Remembering the Queen

In Remembrance on the First Anniversary of Reyna's Death

I think of my dearest Sister Taba, Reyna Villacarlos, so often, and although this day brings to mind the sorrow of her passing, it is also an opportunity to revisit some wonderful memories of Reyna. A friend so dear with a heart of gold.

Eternal Rest grant unto Reyna O Lord
Let Perpetual light shine upon her,
May her Soul Rest in Peace. Amen.

The Queen Will Always Be Remembered

"Somewhere a journey begins at the end of the worldly existence we know, Somewhere a path stretches over the stars, and rivers of memories flow... Somewhere a silence is heard far away and the brightness of day fills the night, Where the trials of life are resolved into peace -- when a soul finds its way to the light."

Maria Reyna C. Villacarlos

August 11, 1975 - October 10, 2011

Lord our God, You are always faithful and quick to show mercy. Reyna was suddenly taken from us. Come swiftly to her aid, have mercy on her, and comfort her family and friends by the power and protection of the cross. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sister Taba, we will miss you!

Australian Aby in Abe

Aubrey “Aby” Sacramed-Bader was in the country for just ten days. For the ninth day, she was able to squeeze us in for dinner. Yippee! Six members of the EconBlock3A-92 were able to meet with Aby at Abe Restaurant in Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.

We had Gambas Al Ajillo, Sinute Baby Squid and Chicharon Bulaklak for appetizers while waiting for everyone to arrive. For the first time, we had the pleasure of having Orlando “Pasky” Pascual graced our get-togethers. Naks! Nakakapanibago seeing him but he is still the same Pasky from way back 1992 during our freshmen year. Galing talaga!

When Aby arrived, we ordered our dinner already. We had Mutton Adobo with Popped Garlic, Pinakbet Wen Manong, Sinigang na Bangus Belly with Ripe Guava, Binukadkad na Pla-Pla and Sugpo sa Aligue ng Talangka. Sarap!

Aby hasn’t changed at all! She is still pretty as ever and still sporting the long hair. She is with Australia Migration and frequents the Philippines on business trips that usually last for a day or two only. This was the one trip that she was able to visit again for a longer period of time. Buti na lang!

As I type this entry, Aby’s already on her way back to Melbourne and hopefully will see her again soon and maybe if our plans push through, we will see her on the 2012 Australian Open. Yes, Aby and I share the love for RF!

Presidential Dinner

It was almost three years ago when we last had a big get together. For this year, even though we can’t outnumber the count of attendees, it was still a fun night.

Available members of EconBlock3-A and the Big Family met for dinner at President Tea House behind SM Mall of Asia. The restaurant is in Bldg. F; and in the same row as Hooters and collectively known as San Miguel by The Bay.

We enjoyed the food. The servings were generous and reasonably priced. Peter Allan, the man behind PTH, was the one who selected the specialities and we dined like presidents.

Who were the presidents who graced our dinner? Let’s enumerate the magic seven.


Nhore is currently in the country for a month’s vacation. She’s radiant-looking that night and everybody commented that her hair colour suits her better as well as her added poundage looks good on her. She came with her youngest sister and we were kidding that they looked like twins. Nhore’s husband was not able to join us since he went home to his province in Cagayan De Oro.

Joseph perfectly fits as a dignified lawyer in his paisley designed polo yet he’s still the same old Joseph that I remember. He was teasing me that I might not be able to attend dinner since I was a no show in 2007’s dinner. Sorry! I was able to make it although a little bit late since I came from a far location. He was with his wife that night but the wife was with a friend and decided to shop during our dinner.

Jojo, on the other hand, is also missing a fiancée. The most sought after guy in our block and family is getting married on October and I can’t help it but laugh when Bing commented something about the coming event. Jojo is very jolly as always and never fails to brighten the mood of any person. He still works as a consultant and currently busy with the pre-wedding preps. Hey, don’t forget to invite us on your big day!

Peter or Allan as some people call him is now managing four PTH branches. Aside from the branch where we had dinner, he still visits the Binondo, Glorietta 4 and ATC branches almost every day. Talk about wellness in restaurant-managing! He mentioned that business is doing well (good for you Peter!) and he doesn’t have a competitor within the restaurant row (even better!). Kudos and more power to you and PTH!

Then came ME! Enough about myself – though for this date, I came late as mentioned earlier.

That night, we have two new recruits. The last time I saw them was way back in 1994 but good thing for the World Wide Web, we were able to touch base and it was like college days once again.


