FRIENDS,
FOOD AND FUN
By
Charito Cabanilla-Love, Class 1974
Going
to San Diego has never been so good. It’s
not that San Diego is a top tourist spot nor that
the weather, compared with that of New York’s in
the month of May, is enviably gorgeous. Visiting
San Diego is not complete without seeing former
classmates. It is the chance of
catching up with the people you practically grew up
with. While we must all
acknowledge the fact that we all grew up to be a
little different from the brats that we were in high
school, experience confirms that when high school
chums/friends/acquaintances get together, a certain
“child-like mischief” is bound to resurface and
catches everyone with such delight any party is
bound to be beaming over with fun. Such
was the case when I went to San Diego in early May
2003 and stayed with my dear former classmate -
Bernadette Manzano-Saclolo. What
started out as a simple “can you spare a moment to
see me?” blossomed into a huge
never-to-be-missed-let’s-do-it-again type of
get-together.
On
May 4, 2003, my former classmates Yogi Diaz, Fanny
Untalan-Ramizo, Dorima Marcelo-Mondala, and Yoly
Sipin-Suyat arrived at the beautiful home of
Bernadette where I was staying. Invariably,
we all looked at each other’s sizes and blamed
everyone and everything - it is never our fault why
our dress sizes are way above that in high school.
Dorima must have a well-guarded secret - she
remained small, sweet and quiet. She
came to be with us, her former classmates, and I was
deeply touched. Yogi, as ever,
was witty and funny and can cook! Fanny
and I had a lot of catching up to do. We
will have to continue next time - thank you for
letting me meet your family. Yoly,
my relative, whose husband, Enzo is a close family
friend, almost a relative, too. I
was so happy to see her turn into a happy and
confident woman - and still married at that.
I have to spend more time with her next time
as well. Staying with Badette
brought back so many happy memories; we talked about
things we did in high school and it was a beautiful
experience to be “there” again. I
am grateful that we had a chance to laugh hard
before the festivities. I thank
you, Badette, for your hospitality, friendship and
for putting together a most interesting collection
that I had so much fun going through. The
fun began that only Kuya Johnny Soriano and Enzo and
Malou Aradanas-Castilian - ever
the faithful leaders and tireless friends looking
after every visiting alumni - can ever put together.
It does not cease to amaze me how they could
gather together people from every corner of the
state and come up with just the liveliest party.
We had food you will not find elsewhere -
homemade kaldereta was my favorite among others.
If food was not the best already, you have
Kuya Johnny and Enzo throwing their old antics and I
tell you, you do not know fun in the real sense of
the word until you sat down with these two, then add
Yogi - it was a riot. No one
stopped laughing that afternoon. The
lesson to be learned: beware when
visiting San Diego, Divinian alumni can pull
together their resources without a sweat and throw a
party where the only strings attached are those of
guaranteed unforgettable moments. I
cannot wait to visit again and next time I do, I
will make sure I will stay longer.
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