It took just a short stroll from the parking lot to get there this time but it still took a while to find the guys huddled in the corner farthest away from the main entrance of Pier 1 at The Fort – this “meeting’s” venue.
My difficulty parsing the directions this time was borne of scale. I didn’t realize that when ASec Bong Joves said, “Mount the troops…. Reserve our favorite spot near the ladies room” that I would have to search through 3 storeys worth of tables and toilets! Oh, indulge my facetiousness. After all, it’s election time again and it is the season for alibis, reasons, and excuses.
Mouseover to display controller. Click on image for a larger version.
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It turns out, Luke Esteban was the first one there – at 6:30 pm. Classmates abroad take note: it was possible, during this so-called El Niño phenomenon we’re experiencing at the moment, that the sun had just gone down when Luke got there. By the way, the better pics of the event were provided by Luke Esteban Photography. Thanks for bringing the DSLR. My dinky little cellphone cam was obviously inadequate under the low-light conditions.
Sundown was way too early for old vampires like Johnny Liao and myself who were LAST to arrive at 9:45 and 9:15 pm, respectively. By that time, it was a fine cloudless half-moon lit evening.
All the usual suspects were on hand. Tonichi Caballero, Agu Estrada, Bob Jereza, Allan Isaac, ASec Bong Joves and of course the cause celebre, that rugged relic of rugby (I know. Grant this lazy writer some poetic license, why don’t you?), our batchmate (and others’),…. Hans-Peter Smit; still decked-out in his coaching gear. Aw alright, that fearless, phantasm of football (pwede na ba yan?).
But seriously, one would think that leading DLSU’s UAAP Women’s Football team through the last 15 finals; and winning 9 of them, 8 consecutively (an 8-peat?); must be a record of sorts. Way to go, Hans!
Seeing how many of us are now the very “Cinderellas” we used to torment, the meeting adjourned at 11:30 pm. But, not before we yakked about:
- How Phytem bracelets and Power Bands allow you bend over farther to touch your toes;
- How long it has been since I’ve even SEEN my toes, let alone touch them;
- Politics and Bob Jereza’s theory of crowd management during what would prove to be, if nothing else, a historic automated election on May 10, 2010;
- How we should produce a new T-shirt, jacket, and cap set since we’re older and can afford them now – all of these to feature, as suggested by Mike Velasco, the palindromic acronyms TUG and GUT;
- Smit’s special edition memorabilia marked LSGH Class of 197x;
- How Johnny should get the Foundation’s PayPal account set up so we can sell these things online to classmates here and abroad; and
- And of course, we talked at length about those of you who did not attend!
Hasta la vista en Q2 mis hermanos!
Nicely written Pepper! And, of course, Luke’s pics added flavor to the article!