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Living (and Leaving) My Heart
in San Francisco, CA
by Ed Abon, UPD Batch 69A (Panzer)
Remembrance of Things Past
This get-together would be a fitting conclusion to a hectic week of
business in San Francisco, CA, USA. On Sept 25, a Sunday, before 5 o’clock
in the afternoon, Nina, my daughter, a BS Biology sophomore at Stanford
University, and I dropped by at Brod Pogs Gaspay’s home in Palo Alto, CA,
in the heart of Silicon Valley. Together in two vehicles, Brod Pogs’
Mercedes Benz 350 and my rented Toyota Prius, with Brod Pogs driving like
a Formula 1 racer, we stepped on the gas pedals and breezed thru the light
traffic at the Freeway, I-101N, to Cy Abiog and Brod Gabby Moraleda’s
place at Foster City. We were meeting with the brods of Northern
California. Just the thought of seeing Gabby, Tatang Vergara, Gerry Abenes,
Cyrus Fagar, Ike Araneta , Ding Cavestany and other brods evoked memories
of the good old days at the University of the Philippines in Diliman,
Quezon City when we were young and foolish yet lovable and idealistic. I
knew that the night would be well-spent recalling stories and songs of the
turbulent period of and heydays of the late 60’s and early 70’s, an
unforgettable period that moulded all of us, the children of the Age of
Aquarius, the placard-bearers of Plaza Miranda, the demonstrators of the
Quarter Storm, the activists of the Diliman Commune, the sons of the
Suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus, the babies of Martial law, into
what we all are today. I just knew that these expectations would be enough
to build up and replenish my energy to endure a fun-filled evening of
reminiscing. I was enthusiastic and excited. And it showed. As the brods
would say many times during those days of old ”to reminisce remembrance of
things past”. And yes, we do know how to reminisce in our merry, unique,
romantic, Beta Sigman ways.
The Arrival/weekdays
Six days earlier on Sept 19, 2011, a Monday, I set foot again in San
Francisco, CA. I was there to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) USA 2011 Meetings and the Trade Policy Dialogue on Advance Rulings
where I would be speaking for the Philippines at the Hyatt Regency at
Embarcadero Center in San Francisco. Realizing that I had a much longer
time on this trip, and not the 2-3 day trips, I scheduled my activities in
such a way that I could spend the weekend with Nina and to meet up with
the brods of Northern California whom I have not seen since the San
Francisco Grand Fraternity Ball in May 2009. It took just a simple email
and a short phone call to Brods Pogs and Gabby to set a common convenient
time for a pot-luck-get -together party hosted by Brod Gabby who
graciously accommodated my free time despite the fact that he was tied
down to a previous commitment being the point person of a golf tournament
for UP alumni scheduled on the same day.
At the Trade Policy Dialogue, 21 Sept. 2011
APEC CTI Meeting, behind the Philippine Flag, 24 Sept. 2011
Chem. Engr. and Atty. Ed
Abon, UPD'69A represents the Philippines at APEC (USA) 2011, 23 Sept. 2011
The weekend
San Francisco is not only the home of the world’s most recognizable
landmark, the Golden Gate Bridge, ubiquitous cable cars that reach to the
skies, the famous Pier 39, a bustling market place at Fisherman’s Wharf,
the crookedest portion of Lombard Street, inescapable Alcatraz Island
eerily made famous by Al Capone, quaint places at Marin County but also
the home of the famous San Francisco fog that blankets the bay hiding the
Golden Gate Bridge on some days. And Saturday, September 24, was a real
bad day to go sightseeing. The GG Bridge coyly disappeared into the fog.
The weather was not cooperating unlike the first three days after I
arrived of unusually clear blue skies and Indian summer-like weather, an
unusual occurrence in San Francisco. But revisiting the scenic places in
and around San Francisco can take a back seat for now. What is important
is for me to have a quality time with Nina whom I have not seen in 18
months, to enjoy our limited time together. I was determined that nobody,
not even the famous San Francisco fog, would spoil our day. Sausalito and
Tiburon were the usual favourite haunting grounds with a short visit to
the Muir Woods lookout used by the US Military to spot Japanese submarines
during the WWII. With the weather still not cooperating, Nina suggested
that it was perhaps much better to drop by at Westfield and surroundings
at Market Street and, later, to have a quiet dinner of sumptuous Chinese
dimsums that she craved so much. Sunday, September 25 was no different
weather -wise to Saturday so we decided to simply take a nice stroll and a
simple lunch of Clam Chowder and Fish and Chips at the Fish Trap, a famous
hole-in-the-wall eatery, in Half Moon Bay. A relaxing drive thru Redwood
City and I-280S took us back to Palo Alto in time to meet up with Brod
Pogs and May Gaspay at their Middlefield Street house.
