A Personal Account by Manny Iyulores
QCHS Class of 62 Reunion
Stardust Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
October 10-14, 2004
Phew... I'm finally free -- after a couple of hectic weeks between house guests
and work! So, here's my promised personal account re-our reunion in Las Vegas
last Oct 10-14. (There's a good chance that, because of my "still undeveloped
photographic memory" at this stage in life, I may mix/miss names, dates and
places in this narrative. Those of you who were there, please feel free to make
the necessary corrections.)
Day 1 (Sunday, Oct 10):
(Based on Lyla's account):
Arrival of advance party (Alex & Connie Oliveros) and other classmates (Lyla
Gray, with Uldarico "Dens" Dominguez & wife Dolly, among others), who
drove from California. Together they set up billet and hospitality suite at
Stardust...
Jessie Victoria & wife Mila came by plane and checked in at Stardust. Paulo
Rillo and Manny Olivares came by car from California later in the
day. They checked in at Excalibur .
Day 2 (Monday, Oct 11):
Herma and I arrived LV airport at 8:40am. Met Jessie V at the
lobby of Stardust as we were about to check in. Jessie was a little panicky
because he had inadvertently left his much needed medication back home. It
being Columbus Day, there was no way he could get his meds faster than just
going to the nearest Wallgreen Drugstore and see if he could get provisional
supply of his prescribed meds...
Immediately after checking in and depositing our luggage in our room, Herma
and I proceeded to the Hospitality suite. Connie, with her over $300
winnings from last night's "battle with the slots," whisked us away for a
quick breakfast at the hotel's coffee shop, leaving Alex, Lyla, Dens and
Rosario Guarin (?) to take care of hooking up the "magic mike" that I
brought along, and sprucing up the place for the arrival of more classmates...
When we returned the place was already teeming with karaoke buffs -- Lyla
and Dens on the lead -- belting their favorite songs. (Guess what?
Dens' favorite song is "Bikini Mong Pula"!)
More classmates arrived. Becky Gutierrez, who set up temporary
residence with hubby Dan at her mom's home here in LV, came with
pasalubongs -- persimmon and guava fruits for everyone and personally made
matching bead necklaces and bracelets for the ladies. (THANKS a lot, Becky!)...
Renato Guerrero and wife, Teresita, and sisters Lourdes and
Ana Maria Fernandez (all from Ontario, Canada) were among the early
comers.
By noon a sumptuous lutong-Pilipino lunch, which Alex O hastily grabbed
from a local restaurateur-caterer, was served as more classmates arrived.
Jessie was back, happy to have gotten provisional supply of his prescription
meds from Wallgreen, with wife Mila... Sam Estabillo (from NY),
who is busy making improvements on his recently bought residential home here in
LV, also arrived.
By mid-afternoon, the suite was the most raucous in the whole villa area.
Alex and Dens were kept busy brewing coffee and replenishing the ice
box with beer, pop, bottled water and ice. (The 5-shot flask of Jack Daniel's
that I brought in did not last long between songs and leftover food. But ice
cold beer kept coming as more classmates and guests arrived. Local resident
Cora Quitania (class '61, classmate of my elder brother, Pepito Jr) and her
husband, Roger Guillermo, were at hand and offered to give any interested
party a mini-tour of downtown LV later in the evening. The inseparable duo of
Paulo Rillo & Manny Olivares ("mga binat na"/"wala ang asawa")
came a little later --already 'bloodied' by slots -- and immediately joined the
boys huddled around an ice box "lifting weights and gulp-ing" the seemingly
endless supply of canned beer. The party slowly broke up when Connie &
Alex announced that they had to leave, because of a prior engagement
(they're buying a home here, we learned later), and when the girls made known
their angst over getting their Freemont Street Experience --where
pedestrians stroll under a 90-ft high, 4-block long canopy of more than 2
million ever-changing lights synchronized to 540,000 watts of concert-quality
sound -- to be topped by a $5/person Jun Polistico Show with a
drink to boot, there. (Herma and I had other interests, so we separated from
the group as they were still debating over with whom and which place to go
first.)
It was a pleasant surprise to meet Rene Besabe & wife
Edna around midnight
at the strip on our way back to Stardust. (They planed in late in
the evening and were being toured of the strip by a resident friend from
Kamuning. They checked in at Stardust, too.) Herma and I had strolled the
strip and watched: the volcanic eruptions at the Mirage; the
swashbuckling pirates and sexy Sirens of the Caribbean at Treasure Island;
the renaissance murals and arts exhibit at the Venetian, and the
Dancing Waters/Fountains of Bellagio . It was almost 2:00a when we got back
to our room. (The slots would have to wait. I had a long day and must hit the
sack and rest my weary body first.)
