Saturday, August 16, 2008 brods trekked again on a pilgrimage of sorts to the residence of Gerry and Lleva Abenes in Richmond, CA. Three of them, Rey Carandang (71-a), Ernie "Togi" Igot (70) and Rudolph "Rudyo" Oviedo (73-d), with wives and daughters in tow (Rose and Angelica Carandang, Eva and Thia Igot, and Livy Oviedo), had been with Gerry, Lleva and their kids (Gia and Guido) since Wednesday when they went up to Lake Tahoe to have quality time with their families for two days.

Rey, with a thriving Internal Medicine practice, flew in from Indiana; Togi, who has a micro-brewery, flew in from Maryland and Rudyo, who has a consulting practice, flew in from Manila. They had long planned their much anticipated reunion, wishing to reconnect, having gone their separate ways 34 years ago after some exciting but rough-and-tumble times in the early 70s at the UP Diliman campus. Brod Dopoy Garcia (73-b) would join them this day after Dopoy’s timely visit from Manila to his younger brother in the Bay Area. Dopoy runs an oil/gas exploration in Gabon for PetroEnergy. These four brods and Gerry were an indelible part of the kaleidoscope of Beta Sigma faces at the Diliman campus in the early 1970s.

These four visiting brods were joined by two more sojourners to their Nor Cal brethren. Stephen Tay (78b), a practicing surgeon and batchmate of Dutch Aragones, is visiting from far-flung Mindanao. Joe Lalas (69c), an education specialist running for the School Board of a local district, drove up from nearby SoCal to join the party.

       Dopoy Garcia & Dr. Rey Carandang, MD                                    Rey Carandang, Rudyo Oviedo & Bong Beredo

                                           Togi Igot                                                                 Dr. Stephen Tay, MD

                            Joe Lalas                                      Togi Igot, Cyrus Fagar, Rudyo Oviedo, Rey Carandang & Bong Beredo

Twenty-five UP Nor Cal brods were there to welcome these prodigal brothers. Aside from hosts Gerry and Lleva, there were the music-makers Kiko Delmendo on horns, Tess and Franklin Morales on the keyboard and strings, Mayann and Babes Ignacio on keyboard and strings too, Ike on his guitar and Manolo Banzon on percussions. Gerry did most of the drumming occasionally subbed by Frank. Providing vocals were Vee de Vera, Rotsen Lawas and Bobby Pascual. Mercy Villegas sang solos, including a very memorable rendition of Historia de un Amor, while hubby Dave admiringly looked on. Harlean Pascual joined Bobby in dancing some pretty hot numbers. Brod Cecilio Felix led some brods, notably the oldies Johnny Regadio and Tats Vergara, croon sentimental kundimans. Anita just looked on with amusement as hubby Cecilio sang and danced.

                  "R & R in R" - "Reunion & Rebonding in Richmond", courtesy of UP Beta Sigma NorCal

  Standing: Kiko Delmendo, Frank Morales, Dave Villegas, Louie Ruiz, Manolo Banzon, Togi Igot, Stephen Tay, Ike Araneta, Rey Carandang,

                Rotsen Lawas, Yay Topacio, Gerry Abenes, Rudyo Oviedo, Dopoy Garcia, Gene Samson, Ernie Tremor.

  Sitting:   Rick Velasco, Vee de Vera, Boy Ramos, Cyrus Fagar, Joe Lalas, Bobby Pascual, Dutch Aragones, Willie Vergara, Johnny Regadio,

                Bong Beredo, Cecilio Felix, Pogs Gaspay.    

Brod Pogs Gaspay and Cyrus Fagar came with Dopoy whom they picked up from his brother’s residence in San Leandro. Both immediately commenced gobbling up the numerous salacious dishes contributed by each brod and wife in attendance. Brods Dutch Aragones and Ernie Tremor completed the Los Banos delegation. Our former GP Boy Ramos was there with winsome wife Irma. So too was his buddy Louie Ruiz accompanied by charming wife Marissa. Yay Topacio, and outgoing GP Bong Beredo with equally charming wife Aileen completed the Sacramento representation with a sis, Meme Maquio, from UP Mindanao who is finishing her post-grad studies at UC Davis.

