SoCal Sponsors Las Vegas Christmas Party!

LAS VEGAS, NV, Dec.1-3,2006: SoCal Funds were used to celebrate this year's Christmas get together. A word from Butch Halog, our host/organizer in Las Vegas:

i'd like to take a moment to thank the following people for coming to the las vegas xmas reunion party and making it a big success:

mon and donna ortega, sonny and zelda alejandre, raffy and sheila bajamundi, caes and susan anonas, jojo and darlene padua, bunny and eda gayon, johann and cherry yuzon, danny and gloria leong, al alcantara, egay leviste, pepito iturralde, and jojo lucero.

it's been nonstop fun since thursday and i wish you guys could have stayed longer. it was great to see you all again. maraming salamat ulit for coming.

thank you, socal, for footing the bill. i can't wait to see the pictures. have a safe trip home and happy holidays.

butch halog

TIMEOUT IN TAGAYTAY

The Itch and the Roar of the Pubescent

TAGAYTAY CITY, October 14, by Ira M. � A group from SBCHS75 went to Royale Tagaytay Country Club for a whole day of fun on the invitation of Boy Masakayan. Boy wanted to see friends since he will leave for Canada soon to be with his family. The group was composed of Joel Ba�ares, Jito Arreza, Andy Hirang, Alex Depante, Butch Lamug, Gabby Go and Ira Maniquis.

The guys who met as early as 5:30 A.M., looked forward to a rare opportunity to be together, play golf and basketball and have a sumptuous lunch. They motored for two hours to Tagaytay with some already wearing their golf shoes and caps.

Royale Tagaytay is a plush country club and resort that is a favorite destination in Tagaytay among tourists and families. It has a challenging 9-hole golf course, basketball, tennis and badminton courts, 12 tenpin bowling lanes, swimming pool, children�s playground, a wide dining area with an even wider food variety, and spacious rooms for families and couples, among others.

The group arrived almost simultaneously with Jito and Alex riding with Joel and the convoy of Andy, Ira, Butch and Gabby in two cars. Boy was on hand to welcome the group. Upon disembarking from their respective rides everyone immediately wanted to start swinging their clubs but a pretty caddie who went to Gabby distracted everyone.

First on deck was the flight of Andy, Joel and Ira. The second flight was composed of Jito, Alex, Butch and Gabby. Alex and Jito. Host Boy does not play golf but promised to start practicing and play in the next invitational. The golfers went two rounds in the 9-hole course for a full 18 holes. The course, though short, was challenging and tricky. Hazards were aplenty but the abundance of trees and plants made the SBCHS75 golfers grope for whatever skills they had.

As expected, Andy topped the round with a gross score of 70, Alex had a 73 and Jito a 76. The rest of the scores are as follows: Gabby, 82, Butch and Ira, 84, and Joel, 86 � all breaking 90. After the game, the gentlemen vowed not to reveal the total par of the course.

Then came a well-deserved lunch after a grueling morning. The Royale Tagaytay menu and buffet had just about everything one can imagine. The guys fattened themselves up with the buffet. Among those discussed on the table during and after the meal were the old days, the just concluded golf game, the San Beda NCAA team and championship, prostate cancer and treatment, getting turned on and the pretty caddie.

Boy then toured the guys around the facility and the group ended up in the indoor basketball court. Boy, who plays basketball regularly, asked if anyone wanted to play but everyone agreed to play bente uno (21) first. Except for Boy, most of the guys have not touched a basketball for years. The bente uno game seemed more challenging to some than the earlier golf game. Former PAYA juniors stalwart Butch seemed to have lost his touched, Joel looked like he needed a slide rule to compute distance, etc. while Alex in one round wore his golf glove and dribbled a golf ball in another. The bente uno results: Ira first, Boy second, Jito third, then Andy, Alex, Butch and Joel in that order. Gabby did not play.

Then came a 2-on-2 challenge. Jito and Ira versus Boy and Andy. In the first set, Jito�s jumpers and incursions were too much for Boy and Andy�s team. Jito and Ira won the game one. The audience, especially Alex found the game a little boring. �Pare, lagyan n�yo naman ng kaunting contact,� said Alex as he suggested more physical action to the players. �Wala kayong kabuhay-buhay.�

In the second game, Boy�s consistent perimeter jumpers and Andy�s hustle and timely shots were enough to beat the tired Jito and Ira duo. The two teams decided to keep the challenge to a tie and waived off a deciding game three.

Before calling it a day, the guys gathered at a veranda facing the golf course. Some had beer and coffee as they profusely thanked Boy for his hospitality and discussed future plans. Boy suggested that the SBCHS75 reunion be held as a New Year gathering sometime next January instead of the usual Christmas get-together held November or December.

A fundraising activity was recommended for the school and SBCHS75 Foundation. Boy has a great suggestion but the group will keep it under wraps until a thorough study, guidelines and other necessary moves are made.