Day 3 (Tuesday, Oct 12):
After a late-morning long walk to and a quick breakfast at the top of the
Stratosphere, Herma and I went back the Hospitality suite. It was already
bustling with classmates and guests who were feasting on lutong-Pilipino food
(adobo, ginisang monggo, piniritong daing na parang utap, pinakbet, bagoong &
tomatoes, etc) that Alex O painstakingly ordered/procured from the
caterer.
New arrivals today: Shiony Orillo (class '65, younger sister of Connie
and classmate of my younger brother, Loreto) & hubby Noel Verzosa (from
NY); Ben Padua & wife Aurora (from NY); Bert Cabello & wife Annie (from CA);
Nora Cruz & hubby Pros Gallido (drove from CA);
Pat Niega & wife Josie (drove from CA), and Rene & Edna Besabe (from NY)...
Becky G's husband, Dan Murphy was there too... Zenaida
Cardinal-Lazo (from NJ) would unexpectedly planed in later...
Connie and I had a hasty conference to put together a program for the
Dinner-Dance. I made contact and put together classmates who would perform as
"guest entertainers" at the Dinner-Dance tomorrow night.
By late afternoon I had confirmation (contracts deemed "signed and sealed") of
the guest appearances of Barbara Streissand, Gloria Geynore,
Elvis Presley and The Village People at our
Dinner-Dance... Shiony, Connie's baby sister who is a dance aficionado,
helped us with some dance steps. She also volunteered to teach us some newer
line dance steps at the Dinner-Dance... Saintly-looking Renato Guerrero,
lone representative of 5 other classmates in Ontario, Canada who couldn't come
for one reason or another, accepted to do the honor of delivering the
Invocation prepared by Deacon Bob Rosales for the occasion... Rene
Besabe (my "Ka Ato") reiterated his readiness to rehearse the tune of our
Alma Mater Hymn with Connie and accompany the class on the keyboard in
its singing during the program...
The day went by fast even as activities were happening almost simultaneously!
We had open-table dining all day. small talks on the sides, alternate
karaoke-singing and line-dancing on half of the room and some forms of
rehearsals on another, boozing on all sides, and some costume-shopping, too...
Before we knew it, classmates were either gearing to honor their: hard-to-refuse
dinner invitations with local friends and/or relatives; tryst with the one-armed
bandits and dealers at the casinos; booked must-see shows, or gather again at
the prearranged "eat all you can" seafood dinner at an Asian buffet place
outside of the strip...
As some went their own ways, Pat & Josie Niega, Bert & Anne Cabello, Renato &
Terry Guerrero, Lourdes & Ana Maria Fernandez
(Renato Guerrero's sisters-in-law),
Pros & Nora Cruz-Gallido, Dens Dominguez, Sam Estabillo, Lyla Gray, Rosario
Guarin, and Herma & I joined Alex & Connie to feast at the
no-host Asian buffet place. After our scrumptious dinner (I surely got my
money's worth on sushi and sashimi alone), Alex & Connie led the
group in a 3-vehicle caravan that made pit stops to watch the
Carnival
at Rio and view grandiose displays and free shows at the more popular
resort-casinos along the strip ... I swear I must have shaken off the big
dinner I had earlier by time we got back to the suite...
Before calling it a night, after parting with the group, I finally had my first
opportunity to pay homage to the slots. (Herma went with Rose Guarin
to another area in the Stardust Casino. I got preoccupied until about
3:30a. The slots eventually drew first blood. It didn't feel good but I felt
fulfilled. I have done my part, as a guest, to support the booming economy of
Las Vegas. Viva Las Vegas! (Huh, huh, huh, huh!)
Day 4 (Wednesday, Oct 13):
I had a light sleep but I got out of bed late. Herma had already taken
off with
Connie O, Josie Niega, Rose Guarin
& Mila Victoria, as
planned, to register and get freebees at the Nurses' Career Day Expo at nearby
Texas Convention Center. Pat Niega was their happily 'volunteered'
chauffer. They were all back by the time I got to the Hospitality suite for
brunch with the rest of the classmates and guests.
