Friday Night (March 15):  The highlight of our vacation trip started.   Felix fetch us from Malibu with his 9-seater Suburban....ang gara ng sasakyan ni Pareng Felix.  At last nagkita na naman kami ni Lex after10 years.  Balbas sarado si Lex ngayon...bumabawi sa bigote at balbas sa nawala sa ibababaw ...he,he,he. We had dinner prepared by Chona's brother and mom before we left Malibu.  So kwentuhan, kumustahan habang kumakain then also on our way to San Dimas. 

We got there, at si Riz naman na "mamang-mama ang dating", ang sumalubong sa amin.  The girls were busy preparing the table.  At last... nakita rin namin sina Tess at Dana at ang mga tsikiting na laging nasa website!....nakita ko rin in person ang mga famous landmarks sa bahay nila na laging nasa mga pictures pag may bisita sa Los Angeles area.  And we have a lot of time to catch up not like the 2-hour reunion that we had 10 years ago.

Busog pa kami pero we can't resist the laing, sinigang, adobo, tapa at ang dami-dami pang iba kaya tsibug uli kami.  Parang mga kamag-anak kami na matagal nang hindi nagkita.  The night was filled with laughter at walang tapos na kwentuhan. At first, naninimbang ang mga anak ko.  Si Charmaine, tuwang-tuwa sa kambal ni Lex at nag-blend in kaaagad.  It's hard to distinguish the twins other than Fe's missing front tooth.  Si Caitlyn medyo mahiyain pa... pero kumanta rin kasama ni Charmaine ng tagalog composition ni Kuya Nato, "Basta't Kapiling Ka". 

I never laugh as much as I did that night.  Kwentuhan ng mga buhay-buhay dito sa Amerika.  Biruan at tuksuhan and mga damatan...habang busy naman sa paglalaro ang mga bata.  Almost 12:00 na bago nagpaalam sina Riz. We were left at the Parados to spend the night there.  Habang natutulog na sa executive suite ng "Parado Inn" ang pamilya ko, kwentuhan naman kami ni Lex hanggang 2:00 a.m.. 

Saturday (March 16):  Late na ako nagising pero yung mag-asawang Lex & Tess ay maaga nagising.  Gising na daw si Tess ng 6 am .  Nagprepare ng tapsilog si Lex na gustong-gusto ni Charmaine.  Chona joined us at 9:00. Kwentuhan uli habang nagbre-breakfast. Isa-isa namang naghihintay ang mga tsikiting ni Tess ng turn nila sa shower. 

Got a call from Diana and she told us she will be in to give us a ride to Riz and Dana's place at around 11:30.  Medyo kwentuhan sa phone...naka-pajama pa raw si Diana kaya we have to cut the call short so they can get ready.  Kwentuhan uli kami nila Lex & Tess. 

Nagpi-pictorial kami ng dumaling ang mga Gonzaleses.  We get to meet Tony (Bodge).  Akala ko suplada si Diana noong high school at hindi ko alam na makwento rin pala sya.  She's cool.  Ganoon din si Tony.  They were both very candid and down-to-earth. We get along well right away at palagay agad ang loob namin sa kanila.  We get a chance to hear about the mini-reunion with Diana in the Philippines and Tony's homecoming in San Beda on our ride to Buena Park.  Cute ng mga anak nila Diana. 

We arrived at the Riz and Dana's place.  Again, I get to see the famous landmarks in the Bautista residence (like the stone-wall). Pagdating kina Riz, we got a chance to see Diana and Tony's pictures ng Philippine visit nila. Tony conveyed how the reunions changed them and how he admire the closeness in our batch.  Kainan uli ng mga masasarap na pagkain at katakot-takot na kwentuhan at tawanan.  Ang sarap ng special salad ni Dana (Chona is still asking and waiting for the recipe, Dana) at may special rice with curry and other stuff si Diana. Ang sarap-sarap.

Kumanta si Diana at Charmaine ng "Argentina". Mana rin ang anak nyang si Ysabel na kumanta ng "I will Survive".  Si Charmaine (Wind Beneath My Wings) at Francis (Surfing USA) din nakiki-karaoke and they are trying to outscore one another.  Caitlyn and Kris were busy with the pool table in the garage and with "Lucky", their pom dog outside the backyard.  Click yung dalawa at magkasama maghapon at nagpalitan pa nga bracelets as sign of their friendship. 