As the long day wore on and everyone had to go home to their respective families, Joel, Jito, Andy, Alex, Butch, Gabby and Ira bid Boy goodbye. As evidenced by their hugs and handshakes to each other, their wish is to have more of these gatherings and see each more often. # # #

RED LIONS WIN NCAA Basketball CHAMPIONSHIP!

SEE the LAST FEW SECONDS of play...and the INDIAN YELL at half time! PLUS SBCHS75ers celebrating at The TENT!

Excerpt from a blogger in Atenista.net:

"Indian Yell -- For me, done well, this is still the best Philippine college cheer -- incredibly long and complicated, horns galore, full of bassy-male voices. It really sounds like a warpath. Actually, part of the reason I want SBC back against us is to hear their Indian Yell again."

More on the Indian Yell at Wikipedia.

Championship Recap

Sept. 23, 2006: To SBCHS75 from Ipe Sanvictores... especially those who couldn't be at the Araneta yesterday ...

I am adding my piece to Leo Mozar's eloquent and celebratory email about the games. I had written Cuzin Al earlier, and am copy-pasting portions thereof to this, and adding a few more ...

hoping to add a little more fuel to the fire glowing in every Bedan's heart as the 28-year drought ended with the 82nd NCAA Seniors' Basketball Championship yesterday ...

"Last week was not a very productive time for me at work, because Monday, Wednesday and Friday PM, I was out of the office, and at the Araneta - watching the drama of our tortuous road to claiming the top NCAA Sr Basketball honors.

I don't have a red shirt in my aparador, but for this week - I wore red. Never mind if my stomach buldged - lahat naman ng oldies (meaning us) had big buldges; never mind that our throats cracked @ Q1 pa lang; never mind that the current generation of Bedans no longer cheer our cheers -- bawal na ang "Animo San Beda, Beat ..." kasi provoking daw; wala na rin ang San Beda Go Go Go ... fight 'em, smash'em, kick 'em right -- kasi prodding to violence daw ... never mind that at the end of the games walang nerbiyos na bugbugan na sa labas 'cuz Araneta has the same crowd control system as the World Cup - I was impressed at the security measures on and around the court ... never mind that our hearts skipped a beat (maybe more) as our 20-point brick wall was dismantled 1-, two, three pts @ a time by the great PCU rally mainly by a lone spitfire power forward Jason Castro of PCU ... there were plenty of errors on top of Castro's heroics, and the Bedan spirit faltered; there was renewed fire for "Defense", then, "Go San Beda Fight!" ... but the PCU star Espinas (who's just been drafted to the PBA with San Miguel) hit an easy under the goal stab with just a few ticks left, and Escobal had the ball and somehow, he made a wild pass to Ekwe and we lost the ball, one-point up - and PCU was on the offensive; it was to bust our hopes into smeetherins except, that as Castro expertly handled the ball, he followed Coach Dualan's instruction to pass it to Elwe's man who would be freed by the collapsed San Beda defense ... it played out exactly as planned, but last shot from the top of the free throw line by the flagrantly arrogant but skillful 6'5" Beau Belga (Belga-Go was the taunt from the sidelines), hit the rim instead and our power guard Yousif Aljamal grabbed the ball, bent over with a tight bearhug of the basketball, and all that the two PCU guards beside him could do was stare at him as the clock hit 0:00 ...

and then, we became Champions ... pandemonium broke lose ... 28 long years mga bro... I hugged my wife Pat and we kissed hard; we all jumped and yelled; I hugged Boy Masacayan who was beside me, forgetting that he went to La Salle, and I to Ateneo after '75; we embraced everyone around us, gave high 5's and 10's, shook hands and cheered the Indian Yell, over and over and over again ... confetti balloons Go San Beda Fight cards, streamers unfurled, a sea of red celebrating to reverberating roars - Go San Beda Fight!!!! ... unforgettable.

Basta, nag-champion tayo ... sure hoped you all were with us.

Chibu was there, but had to leave about 5PM (2Q pa lang) because his office had an affair he needed to attend; Jojo Ocampo was there Games 1 and 2, but backed out of Game 3 - disgusted that the Lions were whip-tamed on G2, and instead played his weekly golf w/ his beer buddies ... saw some of our batchmates - Bote, Butch Reyes, Boy Danac, Rey Umali, and hundreds of familiar (if aged) faces from different batches, earlier and later ... and buldging tummies ...

Didn't see, but I am sure they were there - Jito, Andy Hirang, Ira Maniquiz, Fr Lucas (sat beside him @ G2), Gil, Joel, sino pa ba? Jessie-Boy was there G1, maybe Gs 2 and 3 also ... sino pa ba ... it was impossible to catch the batch ... everyone was in red, everyone celebrating the reunions before the games, during the breaks, and even after as the crowds made the exits ... inside the Big Dome, the Blue portion (PCU) was like one slice of a whole pizza; the rest was RED ... yesterday, the blue portion wwas slightly bigger - siguro 1-1/2 slices of a pizza; but the red was thicker, rowdier, more brilliant and oozing with chili ... red hot, hotter, hottest ...

once more, San Beda painted Cubao RED ...

