La Mesa Dam to the uninformed is the dam that impounds water before it is being treated/filtered by the Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Balara Filtration Plant and distributed by Manila Waters and Maynilad to the majority of the faucets of Metro Manila households. In simple words, La Mesa Dam is where the water in Metro Manila’s faucets is coming from. The dam definitely needs a thick watershed buffer around its perimeter so that the water that flows from the upstream dams will not dry up and will not be contaminated with human wastes, water-borne infectious diseases and other toxic materials. It goes without saying that a a safe La Mesa dam needs the intact watershed so that the potable water consumed by the Metro Manila population will be free from being infected with waterborne diseases and other toxic elements.

Driving farther closer to my office in Quezon City, along the portion of Commonwealth Avenue, I continue to pass the perimeter of the La Mesa dam. The portion in the vicinity of the East Fairview Subdivision is where the entrance to the La Mesa Ecology Park is located. This ecology park is now getting to be popular as a rest and recreation area where Metro Manilans can have a relaxing day with clean and smog-free air of the forest in a picnic area with swimming pools and other sustainable amenities.

I just love these sights as I pass along the route from home to work and back to my home everyday.

One day a couple of months ago, I noticed that a portion of the concrete perimeter fence of the La Mesa Dam Watershed was torn down. It is specifically near kilometer 27 of Quirino Highway, in front of the Iglesia Ni Cristo near Guadanoville Subdivision and next to a Caltex Gas Station in Pangarap Village. Through this opening of the concrete wall, day after day, I witness strange development inside the watershed: trees were cutted, a backhoe and a bulldozer were used to level of the ground.

Finally, last week, using my cellphone camera, I decided to document this horrible rape of mother nature in progress, the latest of which showed a delivery truck unloading lumber beside a stockpile of hollow blocks and steel bars.

All the regular materials for a housing project are being unloaded inside the newly cleared portion of the dam forest reservation! Strangely, there are no billboard with announcements of an Environment Clearance being issued nor a simple building permit granted which is normally required even for an ordinary housing construction.

When I posted my pictures on these shocking development inside Metro Manila’s source of potable water in my facebook page, a friend and frat brod Gil J. Asoy posted a link with an article in the Philippine Star.com dated 03 May 2006 which said: “environmentalists and major non-government organizations are up in arms against a plan to establish a housing project in the vicinity of the La Mesa Dam compound, a move they said would endanger the water supply to Metro Manila and nearby provinces.”

Just this afternoon when I passed by again that portion of the La Mesa Dam with the rising housing project, I noticed a sign painted on the concrete perimeter wall: Private Property owned by Mr. Bautista.

My little knowledge on laws governing real estate ownership in our country looks even more inadequate and I crave for answers if indeed it is possible for a private person to own a lot inside a portion of a watershed reservation!

As we filipinos recognize the fact that by nature we encourage extended families living near our ancestral homes, opening this portion of the La Mesa Dam Reservation for a housing project would in just a matter of few years convert this into a gigantic community. Take the case of the thickly populated Sapang Palay Relocation site in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan or the Dasmarinas Relocation site in Cavite.

President Aquino, have pity on your bosses – the Metro Manilans. Please send your bright boys to take a look at this housing project inside La Mesa Dam Reservation.

 I am talking about the coming wedding of my bunso Purita Angela to Lester Parayno this December. Although they are in the process of planning a Tagaytay wedding in December 2012, a component of that plan is a simple civil wedding this coming December 2011.

 I saw it coming when Purita told me early this year that her boyfriend Lester – a Fil Am based in Los Angeles, California was coming to Manila last April. Earlier on, my bunso told my wife and myself that one of the activities while Lester is here is for the four of us (Purita and Lester, my wife and myself) to have an 18-hole golf game. She asked me to make reservations at the Capitol Golf Course for the golf game on 18 April 2011.

As usual, the ever accomodating father, I arranged for the reservation at Capitol Golf Course (although being a monday, I was sure that there will be few golfers who would play) including golf carts, umbrella girls and for a rental of golf set for Lester.

 We arrived at the Capitol Golf Course early at 6:30am as I wanted to have an early tee-off to escape from the heat of the summer sun. At tee-off for hole number 1, Lester told me that in the US, they don’t use golf carts and instead they pull their own golf sets (placed in a rolling carts) while playing without the pamparing from the golf caddies. He really felt that we were treated a royalties on the golf course and more so with the umbrella girls giving us shades from the heat of the April sun and following us where ever we moved.

 We used the red tee off since we were playing with ladies (my wife and Purita). It was my wife Elizabeth who teed-off first, then followed by my daughter Purita. I followed and was satisfied with a good swing! When it was Lester’s turn, I realized that Lester is a good golf player hitting the ball like a pro!

 We had the Capitol Golf Course for ourselves alone except for a flight with two Korean teenagers after us. We let them overtook us and that took away the pressure for us to move faster and simply enjoy every minute on the course!

For the first time, maybe because it was a family friendly game, I broke 100 and got a score of 85!

 We finished the 18^th hole at about 1:30pm. After having a good hot shower, we went to eat at Trellis Restaurant on Kalayaan Avenue, Quezon City so that Lester will have the chance to eat grilled fish specially the grilled tuna panga (tuna jaw) and belly.

While we were eating, it was when Lester mustered to gather all his strengths to verballly asked for my daughter Purita’s hands in marriage. I told myself, “Egay, you had it coming, this is not the first time, remember two years ago, it was your panganay Kira’s turn, now its for your bunso, kaya mo yan!”.

I opened my mouth and all I could answer was, ” do know think you know Purita that much already? Have you seen her throwing tantrums? Are you sure you want to marry my brat bunso?”.

 Lester, without batting an eyelash aswered, “yes!”.

 I felt the noise of the people in Trellis would distract us in this very important event: the Pamanhikan of Lester. So, I decided to cut the conversation, settled the bill at Trellis and we moved to a nearby CAFE – MOLINARE.

There in our solitude with the cups of finely brewed coffees Lester continued to convince me that he is worthy of my bunso’s hands in marriage.

 After a friendly golf game, what else can I say? I gave my daughter’s hands to Lester and this December they will have their civil wedding and I will have a new son. Another round of golf son?

 It goes without saying that again upon the invite of my namesake to watch this year’s fashion show for the 2011 Philippine Fashion Week, off I went to watch it: but this time under different circumstances.

 When I told my wife Elizabeth that my namesake invited me to watch the works of designer JOYCE PENAS PILARSKY, she immediately reacted that she wants to watch the fashion show too! I asked my namesake Ed if he could still accommodate my wife to watch the show. My namesake said yes, he could still accommodate my wife.

 A few days later, my eldest daughter Kira asked me if we are going to watch the fashion show because she is going to watch it together with her best friend Lara. When we checked, coincidentally, we will be watching the same show, the October 30, 2011, 2:30pm show!

 On the day of the fashion show itself, my wife and I had an early than usual sunday breakfast. After breakfast, we took our time to slowly prepare ourselves and agreed that we leave the house at 11:15am as Mall of Asia is about an hour and a half drive from our home.

 We were finally on the road at 11:30am, It was a smooth trip to the Mall of Asia. We arrived at the SMX lower ground parking at 12:45 pm. There were still very few vehicles parked. We were able to choose a very vantage parking slot near the elevator. We went to the SM Mall of Asia Food Court instead of my original plan of having lunch at the Seaside Paluto as I realized it was too hot that day and we might no longer look fresh at the fashion show if we eat at the the seaside paluto!

 We decided to have a Tropical Hut Classic Cheeseburger for lunch, We were done in time for a final trip to the comfort room. When we took the elevator to the parking so I could wear my polo, we saw my ns Edgar walking the along the corridor as the elevator door closed! When we took the elevator again to go up to the 2^nd floor where the fashion show is, we met Ms. Joyce Penas Pilarsky. I quickly introduced my wife to her!

 It was 2:05pm when we finally met namesake Edgar at the lobby, but when I walked towards him, we met Lara Chebat the best friend of my eldest daughter. Edgar was with her other guest Belen Gonzales Ticzon. After a few minutes, my eldest daughter arrived just in time when our group headed by namesake Edgar was being ushered to the VIP entrance and towards the VIP row seats.

