Flashbacks - JASHS Class '70 USA Christmas Party 2008
I froze my butt off! It never fails when I go walking around the park. I went walking yesterday afternoon and about half a mile from the house, I wanted to turn around and put on some warmer clothing but I get lazy and continue on. So of course I freeze my butt off! Maybe I should avoid walking in the afternoons and do it in the morning like everyone else. It's just that it's so gorgeous walking about the lake around the time that the sun is setting before I realize it, I've walked an hour. I've been taking pictures each time.
But once I get by the lake and my heart starts pumping a bit faster, I don’t feel as cold. Anyway, back to the blog at hand…
On December 6, we had our annual JASHS Class ’70 USA Christmas Party at friend and classmate Roger Catalan’s beautifull hilltop house in Rancho Palos Verdes. It was a clear evening and the lights down below were gorgeous. As usual Ed and Odette were the first ones to get there. They came with Cora and Arnold and their guest. Jun Galang and his son Christopher (boy, he’s grown quite a bit!) were already there as well. A few minutes after we arrived, the rest of the gang started coming in: Boy and Remy with daughter Mary Jo, Elaine and Gene, Imelda, Dan and children Krystal, DJ and Andrew, Manny with his trusted keyboard, Josie, Rey and son Ryan and his girlfriend Alice and their son EJ, Bert and Merlyn, Nestor, Daisy, grand daughter Janelle and niece Inah. Ed’s daughter Ethel joined the party a bit later. There was quite a lot of food. You know us Filipinos, when we cook we tend to always over estimate and of course we end up bringing ‘doggy bags’ home!
We had the usual parlor games dominated this year by the Danganans who raked up all kinds of prize money. There was the usual newspaper dance, musical chairs, etc. Nido introduced a game for the first time with contestants having a coin up in their forehead and the first one to be able to put it in his/her mouth wins by just making faces trying to make the coin slide down.
Our games were interrupted once Pacquiao and De La Hoya started slugging it out. Roger was nice enough to order pay per view for this historical fight. For the duration of the fight everyone was glued on to Roger’s big screen. I don’t think I need to tell you the results, right?
Back to the games after the fight.. Manny had this idea for people to sing Oh Holy Night with each performer singing it in a higher key than the previous one. Nido started it, then he gave me the mic and Emy I think sang next as well as Inah. After a while all the girls sang their version and then it was the boys’ turn! I don’t remember anyone winning that competition. There were special performances by Adrienne singing No Doubt’s Running accompanied by Giancarlo on guitar and Inah Pangilinan on the keyboard with her version of Leona Lewis’ Bleeding Love with Nestor and Daisy’s grand daughter Janelle standing by her side for support. I thought that was pretty cute. Everyone got some prize money for their effort.
When everyone ran out of Christmas carols to sing, Nido sang some OPMs followed by Emy, Jun Galang’s Bee Gees songs and of course Cora, the newest singer of JASHS Class ’70 USA!
During the meeting on November 22 at Imelda’s place in Cerritos, a medical mission was introduced as one of the projects of the group. One way to raise funds, Imelda gave away colorful cylindrical cardboard boxes containing a wine bottle. Her idea was for people to create a hole on top and drop their loose change into the box not unlike a piggy bank and then these will be collected before the medical mission goes to the Philippines in 2010.
Despite the economic crisis being experienced in the US, everyone left the party feeling happy and somewhat elated knowing material things may come and go but close friendships and good relations are here to stay!
My heartfelt gratitude goes to all those who attended especially to Roger and wife Bevs for hosting our party. And of course to Manny and his keyboard without which we wouldn't have enjoyed the party as much!
Here are all the pictures I took during the party.
But once I get by the lake and my heart starts pumping a bit faster, I don’t feel as cold. Anyway, back to the blog at hand…
On December 6, we had our annual JASHS Class ’70 USA Christmas Party at friend and classmate Roger Catalan’s beautifull hilltop house in Rancho Palos Verdes. It was a clear evening and the lights down below were gorgeous. As usual Ed and Odette were the first ones to get there. They came with Cora and Arnold and their guest. Jun Galang and his son Christopher (boy, he’s grown quite a bit!) were already there as well. A few minutes after we arrived, the rest of the gang started coming in: Boy and Remy with daughter Mary Jo, Elaine and Gene, Imelda, Dan and children Krystal, DJ and Andrew, Manny with his trusted keyboard, Josie, Rey and son Ryan and his girlfriend Alice and their son EJ, Bert and Merlyn, Nestor, Daisy, grand daughter Janelle and niece Inah. Ed’s daughter Ethel joined the party a bit later. There was quite a lot of food. You know us Filipinos, when we cook we tend to always over estimate and of course we end up bringing ‘doggy bags’ home!
We had the usual parlor games dominated this year by the Danganans who raked up all kinds of prize money. There was the usual newspaper dance, musical chairs, etc. Nido introduced a game for the first time with contestants having a coin up in their forehead and the first one to be able to put it in his/her mouth wins by just making faces trying to make the coin slide down.
Our games were interrupted once Pacquiao and De La Hoya started slugging it out. Roger was nice enough to order pay per view for this historical fight. For the duration of the fight everyone was glued on to Roger’s big screen. I don’t think I need to tell you the results, right?
Back to the games after the fight.. Manny had this idea for people to sing Oh Holy Night with each performer singing it in a higher key than the previous one. Nido started it, then he gave me the mic and Emy I think sang next as well as Inah. After a while all the girls sang their version and then it was the boys’ turn! I don’t remember anyone winning that competition. There were special performances by Adrienne singing No Doubt’s Running accompanied by Giancarlo on guitar and Inah Pangilinan on the keyboard with her version of Leona Lewis’ Bleeding Love with Nestor and Daisy’s grand daughter Janelle standing by her side for support. I thought that was pretty cute. Everyone got some prize money for their effort.
When everyone ran out of Christmas carols to sing, Nido sang some OPMs followed by Emy, Jun Galang’s Bee Gees songs and of course Cora, the newest singer of JASHS Class ’70 USA!
During the meeting on November 22 at Imelda’s place in Cerritos, a medical mission was introduced as one of the projects of the group. One way to raise funds, Imelda gave away colorful cylindrical cardboard boxes containing a wine bottle. Her idea was for people to create a hole on top and drop their loose change into the box not unlike a piggy bank and then these will be collected before the medical mission goes to the Philippines in 2010.
Despite the economic crisis being experienced in the US, everyone left the party feeling happy and somewhat elated knowing material things may come and go but close friendships and good relations are here to stay!
My heartfelt gratitude goes to all those who attended especially to Roger and wife Bevs for hosting our party. And of course to Manny and his keyboard without which we wouldn't have enjoyed the party as much!
Here are all the pictures I took during the party.
posted by reyjay @ 3:13 AM
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