UP High 1957-1961 Events: EMERALD VERSION 2.5

EMERALD 2 1/2

(Conference Texting/ Face to Face Gathering)

Marriott Villas, Newport Beach, California
November 17, 2016

By Evelyn Machan Andamo

I was still recovering from my Phil Am Chamber of Commerce Oct trade mission in the Philippines jet lag in Las Vegas. Thus, I did not volunteer to contribute for our 55th Reunion 2 blog. Well, serves me right. I got volunteered to write the blog for our SoCal 55th reunion 2 1/2 (a miniature one but not any less fun in spite of its size!). My apologies for the delay but better late than never. I could only send a blog after my Thanksgiving week celebration with my family. Thanks to the e-tech savvy of Norie and Enteng, lest this blog would never have gotten posted.

For a change, I shall format this blog differently.

Here goes: Yes, our day at Norie's and Roly's time shared venue at the lovely Marriot Villas in Newport Beach for our Reunion 2 1/2 gathering metamorphosed to a three day event. Actually, it started with exchange of texts the day before and ended the next day after the face to face gathering of your senior- ager high school classmates on November 17 at 11:30AM. Yes, it was a blast of a three day reunion for us UP high So Californians invited by the hostess with the mostest Catiis couple! The reunion's camaraderie really started in the wee hours of Nov 16. The day's fun chats before the actual physical event could be depicted with the following texts. Hoping sharing the exchange of texts will keep you entertained! Enjoy!

____________________

Nina texted - "Am at X-ray clinic for my lungs today to rule out broncho

Pneumonia I have been coughing for 4 days

I got the cough from Dony but he's well now and I am the one still coughing but hope it's nothing serious"

Nora texted - “Wishing/praying for the best...take care! Keep us posted!"

Nina replied:- "don't want to Miss emerald 2 1/2 "

Merle texted tempting Nina - “ Will bring dinuguan and Turon tomorrow. You don't want to miss that Nina! “

Nina did get tempted---“Sarap ! I have to make it there ! "

Evelyn texted- "Nina, hoping you get over your coughing and nothing really serious. God bless. Merle, now the guys better leave some for me! (Evelyn scheduled to arrive later at 1PM that afternoon due to a morning meeting)"

Aura texted- "We will bring mango bread and biscotti. Ok ba?"

Merle quipped with her usual jest- "Okay Evelyn, don't rush!Drive safely and cross your

fingers that Paul will leave some for you!"

"Merle, may kasama bang putong puti yong dinuguan, my favorite." Paul

Evelyn begged - "Aura, tell Paul pls leave some for me. Thanks. "

Nina begged, as well- "Damihan mo Kaya Merle para siguradong makatikim kaming lahat "

Merle warned- "I thought you guys have high blood pressure?

Aura texted- "Bring lots of Ashitaba"

Merle texted at 11:12 PM- (Aura/Paul to ride with the Borreros to Newport Beach)

"Aura, please come at 1030. I have to go out and buy food. Norie won't be ready till 1130 anyway."

(Thanks heavens, we were finally able to have our most needed "

Nina texted early at 6:07 AM on THE DAY ( Nov 17)

"Merle stay close to me in the food line this time ok "

Nina concerned- “Wala si Enteng to take most of the photos , who will take them for Emerald 2 1/2 ? “

Evelyn volunteered a replacement -

“Rose. She is great at taking pictures. And she does a great job! I vouch for her takes! Not to worry.”

Merle texted teasing Evelyn who was coming later directly from a meeting - “ Norie, do you need plastic glasses, spoons,etc?

Let me know so EVELYN can bring. Joke only!

Pero let me know if you do.

Who is 619 851 ...?”

Nina texted - “I think it's Freddie di ba ? He is already getting ready for our Windsor reunion !

What's our color motif for this emerald 2 1/2 still green ?

Will we still bring our scarves ? “

Merle texted back - “Mine is brown because it's fall now and so the green turned brown.

I will look for my green scarf.”