 While waiting for the fashion show to start, my wife and I had lot of bonding time together with my namesake Ed, Belen and Justin. A few minutes before the show, my daughter and Lara were already seated several rows behind our VIP seats but since the other guests of my namesake were not still around, and the reserved seats were required to be filled up, I called my daughter and her friend to sit with us in our row.

There were about 8 designers whose works were presented together with the works of Ms. Joyce Penas Pilarsky.

However, to my mind, the works of Ms. Pilarski were more elegant and wearable than the works of other designers.

 After the show, my namesake invited us together with his other friends from the media to join for a buffet merienda in Burgoo at the Mall of Asia.

 See you next year, Maam Joyce Pilarsky with your new works!

 Then, sunday, I gave my wife Elizabeth and myself a break: we watched the 2:30 pm fashion show at the Philippine Fashion Week, SMX Convention Center featuring the works of Joyce Penas Pilarski upon the invite of my journalist friend and namesake Edgar Cruz (www.todoentertainment.com) and entertainment editor of The Tribune.

 When we arrived home after the post-fashion show reception at the Burgoo, Mall of Asia courtesy of designer Ms. Joyce Penas Pilarski, I got a text message from Mary of the Production Staff of “100 Days to Heaven” asking if I could tape for the show on monday. I remembered that this was the third time that the staff of 100 Days to Heaven called me up. The first one, it was the Executive Producer – Maya Aralar herself who texted me. But, after she realized that the role was very small, she told me that she will look for a better role for me. The second time, it was Mary who texted me,but unfortunately I had a taping for “Nasaan Ka Elisa” that night, and I told her that much as I really wanted to appear in 100 Days, I could not physically stay awake to tape for them the next day at 9:00am.

 So, I told myself, this is it! Finally, Mary’s text came perfectly: I was really waiting for a good raket during the four-day vacation and it came!

 The call time was perfect: 6:00 pm, October 31, 2011. Early morning that monday, I jogged at the Colinas Verdes (the Villar real-estate development in front of our subdivision) for one hour (6-7 am). Then, I brought my wife and my bunso Purita to the Manila North Cemetery to visit the grave of our grandfather Ricardo Mission.

We arrived home lunchtime. After lunch, I requested Mary to advise me if there will be delays on the taping and if my 6:00 pm calltime would be moved. To my surprise, Mary asked me if I could go to the set already since they could take my scenes so I could go home early. I asked if I could be on the set at 3:30 pm as I was just about to take a power nap for 30 minutes!

When I arrived at the set (Peal of the Orient Building, Roxas Boulevard) at 3:30 pm, I saw Maya Aralar on a set prepared on the parking lot fronting the building. She told me to proceed to the stand by area at the 12 floor (actually is is 12B floor). When I reached the stand by area, the actors led by Jodi Santamaria were preparing to go down for the take.

 After the take, the actors were back to the stand by area. Smokey Manaloto (who I worked with in Green Rose) greeted me with a friendly hug. We talked and I told him how happy I am to finally work with the top-rated primetime show. Xyriel Manabat who plays the younger Ana Manalastas gave me a kiss when she saw me. We had worked together in Momay. The little girl had grown a lot taller since MOMAY.

 I did not notice Dominic Ochoa around. I texted Rhyme his driver to ask if Dom is not scheduled to work that day. Rhyme texted me back that Dominic was suppose to have taping but he was in the hospital.

My scenes were with Jodi Santamaria and Rafael Rossell. I played the role of Mr. Maravilla – a major investor in the Toy Company. Jodi together with the employees of the company visited me to ask for something. It was direk Don Cuaresma who directed our scenes yesterday. Second unit director Jojo Saguin who was also our second unit director for May Bukas Pa was not working yesterday.

 We were done at 9:30 pm! Pack up na! It was a breeze! Watch out for my scenes which will be aired next week! It is nice to work with a top-rated prime time show again!

I started taping for Nasaan Ka Elisa last 02 July 2011. However, in between my first and the last taping days for Nasaan Ka Elisa,  I was able to tape for four other projects: for an episode of TV5′s Untold Story of Face to Face, for a scene in ABS-CBN Channel 2′s Budoy, for a role as Governor in  the no to mining in Palawan episode of Maalaala Mo  Kaya (ABS-CBN 2 and for a role as governatorial candidate in Reputasyon (ABS-CBN 2)!

