Touching Base With the Brods on My Recent US Trip - Part 1
By Gilbert Joven '66


Hello Brods,

Let me first introduce myself before laying out my wonderful experience with the brods. I'm Gilbert Joven, UP Beta Sigma Batch ' 66. I left UP Diliman in 1969, after graduating BSBA Marketing and after " living it up" with the brods in our small " frat" house in Project 4 ( apt. nila Brod Bart Gacad) where I spent 2 fun-filled years with Brods Noli Nolasco, Ben Sto Domingo, Jun Leyco and Raul Lopez.

I started my Marketing career in Advertising by joining one of the biggest Advertising Agencies then, Philippine Advertising Councellors. And since I had so much energy, I took my MBA at UP Manila at Herran in the evening. This was the time when every hour of my life had to be planned well to survive the demands of working in Advertising and finishing two to three business cases a night in MBA school. But I had fun doing this sort of thing then.

I stayed in Advertising for 5 years, having worked with ACE COMPTON and McCANN ERICKSON in Manila and McCANN Indonesia, where I met my wife Tessie who is a CPA working with Johnson & Johnson Indonesia. From Indonesia, I went to the US in 1975 to try it out but, this move didn't work out well for me. So, in 1976 I decided to go back to the Philippines. This decision turned out to be a good one as I joined NESTLE in 1976, the same year of my arrival. Now, after 25 years with Nestle and with GOD's help, I have reached the position of Senior Vice President. I will most likely retire in this position after a few more years, but who knows(?)

On the personal side, Tessie and I have three children namely, MYLAH who just finished Medicine, ERWIN who now works as a CHEF at the MARRIOTT HOTEL Coronado in San Diego, and MARK who is in 2nd year college taking up IT.

Going now to my experience with the brods on my recent US trip, I can only say it was fun, pero medjo bitin.  Anyway, I went to the US in April on a business trip for a week in Marysville, OHIO where our COFFEEMATE R&D is located, and two weeks vacation with my son in San Diego. On my way back to the west coast, I decided to spend a night in CHICAGO.

To my great surprise, Brods Lem Michelena, Ding Dong Lopez( nephew of Brod Ben Sto Domingo) and Orly Manimtim met me at the airport as I was going out of the tunnel (may name placard pa). They brought me to my hotel downtown and treated me to fine dining at the Hankock Tower, overlooking Chicago by night. Wow! The food was terrific and the view up there was awesome!

After dinner, we were joined by Brod Mario Adap and we all went to a place called ADMIRAL. I won't mention my experience here anymore as it is better left to the imagination. I was brought back to my hotel at 4:00 a.m. so I barely had a few hours of sleep before my flight to San Diego at 9:00 a.m. Thanks to Brods Lem, Ding Dong, Orly and Mario for the unexpected and wonderful experience in Chicago. Double thanks to Lem for making a last minute call to me before leaving for the airport just to check if I'm OK. Masyado talaga ang mga Brods sa Chicago! Next time I'll make my stopover longer!

In San Diego, I was met by my son ERWIN at the airport. He brought me to the Marriott Hotel Coronado where he works as a Chef. To my delight, he treated me to a one night stay at the Marriott with all the works, sagot niya lahat.  As a father, I'm elated to be treated like this by my son whom I've been supporting over the years. Erwin is a graduate of UP Diliman with a degree in HRM. He went to the US in October 2000 after being recruited by Marriott Execs who came to the Philippines to look for good people. Erwin is an excellent cook. And he loves what he's doing.

Touching base with the Southern California brods started when I called Brod Norman Bituin who invited me to go to LA for the weekend.  Without hesitation, I agreed and asked if he can arrange a game of Golf with the brods.  Being an avid golfer himself, Brod Norman arranged for a golf game on Saturday 7 April, and also on Sunday 8 April.  This got me all excited as this was the first time I was playing golf in the US, and with the brods.  But first, I had to borrow the golf set of Brod Rolly Balingit who had a spare one.  Rolly was a single-digit handicapper once, so you can imagine the kind of golf sets he has, only the best!  Many thanks Brod Rolly !

The drive to LA from San Diego on that Saturday 7 April was smooth but the weather was bad.  It was pouring on the way and I was getting worried that the golf game with the brods will not push through because of the lousy weather. My first stop was to meet Brod Rolly at Irvine.  We had breakfast at Danny's and since our tee off time was still in the afternoon, Rolly drove me around the University of California Irvine Campus, showed me their house and introduced me to his lovely American wife who teaches at the university.

It was still raining when we left Irvine to go to Norman's place at Summitridge Drive, Diamond Bar.  The weather was still bad when we reached Diamond Bar so Norman had already cancelled our tee off time. Norman prepared a good lunch, but by 3:00 pm, a stroke of luck came in and the SUN started to drive away the rain clouds which gave us the perfect setting for our golf game. So off we went to the Diamond Bar Golf Course.  Brod Art Martin joined us to practice for his tournament the following day.  It was already a bit dark when we hit the 18th green.  But we finished all 18 holes and we had fun.

Norman arranged for dinner at a nice Pinoy restaurant and Brod Danny Galoso whom I have not seen for the past 33 years joined us.  It was good seeing Danny looking fit and well.  Every time I hear one of my favorite Beatle songs "Here, There and Everywhere" I always think of Danny.  Bakit kaya? I don't know...!

The following day, 8 April was another golfing day. Norman woke me up at 6:00AM as I was sound asleep in their nice guest room.  We first went to Mass in a quaint church nearby and proceeded to the golf course where Brod Dal Cruz, who drove all the way from Huntington Beach joined us.  Brod Dal who is now in his seventies can still out-drive us in the golf course.  What's your secret Brother Dal? Is it the Viagra or something else?

Brod Danny who was just doing his second fairway at that time didn't do so badly. Danny started to like the game and resolved to continue perfecting his golf game. The golf course was nearly perfect and we all had fun recalling the good days with the brods at UP Diliman tambayan.  After golf, we had a nice lunch at Sariling Atin. Then, as all good things have to end, we all had to say our Goodbyes.

The Brods mentioned to me to attend the UP Beta Sigma Grand Reunion in May 2001.  Judging now from the e-mails and photos from Brods Norman and Tatang, I know I missed a lot.  The experience with the Brods in LA was a good one but I'm sure the Grand Reunion in SF was even better!  The next Reunion could be in Las Vegas according to Tatang, 2 years from now.  Matagal pa, but I surely won't miss it this time !!!