From the South Bay came Gabby Moraleda with a glowing Cy in tow, Gene Samson and fellow always present Ric Velasco. Ding Cavestany and Julie dropped in for a few hours with their very cute apos who provided some very animated dancing with their lolo. The ever-smiling Gene was touting the health benefits of his BAGO (equal parts of banana, apple, grapes and orange) fruit diet. Exhibit 1: the now healthy complexion and constitution of Louie R. Exhibit 2: the very much alive Pa Q, who unbeknownst to Gene is using BAGO to wash down his very generous consumption of both meats and carbos.

                                                            The Betan Musicians cum Merrymakers

                                           Babes Ignacio                                                                    Gerry Abenes

                           Ike Araneta                                                             Franklin Morales & Joe Lalas

                                    Dutch Aragones                                                                               Kiko Delmendo

                      Tess Morales                                                                Vee de Vera & Mayann Ignacio

This was a nostalgic reunion of brods bound by fate and circumstance who somehow managed to excel in their professional and family lives. But what 34 years make – the white-haireds versus the dyed-haireds, the slouching tummies versus the tummy-tuckeds, the grizzled faces versus the Botox-stretched ones.

Singing the same old songs, with voices a bit croaked in time – mellowed like fine wine. Retelling the same old stories, albeit with different versions of their personal truths. No one tells the same story the same as he told it before – for what use is a good tale heard before if not ever tweaked by the filters of time and fading memories. But gone were the hard-drinking days that almost always ended in self-destructive behaviors -- these so-called bad boys now transformed to better men.

Beta Sigma is in our DNA declares Rey C, the diplomated internist who now practices in Indiana. Rey was always the gentleman scholar brod, as when we recruited him, except for a few occasions when his bad boy brethren makes him a fait accompli to their mischief. Ernie Igot, Togi to all, tops it with his soulful singing, a newfound outlet for his signature Visayan-wry humor and wit.

Adolfo "Dopoy" Garcia, soaks it all in, having missed the brods' company he finally earned in 1973 since applying to the frat in 1971. Rudyo was quietly enjoying the scene as a wizened owl savoring his meal, so calmly different from when I remember him as a raging resident rousing the brods to defend honor and chivalry… or whatever. If you were ever a Diliman student in his time, you surely would have been scared to hell dropping some disparaging remark about the fraternity he passionately embraced.

                              Dopoy Garcia will bring a lot of fun Betan memories to his new home in Vancouver, B.C.

Joe Lalas revs it all up with his non-stop strumming of his guitar, reliving his days on campus when everyone knew him then as the 347 kid with the non-stop guitar playing of Beatles and tunes of the late 60s and early 70s. Gerry, an ever sentimental and true romantic soul, was both teary-eyed and grinning from ear-to-ear as he joined the music jamming. Pogs G had a field night when most brods left as he and Joe L reviewed a lot of mellow tunes from the 60s (Fleetwood Mac, Monkeys, Chad and Jeremy).

There was so much luv to share around with everyone getting nostalgic for their personal versions of what it was like to be a Beta Sigman during their times on campus. So much luv it was almost brokebackly obscene seeing aging men overly hugging each other. It’s just wonderful seeing these brods grow old with much achievement to show for, and more importantly, finding happiness in their personal lives. Well done, brods.

Summer days and nights are great under California’s blue skies cooled by the San Fran breeze. But it’s much greater when people who mean much to you are there to share it with. Lord, please keep me rocking!

          Advance Notice from UP Beta Sigma NorCal: This "R & R" will repeat at their next Frat Ball -  SF, May '09 !!