Evelyn finally got the day's messages and texted - “Sorry. I went to Baskin Robins last night since I thought the piyaya (an Iloilo specialty) would go well with ice cream for desert. You guys should have told me that you needed utensils since I have galore of such supplies at my center. But am not coming from there, though. Plus, you would need to eat with your hands before I got there! Say, I am also bringing ampalaya veg and ground meat sautéed with tiny cut up veg (I do not know the name) from my center's lunch yesterday. I ordered extra food from the menu to bring today. So lots of food really. Perhaps, Norie, you should not prepare too much food lest you would have to shove leftovers in your tiny villa fridge ! See you guys soon! “

Merle texted with her usual wit -

“ Evelyn, I said 'joke only'

I feel funny already so I'm writing what my finger dictates.

For all we know Norie isn't reading this because no response.

Come as you are! Matatabunan mo na naman kami sa kaseksihan mo! O ito joke din. O gusto serious?”

Nina texted- “ So Much food na ! Baka we cannot taste the others na “

Merle texted- “Don't worry about too many food. Remember Norie offered that we can sleep there? I'm bringing pan de Sal for breakfast so somebody bring eggs and bacon! “

Aura texted - "Hi, all. FYI Norie reads our email. When I talked to her yesterday she mentioned our conversation. So it's good that she knows that Merle is bringing lechon. Art told Paul that they are bringing wine and persimmons.

Ok will bring my cushions and extra underwear so I don't have to turn it over tomorrow.”

Nina texted adding - “And pajamas too”

Evelyn texted - “By the way, Rose reminded me that the pictures she would take were silly ones. Thus, beware. Sorry, can't take part in this communique, anymore. Got to go to mtg. Till the gathering. So long!!!”

Aura texted - “Ok see you all later.”

Merle texted-

“ Muntik na akong mabilaukan reading about the lechon and underwear and pajama!

Okay don't bother me anymore . I'm trying to prepare our breakfast!

See you Aura and Paul at 1030. It's 40 mins away!”

(The texting chats finally ended. They were followed by directional texts, thus, nothing worth sharing.)

THE DAY

As expected, there was food galore: host Roly prepared his sought for bulalo soup and hostess Norie graced us with her yummy baked salmon smothered with all sorts of herbs!, Korean “japchae”noodles and rotisserie chicken a la-lechon manok! She even introduced us to rice cooked in a microwave. Now, that was true innovation. Typical of our Norie. Nothing could stop her. No rice cooker; use the microwave. And they had an array of fruits in a tray to ensure that we also ate some antioxidants for our aging skin! As though our food was not enough: Rose's and Art's usual box of persimmons with homemade Guava guinatan and wine, Merle's and Nelson's turon and dinuguan, Lelit's freshly roasted cashew and Evelyn's piaya of Iloilo ( ala mode with ice cream), ampalaya vegetables, sayote vegetables and ground beef with cut up carrots, potatoes and red peppers (sorry, I do not know the name of the dish since along with the vegetables, the caterer at my center made it for me). So nice of everyone to wait for me. So there were lots of dinuguan for all to savor. While we were not privy to the men's conversation doing their powwow in the living room section of the unit, the ladies' chat was as smorgasbord as our food. No topic was spared: in-laws, Las Vegas reunion, Batangas Resort reunion, and more jokes/ teasing. Oh yes, a friend was going to entertain us with "Hello" as he would play the piano but he got tied up with a plumbing emergency at his office.

And, for some precious moments, we had Freddie Bueno in our midst via the airwaves joining us. We passed the phone around and the ladies made him guess who was on the line with him. In fairness, of course, Freddie recognized my voice. After all, I was with him over the phone for some time when I learned he had difficulty breathing. I gave him instructions on application of pursed lip breathing and diaphragmatic breathing in his activities of daily living. Indeed, we were pleased that Freddie sounded great and we enjoyed the little time we each had with him. Freddie suggested that June or July would best for the 2017 Windsor, Canada, visit.

