My Recent Manila Visit
by Edwin Acuña
I had this joyful, nostalgic feeling during my recent visit to Manila from
February 3 to March 1, 2023. An opportunity to hook up with the brods who were
either your classmates or "partners in crime". Or both. There are brods whom you
are meeting up with for the first time in your life, yet you know them already
from the stories recited in detail by your contemporary brods.
Stories of old are repeated all over again much to our amusement. These are
moments to journey back in time during a phase in our lives when we were barely
out of our youth; yet at such a tender age we were already equipped by our noble
Brotherhood to face the harsh realities of life! Nothing can be more inspiring,
more gratifying than this.
The brods have not grown "old". The smiles, the laughter, the cockiness, the swagger, the humor, the confidence, remain the same. The passage of time has not eroded these. You know it's them. They have grown to be wiser, and more productive.
Clockwise from left, with Brods Joel Paredes, Kim Cabatit, Henry Gutierrez (seated), Jito Arreza, Gerard Alo, Caloy Agulto,
Richie Agbulos, Nilo Espino, Pepon Magno, Bitoy Sison, and Cyrus Fagar at the residence of Gerard Alo in Fairview, QC.
With Brods Henry Gutierrez, Bobby Navarro, Johnny Velasco, Jun Bernal, Eric Ines, Roy Lising,
Gerard Alo, Joel Paredes and Buddy Curameng at the UP Hotel.
With LC Shari Oliquino. She is the AVP at the Office of Student Affairs in UP Diliman.
Allow me to share an adaptation of Brod Henry Gutierrez's (UPD'67b) post in one
of our Viber groups:
"The feeling of being with old friends who have been with you all those crazy
and happy moments...It is said that we can retire from our jobs but never from
life. As we grow older, we must continue to go out and meet people. We must not
allow our limitations to limit our capacity for enjoyment. Thank you brothers,
for enabling each one of us to expand our circle of friends in life. Truly our
Fraternity, our Betan brothers are our pride and joy, our rare and special
gifts!"
With UPBSI President Brod JJ Jayme
Left: With Buddy Curameng at UP Hotel. Right: With the Bamboo King Brod Butch Madarang…seen also are Richie Agbulos,
Meng Canlas, Ezra Castillo, Pepon Magno, LC Iou Bulan-Valenzuela…leaving Goryo Resto at Okada Hotel.
Clockwise from left: Brods Pepon Magno, Richie Agbulos, Meng Canlas, Ick Angeles, Eric Ines, Billy Sevilla, Dan Bautista, Ezra Castillo,
Ed Rivera, Jec Marquez, Ross Fernando, Jun Valenzuela, LC Iou Bulan-Valenzuela, Edwin Acuña and Butch Madarang at the Okada Hotel & Casino.
Cheers to the great UP Beta Sigma Fraternity!
At the UP High-Prep ‘75 reunion at the UP Hotel. Brod Yay Topacio and I are 6th
and 8th from the left.
Sharing light moments with Philippine Chamber of Commerce Secretary-General Brod Ruben Pascual, UPD ‘76c,
my UP Prep batch mate and with blood brother / UP Prep batch mate Roy and my wife Tere.
Flanked by Brods Henry Gutierrez UPD’67b and Joel Paredes UPD’73d. Good times!
With the Lone Eagle III Brod Atty. Jito Arreza at the UP Hotel.
Brod Yay and me singing “UP Naming Mahal” at our high school reunion at the UP
Hotel.
At our high school reunion, with Brods Ruben Pascual 76c (extreme left), and Yay
Topacio 77a to my right.