After brunch, all classmates and spouses present (including Cora Q- & Roger
Guillermo) gathered by the pool side to join in the fun games (and
prizes) that were Lyla painstakingly prepared for everbody's amusement.
(For some reasons Sam Estabillo, Manny Oliveros, Paulo Rillo & Zeny Cardinal
weren't able to join.) It was a morning filled with laughter.
After Lyla's "follies", the group decided to tackle some pressing/serious
business:
(1) So as not to touch the almost-zero class fund currently in the care of
Evelyn Mistica-Vergara, classmates present decided to contribute at least
$20.00 each for the family of Melanie Fautino-Gaviola who recently died
of cancer. (We were able to raise enough money to reimburse Rose
Guarin-Carera of the $100 she advanced for the flowers sent to Melanie's
funeral in the name of the class, and some $200+ for Melanie's family. A
corresponding check will be issued by Connie for Melanie's 2 children in
behalf of the class -- including the Quitania-Guillermo family of Class
'61, who also contributed.)
(2) We started talking about the 2007 Grand Homecoming-Reunion in the
Philippines. (We arrived at a consensus that it would be best to hold it at
bout the same time that we did it in 2002 -- some time in late January, instead
of the initial plan of timing it with the School Homecoming festivities in March
or April for the following reasons (a) in deference to requests from classmates
who are still connected with schools here in North America, (b) it will be
off-peak travel season - thus, lower fare for everyone, and (c) it won't be as
intolerably hot for many of us to enjoy our stay there...
After the spot meeting, we went back to the Hospitality suite for more food,
drinks. singing and dancing. (Alex's bottle of Jack Daniels did not last long.
But there was still a stack of cold beer in cans to be drank) ...The nurses
among us, went back to the convention place, to get more freebies and find out
if any one of them won any of the big raffle prizes. They were back within an
hour. Josie Niega won one of the raffle prizes -- a palm pilot! (Pat
looked like he couldn't wait to lay his hands on it!)
I have mentioned earlier that the contracts for the special appearances of the
Village People, Gloria Geynore, Barbara Streissand & Elvis Presley at our
upcoming Dinner Dance were 'deemed signed and sealed' only yesterday.
(I forgot to mention that for months, up to the last days before this reunion, I
was also negotiating for the guest appearances of Tom Jones, Ray Charles,
the Everly Brothers, the McGuire Sisters and the great tenor,
Luciano Pavarotti at our Dinner-Dance... Tom Jones never responded.
Ray Charles unexpectedly passed away and could not be resurrected to
honor his contract; Luciano Pavarotti backed out because of scheduling
problems; the Everly Brothers were having a sibling squabble, and the
McGuire Sisters could not put their act together. So all of them were
scratched off from our still unprinted Dinner-Dance program.)
At around 3:30p classmates started disappearing from the Hospitality suite -- to
the delight of Alex & Connie who, like many of us, needed some beauty
rest. Most of the ladies, my wife included, solicited the services of Dolly
Dominguez (Dens' wife), who happens to be an excellent beautician. (Dens'
suite conveniently and instantly turned into a beauty parlor!)
While everybody was away, 4 of the 5-member band of The Village People
materialized at the suite. They schemed on making fun of their 'cowboy' member
"for laughs and entertainment" of their audience. They changed and rehearsed a
totally different choreography for the number they were going to present at the
Dinner-Dance! (I drank with them over this scheme before finally retiring to my
room to dress up for the Dinner-Dance.)
The
Dinner Dance was scheduled to start at 6:00p. A few of us, Connie,Alex &
Lyla were among the very few classmates already in the hall when Herma
and I arrived at around 5:45p... Connie & I had a last minute
conference. We were kind of thankful to the fact that we had printed copies of
the Alma Mater Song on each table and no printed program. Bottom line: "Just
wing it... Play it by ear... Be resourceful, Manny!" (While I was putting my
thoughts together, I could see from the corners of my eyes classmates trickling
in... On one corner there was Connie humming to Rene Besabe,who
was struggling ("kinakapa-kapa" ang tono) on the keyboard with his
already-forgotten tune of our Alma Mater Hymn. Lyla materialized and
volunteered to take over the keyboard accompaniment demonstrating her dexterity.
(The tune is still fresh in her memory, afterall! ...Around the middle of the
hall, there was Pat Niega ("opisyal pautograper" 'ka niya) armed with his
state-of-the-art photography gadgets, pulling aside individual classmates, pairs
and groups for picture-taking as they came into the hall... Then there were the
"guest performers" all over the place who had to be briefed when their numbers
would be coming up... The head waiter had to be appealed to delay the serving of
dinner from the 6:00p schedule to "until told"...