For my latest project  – “Nasaan Ka Elisa?” where I will play a support role  my last taping day was an event! This was how it went…

A week before, I already received text messages from the Talent Coordinator (TC) and the Associate Producer  (AP) that we will have our last taping day on 21 October 2011. The names of all the actors that were called were on the text messages sent. Several text messages which  served as reminders of the schedule for the last taping day were sent by  both the TC and the AP r almost every other day before the taping day itself. My call time in the text message was 5:00 am on -call (with emphasis that it is already 5:00 am of the next day or 22 October 2011).

A day before my last taping day, the Location Manager (LM) of the tv series texted me that BBR (the name of my Tucson) will also have taping on the last taping day! He asked me what time would  BBR be ready and where will he  pick up my Tucson for the taping. I told him that BBR will be ready at 5:30 am at the same place,  parking lot of my office.

The LM arrived a few minutes after I arrived at the office. I told him that I will also have a taping early morning the next day and I  would use the car to go to the taping. As I have mentioned in my previous blog entry , my car which is used a picture vehicle as the car of Danna (Agot Isidro). For the last taping day, my car had its taping in Antipolo while I had mine in the next location which is the Bureau of Telecommunications on Roces Avenue, Quezon City.

I told the LM that if the scenes of my car will be done by 5pm, I would appreciate if he could return it at the office so that I could drive it home. In case the scenes of my car will not be done early, I asked the LM to bring it to my home.

I went home and slept early at 8:00 pm to get enough rest for the early morning taping. At 12:00 midnight, I got text messages from both our  TC  and the AP that there were changes in the call time of the artists who were previously told to stay on call. All artists were advised to be on the set (Telecom Building on Roces Ave)  as soon as possible since  the director might decide to change the order of the scenes to be taken.

However, my Tucson was not yet returned by the LM!I called and texted the LM where he was and if he could already bring the car to our house.  I got no answer from the LM! I texted our TC   that I  am just waiting for my Tucson. I went back to  sleep. At 2:00 am, the TC texted again that I have to be at on the set as soon  as possible. When I called the LM, he answered and said that my Tucson was already at the Telecom Building in Roces Avenue. I asked him if he could bring the car to our house in Bulacan. However, when I looked at the  clock I realized that it will be too late. So,  instead  I woke up my wife and asked her to drive me to the location using her car. We hurriedly left and brought our household helper with us so that my wife will have a companion in driving back.

We arrived on the set in 35 minutes. I saw the LM. It was then that it sinked into his mind that I will also have  taping that early morning! Anyway, I did not make an issue why we was not able to bring my Tucson to our house.

I asked our household helper to help me bring my stuff  to the stand by area in the 4th floor of the Telecom Building.  When we arrived at the standby area – the conference room , Albert Martinez and Direk Jerome Chavez Pobocan were  there.

I talked to Albert and Direk Jerome. It was already 4:00 am and Direk Jerome told me that they  will have just one scene ready to be taken and then we will take our scene. I only had one scene left: a remnant to the scenes we taped in Timberland when there was no more time to tape it.

After about 30 minutes, it was already our last scene that was being taped. My last scene  was wtih Albert  Martinez, Vina Morales, and Allen Dizon. Before the take, I was with Allen Dizon. I asked for a picture taking with Allen and Allen graciously agreed.

While waiting for the director’s call for action, I asked Albert if we could take a picture together once the take is declared a good take. After the take, I approached Albert who told me that we will pose with the logo of Altamira Corp as  the background. Albert commented after he saw the  our picture that: “o, di ba may corporate look pa!”

I gathered all my staff and said goodbyes to every one. From our Director to our Executive Producer, the staff, the cameramen, the bit players, etc..Before I left the set, the LM gave me the fee for my Tucson. He asked for my TIN which I could not locate. I told him that I will just text my TIN to him later.

I went back to sleep when I reached home. I woke up at 10 am and ate the food from the set for breakfast. I texted my TIN to the LM who acknoweldged it and commented that they were still on the set for the final scene. I asked our household helper if she saw Albert Martinez when she went up with me to the stand by area. She said yes but added that: “sir, mas gwapo pa po kayo kay sir Albert, mas matanda lang po kayo ng konti!”.