Kami namang mga parents, busy sa dining table sa kwentuhan....we talked about a lot of stuff.  Mahilig pala sa skiing yung mag-asawang Tony-Diana.  We also talked about "raffles" and "undergrounds" .....(INSIDE JOKE)......  Lumaki na naman lalo ang tyan ko sa dami ng pagkain at sa katatawa din.  Enjoy talaga kasama ang California group....Si Dana....she's a riot (thank God Felix warned Chona about her....being loud!)  Chona loved that kasi ganoon din sya.  Game na game sa mga biruan sina Dana at Tess.  Riz and Tony shared the same interest in golf.  Lex and I would take our video cameras once in a while and take some shots.  So after the kantahan, syetehan, iyakan (ng mga bata....may nahulog, may naumpog, may nag-aaway)....Lex and Tess did not forget the most important thing...to go to the church. 

The Bautistas opted to stay with the kids and they will go to mass the next day.  Sabi nga ni Riz para makasimba raw kami ng holding hands.  So tatlong pairs and the Parado twins na sama-samang kaming nag-simba.  Maganda at masaya ang Mass sa church nila. 

Pagbalik namin...kainan uli, kantahan uli at tsattsatan uli.  Dana's mom joined us, too.  Si Diana, ang daming pasalubong sa amin from the Philippines.  May flute, hawaiian shirts at iba-iba pa.  May binigay din syang t-shirt from Ching Cabildo....nakakatuwa si Ching at naalala pa ako.

Charmaine and Caitlyn were requested to sing "Basta't Kapiling Ka" again.  And I sang my composition for Chona, "Para Sa Yo"....complete with a kiss after the song (buyo si Tony eh!)  Ysabel and Greg did a cute rendition of  a Pilipino poem "Paru-parong Dilaw".  Then Ysabel, Denise, Kris and Francis did their great classical piano pieces.  It was a great show of various talents.

Then final call for the all-day buffet!  We must have gained 10 lbs!  Final chance for more stories, too.  So we gathered around the table again for more sessions. 

About the grand reunion next year, we compared notes and we all agreed that vacation time here in America (preferably early July)  would be the best time to go back so we can take the kids with us and we want to be able to maximize our stay without disrupting their schooling.  We want to get the most of the high airfare and we want to be able to visit relatives back home, too.  Diana was suggesting to have some activities for the kids as well.

The sad part came at 9:30 when we have to leave for the airport.  Diana, Tony, Ysabel and Greg said goodbye....Tony will be working early the next day.  Riz and Lex help us load our luggages in Riz' van.  And Lex wanted to take us to the airport, too.  But there is no point because we will just be dropped-off.  Ang hirap talagang maghiwa-hiwalay after such a fun day.  We will treasure our 1/2 days with our Californian friends forever.  Sina Diana-Tony kahit na isang araw lang naming nakasama parang matagal na naming kakilala and we get to know each other well.

Hi Lex, Tess, Riz, Dana, Diana, Tony and all the kids,

Thank you so much for the hospitality that you have shown us!  We will never forget our mini gathering.  It was a lot of fun and I have never laugh as much I did last weekend.  You guys are funny and a lot of fun!  Chona and the kids enjoyed your company, too.

God Bless,

Val, Chona, Charmaine & Caitlyn

We enjoyed as much and thank you for the wonderful friendship!!!  Keep in touch and take care always.

Tony (Bodge) and Diana

We're happy to know that everything went well with your trip back home.

Indeed, it was a memorable and enjoyable day for each and everyone!  It's our pleasure to meet Chona, Charmaine, and Caitlin.  I would say that you're blessed to have Chona because she has a good sense of humor and seems to be a strong-willed woman.  Your kids behaved so well and they are both blessed with voice talents. 

Thank you for taking the time to see and be with us. Also, for the gifts.  I failed to thank you for
Francis' gift money.  He intends to add it to his savings account and buy some books. 

I hope last weekend was only the beginning of another phase of our friendship.  God made us friends and it's up to us to keep it.  Take care and God bless! 

Lex, Tess & Kids

Val, Chona & Kids,

It was a pleasure to have you for that short time.  Maybe next time we can do the same thing at a longer time. Val, reminder suggest to everybody that the reunion be held sometime July next year.  Dana & I really appreciated that you and your family found some time to visit us.  Our kids really spent some quality time with each other.  Anyway, see you in the Philippines next year.

Take care.

Riz, Dana, Denise, Allison, Kris & Nico