Pagudpud Beach, Ilocos Norte, Philippines

Assembly was at 5:00 AM for breakfast at Chocolate Kiss, Bahay ng Alumni, UP Campus.   Classmates arriving on time enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, while the late-comers had little time to finish their food.  Two bus loads of reunion attendees left UP (Bahay ng Alumni) at 6:30 a.m. The scheduled departure was 5:30 but some arrived late. Tito Valino joined us for breakfast, but did not take the bus at that time.  For the record, the classmates who took the bus included: Baby Zafra-Del Mundo, Beuls de Vera-Schmitz, Bing Santos, Bopeep Franco, Carol Pizarro-Alado, Cito de Guia, Dinggol Lagera, Francis Carlos, Jeannie Ebio-Garfinkel, Jess Socrates, Jet Santos, Joy Enriquez-Diaz, Loret Seludo, Lucy Lazo, Maline Apelo-Flores, Patty Salonga-Rubio, Spike de Leon, Tabby Castanos, Tito de Gamo, Tony Arcilla, and Torch Manalang.

To complete the attendees: Betsy Barangan-Cabanos, of course was already in Laoag with her family even before Christmas. I (Didi) arrived 2:30 a.m. of 2 Jan by car. Cat Echanis- and Ed Sarangaya, also drove and arrived about an hour before the buses. Arriving later were Leila Caces-Ner, Manny Ner, and Tere Bolisay--. Those who arrived the following day were Benito Bernardo, Panny Paragas, and the last to arrive, as expected, was Tito Valino.

So that's 31 classmates. Including spouses, children and guests, we were 75 all in all!!!

(Doy was originally scheduled to join us but due to an important meeting with a government agency, he had to cancel. Would like to thank Doy now for his donation early on, which we used to open our reunion bank account. After Maline does her final accounting or our collections and expenses, we will formally thank all others who gave donations.)

Lunch was at Chow King Restaurant in San Fernando, La Union.  Classmates stretched their legs while waiting for the take-out food and took time to fraternize with classmates from the other bus.  Due to lack of space on the Restaurant, we opted to eat at the bus, instead.  Maline and Bopeep were in charge of lunch.

Our reunion formally started with a welcome dinner at Suba beach.

The intention was to be at the beach in time to watch the sunset but the group (two bus loads) arrived in Fort Ilocandia after 6:30 p.m. The group needed to freshen up, rest a while --- it was 7:30 when we left the hotel for dinner.  Sponsored by Jet Santos and Jess Socrates, our dinner menu included 2 lechons, dinuguan, grilled sili, grilled fish, etc. Children growing up in America tried their first taste of Balut.  Siempre, may bonfire din kami.  Classmate with their children gather by the fire and watch the many stars visible from the sky.  Some went to wet  their feet on the China Sea.  
Not long after dinner, tired after a long trip, many decided to go back to the hotel for a much needed rest.