We bade our good byes to Freddie and continued to take pictures. We decked out ourselves with green scarves, consistent with our emerald theme.

Unfortunately, we were unable to pose in front of the pool and other great spots at the villa. The culprit? We all got carried away with munchies and chats. Was truly another blast of a reunion to remember.

And when we parted for the night at 5:45PM, one would think that we had enough to say to each other for the night. Are you kidding? Like teenagers, these senior-agers' exchange of words did not end at the villa. Texts took over. What would we do without smartphones, huh? Some thoughts were serious but most were simply hilarious typical of their face to face conversations. Let us entertain you as we did each other from the time we left our super hosts to the time we took our Zzzzzzs that evening:

Nov 17 at 7:16 PM. Norie texted - “Thank you to all of you for coming and having fun here with us to hold an Emerald 2 1/2! Thanks for EVERYTHING you brought...we had food enough for an army! Will surely miss all of you. Evelyn, thanks for agreeing to write the blogs. I just realized I have very few photos...can you all share whatever shots you have? Please send them to me at norieqc@gmail.com. Thanks again...and wishing all of you a Blessed Thanksgiving..Merry Christmas and Happy 2017! God bless...

and for now..Safe travels to all of you! “

Evelyn texted - “We had so much fun. Thanks for hosting. As usual, most gracious hosts, you two! We had another blast of a mini-mini reunion. Much thanks to all for the fun, laughter and food!!! Love you lots!!! “

Merle texted- "Thank you Roly and Norie for hosting our mini reunion in your time share in Newport Beach!

'''Twas another fun day filled with laughters, kainan and tawanan!

I wonder if Nina was able to taste all the food!?!”

Evelyn texted - “Fuiuuunny! Merle, and all, please send your pictures for our blog. Thanks for another memorable gathering, you all! Till next time!”

Norie texted again- “Ha ha!! Thx for the nice photo...pls send more if you can..via norieqc@gmail.com...hey,Evelyn. Looking forward to your blogs!”

Evelyn texted - “Will next week. . Bz with our UPAGLAA FALL FAIR.”

Nina texted - “Thanks Norie and Roly for hosting such an enjoyable luncheon . Not a dull moment ; so

much fun from start to finish . We are so blessed to be sharing moments like these which we will treasure the rest of our lives ! Looking forward to seeing you in Windsor !

Sobra ang dami ng food I was not able to taste everything which proves what I have said about food is really true . Heavy ang food so I really was not able to taste all the food !”

“Many thanks to all you wonderful friends who make our lives blessed. First of all, to Norie and Roly for making itspossible in their beautiful timeshare and so much food. Then to Merle and Nelson for our ride and pass through the gates(!), turon and dinuguan, to Lelit and Tony for the best roasted cashew nuts ever, to Evelyn for the good pinono (?) and ice cream, to Art and Rose for the ginatanbayabas persimmons and "Baby Santa" for my tree and to Nina and Dony for their best effort to get out of their hospital beds

in order to join us. Thank you all for being our friends. Until our next reunion. Sorry if I missed anything. Tandana kasi, eh.” Love from Paul and Aura

Evelyn texted - “All our pleasure!!! GN and sweet dreams to ; Mind you all, lovers are ageless since love may be expressed in several ways!!! May your fires of love maintain their eternal flames always. God bless.”

Nina texted - “Merle See tama talaga ako , Kung Sobra sobra ang food you can't taste all the food anymore ! I did not get to eat piyaya and ice cream . Buti na Lang I was able to take home some piyaya and just ate some now with dinuguanagain before taking my hot green tea with honey and my meds . I don't know what else I

Missed because I was so full after my first plateful

I couldn't eat anymore even if I wanted to. Anyway it was really a luncheon to remember in a very nice setting with so much good food and most of all the best company !

Sweet dreams everyone I'll just forward photos tomorrow”

Norie texted last, to close THE DAY – “Good night all!! Still not sleepy from the excitement of our get together! Sweet dreams to y’all!.

