Maasin-Baybay Batchmates Grand Fellowship

It was a great loud night on Black Saturday when my Maasin and Baybay batchmates merged and coalesced (love that word) for a night of singing, food, celebration, games and dancing. Special thanks to Maye, Karen Jane, Misay and Lucille for planning that unforgettable reunion.

MAASIN

 

BAYBAY

 

No party would be complete without the disco ball and DJd music from Captains of Baybay. It was the first time that the old house had loud music in a long time.

Mi companera, Michelle Polo-Tesorero (aka Misay). Companero/companera is what we call fellow attorneys in the Philippines. Gingging (Geraldine Fernandez-Malaya), another companera, could not attend the fellowhip as she was still in Cebu, where her law firm is based.

Hi-tech set up thanks to Maye, Lucille and Misay, the triumvirate. How come we don’t have a group picture?

MANILA: the soul of el pais…more to follow!

Just cos we are gay don’t mean we can’t kick it to bayotiful girls. Here, we are w/ jazz singer at the Hyatt lounge. She is the 23rd of 24 contestants for PinoyIdol. Best of Luck to you. (First night in Manila)

With a client and her fam dining at Seaside, Manila.

Minette’s Graduation Party

Minette’s Maasin friends came to Baybay to share in the celebration due to her successful accomplishment. Congrats!!!

Baybay’s Top Shots

Running early in the morning at the Grand Stand; meeting old batchmates; the smile of Jerome’s kids and Ushwing…

 

The exterior of Lola’s father’s home in Dungcaan, also of wood. Her sister, Leonora Sta. Iglesia Alkuino, inherited this home, which went to their brother’s children. The house, with its delicately carved wooden design or borda, unfortunately, is in disrepair.

Semana Santa en las Filipinas
No Holy Week glamourosity like the Philippines. Amidst all the penance, visitas iglesias, and indulgences comes the manifestation of our natural wealth in the form of a sumptuously decorated carro de santo entierro, the burial of Jesus, with a variety of colorful and indigenous fresh flowers.

 

BAYBAY SITES

Education as central in the life of Baybayanons: Statue of Jose Rizal in Baybay North Public Elementary; view of rice fields, part of Baybay National High School; giving thanks to American Franciscan, Sister Joseph Ann, who taught Julius piano.

Con parientes…

 

Jobim + Myra’s Pinning y Graduation en la Ciudad de Ormoc

It was a proud moment for la familia de los Torres’ to have their 2nd B.S.N. son, Jobim, graduate.
All the best to you & Myra as you journey towards the Boards and self-sufficiecy.

Olang’s pinning a Nuestra Sra. de Guadalupe

The 3 siblings reunited after four years that Minette had been away to finish her B.S.N. here in Cebu. The day of Olang’s pinning was a celebration of Olang’s accomplishment, which is as much hers as it is ours. Congrats!!!

As it was when we were younger, we looked forward to the knickknacks of food stalls outside Church. Here I am, 25 years later, reliving food memories such as a barbecued banana coated in azucar, aka bananaque.

Great shots of old women in some of the food stalls selling bananas and other indigenous fruits. I title this set, Tiendas Pobres.

NOT FOR SALE…

Cebu Site Shots

Photos of day 1

Pinas here we come…

Julius and I leave for our siblings’ BSN graduation. WE ARE VERY EXCITED.
Julius looks forward to: eat lechon, see + be with family and do absolutamente NO-thing! 
Ian looks forward to: food, old sites, all the greens, classmate party y por siempre, familia.

(Photo still from our favorite Pinoy director’s next film, Tuli.) 

Viaje a Pinas

With our trip to Pinas for Minette + Jobim’s grauduation in just a week!!!, pohon, the excitement + anxiety takes a hold. But these photos from “la madre patria” remind us that nothing better than good meals and get-togethers con la familia y amigos, especialmente, los ninos como que Nico, el gato lindo en su carnival de la escuela.