My household helper was definitely telling a lie! I looked at my photo with Albert Martinez, I am so proud that I had a picture with the latest Belo model! Indeed, Albert looks 30 at 50! I will treasure this photo with Albert taken during my last taping day for Nasaan Ka Elisa?

 ”Sana Maulit Muli” is very memorable project for me since aside from having been given the chance to work with Gerald Anderson it was also drected by Direk Jerome Chavez-Pobocan who gave me my biggest break as one of the 12 priests in “May Bukas Pa” two years later in 2009.

 It was also in 2009 in the middle of our hectic tapings for May Bukas Pa specifically November 7 when I watched Gerald Anderson playing an off-beat role of a person with Tourette Syndrome. It was for an episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya which was directed by direk Ruel S. Bayani. Gerald’s acting for the off-beat role was so convincing that I did not attempt to stand up for a moment while the episode was airing. I could still vividly recall the heavy scenes that Gerald had with Rio Locsin who played as his mother.

 I am sure it is not a coincidence when Gerald was chosen by ABS-CBN top management to play the lead role of Budoy tackling again a role of a person with mental retardation that Direk Ruel S. Bayani would also be his director. Their team work is translated into high ratings for their previous tv projects (MMK, Tayong Dalawa) and high box office record for their movie “Paano na Kaya”.

 Speaking of their current project Budoy (where I was again honored to have been called to play a character role of again a doctor but this time a provincial pediatrician), the director-actor team work of Ruel S. Bayani and Gerald Anderson once again shows that it translates into high tv ratings: Kantar media days ratings for Budoy for its first four days as follows: October 10 – 27.2%, Oct 11 – 26.4%, Oct 12 – 26.7% and Oct 13 – 28.3%. For the same days, Amaya – GMA’s show for the same time slot could only muster an average of 21%.

 In a personal note, I can say that the Budoy’s forehead to forehead touch as his way of displaying affection is so uniquely executed, patently Gerald Anderson! I would not be surprised if it will soon become a fad among the youth!

 By the way, a friend told me that her daughter who is taking SPED course is required by her professor to watch Budoy!

Surely, this advocacy series of ABS-CBN will soon become a household name. My only prayer is for Budoy to truly touch the lives of millions of viewers so that we will have a paradism shift on the way we deal persons who are mentally-challeged: that they should not be hated, despised or worst abandoned but instead they should be loved, taken cared of and be regarded as normal persons. Without doubt, Gerald Anderson would be acknowledged as an effective tool in this shift!

 I always consider myself as a professional bit player although after meeting and working with Mr. Cris Vertido in a project for TV titled ANGEL VILLA (2004, GMA 7′s Easter Presentation which featured Dennis Trillo) who told me that the politically correct word that should be used to call our kind is Character Actor, I since then refer myself as ehem – a Character Actor. And no longer as a bit player!

Doing bit roles however is a very convenient work: I get to do what I love doing, that is acting and it is usually done in just a couple of hours for a scene or two and finally I am paid for this light effort with the same Talent Fee being paid me for a supporting role where I would have to tape for ten or more scenes which would of course require longer working hours!

 Ten years ago, I was given the opportunity to play a bit role as a doctor for an episode in Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK). When I met my classmate and friend Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Fred Serrano who had watched my scene, we had a good laugh as he made his observation: “you were such a good doctor! You simply listened to the sounds of the lungs of the child using the sthetoscope, and presto you were able to give your prognosis that the child needs blood transfusion!” It was for an episode of MMK titled Sako. This was how my scene went: on action, using my sthetoscope, I was listening to the sounds of the lungs of child, upon removing my sthetoscope I would deliver my line addressing it to the mother of the child: ” misis, kailangang masalinan ng dugo ang bata”. Playing the lead role as the mother of the child was actress Gina Alajar. In the story, the mother was so poor and had many children. It was titled Sako because as her chidren died one after the other due to extreme poverty, she can not afford to buy coffins, instead she used sacks as containers for the dead bodies of her children before burying them.

Fast forward to October 10, 2011, for the pilot episode of the teleserye featuring Gerald Anderson titled BUDOY, I was deeply honored to have been called to play a bit role again as a doctor. This time however, it is for a very significant scene.

 On monday, please do not fail to watch the pilot episode of Budoy on ABS-CBN Channel 2. It is a first day-last day thing for me! You will not see me again after monday’s pilot episode unless my scene will be used later in the series for flashback!

