CIRCLE INTERNATIONAL JANUARY 20 I I 216-27 Spencer Avenue, Queens Village, New York 11427 USA www.mekongcircl e.org Welcome to the 19th issue of our Newsletter Fidel Padayao (left) former President, inducts the Mekong Circle Board of Directors for 2010 - 2012 on ·September 25, 2010 during our 8th Reunion in Anahe im , California , USA. Domeng Menguito is not in the photo. Name Home Address Telephone Email 1. Tony de los Reyes 1192 Surf Crest Drive, San Diego, California 92 154 USA 619 661 0672 Tonykano @ aol.com 2. Jojo Esteban 909 Vista Mesa Court, Duarte, California 91010 USA 626 771 209 dreamsicles [email protected] 3. Toti de Ia Paz 32 P. Torres St., Concepcion, Marikina, Manila, Philippines 011 632 941 2287 4. Sonia Ballo 926 Herrera St., Brookside Subd., Cainta, Rizal, Philippines 011 632 655 1239 Cristinmballo @ yahoo.com 5. Linda Masibay 2943 N. Nashville, Chicago, Illinois 60634 USA 773 213 0698 Lindacmasibay @ yahoo.com 6. Raul de Jesus 1638 Ontario St., Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54901 USA 920 232 8210 Raulmdejesusmd @ aol.com 7. Pete Fuentecilla 216-27 Spencer Ave., Queens Village, New York 11427 USA 347 551 7305 fuentecila @ aol.com 8. Pat Gonzales 4402 Ambrose Terrace, Los Angeles, Califomia 90027 USA 323 661 1609 p3gonzal @ att.net 9. Bik Marquez 1200 Bayhill Drive# 119, San Bruno, California 94066 USA 650 589 3522 Bikmarquez @ hotmail.com 10. Tony Sazon 745 Lancing Road, West Deptford, New Jersey 08096 USA 609 937 1747 ag.sazon @ verizon.net 11. Angie Angelo 2718 Timberview Drive, Irvine, Texas 75060 USA 972 986 6379 isangelol937@ gmail.com 12. Ciony Ljungar 3031 Marlin Road, Kempville, Ontario KOG 110 Canada 613 258 7370 self.care @ hotmail.com 13. Pinky Casher 1051 Beach Park #107, Foster City, California 94404 USA 650 245 2390 Fecasher @ ya hoo.com 14. Pol Custodio 14860 E. Stockdale St., Baldwin Park, Califomia 91706 USA 323 270 4971 arc2vacation @ yahoo.com 15. Khamsy Siharath 4459 San Joaquin St., Oceanside, California 92057 USA 760 529 5532 oceansideresthome @cox.net 16. Sam Malaythong 228 East Mission Ave. , Merced, California 95340 USA 209 726 3385 Drsmalaythong @ yahoo.com 17. Dom Menguito 20 Barcelona St., Merville, Paranaque, Manila, Philippines 011 632 776 I 006 dom _ 1136 @yahoo.com Officers Elected For 2010 - 2012 Board Chaim1an Pete Fuentecilla President & Vice Chaim1an Pat Gonzales Treasurer Bik Marquez MEMBER NEWS It was 102 degrees F under the shade at Twila Reid Park, for 225 members who came to our 8th reunion in Anaheim, California. Notes From A Hot, Hot Reunion ¥A rousing round of applause, please (and cue the drums and bugles) , and the reception room September 24 to mark Rusty Ramos' 68 th birthday, let's all stand to congratulate the organizing committee of our 8th international an offering from his wife Nemia, who won 't reveal her age. Then the band reunion September 24, 25, and 26 , 2010 in Anaheim , California. After seven played a special tune as Angie and Baby Angelo were called to dance their previous reunions, we have come to expect that organizing these momentous 24th wedding anniversary. They we re married September 24, 1966 at the events have become formulaic, on autopilot. Press button one for the baci and Chapel of Notre Dame in Vientiane. reception. Boom! Boom! They happen. Press button two for the dinner dance. Boom! Press button three for the picnic. Boom! Hah! Tell that to the ¥Legs Do Your Work: Fr. Lucien Bouchard, of the Oblates of Mary committees and to their leaders. Anaheim chief coordinator Jun llustrisimo said Immaculate, one of the Christian missionary groups in pre-1975 Laos, can it simply during the dinner dance: "We're happy. We're in the black. Everything credit his leg-cramping treks across the valleys and mountains of northern is paid for. " Yes, Jun we feel for you and whoever will lead our 2012 event. Laos to build his sturdy legs that trekked through Disneyland Anaheim and Universal Studios. For his first trip to California, Dicky Labao served as his ¥Triple-Digit Degrees: If you happened to turn on the weather forecast on TV leg-weary guide. Fr. Bouchard wrote "In the year 2010 , my first vacation for September 24, 25 and 26 , 2010 , there's the weather guy sweeping his hand was last June when I celebrated 60 years of religious vows in Teusbury, across the entire map of Los Angeles , California, color coded in various hues of Massachusetts. And my second vacation in California was spent with my red , pink and tangerine, flaring at 100 F and a record 106 F. At Twila Reid Park, friends from OB Sam Neua ! I'm afraid I am getting spoiled as I get older." site of our picnic on Sept. 26, among those felled by the heat wave were Cecile Datu and Nits Romano . Seeking refuge beneath the shade of a large tree near ¥Legs No Running: When Jojo Esteban sounded the call for