30th BASC Anniversary and town fiesta

October 21, 2017 Saturday, Anaheim

This is the first time that I am attending the annual town fiesta celebration and feast of our patron saint, Santa Ursula, organized by BASC in Los Angeles every October 21 or the weekend around that date. This is also the 30th anniversary of the organizer, the Binangonan Association of Southern California (BASC). I am going out of my way to celebrate with relatives, friends, neighbors. Literally and figuratively, talagang I went out of my way, imagine the 8 hours travel? It is tiring yes indeed but it’s worth it.

There are hundreds of Binangonians living in Los Angeles and Orange County, plus those from San Diego and Bakersfield, Nevada, California, etc. This alone gives at least 250 warm bodies to the yearly event. There are a few who fly from New Jersey, New York, Chicago, England every year.
This is a testament to how much we miss our town. No matter where we are, what we have achieved, we still miss our town, our food, our people (yun lang mga mababait).

Len and Bong drove for 6 hours to join me in Los Angeles. They arrived at 2 pm with a big bowl of arroz caldo and a big tray of pansit palabok for me.

I was still wearing daster when they arrived. I was feeling lazy and tired. I just wanted to stay in bed.

We went down to the grand ballroom on the ground floor at 6:40 pm. Medyo natagalan pagbibihis kasi itong kapatid ko, she doesn’t like my dress. I brought a blush colored lace one also made by Amir Sali which she prefers because it has more glitters. Mas formal daw and mas bagay sa bag and step-in ko. Ako naman, I find this sky blue dress more formal and it has pockets. I don’t like the lace one because it accentuates and punctuates my big stomach. The fabric clings to my corrugated body. This blue dress could not hide my stomach either but the lace one is worse.

I was greeted at the entrance by Sarry Callanta – Celestial,
my classmate from elementary and high school.
We also went to the same university, UST and we were dorm / room mates, and double kumare (ninang of Nyke and I am ninang of her daughter). Sarry and family are based in LA and are active officers of the Binangonan Association of Southern California. Her husband, Olan was the former president of the BASC. Sarry is one of the nicest people on earth.

Aileen’s bag is from the only LV store in Budapest. I picked that one because it’s simple and blends well with a formal dress.

Bong and Len with the president of BASC, Dina Aleth Membrebe. If I am not mistaken, Aleth’s ninuno are relatives of my mom.

Sarry Celestial, Aleth Membrebe, Riroy Maycacayan. Riroy and Sarry are first cousins. Riroy and I are relatives from the other side naman. My mom and his lola are cousins. Ganyan sa Binangonan, yung mga lehitimong tiga duon ay halos magkakamag-anak karamihan.

Half of them are my relatives from Pila-pila

Despacito

Engr. Bobby Callanta and wife Rosilyn, Len, Riroy, Bong

That’s the way aha aha I like it, aha aha

Techie Maaba – Pastrana

Some of them are teachers.

Boying, Auring Maaba, Mr. & Mrs. Rading Maaba

Odet Faustino is my kabarkada in Binangonan. Her eldest sister Myrna was the first to migrate to the US, tapos she petitioned all her sisters. It took 20 years more or less but eto na sila sa America.

Odet and husband

Myrna is Odet’s eldest sister. She’s the incoming president of BASC succeeding Aleth Membrebe. Myrna will serve for two years beginning in January 2017.

My high school batch mates, Odet, Sarry, Lita, Roger, Rading

There are many ohmybuhay readers pala in LA. They were surprised to see me.
“Ay si Oh my buhay pala yun”. “Oh my buhay! Oh my buhay!” Some of them couldn’t believe that I am standing in front of them, in person daw.
Common comments are: mas maganda ka sa personal, hindi ka naman mataba ah, bakit sinasabi mo matanda ka na?, writer ka pala (nay ko, hindi po).
Merong ang favorite post ay yung 2 ipises I caught in the act.
Sometimes daw I am the topic of their conversations and they just keep on laughing. I was touched when some of them made kumusta my health, kung magaling na daw ako. Lalo na when someone asked about my son. Alam nila nagka problema kami kay Nyke. Someone said when I have problems, she cries too. How sweet naman. Sometimes I forget that I share things on line that people read and they react. My readers are very perceptive. Most of them could tell when something bothers me. Some of them say that I inspire them. I honestly don’t know how I inspire you with my petty stories but thank you.

Natutuwa ako sa kanila. Every year they tirelessly prepare for this event and other activities like picnic, bingo. We must make time for community gatherings like this.

Their dance teacher is losing his moves. Medyo mabagal na. 30 years nyo na ba syang instructor?

Nakakawala daw ng stress. Simply having fun.

Sayang ang mama (+) ko. I wish she were here too. She would love and enjoy this crowd. I estimate that at least 30% are her relatives. Some were looking for Tiya, Lola, anak ka ba ni Tya Felicing? Anak ako ni Kang____. Ako ay apo ni Lolo Gorio……. pinsan ng lola ang tya Turia, etc.

Congratulations to BASC for keeping this tradition alive year after year. Thirty years is certainly a big achievement. Please keep on doing what you are doing. Take care of our kababayans. Be good to one another.
Walang intriga, walang mga tampuhan. Basta kasiyahan lang.

Big reminder to all Binangonians:
Next year’s town fiesta is on OCTOBER 27, 2018. Mark your calendar, prepare your $50 for the ticket, schedule those vacation leaves and plan your trips ahead to Anaheim.

Coming up:
Dinner-Dance get together on November 18, 2017 organized by the Binangonan Association of Northern California (BANC) to be held in St. Paul United Methodist Church, Community Hall 33350, Fremont City. Tickets are $35 per person and you may advertise too in the souvenir program.
BANC organizes this charity event every two or three years so go and attend.
Attire is smart casual.

Big hugs and thanks to all Oh My Buhay readers who were at the party. Thank you for the hugs and greetings. Although you are silent readers who never comment and click like, it’s nice to know that you care, you laugh and cry with me. It’s a relief to know that I affect you in a positive way. That’s good because I don’t want to be a bad influence. Some of you say that I inspire you. Meron naman she had cancer and during her treatments, reading OMB helped entertain her. One nurse says that hospital work stresses her and OMB relaxes her. That’s nice to hear. Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat.