More Than Just A Costume Party
by Dutch Aragones, Gerry Abenes and Willie Vergara

[Photos by Ike Araneta]

The UP Northern California Chapter has carried on its practice of having fun every October since it was revived in Year 2000, at the Palo Alto home of Brod Ike and Tanya Araneta. On that year, it was attended by only 4 couples – the Aranetas, Vergaras, Punzalans, Antonios (Cesar and Nina), and 2 came in as singles – May Gaspay (Pogs was still residing in the Philippines) and Alan Torneros. 

Ever since, this Halloween Party that is likewise held in celebration of the birthdays of the Chapter’s Grand Old Man Narcing Lapus and Nina Antonio, has become an annual tradition. This year’s Halloween fun was decidedly one of the most attended – even without Narcing this time around as the date coincided with his daughter’s wedding.

As for the big majority who came in costumes, Brod Dutch Aragones said:

“There was Popeye and Olive Oyle, the Blues Brothers, Padre Damaso and Sisa, a pair of chefs, a cowboy, a judge, an injured construction worker and a Customs officer, a fairy, a witch, a phantom of the opera, a rock star, a couple with Venetian masks, Hannibal Lecter, Joker, and a host of other characters. These were the UP North Beta Sigmans and their partners enjoying a Halloween party hosted by Ding and Julie Cavestany in their Hayward, California abode.

Costumes Galore

Just in time for Diliman resident brods Allan and Ezzy to experience the UP North hospitality. And how untraditional we conduct ourselves during a meeting.  Lots of alaskahan, lots of food, a repertoire of music by A Band of Brothers, a lot of frustration when the San Francisco Giants lost their first game in Texas. The photos tell it all…”

More serious parts of the meeting, which was interrupted several times because of adlibs and comments from the peanut gallery, included the following:

1.   Nong Fred Aquino and Tatang were lauded for the work that led to the drafting and finalization of the Constitution and By-Laws of the Chapter. GP Gerry announced that the next step would be towards the registration of the Chapter at the Franchise Tax Board.

2.   Dutch Aragones announced the availability of the UPLB Book of Brotherhood, mentioning that it is more than a UPLB Beta Sigma Directory, and that it includes a great deal of history of the fraternity in Los Banos since its inception in 1950 to Year 2010.

3.   Yay Topacio was congratulated for the two awards he received the day before in New Jersey, for the excellent performance at the Hawaiian Factory Outlets, a complex which Yay is general manager. Specifically, these awards are: (a) The Secret Shopper Award, for the over-all ambience, organization and cleanliness of the outlet complex; and (b) The Simon Youth Foundation (an entity that helps the poor in America through youth scholarships and provision of basic services) – which was given because of the 100% participation of Yay’s Outlet Staff in the donation to such foundation. Now, we might as well call it a Leadership Award!

And finally, in a recent email, UP North GP Gerry had these to say regarding the trip of our two scholars:

As Brods Allan and Ezzy (aka Randy) embark on the last leg of their US visit, we at UP North will continue to cherish the opportunity to have hosted these two brods, and take part in the shaping of future pillars of our fraternity, our homeland, and the international community.  UP North has hosted countless brods from the Philippines, but this one stands out as most special, not only because of its potential impact on the growth of our fraternity in the UP campuses, but also because we contributed in fulfilling many a young man's dream of experiencing how things are in lands beyond the reach of their eyesight.

I personally wish to thank everyone who made Allan and Randy's visit an unforgettable experience for them. The following UP North brods deserve special mention because of the extra effort they took to make the visiting brods feel at home at UP North:

-- Gene Samson for the many hours/days of taking the brods around the area
-- Tatang Vergara for showing the brods how California works
-- Ike Araneta for showing how Silicon Valley is not a desert
-- Pogs Gaspay for giving the brods a first-hand classroom experience
-- Ding and Julie Cavestany for the Halloween experience and last minute (actually many hours) of shopping

   for giveaways and personal items
-- Dutch Aragones for the biotech exposure and wild ride at the Oracle arena
-- Gabby Moraleda for facilitating Randy's reunion with relatives, and the early drive to the airport
-- Nol Banzon, Eric Punzalan, Kiko Delmendo for helping Gene with the tours
-- Yay Topacio who, despite the very short time for a family visit in the area, managed to squeeze in some time for

    the Halloween party
-- My wife Lleva who beat all odds of hosting despite a broken refrigerator
-- All the brods who managed to take some time off to attend the fellowships, talk to the visiting brods, spare some

   bills for their pocket money, lunches, dinner, snacks, personal items, etc., and give them a feel of Beta Sigma

  Brotherhood beyond university life.

Cheers to you - you are the kind of Betan we would like the visiting brods to be in the future.

(Back ---> UP NorCal Updates)

(Back ---> Features)