(And the next day was filled with the continuation of the two days before. Judge for yourself.)

Aura texted at 7:43 AM on Nov 18

“Good morning! You know, I did not find my piyaya among my loot. I was looking for it for my dessert but it was nowhere to be found. Sayang! Anyway I have a little of everything. Too bad NnR could not take much in their suitcase.”

Norie texted- “Good morning! Surprised to find last night two piyayas wrapped in white table napkin.. it was yours pala! ..and also, you left a crystal dish which I called you about for...and you said just take it with us to NJ...so so your "senior moment" resulted in a nice souvenir from you!”

Aura texted back- “Enjoy! I am happy to will my plate to you. Hope you can take it with you. “

Merle texted - “ I'm not guilty! Just enjoy the rest of your loot!(baka mabulunan pa siNina!)

I had wine and a persimmon for dinner.

Thanks ArtnRose for my favorite fruit and my Christmas tree ornament! You are always so thoughtful!”

Evelyn texted- "So nice to hear that you guys had a good rest. Aura, I will remember to give you piaya when I get a package from Iloilo again. Bong sends his regrets for not being able to sing yesterday. He texted:

‘Sorry about yesterday's snafu. Plumber took longer than anticipated. Today am attending an all day conference on Women's Health Issues at Marriott in DC. Check email.’ Enjoy savoring yesterday's fun filled gathering. Await for the blog sometime next week. Still lots of catching up to do. Love to all. Norie and Rolly, do have a safe flight back home on Sunday”

Norie texted - “Missing you all already....but for sure, see you all in Windsor! God bless!”

Lelit texted- “Same here - we're on the road to Hayward...”

Nina texted - “Sus ang aga naman ninyo mag chit chat . Parang mgateenager pa Kayo in energy . Aaaay Aura you left the 2 piyayas I left you ? I ate one last night before going to bed Sarap ! pala with hot tea and honey . Anyway Baka you will learn to make piyaya too and we will just buy from you like your food for the gods , biscotti and mango bard which are all to die for ! Evelyn , Bong sings to you everyday ? Wow Kaya ka pala blooming talaga . Sige na go for it ! So little time left ! “

Merle texted- “Amen to that Nina! “

Lelit texted- “Go Evelyn!”

Evelyn texted - “You guys are crazy. Btw, no daily serenades. Nina, you are a romantic dreamer! “

Norie texted- “Text just recd from Florence...how nice of her to think of us..sent her some of our photos..say hello to Florence who is part of this group text!

Fwd:’Dear Nora & Rolly,

Good Friday to you! I'm sure you had another fun-filled,bellyful, & laugh till you drop day with ageless northern Californians.Just thought to drop you a line or two & wish you safe travels as you return home this weekend.

Shared the fabulous blog with my brother, Eric who is going home to Manila come February for his UPHS'67 Golden Ann. Reunion.x

Take care for now & God's best.’

Love, Florence”

Nina texted also- “ Hello Florence , You would have had the loudest laughter if you had been with us ! Walang tatalo sa tawamo ! Love to you and Manny ! “

Evelyn texted additionally- “Hi Florence. Surely, you will get to read the blog on our momentous gathering with Norie and Rolly's super hosting. Hopefully, I shall find time since I will be gone for a week starting the 22nd for Thanksgiving to be hosted, as usual, by Emm, my second daughter, amidst the woodsy grounds of Woodside, NoCal. Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!”

Truly another blast of a 55^th reunion to remember in the years to come. It pales in comparison with the number of classmates able to join our Batangas resort and Las Vegas reunions but equally fun and memorable, indeed!! Our eternal thanks to our super hosts, Norie and RolyCatiis!!!

SHARING WITH ALL PHOTOS OF OUR NOVEMBER 17, 2016 Eemerald 2 ½ IN NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA…WE ARE SURE YOU WILL ALL AGREE: THESE PICTURES ARE WORTH A THOUSAND AND MORE WORDS!