Post-R & R "Highs", from:

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  ** Ernesto "Togi" Igot '70

My Dearest Brods,

We are back in Maryland but I still feel very nostalgic about the reunion in NorCal.  It was one of the happiest occasions I had with the brods since I left UP in the mid-70's.And to think, I was not even that drunk and looking for trouble...

I behalf of my wife, Eva and daughter, Thia, we wish to thank the brods and their families for hosting us ( including Rey, Rose, Angelica, RudiO and Livy). We wish to extend our special thanks and affection to Gerry, LLeva, Guia and Guido for being with us and making our stay very memorable even after we were frozen in the chilling wind waiting for the cable car in Pier 39.

I don't want to sound emotional or corny, but I just want to make special mention of the following:
  Joe Lalas and Linda - nice meeting and singing with you again; we appreciate you coming all the way from LA just to be with us
  Ike A - thanks for playing the guitar for my "Ebb Tide" and regards to Tanya and kids; thanks again for the T-shirts; you're a nice and

     caring brod
  Bobby Pascual and pretty wife Harlean - once in a while, a "real" good brod is refreshing to be with ( "real" troublemakers include

     Poga and the rest ); Harlean had been very protective of the brods particularly during initiations
  Tatang - so nice to see you again; you are still the same nice fatherly brod as before
  Bong B - maski morag tambok ka na ron, bay, pero pinangga gihapon; salamat sa giveaways
  Pogs - salamat sa mga kwento; you are still the same lovable brod as before and I hope, just like me, you are no longer a

    "troublemaker"
  Cyrus - mabait ka pa rin katulad noong nasa UP; regards kay utol Dante
  Dopoy - you looked great since the time we "did" together that other group's frontliner
  Manolo - gwapo at tisoy ka pa rin katulad noong nag-dudual meet tayo in the 70's
  Vee V - gwapo at tisoy ( ? ) pa rin din pero na-mimiss ko yong Afro; na-mimiss ko rin yong mga jokes ni utol Boy
  Gabby M - you look happy and inspired; nice to see you again!
  Dave Villegas - good to meet a nice brod like you; I was an admirer of Yeba in the early 70's and happy to talk to you - Mercy ( I saw

     her in the Youtube ) s simply terrific
  Gene Samson - I am happy that aside from my sponsor, Ed Abon, I have another fellow chemical engineer and brilliant inventor in the

     frat
  Yay T - gwapo ka pa rin pero mas maganda yong sis mo; regards to the Dean
  Kiko D - hindi ka tumatanda, brod at nag-totorotot ka pa rin ( good music )
  Frank M - katulad noon, tahimik at mabait na brod ka pa rin
  Dutch, Babes, Cecilio, Rotsen, Johnny R, Boy Ramos ( cousin of Fidel who I admired) , Tukayo Ernie T, Ding C, Stephen T, Babes I

    and the rest of the brods I could not recall the names - maraming salamat sa inyo and I hope to be there in May next year to be with

    you

I was also saddened to know that Anthony Subejano ( Australia )  just passed away.  I am saying a prayer for  Ben " Chen Xing" Atienza ( who would have been with us being an Area 14 mainstay ), Flor " Bula" Pagador, Sammy Lazo and the rest, who are busy
preparing the way for us for the grand reunion later.

The Oakland party was a great experience with non-stop music courtesy of Joe and the rest, sharing stories and meeting  with brods.

I am glad that I was there.

Cheers !

Ernesto "Togi" Igot  '70

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** Rey Carandang '69

Brods,

We just got back from our trip today. Thank you so much for the warm reception. Having been physically out of touch from brods for many years, I felt I was "back home" with my dear brothers. This was the first time for my wife to meet the brods; she told me "now she understands why the fraternity is a major part of my life". I know I cannot thank you enough for everything.  Since Togi already mentioned everybody then all I have to say is "Maraming, Maraming Salamat Po sa Inyong Lahat" at Hanggang sa muli nating Pagkikita.