 One thing good in my work as a character actor is the total absence of monotony because there is no recurring work and there are no two taping days similar with each other! Moreover, it is open to a wide range of possibilities from playing supporting role as a regular cast and thereby the taping will be for a long period three days a week for one year in the case of my appearance as Father Jude in “May Bukas Pa” but with few or almost no dialogue at all, to a minor role again as a regular cast taping once a week but with long dialogue as in the case of my appearance as Freddie Ramos – Vice President of SR in Green Rose, to taping for not less than 8 hours within a day for about six scenes as in the case with my taping in Reputasyon and finally to working for only a few hours for one or two scenes only but with a kilometric dialogue as in this case in Budoy!

 Again, may I invite you to watch the pilot episode of Budoy on monday, 10 Ocotber 2011!

 Shayne requested me to send to her some of my photographs to be used in the preparation of props ( campaign posters) to be used for the taping. For this, Facebook was so cool and handy to be the means of sending the photographs: I simply tagged my photos with the name of Shayne and presto the photos were sent to the wall of Shayne. All she had to do was to download the photos!

 When I finally got a text from Shayne that I would finally tape for Reputasyon, the location which is in San Ildefonso, Bulacan was already under typhoon signal number 2 as typhoon Pedring was already inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

 When I arrived on the set which is the Bulacan Agricultural College in San Ildefonso, Bulacan, there was an intermittent rainshower. I was immediately led by Vanessa – the Production Assistant to the air-conditioned tent where I was reunited with Lito Pimentel who I had worked with for one year in May Bukas Pa in 2009. I also met inside the tent child actor Andre Garcia who I worked with in Green Rose and another Green Rose actor Simon Ibarra – both are regular cast in Reputasyon. Andre is playing the role of the son of Mang Jose (Lito Pimentel) while Simon is the best friend of Mang Jose.

 We had an early dinner break and Lito made effort of introducing me to the rest of the members of the cast Jaclyn Jose, Deborah Sun, Ms. Aiko Melendez, Jason Abalos, Jill Yulo, etc…

We started taping at around 7pm, that was when lead stars and real lovers Rayver Cruz and Cristine Reyes joined us on the set. Rayver who I also worked with in May Bukas Pa introduced me to his girlfriend Cristine. I requested for a picture taking with them.

 Set was the BAC Covered Gymnasium which made taping easy even under the heavy rainfall.I saw a large tarpaulin with my photo that I tagged to Shayne displayed as stage background together along with the tarpaulins with the pictures of Aiko Melendez and Lito Pimentel. Another photo was used as a campaign poster used to decorate the gymnasium as if there was indeed a political rally going on.

The taping lasted till 3am. The winds brought by typhoon Pedring was already getting stronger when we were cruising the old Maharlika road and NLEX.

 After one hour and a half, I was already inside our office compound. At about 7am, it was declared that work in the government offices was suspended because of typhoon Pedring. As I was driving along Commonwealth Avenue I saw at least three large trees had fallen on the ground as a result of the strong winds of Typhoon Pedring. I was already home by 8:30 am.

 I slept the whole day of tuesday and took advantage that the office work was suspended to recover my loss of sleep during the taping. On Wednesday, as I was posting my photos taken during the taping of Reputasyon on my Facebook wall, I was surprised to receive a message that my scenes were already being aired. I had just indicated there that my scenes would probably be aired next week yet!

 The following day, thursday, there were still scenes of our campaign rally. Possibly this afternoon there will still be some scenes perhaps in the “Ang Nakaraan”!

 Anyway, you can still watch the episodes of Reputasyon in the internet by simply typing Reputasyon and the dates when it was aired (September 28, 29 and 30, 2011) on google. Hope you can watch it!

]]> http://inbetweentakes.com/2011/09/my-guesting-in-reputasyon/feed/ 0 http://inbetweentakes.com/2011/09/my-guesting-in-reputasyon/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/inbetweentakes/bUJO/~3/lYBqrfpdNNU/ http://inbetweentakes.com/2011/09/in-the-upsilon-sigma-phi-a-week-of-mourning-and-jubilation/#comments Sun, 18 Sep 2011 03:26:49 +0000 Egay Sandalo http://inbetweentakes.getwped.net/?p=1609 It was a week of sadness and joy, of mourning and jubilation for the Upsilon Sigma Phi: an icon of the fraternity who was a great composer named as 2011 UPAA Distinguished Alumni Award in the Culture and the Arts (Music) passed away and a top-notch academician and brilliant leader in the banking industry had his investiture as the 20^th President of the University of the Philippines.