Welcome Home Brods
“Tame” is a word rarely used to describe a UP Beta Sigman get
together. Neither is it apt to use the word “wild”. It is somewhere in
between these two extremes, which is the unique Betan way of celebrating a
Betan life. Truth to tell, it can still go wild, but only on rare
occasions. But somehow as the brods grow with time, the jug-a-lugs of our
resident yesteryears have given way to more polished, refined ways of
celebrating. What used to be predictably rambunctious occasions spiced by
rowdy songs, laughter and howls on stories of our foolishness, adventures
and misadventures, angry cries of brods recipients of pukes from drinking
too much, cacophony of voices drowned by the singing of “Cheers to ...he’s
so good, he’s so good....”, devious ways of hiding or soothing the hurt of
lost or unrequited love - are now characterized by pleasant exchange of
stories, of opinions , always respectful of what others have to say and
share. Behavioural changes have occurred through time – politeness instead
of disorderliness; respect and reverence over the youthful traits of
arrogance and aggressiveness; and evident high tolerance for dissenting
opinions, sans dominant voices or misbehaving brats.
The early
birds. The group can be divided into one with big tummies and the other
with slender Betan torsos.
Take a bow Brods Dave, Cyrus and Gerry. Brod Dave also said Ric and I are
traditionalists for wearing the
original UP Beta Sigman patch...
The early birds with
their "Bosses"
All is Forgiven
But somehow you sense a reassuring and familiar constancy that makes
the brotherly connection easier. You could feel that the Brotherhood is in
good hands when the younger batches know how to blend with older batches
and vice versa. You could say the Fraternity is where you belong when you
see the brods, defiant and unapologetic of their respective stations in
life, are willing to offer a good story and share a good laugh. You feel
reassured that the brotherhood is getting stronger when you look at Brods
Dave Villegas and Boy Ramos with their youthful enthusiasm ever present in
supporting the activities of the Fraternity while Brods Babes Ignacio and
Ike Araneta strum the guitars and Brod Gerry Abenes on the drums dish out
oldies, songs of our generation, appreciated by young and old brods alike.
If you need sympathetic ears, Brods Nol Banzon, Ric Velasco, Eric Punzalan
and Franklin Morales will lend you theirs. Their very presence is
reassuring enough. You could feel then that the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity
is very vibrant and alive in Northern California. And it will continue to
be so as long as the North California brods and all Betans in the four
corners of the globe continue to roll out the carpet to welcome home a
brod, a Beta Sigman, prodigal or not, and, unconditionally, say that all
is forgiven.
Cheers..cheers.. UP
Beta Sigmans all.
Jamming with the
brods. "Folkways 2012" in San Francisco. Why not? The brods got all the
musical talents.
Nice vest Brod Eric.
But where is the Betan patch?
After all these
years, Brod Gabby's look has not changed, except the white hair. Brod Nol,
too.
UP Beta Sigmans All
After all, when the day is over and done, we are all UP Beta Sigmans.
And proud of it.....
I will be remiss if I do not thank Cy Abiog and daughter, Andrea, for
their hospitality and to May Gaspay, Mercy Villegas, Lleva Abenes, Irma
Ramos, Tess Morales and Lita Punzalan, of course, for preparing the food.
The food was a-plenty and delicious and the the wine was a-flowing. Thanks
to all of you. Needless to say that the brods will not survive without
you. Much thanks to Julie Cavestany for helping me navigate out of Foster
City to I- 101N. Thanks very much to May and Pogs Gaspay for the Friday
surprise for Nina. Highly appreciated. Thanks to Brods Nol and Ike for the
nice T-shirts. Thanks and cheers everyone.
l-r: Brods Nol B,
Pogs G, Ike A, Gabby M, Gerry A, Franklin M, Cyrus F. Martial Law babies.
Cheers to the lovely
"Bosses" for taking care of the brods....
UP
demonstrators all..lumaban, huwag matakot. But wait. Brod Pogs said there's
a scab in the group. Could he be the placard holder?
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