It’s 2:08 in the afternoon and I’m frying inside my car outside a hospital in a far flung area South of Manila. We braved the dreaded traffic before the color coding scheme took effect and we had to be outside of the Metro before seven… the outskirt traffic was even worse with traffic enforcers giving preferential treatment to those going to Manila and it took us forever to pick up my mother-in-law, not to mention the torture I felt being diabetic and being constantly in need of a place to pee.
The good thing about the day is that I got to eat perhaps one of the best tasting fried chickens I’ve had while waiting for my wife who was in line for a government document. My mother-in-law is also fine having gone through a minor operation and we were able to bring her back home around seven in the evening.
I was so sleepy on the way back and I desperately needed a cold beer with the intent of jamming with BLACK PIPE who had a gig schedule in Pasay but my wife was entirely against it… oh well, I did have a blast driving my car. Sometimes I do miss driving my Sonata.
I had a drinking session with friends that lasted ‘til the wee hours of the morning and I had around a couple or less hours of sleep. Unfortunately, I had a pre-scheduled travel to Bulacan for our induction into a Travel Industry Association we joined with. It was a grueling travel considering that my car isn’t exactly a very comfortable place to take a nap in… How I miss the Hyundai Grandeur’s reclining back seat. Anyway, we left the house around seven thirty, picked up my executive director in Quezon City, took the usual stop at a Starbucks and arrived in San Rafael quarter past ten… and then we waited… waited…
And we finally started the program five past one. We were inducted before three and I met a lot of interesting personalities. Bubbly and not so bubbly Account Executives, General Managers, Travel Agency owners…
And now I’m looking forward to next month’s general assembly where we can present our company profile and the show to the association members.
As the program went on, my ever enthusiastic executive director bubbled out her fascination with such associations and how individuals and businesses have benefitted from the amount of network available in such gatherings. Sad to say, I lamented, it took us a while to realize the importance of alliances and how mutual relationships might have given us stability earlier into the game before this crisis hit. I also mentioned that negative circumstances such as the situation where we are in now is but a “blessing in disguise” for us, as it will force us to rethink our position within the industry.
With that said, I am hoping that things will turn out for the better… for the sake of those who has stayed on-board in the belief that time rewards those who are loyal, patience is a virtue and hard work will earn them their benefits.
It was finally concluded last Saturday, the preparation that lasted for what seemed like a very long time. Batch President Vic Sanchez did a very good job as well as the most active of the lot of my batch mates like E, Froilan, Sandi, Josel, Dennis, Mon, to name a few.
Apparently, we’ve broken attendance records. A hundred cases of beer disappeared after about two hours of drinking and the stocks had to be replenished. I had a blast playing with Black Pipe onstage and we did a fairly good set except for the usual onstage “participation” of uninvited singer wannabes which really crapped us out of a decent set… but it was still fun and funny.
I screwed up on some of the lyrics mainly because I was quite distracted by what was going on around but I think no one minds.
Aside from an earlier incident where one of the bands who came late cuts in line to play the first set, everything was okay. Anyway, I had a blast screwing them up by cutting their monitors… geezz, younger people should be taught respect the traditional way. If I did not consider that I was part of the host batch, I would have bashed that faggot manager’s head with my Washburn… but then again, my Washburn guitar is of greater value than that jack ass’ head.
Anyway, the incident almost ruined my night and I’m just glad it didn’t stir up anything bad between Vic and me. I suppose that the incident actually made me perform better that night.
The best part of course was seeing your batch mates and former classmates most of whom I’ve not seen for the last 25 years. I’ll have to ask some people to send me photos of the event since my crew only recorded the gig part as we did not have any spare batteries for the cams.I suppose that arranging for a get together would be easier now given that people won’t be paranoid anymore of possible additional responsibilities.
Congratulations to Kumbento Boys Batch ’84! It was one hell of a homecoming!
stories from batch president vic sanches after the conclusion of the event
batch '84 singing to "born to be wild" with casie villarosa and Black Pipe on stage
batch picture with the stage as background
concluding prayers
laughing it up after all the stressful preparations... it's finally over