 As one of the directors of the Board of the Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association, I have the distinct honor to have witnessed two events: the Final Necrological Rites for Fellow Ricardo Vicente S. Zamora ’49 last tuesday and to have been invited to witness the Investiture of Fellow Alfredo E. Pascual ’67 as the 20^th President of the University of the Philippines last thursday.

 A few months ago, majority among us directors of the board of the Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association led by our Chairman Reynaldo C. Laserna ’62 and some of the resident brods from UP Diliman visited brod Dick Zamora when we was confined at the East Avenue Medical Center. Since I hold office at the Social Security System which is just a across the street of the hospital, I simply walked to the canteen to the Hospital where I joined our Chairman brod Eny and the other members of the board after office as it was agreed before we moved as one group to the private room of Brod Dick.

 It was like a scene from my telenovelas when we entered Brod Dick’s room. I vividly remember the series of frame by frame sequences from the moment Brod Dick’s relative opened the door, brods made a beeline and slowly approached Brod Dick in his bed, each one giving him the Upsilon hand shake, tight frame to the face of the already thin Brod Dick as it shone with his patented smile glowing with happiness as he felt the warm brotherly greetings coming from his fellow Upsilonians surrounding him. Then, each of the brods alternate gave him inspiring words to uplift the spirit of the frat’s icon who composed the Upsilon March while we was a neophyte. Then the residents sang songs for the composer who was still quick to comment who was out of tune among them and even observed one who was not singing! To give Brod Dick time to rest, another bee-line to him was done to shake his hand a to say “get well soon brod”.

 Last month, during the testimonial given by the frat to his collaborator brod Mart Martell ’47 with the distinguished UNO award, brod Dick Zamora was present. It was done at the UP Bahay ng Alumni where brod Dick was able to share happy moments with the brods especially the night’s awardee Mart Martell who came all the way from the United States of America. Brod Mart Martell wrote the lyrics of most of brod Dick’s musical compositions most notably the Upsilonians’ all -time favorite “When You’re Away”.

 It did not come as a surprise that when the Final Necrological Rites for Brod Dick Zamora was done last tuesday at the UP Chapel, the chapel was filled up with Upsilonians and family friends, the number was similar to a sunday mass. Brod Hospicio Timbol’59 observed that the street normally used as parking area was also full of parked cars as if it was a late sunday morning mass. In fact, I did not know that my boss and brod Mar Tolentino ’80 also attended the rites because of the large number of Upsilonians who attended which is larger than any of the past Congresses of the frat!

Brod Dick Zamora’s co-batch Brod Ex-Gen. Rene R. Cruz and Brod Ramon A. Pedrosa were present during the rites. When the names of his batchmates were called, name of prominent businessman Norberto B. Quisumbing, Jr was mentioned. Incidentally, I was reminded that another Quisumbing, Dr. Ed is Beta Sigma while my UPLBcontemporary Rey is a member of Labay!

 Two days later on thursday, I was again in the UP Diliman campus,this time at the UP Theatre as a guest to witness the Investiture of another Upsilonian – Alfredo E. Pascual ’67. I was seated between brod Eny Laserna ’62 and brod Joseph Emmanuel L. Angeles ’95 – the University President of Angeles University Foundation. Another Upsilonian -former Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon ’68 was present to witness the event. I also spotted Senators Manuel Villar and Loren Legarda in the audience. It was also an honor to have finally shoke hands with the UP College of Law Dean – another Upsilonian brod Danilo L. Concepcion ’89 after the event! By the way, brod Danny is also an ABS-CBN talent! He has a radio program every night on DZMM that tackles legal problems called in by listeners.

 After greeting brods and former classmates at the lobby of of the UP Theatre, I walked with brods Atty. Inky Reyes ’78, Val Aguilar ’93 and his cobatch Alan Mosqueda ’93 towards the UP Bahay ng Alumni passing through the iconic UP Carillon where Alan took some photos with the Carillon as background. We passed through the UP honor guards, again Alan took photos!