Gigi or Geraldine is now a mom of two cute kids and soon to be a new mom again in four months. She works for CHED and still sports the long locks that I used to remember during our freshmen days. It was nice that she was able to join us even if she came all the way from Quezon City and heavy with the third child. Bayani!

Bing, our teacher turned nurse is now sporting a new look too. She used to wear her hair short, just above the shoulders. Now, it is traded with a long flowing hair, as if she’s a shampoo commercial model. Naks naman! She works as a fulltime nurse in one of the hospitals in Manila and currently thinking of going back to her first love, teaching high school kids.

Oops, before I forget, Bing is single, so are Peter and Ralline Jean. I just thought to mention that!

As we were finishing our dinner, we started calling other blockmates and family members. We were able to talk to Kuya Menard and Ate Jane. Menard’s still doing work with PAO in Ilocos and Jane’s in Dubai. We also learned that Jane is visiting Manila for two weeks and we might have another round of get-together by the middle of April. I just can’t wait!

We tried calling Reyna, Au, Vicky, Pocs, Rhodz, Alovel, Cynch, and Oli but all we got were unanswered calls. Maybe they are already sleeping or watching telenovelas seriously! Anyway, we missed their company and wishing the next round they’ll be able to join us.

It was fun that we updated ourselves on what we know of the rest of the group. We feasted on gossip and facts. If only they knew that those who are not present in gatherings are the usual topic for discussion, maybe they would have attended. Kidding aside, we all wished that we could all go back to where our friendship started and bond just like old times.


As Friday night, breaks into midnight, we started to say our goodbyes. We promised to continue with an open communication among ourselves and to recruit more blockmates on the next gathering.

Going home, even though I know I will suffer in class the next day because of the lack of sleep, I was really happy seeing them once again. It was nice reminiscing what we did during those college years, the laughter we shared, heartaches, lost loves, admirations, winnings and losses, all in all it was a night to remember.

UPCB’s EconBlock 3-A and The Big Family will live forever in our hearts. Until the next round of gatherings and chitchat, we wait. For now, let us cherish the wonderful moments.

28 at 28

I just wanted you to know how happy I am to have you for my sister.
We’re not the type to go on and on about our feelings for each other.
Still, there are times… like right now… when I want to let you know exactly how I feel.
To put it simply, I don’t just love you… I really like you!


Looking back on all we’ve shared, I appreciate the many ways you’ve helped me out.
You have a real talent for sensing just when I need you the most.
I know I can count on you for support or encouragement.
You’ve always been able to make me feel good about myself… and about life.


Life just wouldn’t be the same without you and all the wonderful memories you’ve given me.
I guess it all adds up to this – you’re very important to me.
I’m grateful for the joy you’ve added to my life and most of all, I’m so happy to have you for my sister.


Have a wonderful 28th birthday, Chloe Jean!

The Queen Comes To Town

It has been six years and eight months since the last time I saw my “Sister Taba.” A very long time indeed but communication was always present through long handwritten letters to emails to SMS. These became our bridge to our sixteen years of friendship.


Sister Taba or the Queen Bee in the famous Big Family of UP College of Baguio (now UP Baguio) is Maria Reyna C. Villacarlos. She’s the middle sibling from our elite group. Kuya is Atty. Menard Almazan and Ate is Bb. Jane Erese. You got it right, I am the Little Sister of the family.

Why the Big Family? Back then, we were all “BIG”. Even the other members of the family are also big and fabulous.


Now, Sister Taba is no tubby-tubby anymore. I totally did not recognize her when I fetched her at the Ayala-MRT Station last Wednesday. She got sick a few years back and went on a strict diet. In addition, being NGO worker affected her lifestyle. She’s now many pounds lighter but her face stayed the same. The bubbly smile even the voice was the same as I remember during our first days as blockmates.

We spent the whole day of October 8, 2008 together since I just came back from a previous engagement and she had to go back to Baguio before heading back to the Cordilleras for her work. I treated her to an Italian breakfast, two hours of pampering at a spa, strolled throughout the Greenbelt malls, a late American lunch and before sending her off back to Baguio, a sumptuous Filipino dinner.


For that whole day we spent together, we called the rest of the Big Family members – oops, only the ones that I have in my mobile phone. Some numbers were not anymore available yet we got lucky to call some of the big ones. We woke up Jane in Dubai, caught Menard in a court recess, Kit in a workshop, Peter on the way to Binondo and Alovel who just had dinner. It was fun even though we miss the rest of the Big Family. We tried calling Oli in Cambodia, Jojo in Singapore, Nhore in San Francisco and Joseph but all we got were voicemails. Sayang!


