I just came home from a day at the beach with my High School classmates in Anilao, Batangas, South of Manila.
Cold Saporrro for breakfast!
This is the first out of town trip I have had with my High School buds in awhile. Actually, i have not been out with other sets of friends for quite some time, period.
Our host and chef!
After months of planning, the stage was set. My classmate Peter reserved his rest house in the one of the richest dive spots in the country. We were ready.
We got there at about 1100H, after almost three hours of driving. Quite quick considering it was a holiday Friday. The party was starting for couple of classmates that arrived earlier and as early 1000H Captain Morgan Rum and Mountain Dew was for breakfast.
Blue Steel!
Fun, fun, fun!
Buddy's Ribs Chef & owner Dong DlR!
One by one the others came. The food was being readied. Fish caught the same day were hitting the charcoal. Exotic Sevilla & Sons sausages, Brontosaurus patties from Brothers Burgers, a top burger joint, ribs from Chubby's Rib Shack made its way as well courtesy of classmates in the food business. Another highlight was the Chicken Pork Adobo ala Yam. Nobody knew Lorex could cook!
Butanding!
The Scotch, vodka and beer were flowing like a river.
Sup homes?
This was just the start of a great day.
The sun was up. the wind blew. We stayed in one place most of the time. Classic, old school '80's and '90's funk blared, from Sting to Milli Vanilli to the Backstreet Boys. We saw schools of dolphins also frolicking with the reggae we were playing by that time.
Perfect.
By mid-day food enough for seventy (70) famished men was on the table, the grill was on full steam ahead. Men's food....mostly MEAT was ready to be devoured! The Lorex Yam adobo wa all gone.
#1 of 40 Burgers
Nineteen strong, that is how many we were out of a class of 400. To say that the food was too much was an understatement. Those that could not make it sent even more food.
LSGH 1987!!!!!
The "Good" Boys
Party on! We stayed at the beach the whole day. The wind blew our way. It was hot but breezy, the company made it not just bearable but extremely enjoyable.
Dong DlR even brought his toy, a drone to take pics of us from up in the air offering us a more majestic view of where we were.
Diet?
Beber mas!
Nineteen of us sat, drank, bonded, caught up, laughed, choked, passed out. The biggest bottle of Jose Cuervo was no match for Martin A.
All that happened from 1000H to 0600H the next day. It was just so much to hang with each other. Some slept early and rejoined the crowd by the cabana. Some stayed the whole time.
Man, this is what I miss. Being with the guys I grew up with. The guys I shared so much history with. The same guys that are so much part of me. Hang ups and insecurities were checked in far, far away. I was truly home. I led the prayers before
meals. It was like how we did when we were in school. It turns out that
going to a Catholic does rub off on you a bit somehow. I always thank God I went to La Salle
Green Hills and finished in 1987.
In the course of the marathon, the food still overflowed, the beer was cold, the BBQ was hot and the friendship was TRUE! It was so much fun to see my old buds, catch up and just hang with my old La Salle crew again.
Scrumptious Sevilla Sausages
Chubby's ribs
In between the pandemonium. We managed to discuss things we would like to do for our class. Charity projects, scholarships, supporting classmates running for office, visits to old teachers were just some of the "serious" stuff that we discussed. It was also a productive meeting amid all the fun. After all these years, we were still "Men for Others .
TEQUILA!
Time flew. It zoomed. Sunset came. The Sun rose. We were still at the Cabana. Dolphins swam by many times. Early the next day we rested for a few hours and woke to a brunch for champions. More meat, fish and too much soda. The beer was still cold but we had our fill. Amazingly some Scotch remained untouched. It was time to go.
On the road back i was with a classmate that I have not been with for a while. We caught up more. We got lost. Missed exits but it was all good. We blamed Waze.....
Look at the blood red sky!
The sun was setting. In the horizon I looked. Something dawned in me. I thought "Dang, that was a great time!". I almost did not go to this one but at the last minute I figured I should. We only live once and we will be dead much longer. At our age anything can happen and this could be my last time with my buds - I certainly hope not.
Thank God for giving me such a wonderful bunch of friends. I look forward to our next escapade in Nasugbu, hosted by another classmate Munding.
In between the pandemonium. We managed to discuss things we would like to do for our class. Charity projects, scholarships, supporting classmates running for office, visits to old teachers were just some of the "serious" stuff that we discussed. It was also a productive meeting amid all the fun. After all these years, we were still "Men for Others . 
Time flew. It zoomed. Sunset came. The Sun rose. We were still at the Cabana. Dolphins swam by many times. Early the next day we rested for a few hours and woke to a brunch for champions. More meat, fish and too much soda. The beer was still cold but we had our fill. Amazingly some Scotch remained untouched. 