Ang inyong nagmamahal na kapatid,

Rey 71A

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** Dopoy Garcia '73

Pahabol..... to Bobby, Gabby, Babes, Stephen and again to all NorCal brods Thank you, maraming salamat.

Correction Pogs, and for info of Ces and other Geologist Brods, I'm into oil/gas exploration, yes we have modest production in Gabon and soon another field here in the Philippines, and will stay on as consultant to PetroEnergy while finding employment in Canada. By the way I bumped into Rey Juan, days prior to my trip to US. Rey is regional director (Bicol) of Bureau of Mines.

Ka Batch Bong....  could you link me up with BC brods, you mentioned they now have officially organization up there. I'll inform Sandy Daza also.

Ka Batch George A., I look forward to seeing you together with Vale and the rest sometime in the future.

I may take another swing to Houston come Oct 14. Anyone who can advise me on how to reach Ces, in case I don't catch Poty. Thanks.

Best regards and CHEERZ to you all..... dopoy

Maraming maraming salamat sa inyong lahat. To Gerry and Lleva for being great hosts; to Pogs and Cy for bringing me to the party; to ka-batch Bong for shouldering my $25 fee, heh heh heh ... sorry you didn't mention anything about it, but keep my IOU; to Tatang whom I regard as our batch's care giver; to Joe Lalas, though I miss your long hair the patented dark shades; to Kiko who remained the great torotista with a different twist this time; to Ike for that heartwarming chat; to Togi, Rey mga partners in crime 33 years back; to Manolo, Vee who gave me flitting thoughts of LB happenings; Rudio and Livy, imagine sa NorCal lang pala tayo magkikita; to Yay,

and to all the NorCal brods, who made the event truly memorable for me - maraming maraming salamat. 

I wish every brod would experience the kind of high that I have felt  being with you even for a short while.

CHEERS....... dopoy

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* Rudyo Oviedo '73

Dear Brods,

Just got back in Manila yesterday.

Had such a wonderful time continuing threads of conversations from way back which filled in the memory gaps (kasi old age na ba talaga) or just finally completed a  few "bitin" stories as other brods shared their own stores while starting new conversations. Really really wonderful time !

The North Calif regular get together with family is a great model to be replicated - ang Galing!

The memories of the party made the bumpy ride out of Orlando and Fay a bit bearable.

Bong di nabasag yung commemorative wine and shot glasses!

I echo Togi, Rey, and Dopoy in saying Maraming maraming Salamat Po sa inyong lahat and till next we meet again!

RudiO

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* Joe Lalas '69

Yes, thank you to Gerry and Lleva.  Salute to Dopoy, Togi, Rey, and to all of the Brods there.

A big thank you to all of you Brods for keeping the "Betan magic" alive, inspiring, loving, and fun!  I'm just very happy and really enjoying it a lot to get our Brod Poga to dig deep and sing his favorite songs of the 60's.  Solo siya noong marami nang naka-uwi. Hindi mapigil. Akala ko e wala ng uwian.  I also enjoyed our self-proclaimed "Alalay" (Rotsen, Vee, and Bobby, etc.) who belted out songs with passion and contagious enjoyment and laughters.  And to our wives and significant others -- thank you for their understanding that "once a Betan, always a Betan" - hindi tumatanda, paulit-ulit pa rin ang campus stories.

Linda and I enjoyed this weekend get away a LOT!!!

Joe 69C Batch Jericho

Hoooy, mga Beta Sigma.  'yong "woodstock" na nangyari kina Gerry last weekend ay isa na sa pinakamasayang "get-away" weekend ko as a Beta Sigman. Sana habang may buhay pa tayo ay magkaroon pa ng ganoong pagtitipon.  Sayang nga lang at hindi nagka-chug-a-lug ng husto.  Pero Enjoy talaga.

Joe 69C Batch Jericho

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