa pang anak na nasa Pinas). Maraming-maraming salamat for making the long drive. With your support, magiging solid din ang batch namin like yours. The food!!! And lots of it! Kare-kare with bagoong, hilabos na hipon, pansit, fried bangus, chicken and pork adobo, bicol express (maanghang ba Tatiana?!) - sorry ha - mommy ko nagluto.

Humabol pa rin nung gabi ang bbq beef ribs and bbq pork on stick. Sarap ng iba't-ibang dessert.... cheese rolls and other pastries (courtesy of Pinky) ...siyempre hindi pahuhuli ang bibingka, puto, sapin-sapin, and other malagkit sweets. Meron din cassava cake and other sweets. Litong-lito kaming lahat kung ano ang kakainin! The serious stuff. Believe it or not, hindi lang chikahan at kalokohan ang goal ng reunion natin this year. We managed to invite volunteers from ANCOP USA - the US part of the Gawad Kalinga organization - to come and tell us more about the organization.

There were a lot of questions but they were so proud of our batch for stepping up to the plate. All together, we were able to raise $810 towards 1 house. Konti na lang talaga!!!! To everyone, maraming, maraming, maraming salamat - for listening and for supporting our cause.

We will still solicit more to make $1000 before we give to GK - I'm sure we can do this before the year ends. The funds will go to a GK village in Quezon City called GK-San Jose. All donations are tax-deductible and we will be mailing receipts to you. I will also be emailing pictures of the site as soon as I get them.

The Games! The mere mention of GAP gift certificates sent the teenagers running to participate in the Bring Me game. JJ Badiola's daughter (and purse) won hands-down (ano ba laman ng bag mo, JJ?) on the first round. Honey's kids won the second round. 80's trivia was still the most popular game ... ano ulit pangalan nung PE teacher na maliit na maputi? Last name starts with the letter "A"!

Honey won this game. Teka... wala ba kayong nahalata?? Pinakyaw ng batch '82 and prizes natin ah? Hay naku - pinagbigyan lang namin kayo kasi tinuruan talaga tayo sa JMD ng respect for the elders di ba?! ;).

Anyway - Maritone won second place for guessing the name of the manang na nagbebenta na goodies sa 3rd floor (at pinagkukupitan pala ng siopao nila JJ noon!) -- si Manang Betty! And for remembering the name of the song we sing during Farewell seniors - (not after everyone has hummed the whole song). Ano ba kayoh!!! "I'll Always Remember" - kaya nga ganun title at hindi "I will always forget"! The pictures!

Everyone took lots of pictures (the hubbies took most of them) and I posted mine sa photos link ng e-group natin. Everyone, please please add your pictures to the album para naman mainggit (este) makita ng mga hindi naka-attend. We also have pictures of the kids (mostly hindi na kids)... parang kelan lang mga babies ang kinukunan natin ng pictures - ngayon, sila na ang kumukuha ng pictures natin!

O di ba??? Affair to remember talaga? To those of you who attended - again, maraming maraming maraming salamat. Walang paglagyan ang kaligayahan sa kaibuturan ng aking tumitibok na puso sa pasasalamat sa inyong walang-sawang pagtangkilik sa ating mga pagsasalo! Ayan, lumabas na naman ang tagalog na minana ko pa sa lola ko! .... Hindi nga, tenkyu talaga prom da bottom op my hart.

Sa mga hindi naka- attend....sorry na lang kayo!...hindi....parang awa nyo na (hikbi) umattend naman kayo (hikbi) kahit minsan lang (hikbi) promise, once lang kayo maka-attend, hindi na kayo uulit - I mean, hindi kayo magsisisi. We'll plan another one again in 2 years (sana less) and we will be opening it up to other batches. Pero one thing na this reunion has proven...NOTHING compares to good old friends and old familiar faces. "Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other Gold." Take care everyone!

It's me Bey (Lilybell Mendoza-Calderon).

O Ako Naman...Hihihi

by Tatiana Villafor-O'Quinn

Si Tatoots po ito! (Tatiana Villaflor-O'Quinn)...Of course, many many thanks to Lilybell "Bey" Calderon for making the invitations, sending email invitations, phone calls to other classmates and other classmates, and mostly for the nice serious project that we have which is our GK Village - in the Philippines. Ang saya talaga ng reunion at ang sarap ng pagkain!

While making updates to the web site, I just noticed that it has been four years since our last reunion in California. Of course we have had mini reunions here in Vegas, there in California, and I saw some classmates as well in my two trips to Manila...wherever it may be, for sure, there will always be a Philwomenian around!!!

As we continue to communicate thru the wonders of internet, we keep in touch, and we always look forward to the next reunion...whether it be 2005 or 2006, it sure will be something to expect again...Hopefully by then, David, Andre and I will be residing in LA...i know...i know...lagi kaming lumalampas...but surely, we both have Southern California in mind next...ive enjoyed the Bay Area, really tired of Vegas, and looking forward to Southern Cali, where all the relatives and friends are...

A land away from Manila, but having friends like you will always keep your thoughts away from being home sick...

Thanks to everyone who came to the reunion...thanks to Pia Sacro for that nice hour you spent with bey and me sa yahoo messenger, and giving us contact info of Honey Sacro, and seeing her and JJ Badiola again was really fun!!! Sheila Posis!!! sana you can make it next time...and same for the others like Helga, Daisy, Grace ...see you at the next reunions k...

As for Manila people...Carol Papa, and Lourdes Seril will be there next year...and for me...Ill see you all Manila people in 2006!!!

Thanks again, and ill see you in the Internet World!!!

Mya,

Tatiana Villaflor-O'Quinn

Click Here to View Reunion Pictures!