Real Brods Indeed from Maryland and Australia

by Ed Abon, UPD 69A Panzer

Washington, DC & Maryland, USA - March 21-22, 2014

I had a week-long business trip in Washington, DC as a member of the Philippine Delegation in mid March 2014. Since I had more free time on this visit, I decided to contact Brods Ernesto "Togi" Igot UPD'70 and Raoul "Koldyaks" Reyes UPD'65 to see if we could meet up.
 

Philippine Embassy - Washington, District of Columbia (DC)

I met up with them and Brod Abe Agulto UPD'71 on 21 March 2014 after all my official meetings had concluded. They waited for me at my hotel which is a stone throw from the Philippine Embassy and from there we took the Metro to Maryland where they live. Brod Togi hosted me at his big house where he and Eva moved to earlier. A hearty dinner was waiting for us when we arrived which we washed down with Brod Togi's special blend of beer just for the occasion. It was a night of remembering and we had laughs at all our adventures and misadventures in UP Diliman in the late 60s and early 70s when all of us were young and foolish, but lovable and "kissable and driveable" daw.

The following day, Brod Abe begged off as he had a previous engagement. The four of us including Rommel, Brod Raoul's son, took drove towards the West Virginia and took the scenic Skyline Drive atop the Blue Ridge Mountain where we had a grand time appreciating mother nature. It was the end of winter and start of spring and the weather was just homely. We visited the Luray Cavern and after some more sight-seeing, Brod Togi dropped me off at Tyson's corner off the Beltway where I met up with my son, Paolo, who had started working for the Federal Government.
 

A whole day with Brods Raoul and Togi and you can just imagine the whole range of topics that we had covered. This was the most enjoyable and relaxing one day stay in the Washington, DC area for me. Brod Togi's memory is awesome. He can remember all the minutest details, the aliases of the brods while listening to the sound of the 60s. I wished the day would never end as we were having the time of our lives.

But time moved fast and soon it was time to drive back to the capital. All of us know that it will take some time again before we can get together and as usually the case, it took time for us to bid one another good bye.

Thanks Brod Togi, Raoul and Abe. Until the next time. Cheers, Cheers.

Canberra, Australia  - August 15, 2014

I was met by Brod Jerome Catbagan UPD'91 on my last day in Canberra last Aug 15, 2014. He took me to this Mountain lookout of Canberra and then visited his new house at a Canberra suburb where I met his lovely wife, Lai, and kids.

Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Philippine Embassy - Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

Brod Jerome is doing well in Canberra working for a transportation company which has large contract with the city and national government. He told that he wished more brods would visit the Australian capital so he can get the chance to be with the brods and to show them around. He is the only UP Beta Sigman in Canberra. He has a PhD in Civil Engineering from Japan. Thanks Brod Jerome and Lai for the hospitality.
 

Melbourne, Australia - August 15-16, 2014

I wish to thank Brods Rolly Zubiri UPD'68 and wife, Bridget, and Alex Roseus UPD'79 for being gracious hosts during my overnight stay and stopover in Melbourne on 15-16 August 2014. Both brods met me at the airport but I saw them first and were kinda surprised I was already waving at them. Brod Rolly and Bridget hosted me at their home which I think is only less than 30 minute drive from the airport. We all had a hearty dinner and downed a bottle of red exchanging exploits and adventures that enriched our lives for the many years that we have not seen one another.

The next day Brod Rolly and Bridget took me for a short visit of the CBD Melbourne. We had a relaxing breakfast at the biggest casino hotel in the city. Brod Rolly then toured me around by foot and cable car around Melbourne where I had to familiarize myself again with this beautiful and most livable city which I have not visited for many years. I told Brod Rolly that it was in Melbourne in 2003 where I first saw the stage play "Mama Mia".

We then met up with Brod Alex who has a new and exciting job and a big challenge to deliver an excellent performance for the company with sales responsibility over a wide territory. More stories and laughter and burgers and then dinner and, finally, they saw me off at the Melbourne airport where I caught a mid night flight to Singapore and then to Manila.

Thanks brods. Brods Rolly and Alex wish that they can host more visiting brods in Melbourne. Congratulations to Brod Rolly for being elected representing the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity International in his own corner of the world.

Cheers, Cheers.

Wellington, New Zealand

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