It was not until 7:15p that the last of our "Pinoy pa rin, through-and-through"
classmates arrived. Mila Agravante-Zaporteza,her hubby and her 3 guests,
Amadeo Salvacion, Alex & Linda Jubida, who had just planed in, surprisingly
beat other classmates, who have been here these last 2 days, in getting the ball
on time! (Tumatama pa siguro ang slot machine na nadaanan papuntang ball
room, kaya medyo naantala and iba ng mahigit isang oras... I can't blame them!)
Dinner was immediately served and the program started...
THE DINNER-DANCE PROGRAM
The program was emceed by yours truly, Manny
Iyulores. The first opening was a welcome address of Connie O, being
the head of the host chapter. It was followed by the singing (for the first
time in any of our gatherings) of the QCHS Alma Mater Hymn with Connie O &
Rene B leading and Lyla G accompanying on the keyboard...
Saintly Renato Guerrero eloquently delivered the invocation prepared by
Bob Rosales, followed by a minute of silent prayer for classmates who
have passed on...
Alex Oliveros was given special mention and THANKS on behalf of all
classmates for his extra ordinary efforts in the successful hosting of this
get-together in Las Vegas. Lyla and I handed him our gifts.
During dinner, the microphone was passed from table to table, classmate to
classmate and to each guest, to give everyone a chance to introduce and say a
few words about him/herself... (I was particularly struck by the phrases from
Zenaida Cardinal-Lazo & Rose Guarin-Carrera which, in a nutshell, summarizes
the purpose of our gatherings such as this -- A CELEBRATION OF LIFE! We're on
the fast road to becoming an endangered class, aren't we?)...
As we were all enjoying desert, Becky Gutierrez-Murphy presented a
"nakakasakit-ng-puson" Tahitian-Hawaiian medley of dances... Then followed the BIG ACT of the
Village People (impersonated by game Alex Oliveros, the Indian
Chief; Jessie Victoria, the Biker; Dens Dominguez, the Policeman;
Sammy Estabillo, the Construction Worker, and Bert Cabello, the
out-of-step Cowboy) singing "Macho Macho Man" -- where Lyla had a chance
to touch (oh, so shyly) the body of the gyrating Indian Chief!
Then came Lyla's turn. She impersonated
Barbara Streissand singing "Second Hand Rose"...
Not to be outdone, donning the spectacles and sideburns of reincarnated
Elvis Presley, Ben Padua brought the house (and some panties,
too, daw) down as he serenaded the ladies with "...I can't help falling in love
with you."
The entertainment portion was closed with Becky Gutierrez' impersonation
of Gloria Geynore singing and dancing "I will Survive" ...
(In between these performances, some nurses handed me notes/jokes to deliver. I
was able to successfully deliver only one! Sorry, Nightingales!)
Dancing followed... Shiony Orillo-Verzosa (Class '65 and baby sister of
Connie) led and taught the group some new line-dance steps, as promised,
during breaks.
Zeny Cardinal, Rose Guarin and some ladies would, from time to time, join
me on the floor pretending to be singing songs that classmates and guests were
dancing to.
WE WERE HAVING A
BALL!
Some time during the dance, before the hairdo's got undone and mascara & make up
faded, we deemed it wise to have our group picture taken. (Once again we kept
Pat and all those with cameras, busy. Too bad, nobody was wise enough to
bring a video camera that could have recorded the follies and touching moments
that we had these last 4 days...)
The party broke up at the strike of midnight.
Notes:
All classmates and guests who had special participation in the program were
given token THANK YOU gifts by me.
A complete list (names and current addresses) of those who attended the Las
Vegas Reunion Dinner-Dance may be requested from Connie & Alex Oliveros.
Please send in you critiques, if you have any, so we can further improve our
next get-togethers.
Day 5 (October 14):
Despedida get-together at the Hospitality Suite:
Somebody or everybody who was there should fill this in for me. I wasn't
there. (Herma and I left very early in the morning for a guided tour of the
Grand Canyon. It was past midnight when we got back to our room. BTW, there's
one word that comes to mind to describe the Grand Canyon experience. AWESOME!
See it for yourself, if you haven't yet!)
Herma and I left Las Vegas Friday, Oct 15 at 9:00p. We were home in Lakewood,
Washington a little past midnight.
or