 Inside the UP Bahay Alumni, I was delighted to recognize a familiar voice of the lady emcee – when I look closer it was Emlyn Santos – College of Music graduate who played the role as my wife in the herbal male potency product ENDURANCE TV commercial! She is also a sister of brod Joseph Olfindo ’75 who I had worked with ten years ago in the popular tv series “Pangako Sa Iyo”. This time brod Joseph together with two other Upsilonians Romeo Thadz Liamzon ’81 and Dondi Ong ’88 provided entertainment numbers with their rendition of classical songs.

 Two days ago, we mourned the loss of an iconic Upsilonian, the trio of brods Joseph, Romeo Thandz and Dondi provided uplifting songs together with the UP Singing Ambassadors and during the reception of the Investiture of brod Fred Pascual they sang songs this time entertaining numbers also with the UP Singing Ambassadors. Two days of fellowship: mourning and jubilation, sadness and joy! Both are surely God’s plan!

 While waiting for my take, Totoy – the staff assigned for renting picture vehicles or the vehicles used for the taping approached me. He was asking if I am the owner of the Tucson parked outside the compound of the mansion in Baliwag, Bulacan that we used for the taping. He asked if I will allow to lend BBR (the name of my Tucson) for the taping. It will be used as the car of Agot Isidro. BBR first appeared as the vehicle of Gardo Versoza in Green Rose. He had one scene in his first project. After agreeing on the fee for the rental of my BBR, I checked the breakdown of the scenes and learned that BBR will have his scene in the first set up. For this second project, I thought that he would have similar very brief appearance. It was fine because it would mean that BBR will be done first and so we can go home after my takes.

However, after the first set up, when I reviewed the breakdown, there was a scene that I suspect would still need BBR’s presence. I asked Totoy to double check if BBR will only have that one scene in the first set up.

While I was on the set taping for my scenes, the assistant of Totoy told me that true enough, after checking it out with our Director, BBR will still have another scene. Totoy had left to do something, so his assistant was the one assigned to discuss with me on a slight problem: BBR’s second scene is a night effect and was set to be taken after dinner! I told him, we will talk after my take.

 When I was done with my scenes it was still mid afternoon. Totoy’s assistant discussed with me on the problem: In the breakdown, the second scene of BBR is scheduled as the second to the last pong (slang for the last scene) so basing on the speed of the taping, it could be taken before midnight. I was done with my scene and earlier I told my daughter who is taking up law at the UP College of Law that I will be the one to fetch her after her class since I calculated an early pack up that day.

 Totoy’s assistant told me that he will have to ask clearance with the field cashier and the Executive Producer if it would be possible to give me extra payment for the gas and I will go home first. A driver will be assigned to drive BBR to take me home and bring him back to set for his scene.

 The bosses approved Totoy’s assistant’s proposal. So, I was able to go home. When I texted my wife on our way back to Quezon City, she told me that she will be able to fetch our daughter in school. It was already 5:30 pm when I arrrived home, I removed my costumes and the rest of my stuff from BBR.

 After 5 minutes, I realized that I left my smart cellphone inside BBR! I called Totoy using my sun cellphone about it. Totoy called the driver up who found my cell on the space between the sterring wheel and the speedometer!

 I slept soundly until I woke up at 3:20am. I called up Totoy, it was his assistant who answered as Totoy was driving. They were already in Plaridel, Bulacan. We were having our early breakfast when Totoy and his assistant on board BBR arrived at 4:15 am. BBR was back home after his taping. But Totoy had a good news: BBR will have a second taping day next week! Yes, BBR just like his brothers Panther (my black Ford Lynx) and Silver (my former Honda Civic) and Greenie (my former Honda City) is having his share of the limelight. Silver and Greenie had been sold a few years ago for a premium price as I told the buyers they were not ordinary cars but cars that have appeared in tv series!

 Watch Nasaan Ka Eliza? ABS-CBN, after My Binondo Girl, premiers airing on monday, September 12, 2011. My scenes will start somewhere in the midddle of the series but I recommend that you watch it from the beginning and everyday as each episode is guaranteed to be very exciting!