Umpa, umpa, umpa, umpa ... Beda Beda Beda Beda Fight Fight Fight Fight ... I still get the chanting singing the Indian Yell ... even if not all the indians are obese ,,,, some couldn't even hide their rib cages ... @ G2 there was a huge Indian Chief ... @ G3, there were over 20, maybe 30 little indians and 2 fat lil'injuns ... who waved their small axes at the PCU crowd ...

there was also a strange cheer (strange to me) ... "puso, puso, puso" ... starting with a whisper, slowly getting louder until it built into a roar ... I couldn't understand it ... but now as I recall yesterday's sweet victory ... the Puso chant had touched our hearts, where deep inside it lay a red spot ...

"in the early days of our boyhood, and the visions of our youth ..."

yes, there's that shared something in our hearts, where San Beda played a big role, and basketball championships were carved as a source of pride ...

Yesterday, we rejoiced our victory ... and we were all proud once more to be Bedans. Bedan pride restored with another epic victory ...

Couldn't join the celeb at Mendiola that followed ... it was the birthday of Pat's dad (also a Bedan alumnus), so we treated him to a ringside seat @ G3 (a first time for him), then a sumptuous dinner with the Canon family (mostly Bedans) at the nearby Gateway mall ... even at the mall - lahat naka-pula. Sa resto, mga gutom at tumotoma, naka-pula; all those wearing red smiled at each other ... high-5'd Boy Danac who was walking out of the mall and he mutterd, "hinahanap ko pa ang puso ko ..." and he had the sheepish smile of a cat who had swallowed a canary.

and this I wrote to Al ... "you wouldn't recognize the Araneta Center anymore ... sa dami ng bagong establishments, ... siguradong mawawala ka, and if you try to be 17 yrs old again and become violent after an NCAA championship game, you'd get lost trying to seek shelter at the Ali Mall ... hahaha ... we always get a good laugh remembering your wild antics ..."

Tomorrow, I might watch Game 1 of the UAAP championship series - Ateneo vs UST, with my kids ... pero, yesterday was different ....

iba pa rin ang Bedista.

GO SAN BEDA FIGHT !!!

Re: [sbchs75] There will be a Game 3

Sept. 20, 2006 by Leo Mozar: It was a red sea alright at Araneta yesterday. Ang dame dameng pula talaga. The PCU color blue was practically a blue sheen in the red sea. Pag nag wave ang mga pula you can see that PCU occupied just 1/8 section of the lower and upper boxes. At ringside naman they were just at the back of the its bench.

Rhett and Bobby were sitting at ringside behind the basket. The tv camera panned and they were on national tv. Aba, nag stay pa for a while ang camera sa kanila. Did you guys pay the cameraman? Arbor ng red tshirt na suot nyo. Was that the 28 in 82 shirt? I like though the OSB - Old School Beda - Rules. From old school tayo di ba.

I was at upper box. 100 bucks. Cheap. Jito texted he was there. I am sure Gil was there too. Pero di kame nagkitakits.

The team scored 17 points for the first half!!!!! I figure that was what 1 point for every 1.18 minute. I give credit to PCU. Higpit ng depensa. Kaya ang SBC was not moving the ball very well. Lamya pag tira sa labas. Sundot pag saksak sa loob. Butata dito. Fumble doon. Kaya init ng ulo ko. As per Inquirer, SBC was shooting blanks. Sa wika, may baril walang bala. It was like Greece vs USA. Walang shooter. Ang shooter or shooters were on court but the mind or timing was left at home. Kako kulang or sobra sa sex.

I sensed the team was self destructing in the second half. Abot pa ang lamang ng kalaban sa bente singko at di bumaba sa bente from the half. I hope I am wrong pero parang may alitan. Especially in the second half.

Pero punta pa rin ako bukas. Winner take all na.

May mga pansin lang ako. Ang banda di pareho nang nandun sila Wally, Nonon, and Avan. Lamya. The band you see was at my back. Alala ko our band was long playing. Birit tugtog from start to finish each game. The band now was not yong bang electrifying the crowd. You know what I mean.

The cheerleaders naman were female and young. Oh, how I wish I was young too. But Dodo and Jun and the rest were more creative electrifying the crowd. And getting and maintaining the spirits on a high level kahit talunan.

May katabi ako na coed from Alabang. The band was starting the Indian Yell. She asked her boyfriend bakit may Indian tumatakbo sa court at halftime. The boyfriend didnt know. I showed these ignoramuses despite my age I can still cheer strong and loud for my school.

Finally, what is pathetic is that at last 2 minutes, the crowd thinned out. The 3 upper box rows in front of me were empty before the end of the game. Ulit, alala ko, in our days walang iwanan until we sang the Alma Mater Song. Iba na ang panahon.

Hanggang dito na lamang at maraming salamat sa inyong suporta sa team. Kita kita tayo bukas.

GO SAN BEDA FIGHT.