Thanks for the Memories ... of a Wonderful Trip

Thanks for the Memories…. of a Wonderful Trip (June-July 2008)

Hello,

I arrived safely back to the States, 8 pm, Thursday, July 3, 2008 (11 am, Friday, July 4, Manila time). I thank God for His protection even in the midst of those "bumpy" spots 10,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean. His strength in me gave me calm and comfort which I did not have nine years ago when I last came home.

Thank you deeply from the bottom of my heart for all of you who have made my trip a truly beautiful, wonderful and a joyous one - I am running out of adjectives here. It was indeed a bonanza of heartfelt meetings, reunions galore, conversations, visitations, surprise and pleasant encounters, etc. I believe, I accomplished not only my business purpose but many of my personal plans as well. I could have not done better without all of your loving support, care and out-of-the-way efforts to reach out to me.

I am sending my thank you notes all at once, lest I forget many of the fun events I spent with all of you - individually or group wise. I had a lot of memories from my trips, from the day I got picked from the airport even to the moment I sat down on the China Airlines flight from Taipei to San Francisco, all fraught with stories and anecdotes worth re-telling.

My sincerest thanks (pardon the cliché which I have to use for lack of a better phrase) to ,,.

Cris Ramirez, college bosom body, and later Sycip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV) CPAs Inc. colleague for picking me up at the airport on my arrival (June 23) and bringing me back and forth to several meetings and functions ... and hosting me and other buddies in his and beautiful wife Jackie's home in Paranaque. What a reunion after nine years!

Bert Lina whom I have not seen for 27 years - also a college friend and confidante and compadre - for surprising me with an "order" to Cris to bring me directly from the airport to his Fedex/Air 21 executive offices near NAIA despite his extremely heavy sked overseeing his multi-company business conglomerate. Truly unimaginable and expected, having not seen him for almost thirty years. Thanks to him also for hosting our college and SGV group for lunch at the posh Tower Club in Makati, exclusive members-only hub only for those who made it to the top in Philippine business .... well also to some of the wannabees
maybe.

College pals (and later SGV colleagues) Cris Ramirez and Ed Abalos for taking me out to dinner on my second day of visit, together with other college friends Aida (Ed's wife), and Bay Alcasabas (who was also Elvie's co-office mate at the Delgado Bros). Thanks for that dinner at The Fort, guys.( I have not seen the Abaloses for 9 years, and Bay, for 2 years).

My hs and early-college years friend Roy "Popoy" Aberin whom I have not seen since 1970 for leaving his 15-hectare Penaranda, NE farming business and traveling all the way to Makati just to see me. You made me a little tearful, Popoy, by just being there. Also thanks for being able to get the contact numbers for me for some of our mutual friends dating to as far back as 1963.

Tito Osias, my post-SGV and pre-USA former boss ( and grandson of that venerable senator who gave us the Philippine Reader), whom I have not seen since 1976, for taking time out from his busy business and the Ateneo bunch for visiting me at the Oxford Suites. What vivid recollections we had of our Fusion Consulting group buddies, Tito.

My foremost hs teacher, mentor, and friend from the Mapua Institute of Technology H.S. (MIT H.S. Dept.), Mrs. Valeria Lakanilaw, also for visiting with me at the Oxford and treating me to lunch near Landmark and the Gloriettas in Makati. Thanks, Ma'am, for the friendship and current email communications we have maintained although we have not seen each other for 46 years. And of course, thanks for bringing along your sister Mel, who turned out to be a CPA and MS Consulting staff like me at SGV, and who also helped reminisce about some SGV common acquaintances and stories. What a coincidence that you brought her? Probably not. There are no accidents under God's economy. Thanks for the many questions about faith you both have asked me during our meeting. I pray I had answered them as biblically accurate as possible. Ma'am, you are still my best hs teacher ever!!!

Freddie Non, former SGV International partner, and wife Beth Aguas-Non, also a former SGV MS Consulting co-staffer of mine and Elvie's former hs classmate in Pampanga and later co-office mate at Delgado Brothers (post SGV), for gracing me with a visit at SOMA North Tower and taking me out to the Fort for a French cuisine. Again, what memories and excellent audit and MS consulting anecdotes we shared in so much volume Freddie thought he could write a book. May I propose the title "Fun Things We Experienced at SGV Which They Did Not Teach at Harvard, Stanford or Wharton." Or how about "The SGV Experience: Was It All Truth, Hype or Myth?" ?

