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Some were teary-eyed as the party drew to a close.
PASSAIC PARK, NJ, Sunday, June 29, 1997. Calamba Fiesta '97 was a complete success according to the organizers and planners Nini Mendoza and Olga Alonzo. It was held at the residence of Olga and Tonette Alonzo at Passaic Park, New Jersey last Sunday. Almost 78 % of the anticipated guests arrived from as far south as Philadelphia to as far north as Canada.
FOOD
The event was a Filipino food galore/expo or close to it. Since is was some sort of a Pot Luck Picnic, there were some 20 different dishes that were native to the Philippines including some desserts that were brought by the Alonzo's neighbor, Jojo and Rudy Lim. The highlight of the food tables was a 5 foot long Lechon which was bought by Nini Mendoza, Arlene Alcasid and Elout Nevalga Carandang. Olga Alonzo had marinated the beef barbecue, which Willy Mendoza obligingly barbecued them and be the Cook-of-the-Day. Art Carandang was the Bartender-of-the-Day as he tirelessly filled coolers with ice and fresh stock of beer.
DISCO SUN
The blaring hot sun and hard unforgiving pavement of the driveway did not deter the participants as they danced to the beat of Macarena, YMCA, Todo Todo, Boogie Break, Tango, Aringkingking, Achy Breaky, Electric Slide, Swing, Lambada and other dance music selections I could not remember. There was no shortage of much appreciated D.I.'s (Dance Instructors). There were excellent dancers, namely Jojo and Rudy Lim (do they operate on their patients the way they dance?), Olga Alonzo and Malou Mendoza. The best dancer award (most daring too) goes to Arlene Alcasid.
COMEDY
Art Carandang was the comedian as he expertly demonstrated how to be a womanizer using toothpicks and make the sun rise using a bath towel. Tonette Alonzo had some jokes about a priest and an altar boy named Pedro and also about DeColores Brad! The priest, who officiated the prayer and was within earshot to hear it all, took the jokes well. Rolly Remigio however had a Nobel idea of how to save money on toilet paper.
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HELLO THERE!
Tonette Alonzo explained during his introductory speech how the party/fiesta and the association came about and its purpose. He turned the floor, sheets of addresses and phone numbers of the attendees, over to Lito Mendoza . Lito called each family and asked them to introduce themselves to everyone and share some news to keep their townmates updated. A funny, but healthy rivalry (Boos and Cheers) emerged from those who graduated from Saint John Academy and those of Laguna Institute. Tonette tried to pass himself as a graduate of LCBA until Cora and Dory Remigio exposed him being a little older than that as the name "LCBA" has not even been thought of when he finished high school, as it was still called at that time as "L..I.".
According to Nini Mendoza, the party was planned only two weeks prior. It was supposed to have been held at Passaic Park itself, a block away from of the backyard of the Alonzo's where the event was held. However, after surveying the location and knowing the Filipinos' preference for shady areas especially during hot summer afternoons, the site of the Fiesta was moved. Tonette also considered park regulations such as: alcohol consumption, the proximity of a restroom, noise (boom box) rules, no open-flame rule (barbecue is a must of course) and bugs/insect problems that might be present during hot summers. The backyard, however, had ample shady trees and was sprayed with insect repellents.
The Fiesta was an organizational meeting of the Calambenos who reside in the Northeastern Region of the United States. It was recognized that Chicago has their own fiesta and association as do California and Canada. Titot Ignacio himself just returned from attending the fiesta in Chicago. Lito Mendoza was the first to be cognizant of the fact that there were several Calambenos in the northeastern USA area and had gathered most of their phone numbers. Most organizers' communications were done through the internet's e-mail however. Malou Mendoza, Nini Mendoza and Olga Alonzo had long planned such an event including one Ball Room Christmas party, a year and half ago.
Former classmates, teachers, friends, acquaintances and even those who did not know each other before, reminisced about the past and exchanged news about their hometown, friends and relatives. Several group pictures and videos were taken. Some were teary eyed as the party drew to a close with further commitment to meet again. Indeed, they have found a little Calamba. They were at home, if not in location, they were in spirit. People makes a town anyway, not the buildings or streets. Yes, we have Calamba in the Northeast USA!! #AMA#
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