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 !!!
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