GREAT, ENJOYABLE AND MEMORABLE TIME

December 12, 1998, Wayne, NJ. A Calamba Association Northeast, USA, Inc. 2^nd Annual Christmas Dinner-Dance Induction Ball was held from 7PM till 1AM on December 12, 1998 at Holiday Inn, Route 46 East, Wayne, New Jersey. And everyone was calling it a Grand, Complete and Great Success. Everybody claimed to have had a really good, no, GREAT, ENJOYABLE AND MEMORABLE TIME! And that if you were not there, TOO BAD.

You have doubts of its' success? Just read on for the inventory:

CHANNEL 58 NEWS CREW was there to cover the event. It will be aired in Washington, DC area in a program called, "DIWA ng BAYAN" and other major cities where Filipinos are known to live en masse. Also will be aired in the Philippines and the movie, available for download at an internet web site. We will publish the address when it becomes available.
Kinding Sindaw Dance Co., a Filipiña Dance Groupe performed several native dances that shows Philippine Culture, music and dance way before the Spaniards woke up and smelled the roses and "found" where we were at (remember, we, the Chinese traders, the Japanese traders, the Indonesians, the Malaysians knew we were there, way before the Spaniards "discovered" us. We did, they didn't).
Agos, a Filipino singing group brought the house down with their original compositions and an original rendition of the old Philippine standard song, "Sa Lumang Simbahan". People enjoyed the song so much, they danced while they were singing. The singing group to quench the crowd's desire for more granted two encores!
The Guest Speaker was Atty. Arnedo S. Valera, an Immigration and International Human Rights lawyer based in Washington, DC talked about the relevance of Dr. Jose Rizal's work as it applies today. (More on his speech later)
The beautiful and new "Pagsasalin ng Kalan at Banga" ritual which will become an association's tradition.(more later)
Friends of Mine Band expertly handled the music that the ladies and all the dancers wanted. People kept dancing till closing!

CHANNEL 58 NEWS CREW

Food was abundant. While everyone was already stuffed, it looks like there were still enough food to feed 3 times more the size of the crowd that attended.
Raffle ticket drawing and Cora Remigio's comments, "Lutong Makaw yata ito eh!", had the crowd laughing.
Our world Class EMCEE, Mrs. Elout Nevalga Carandang, handled the affair's program with utmost finess (did she use to work for CNN or Miss USA? I it certainly looked like it)
166 people attended, that was the count of the Hotel management! Now just think, if you were not there, who did you miss to see? Also just think, is it not cruel not be there to be seen by those who would have loved to see you? What did you say? You are busy? Come on, this is an event to become unbusy, an event that when you don't have time, you make time for! We love to see you.

     Indeed, love was around. One must appreciate the sacrifices that each and everyone who attended made to be there. Mr. Julian Yson said, "You must understand, I had four (4) other events to attend to, and one of them is to be with the Jaycee's Christmas Party Induction Ball where my sons will be inducted to as officers, yet I chose to be here!!" One was overheard, "I do not have anymore vacation days left, so I took leave without pay to be here" Now those are what I call love for your own hometown! Not just to see others, but be seen by others - a sacrifice.
      Laura Bonifacio could not help but notice the checks that where coming in, in amounts from $45 to others that were made for $360 to pay for dinner tickets! Most of them were between $90 to $180! Just think, that kind of money is nothing to sneeze at, especially during Christmas season. Mr. Tom Lazaro's advertisement did not make to the printing press for the souvenir program, however, he donated his payment to the association. What a nice Christmas gift!. Mr. Julian Yson and a few others did too! It goes to show you that people made sacrifices not just for themselves, but also for all their kababayan. TRULY LOVE WAS IN THE AIR!
Surely something must have gone wrong you say? Yes, of course, Murphy's Law dictates that. There will always be something to go wrong. But it got fixed. Somewhat, anyway. When Tonette Alonzo made a reservation with the Hotel Catering Management for 140 people, the management set the tables, which was for only 150 people (15 tables). Unfortunately, Tonette was talking about people,

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