“BLAST” in Vegas

by Manny del Rosario, UPD '66


Last Sunday, Sept. 2nd, Brods’ Night in Vegas was so eventful it’s hard to keep it unnoticed.

An otherwise cramped room instantaneously morphed to a concert hall, karaoke bar, disco pub…name it, when Master saxophonist Kiko & the Band of Brothers sparked the enthusiasm - almost “manic”- with a bang.

This was jubilation at its core that reached fever pitch as the night wore on. The fun was so spontaneous, intense and viral the girls couldn’t resist jumping in. The floor rolled and roared on to the sounds of the ‘60s, ‘70s. Just couldn’t get enough.

Brods, this is how we savor the renewed fervor in Betan camaraderie….bonding that takes a whole new meaning at a different place and time.

Then, reconnecting with brods we lost touch for decades? That chance meeting with ka-batch self-made Rolly Reyes among others couldn’t have come at a better time. What a welcome treat!

By the way, congrats to the UPBSF SoCal new GP Dan Galoso and elected officers for 2018-2020. Well-deserved!

So, my dear brods, join back in & relive that “tambayan” vibe once again. This is hard to come by.

 

 

 

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Addendum, 9/24/18:

 

"He ain't heavy, he's my brother"

by Dan Galoso

 

[Photo from Dinah Antonio]

 

 

I can't wait for silence to suck out the truth. I just felt the need to speak out my thoughts and feelings because what has happened to me was a real humbling experience. Not only did I really felt humbled, but I also felt grateful. This is about brods who showed me the essence of what real brotherhood means.

But first a disclaimer. Again, I reiterate, this is about my thoughts and feelings. This is not about some sad, random, nonsensical Celine Dion fan wearing an oversized tinfoil hat who has been relegated to being background noise. Nor is this about some guy clawing at the side of a cliff flailing, sad and anguished hoping he can get recognition.

No, this is about real brods and real brotherhood. For it is not so much our brods' help that helps us but the confident knowledge that they will help us. All these brods just did what they felt needed to be done. They did it quietly never crowing about how they helped or how much they have helped. These are real brothers, with real passion and commitment. I truly am humbled.

And I am reminded of the Hollies song which goes this way:


"The road is long

with many a winding turn

that leads us to who knows where

who knows where

But I'm strong

Strong enough to carry him

He ain't heavy, he's my brother

So on we go

His welfare is of my concern

No burden is he to bear

We'll get there, For I know

He would not encumber me

He ain't heavy, he's my brother

If I'm laden at all

I'm laden with sadness

That everyone's heart

Isn't filled with the gladness

Of love for one another"


It's a long, long road and I am forever grateful to all you brods and the Ladies of SoCal. A big THANK YOU to Mayette Arceo and Nancy Bacosa for their help. A bigger THANK YOU TO Dinah Antonio and Iou Valenzuela for their exquisite handling of the affairs at the Hospitality rooms. Their work actually started weeks earlier and continued until the agreement was done, finalized, signed and paid for 2 weeks before the actual event. The details included the date and time of what specific items to pick up from the caterers and their quantities in terms of number and sizes of trays, including the necessary condiments. Both Dinah and Iou made everything look so easy, that what they have done could easily be overlooked. And let's not forget Mrs. Fields for her brownies too. They made a lot of impression on all who partook of the magic brownies, an impression they will remember for years to come.

Thank you to VGP Tony Martin, MOTR John Antig, Asst. GOTC Mon Lee and the "Balik Sa Dati" Posters. Thank you Heralds Aman Carolino and Bernie Bacosa for spreading the info on the event and also the poster designs. Bernie will be coming out soon with the Souvenir Pictorial. A big thank you to Edsel Arceo for all your help, especially working the phones soliciting for financial participation. Thank you, Chamberlain Renzi del Rosario, my trip mate to and from Vegas. His Landcruiser was declared "on official business" and was used to shuttle boxes of beer, alcoholic drinks, bottles of water, kitchen supplies from Costco to Westgate. We used it to pick up the food at the caterers for most of the 4 days. Renzi also earned the nickname "taga laspag ng ice machines". His odometer logged 300,000 miles on our way back to Los Angeles on September 4.

Thank you also to Vale for opening your house as you have promised for all the preparatory meetings of the Officers and also the working group lovingly called "The Squanderers". Thank you to Tatang for all the support, encouragement, ideas and strategies.

About two months before the Vegas event, I got into a financial bind and I asked brod Norman for help. He told me to meet him the next day, he treated me to lunch and handed me a $1500 cashier's check. As St. Thomas Aquinas said "there is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship".

Maraming salamat to the "Band of Brothers"-- Babes Ignacio, Gerry Abenes and Lleva, Kiko Delmendo, Franklin Morales and Tess for providing the music. It really made for a fun evening. Thank you to Joe and Linda Lalas too.

I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation and gratitude to our Double Diamond Sponsors Tony Martin and Roy Antonio. Roy even paid for my room for the four days of the event. He actually did a lot more than what I can write here. Even Tatang remarked that Roy was busier this time than during his induction in 2016. And Roy's out of pocket expenses are not done yet. He's taking care of the production of Bernie's Souvenir Pictorial too.

Thank you to our Platinum Sponsors Ike Araneta and Tanya, Tatang Vergara and Tess and Art Martin and Tina. Throughout all these years, Ike and Tatang have always been there for me. Art again donated several hundred balut and everyone enjoyed the balut sa puti.

Thank you to our Gold Sponsors Edsel Arceo, Edwin Encomienda of the Texas Chapter, Aman Carolino, Edwin Fernandez, Jun Valenzuela, Lem Michelena, Jose Jaurigue, Manny Gatmaitan, Norman Bituin, Rey Carandang, Bill Woodhouse, Ernie Pantig and Kata Ocampo.

Thank you to our Silver Sponsors Agis Landrito and Willie Ramos.

Maraming salamat din to our Bronze Sponsors Luigi Topacio, Patchoy Veloso, Amang Rivera, Chee Pelaez, Joe Lalas, John Antig, Jojo Alejar, Fred Young, Hernan Tabamo, Manny Boado, Mon Lee, Orlino Ancheta, Brandy Ancheta, Orly Manimtim and Carling Taguinod. Carling and Chit have always been there supporting the fraternity ever since I can remember when I first came to the Southern California area almost 30 years ago. They have never changed. You can always count on them.

Thank you to Tony and Grace, Bogs and Agnes, Norm and Cherry, and Ding and Julie for all your support and love.

I am overwhelmed by the tremendous support as we try to restore friendships, strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and once again establish a vibrant fraternity.

Today, we recognize that we are all in the same boat together. And together, we need to plug the holes so that when the waters rise, we all rise with the boat together. All these brods carried me on their backs-- ipinasan nila ako. As the Hollies song goes-- "he ain't heavy, he's my brother". IT REALLY FEELS GOOD TO BE LOVED!

The choices we make are not inconsequential. We all rise by lifting each other. Walang iwanan, walang maiiwan. Balik sa Dati, for all the good times.

 

 

 

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[Photos by Rolly Reyes and Norm Bituin]

 

Welcome Night, Sep. 1, 2018

 

 

 

Super thanks to UP North's "Band of Brothers" and Joe Lalas for two nights of music!!

 

 

 

       

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

Induction Night, Sep. 2, 2018

Rolly Reyes is the guest speaker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

RGR starts the dance parade with the ladies, and the brods follow.

 

    

 

    

 

 

 

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

 

 

 

    

Mayette belts one ala Celine/Mariah/Ariana.

 

    

Willie obliges with their Batch67A song "Summertime".

 

l-r: Rolly Reyes, Bobby Pascual, Willie Vergara, Ike Araneta, Dan Galoso, Edsel Arceo, Buddy Pongos, Hec San Juan and Gerry Abenes.

 

Seated: Willie Vergara, Rolly Reyes, Bobby Pascual, Dan Galoso and Manny del Rosario.

Standing: Luigi Topacio, Jun Valenzuela, Yay Topacio, Roy Antonio, Aman Carolino, Noli Nolasco, Hec San Juan, Edsel Arceo, Boy Pantig, Renzi del Rosario and Bubut Morata.

 

Till next!!

 

"Forever true thy sons we will be"

 

 

 

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