games at the picnic pavilion were Gina Liwag, Geline Aberin and Linda Masibay, all seat­ the park, aging members with the paunchy bellies and creaky ed as immobile as stone statues to conserve precious fiuids. knees elicited a collective groan, please no running , puwede ba? No , just a lot of animal sounds- quacking , hooting, mooing- a weird contest from ¥Prime Mover : Narding Hilario who initiated our biannual shebangs in was her book of picnic games. heat-prostrate on the grass, also immobile. It was his idea to gather all the expat groups from Laos to celebrate the first Mekong Circle reunion with a din­ ¥Welcoming The Spirits: Chantha Sivongxay, husband of Sivilay, did ner dance in May 1995 at Baldwin Park's Marriott Hotel in Los Angeles. the chants at the baci ceremony. Have you noticed that the baci strings, traditionally white cotton , also came in red and pink? The hard-boiled egg ¥Surprise Celebrants: A large square birthday cake was wheeled into offering remained white and the banana is still yellow. You can tie green Marriott's Crystal Ballroom strings but don't mess with the spirits' diet. ¥ Making Merit: During the dinner dance September 25, Bounthan Oudom Wilma and Fidel Padayao, Art Linchangco, Vanessa and Phaiboon who came all the way from Vientiane fluttered from table to table of Lao Thongma, Fe Casher, Becky Ciborski , Penny Flores , Fely and Fides Navera, guests and members, collecting donations for her Buddhist temple back Manding and Cecile Datu , Rey Zamora, Pete Fuentecilla. home. She was given a hearty sendoff at the park where she announced "I'll see you all in Vientiane in 2012 !" Okay, members, you have been ¥ Get Your DVDs: A set of four discs- one video disc for each of the alerted. three days and a fourth disc with hundreds of still shots - can be ordered for $30. Send your check payable to Mekong Circle International and mail to ¥ What! You Again ? They bonded for five days, reliving places and Cecile Datu , 1422 Rodney Road , West Covina, California 91792 USA. memories during their November 2008 "Return To Laos" tour. Now, here they Telephone 626 965 7582. The set, professionally videographed by Gerry are together again in Anaheim , not all the 27 travellers , but still a good Bautista and his crew, come packaged and labeled in a colorful , handsome crowd for a mini-reunion: Jun and Claire llustrisimo, Ed and Edith Pasaporte , case . Remembrances And Legacies During the last three years , a number of our colleagues have passed away. It Operation Brotherhood 1954-1957 " published in 197 4. A sequel "Filipinos In has been difficult trying to obtain the specific circumstances of their deaths. Laos" was published in 2004 and forms the first part of a 1957 - 1961 vol­ Past detailed obituaries can be accessed on our website. So allow us to ume. We invited him to New York for our 2002 reunion to announce the com­ name those we have been informed about- Fred Reyes , Emeng Alcasid, ing publication of the sequel but his superiors said his health and age ruled Danny Torres , Danny Infante. More recent deaths for which we have the out extended travel. During his younger years he had climbed Mt. details: Pol Daulo of Van Nuys, California , died Nov. 18, 201 0; Dado Manunggal in 1957, Mt. Apo in 1958, Mt. Kanlaon in 1961 and 1963 and Mt. Lumiqued of Pomona, California , died Mayan in 1963. November 11 , 201 0; Lydia Reyes of Pomona , California, died June 16, 2010. Ted Chao Sopsaisana Southakakoumar died Quarterman , husband of Vilma Valenzuela , March 15, 2009 in Cane!, France at the age passed away August 19, 2010 in Binalbagan , of 84. "Sopsai" was president of the Jaycees Negros Occidental , the Philippines. of Laos in 1959, the original sponsor in 1957 of OB-Laos. During a brilliant career with the Two notable deaths that should be mentioned : Royal Lao government, the Prince was vice Fr. Miguel A. Bernad , Jesuit teacher, histori­ president of the National Assembly, chairman an , author, died March 15, 2009 at the age of of the Lao Bar Association , president of the 92 in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. He Lao Press Association , president of the was author of that 546-page monumental his­ Alliance Francaise and Ambassador-desig­ tory "Adventure in Vietnam: The Story of nate to France. Got A Suggestion For A Project ? Red del Rosario reports that our lskolars Ng Mekong has been put on Survey Questionnaire hold because our Philippine-based partners "have transferred their home base from Quezon City to Tagaytay .. .as part of their refocusing efforts 1. The proposed project must target or benefit recipients in (check one): necessitated by increased financial constraints ." Launched in 2003 and steered by Red, the project helped graduate from college 16 women o The Philippines from poor and family-troubled backgrounds.