Maybe next time we’ll have a bigger Big Family reunion – we’ll get to see Cynch, Rhodz, Chris and also the rest of the EconBlock 3-A gang. (Hopefully on the 5th of December!!!)

But for meantime, I am treasuring the day spent with my Sister Taba. I just wish that we get to see more often rather than wait another six years.

Reyna, having to miss work for a day is incomparable to spending a day well spent with you.

Atty. Bactad and Atty. Logronio

Hats off to Atty. Joseph "Jojo" Jonathan A. Bactad...

and to Atty. Victoria "Vicky" V. Logronio...

A round of applause for your outstanding achievement!

EconBlock 3-A Rules!!!

Blockmates and The Big Family

Elinore Perez-Currington, my blockmate from UP College of Baguio way back 1992 and my “anak” in the Big Family, arrived from the United Kingdom last week for a month long holiday. She is married to a half Pinoy-half Brit based in Derbyshire and has been going home once a year in Manila.

This time around, before she left for Manila, we planned a get together with our blockmates and the members of the Big Family. I immediately sent an email and SMS to all and everyone was excited.

We really wanted to see each other because it has been awhile since our group last met. I cannot even remember the last time I saw Nhore personally. However, we continue to chat and exchange emails, I still long for the human factor of meeting up.

It was sad that she could only make it on a Sunday night and at the start of the Holy Week. A number of our blockmates wanted to go but since most of them are already married and have kids, they had a hard time going out on weekends.

We had dinner at Saisaki Glorietta 3 and drinks at Pier One at The Fort. Dinner was great and even the drinks went okay. Most of us haven’t seen each other in a long time and yet it was like we never really parted. We could still remember our Freshman Days, our first professors, the original love teams and the tons of laughter we all shared that year at UP College of Baguio.

Though most of us (Oli, Joseph, Peter and Moi) left UPCB and transferred to Diliman after a year, we still have the bond that certainly tied us for good.

I had a blast with the conversations and the laughter and reminiscing the carefree days. How I wish that we were still Freshmen and still competing for the Freshmen Night. It would be a blast if we could perform once again and compete with the rest of the Freshman Blocks. I can still hear Kuya Aldrin telling us what to do and what not to do. So much fun!

Nhore is still childless; however, she is busy with her career in UK and now sporting long locks. One of us has gotten his marriage annulled and now on with his third wife; yet he is successful with his own business. One has created a mark in the advertising world and is still sweet as ever. One is busy with corporate matters at a Vet Med firm and will forever be the “kilabot” of the block. One is busy with managing a Chinese restaurant in Binondo and very much good looking as before. One is still the Big Sister for everyone and still reminds me of the girl version of Erap. One is still the ever-quiet person but when he talks he could turn the house down and I know they still have the magic with my “anak”.

A number of our blockmates and Big Family members are still based in Baguio City. We wanted to meet with them but due to our own hectic schedules, we cannot afford to go back to Baguio. I wish that one day; we could all see each other again and enjoy the good company.

Given the span of years of not seeing each other and just having a few emails/chats over the years, I am very much delighted that we still have the ties that bind us together. The friendship that we’ve created in 1992 still lingers and will continue wherever we are.

Pocs and Nhore

Oli, Jojo, Jane, Nhore, Rallsh, Joseph and Peter

Oli the Pogi

By chance, while on my way to Goodwill Bookstore Glorietta to get some books for my brother this morning, I saw again after a very long time, one of my dearest UP blockmates, Oliver "Oli the Pogi" L. Salazar!

Was happy since the last time we had a chance to see each other was at Cynthia "Cynch" Paralejas residence back in 1999 though our communication is still intact with all the emails, SMS and live chats.

(l to r) Jojo, Rallsh, Oli, Cynch and Reyna

Funny thing, just last Sunday while having lunch with my Mom, she asked how Oli is and where is he working now. Ha, ha, ha! Mom really loves my friends; friends who remembers you even though you seldom see each other, and you know will always be there in the time of need and joy. He is still connected with McCann-Erickson Philippines and so payat!

For the rest of the EconBlock3A-92 of UP, he wants us to make kitakits kapag lahat nasa Manila and hopefully soon. Hook up galore na si Oli and he can�t wait to see us all. Okidoki?

Oli, pataba ka nga! Natutusok pa rin ako sa iyo kapag kayakap ka! Paano na ulit kapag tabi na tayo ulit matutulog? Remember, Alovel's house?