Two UPD Black Saints on the Prowl

by Norm Bituin

[Photos by Lito Lazaro, Togi Igot and Tito Garcia]

 

 

This month of March '12  two Black Saints'65 "traded places". Lito Lazaro from the Philippines, accompanying his wife Flor to a training-seminar at the World Bank HQ in Washington, DC, romped with the East Coast brods - Pet Grajo, Wally Rodriguez, Raoul Reyes, Togi Igot and Abe Agulto - in New Jersey, New York and Maryland. On the other side of the globe, ex-PAL international pilot and GQ man Tito Garcia from Mission Viejo, California soaked up the sun (and lambanog) with batzka Mon "Black Dagger" Amparo at Mon's beach resort hideaway in Infanta, Quezon.

 

Below are the emails from Lito, Togi and Tito plus the photos they wanted to share with us. Probably more than ever, I believe, these happy get-togethers show how our fraternal bond and friendship have become even more cherished and meaningful through the/our advancing years. C'est la vie.  

 

****************************************************************************************************

 

To: moral_family@yahoo.com
CC: blacksaints65@yahoogroups.com
From: litolazaro1123@yahoo.com

Subject: [blacksaints65] Pasalubong from Brod Wally Rodriguez

Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2012
 

Kabatch Pol,
 

Just came home from a US trip last 10 March.


My wife Florian had a training-seminar at the WB HQ in Washington DC and I had the opportunity to travel with her again.
Kabatch Raoul visited me at the hotel where we were staying and offered me some jackets because of the cold weather. I was able to talk to Brod Ted through Raoul's phone. While he wanted us to meet, he could not do so because he had to attend to his sick wife. On our last weekend, he and the other brods (Abe Agulto and Ernesto "Togi" Igot) brought us to Luray Caverns (they pronounce it Low ray) situated I think somewhere within the Shenandoah Valley and passed through Skyline Drive atop the Blue Mountain of Virginia on our way back to Washington DC.

 

UPD Black Saints'65 Lito Lazaro and Raoul Reyes

 

l-r: Lito, Togi, Abe and Raoul

 

 

 


Brod Pet Grajo drove all the way from New Jersey (about 4 to 5 hours drive) to pick us up and had our first weekend in his place at Sommerdale, New Jersey. On Tuesday of the following week, we went back to New Jersey (this time we traveled by Greyhound Bus) and stayed again at Pet's house. The following day we, together with Pet and his wife went to New York and met with Brod Wally Rodriguez. He gave me a small but valuable item which he requested me to give to you. It's with me now and I will give it to you when we see each other. Wally acted as our tour guide in New York City and hosted lunch and dinner for us.

 

 

 

Lito and Pet

 

    

 

 

The board walk at Atlantic City

 

 

Wally, Pet and Lito

 

 

 

Times Square, NYC


Tol, I'd like to tell you that all the brods I met during this trip to the East Coast were so warm, generous and hospitable. Wala akong masabi kundi Maraming maraming Salamat! Ganun din naman ang mga kabatch natin na nasa West Coast. They make time to attend to us.


I was in New Jersey with Pet when he heard the news about Boy Morales' demise. Brod Hermie San Luis broke the sad news to us by phone.


So, we were back in Manila last Saturday. A long trip, but a memorable one.


Cheers, Brod!
Lito 65

 

****************************************************************************************************

 

To: nmbituin@msn.com; ollie@mansys.ph
Subject: Lito Lazaro Visits the MetroWashington Brods
From: eligot9@aol.com
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2012

 

On Sunday, March 4, Lito Lazaro UPD65, his wife Flor and younger sister Mico came to visit us here in Maryland. According to Raoul " Cool Jacks " Reyes UPD65 , he has not seen Lito, his ka-batch for at least 40 years since they were beaten by the burly members of UPD63 ( according to Ernie " Togi " Igot UPD70 , he has not seen Lito since he was born - just kidding, brods ! ).

 

The Maryland brods, with Abe Agulto UPD71D, brought the Philippine visitors to Luray Caverns and on the way home ( meaning passing by Leesburg Outlet to do some shopping ), the group drove by the famous Skyline Drive's outlooks just beside the historic Shenandoah Valley.

 

 

 

  

 

 


In a period of 3 months, we met 2 members of the famous UPD65 Black Saints - the other brod being Ted Fabella. When Togi joined the fraternity, the GP was the respected Gami Manikan and until Togi graduated in 1975 ( whew! ), 2 more Black Saints became GPs - Norman Bituin and Chako Baldoria. Hats off to Batch 65 !

Ernie " Togi" Igot
UPD70

 

****************************************************************************************************

 

Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:53:32 +0800
From: otitwv@yahoo.com
Subject: Heaven on Earth
To: dingcavestany@hotmail.com; dantepipit@aol.com; gromani7@yahoo.com; chac878@yahoo.com; dhgaloso@hotmail.com; ricktolentino88@yahoo.com; elmorlovilla@yahoo.com; jaime_deluna@yahoo.com; lpmacalalag@yahoo.com; nmbituin@msn.com; ollips113@yahoo.com; monching_amparo@yahoo.com.ph; moral_family@yahoo.com; tmfabella@yahoo.com; rare1432003@yahoo.com; tonio52@aim.com; litolazaro1123@yahoo.com; otitwv@yahoo.com

Mga kabatch, this is Black Dagger's little piece of heaven in Real, Infanta.

 

Tito FG
UPD '65
Black Saints

 

UPD Black Saints'65 Mon Amparo and Tito Garcia

 

 

 

  

Lambanog, pulutan buko?!

 

 

Tara na, sarap mag-relax sa tabing dagat :)

 


 

****************************************************************************************************

 


(Back ---> Central Menu)

 

(Back ---> Current Features)