My favorite cousin, super millionaire (watch out Bert Lina) Julie Fernandez, who took me around that big perimeter stretching from Global City to Paranaque, Las Pinas, Cubao, Taytay, Marikina, Novaliches and back to Global City that I might visit some of my relatives, friends and neighbors I have not seen from 9 to 32 years, and for being able to visit, reminisce, and pray with them for some of their infirmities. Bok, Cheche, Maila, Amy, and Chambeth, thanks for keeping Julie company in her visits with me. And thanks Julie for that ton of pasalubongs you insisted that I bring home to California - including even those originally from Elvie's personal list. Because of the enormity of those gifts, I had to buy an extra luggage from Market, Market on the day I had to leave (July 3).

My brother La Verne, uncle Tiyo Mat, aunt Ate Doray, other cousins Luz, Norma, Myrna, Obot, Tess, Rey (and Glo), niece Dana (with mom Cecile) and former Pilar Village neighbors Danny and Mely Umali, for visiting with me, or allowing me to visit with you and relive old friendships, and most especially for allowing me to pray with you on your most difficult circumstances. Trust that our God is an Almighty and Faithful God for Whom nothing is impossible.

Long-time friends from Elvie's Delgado Bros. years, Joevic and Chona Gonzalez for visiting and for taking me out to Abe's, that popular Pampango food restaurant at the Serendra. Also for treating me at UCC Coffee place. We shall always cherish our friendship of 35 years.

Former college pals Rene Mendoza, Giovanni Gan, Jonathan Lu, and Erlinda Thia for joining us (Ed Abalos, Bert Lina and myself) either at Cris Ramirez's home, or at the Makati Tower Club, for lunch meetings hosted by Cris and Bert, respectively.

Former HS classmates Homer Mendoza (Esq.), Buddy Cabael (Engr), and Roly Mendiola (MD) for trying to set up meetings with me but failed because my cell would not receive calls, and I did not have constant access to email. Well, at least, I met with Ma'am Lakanilaw.(I would learn later when I came back to California that Homer emailed to set up a meeting. Also, I learned to call from my cell only the day before I had to fly back home - thanks to the maze of area codes and 01, 0, 0632, 0639 or 02 you have in your RP phone system I practically needed to consult a rocket engineer to know what to drop or add). Love you guys no less, anyway.

My other cousins who were indisposed whom I was not able to see; or who were able to contact me but could not come for some reasons - Noel, Ely, etc.

The "nameless" security guard at SOMA whom I was able to minister to in prayers.

Ms. Liza P, that very lovely and tall (5'8") single Filipina lady whom I met at the SOMA lobby while I was reading my bible one Saturday morning, and who turned out to be a Christian, a choir singer, a sports enthusiast (a player of different sports and not merely spectator), an accomplished student (she has an MBA, a condo, and a car of her own) ... for being able to pray with each other, bringing me to church on June 29,. and bringing me medicine, soup, breakfast, newspaper and some goodies (for Elvie) the next Monday after church, when she learned I had a fever How touching for a new-found friend to do. She has just become my newfound niece who now calls me Kuya Elmer. Liza, thanks a million. I shall surely pray for the best Christian man to come your way, as you always wanted (and confided in me).

Penultimately, to Beverly, that UC Berkeley graduate student and architect, also a Christian (Oh God, thanks for arranging for this event and others for truly there are no accidents in You) who sat next to me on my flight home from Taipei, and who inquired of me some verses in the bible she was reading. I believe she saw me reading the book on Ephesians by Andrew Womack, "You've Already Got It." and she concluded I was a Christian. Thanks, God, for being able to minister to her in faith.

Lastly, to Ed Abalos for arranging for my business banking needs and volunteering to help me buy an extra luggage for pasalubongs (cousin Julie's fault ... or blessed insistence) a few hours before my departure, and to cousin Julie's daughter Che Che and latter's husband Bok for driving me to NAIA for my trip back.

To all of you, my thanks and love and prayers. Because of you, my business trip was the best. Truly, thanks for all your time, visits, stories, treats, reminiscing. I could not ask for more or anything better. Please do not hesitate to send me your notes and emails, and prayer requests. I shall try to send you some pix next time around. Elmer L. DeLeon