UPBSI Alaska Cruise’07
by Norman Bituin
One UPBSI project proposed at
Pismo’06 by past prez Norman Bituin was a cruise to Alaska. (A second proposal was the Tetada Kalimasada
project that was aggressively pursued by Dr. Pogs Gaspay'68 that
brought International Pelatih Ollie Jumao-as'73 to the US in May-June '07 in
time for the UP NorCal Induction Ball. This program trained the Betan families on his
combined Betan Nerve Treatment or BNT curriculum). With only four brods signing up
for the cruise, they made it
happen. As it turned out, the group's small size didn’t dampen their
enthusiasm nor diminish the grandeur of America’s Last Frontier.
Actually, the group was 18-person
strong: Willie "Tatang"’67 (now the new UPBSI prez) and
Tess Vergara; Roy’77
and Dinah Antonio; Ike’71 and Tanya
Araneta; Ike’s mom Lydia and sister Susan; Norman’65, Cherry and their
children Jen, Jamie and Kurt
Bituin; and Cherry's 5 nurse workmates. They flew to Seattle to catch the
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
“Vision of the Seas” pulling anchor on
Aug. 17 at the Port of Seattle to begin the 7-day heralded “experience of a
lifetime”. Didn’t disappoint
first-time seafarers Roy, Ike and Willie who confirmed it was exactly that.
Starting on Day 1 was a welcome dinner
show and a gyrating wild disco to warm up the booty. There were ballroom
lessons in the afternoons, Las
Vegas-type extravaganzas every night, foods galore any time of the day. The
Filipino food captains and
servers pampered their kababayans with extra servings and attention (even a
special adobo dish
from the kitchen chef). Three Pinoy musicians (violin, guitar, piano) from 2
bands entertained the crowd with requested
renditions of Filipino songs and
kundimans from you know who. Meanwhile, the only ice carver on the ship,
Antonio, a Pinoy,
wowed the travelers with his artistic creations at the gala dinner and
exhibition. Determined not to gain extra
pounds from the holiday fiesta, the
brods performed their tetada kalimasada practice in the early morning hour at
the empty dance floor; and
hitting the gym with the wives for a rigorous workout in the afternoon.
At the 3 ports of call – Juneau, Skagway
and Prince Rupert – the families disembarked and had lots of fun joining the
tours and just walking and discovering
the towns on their own. Two such thrilling excursions were the trip to
Mendenhall Glacier in the capital
city of Juneau; and in Skagway the train ride up to the White Pass-Yukon
Summit at the US-Canada border. Norman managed to take a lucky snapshot of a
black bear ambling up on the mountain side.
At the end of the voyage, Mrs. Leonor
Jayme and her family picked up Willie and Tess Vergara for a weekend visit at
her home in Vancouver, British
Columbia. Meantime, the other Betan families enjoyed the ferry ride and lunch
at Don’56 and Marie Ganchorre’s
charming abode in Vashon Island with a panoramic view of Puget Sound and
majestic Mt. Rainier. Capping the
group’s summer getaway was a dinner hosted by the Northwest brods at Sluggo
Rigor’s office in Seattle.
Another cruise adventure anyone? All
aboard!!
Ship
ahoy... leaving Seattle for Alaska
The Bituins checking out Willie "Tatang" & Tess Vergara's cabin
Norman & Cherry
Bituin, Roy & Dinah Antonio Willie with
the Aranetas - Ike & Tanya, sister Susan, mom Lydia
"Las Vegas" in the high seas: casino, slot
machines ... and variety
show extravaganzas
Resting after a
ballroom dance lesson
Cherry Bituin with the family and her nurse friends
Two Pinoy musicians
serenade at dinner The
UP Betan Family at first formal dinner
Disco Fever aboard
"Vision of the Seas" Tatang (in shades,
blinded by the frenzy) & Tess join the wild dancing
The Bituins dig in too!
1st port of call - the capital city of Juneau, Alaska
Juneau's famed 12-mile
long Mendenhall Glacier Al Gore's "The
Inconvenient Truth", global warming, is here
Dr. Jose Rizal bust at Manila Square in
Juneau center The group poses for a shot
near a salmon spawning brook
Red Dog Saloon, the (in)famous tavern and
bordello of the mining era Juneau - a view from the top
(aboard Mt. Roberts Tramway)
2nd port of call
- Skagway, Alaska
Exciting train ride up White Pass-Yukon Summit
Black bear refuses to hitch
ride on the train to go up
A scenic view atop the US-Canada border
A girl shows a spawning
chinook she caught Norman tries
swiping out one too (water is freezing cold)
Shopping at downtown
Skagway
"Life in the Big City"
Cruising Tracy Arm Fjord, Alaska
A
tourist paddleboat along the fjord
Ruel, one of the super-friendly Pinoy food servers
Another dinner group
picture
Brods and wives with Ruth, a pretty Pinay food server
The food crew sing to the diners
At gala buffer dinner
with one of Antonio's ice carvings Tatang - look
at those cakes, yummy (not at the naked decors)
3rd port of call -
Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada
The group pose for a picture at the spiral staircase
Ike, Norman & Roy after their
Tetada Kalimasada practice Proudly
holding the Filipino flag at International Banners Day
Antonio, the lone ice carver on
the ship, working on his art The
American bald eagle created by Antonio
UP Beta Sigma Founding Pres. Brod
Jesus Jayme's clan in Vancouver:
Tatang surrounded by the beautiful Jayme ladies.
- Standing: Lito, Perry, Norie, Rick,
Marvie, Litoboy. Leonor, Perry,
Marirose, Telly, Norie, Marvie.
- Seating: Marty, Eileen, Telly, WillieV,
Mom Leonor, TessV, Taren.
- Kneeling: Sydney, Allysa.
Willie with Evelyn's daughters and
JJ's apos, Caroline and Stephanie Tess at
historic Stanley Park with Perry and Lito
Waiting for
the ferry to Vashon Island At
Don and Marie Ganchorre's exquisite home in Vashon Island
Tanya & Ike sample the
wild berries by the roadside Don's priceless vintage Los
Banos salakot painted with the UP Betan seal
Sitting by
the veranda overlooking Puget Sound Welcome dinner by
the Northwest Betans and wives at Sluggo Rigor's
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