From Dennis Abella

Emailed to Rene Rodriguez July 18 2008

31 years to be exact

Ngaaaaaawskiiiiiiiiiiiii,

Ano naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Kumusta ka na ba d'yan? ((((( Wow pare! )))))) "Yamamams na!" "Dehins na...yon-nga na!" Well, I fervently hope and pray that this e-mail of mine reaches you in the midst of prosperity and well-being, especially with your family. Who would've thought that after all these seemingly long lost years of "incommunicado," (31 years to be exact)...our cyber paths would intersect once again! Of course, nothing would surpass the thrill of an actual get-together there (sana sa lalong madaling panahon...depende sa 6 na numerong binobola tuwing linggo)... but these short yet effective electronic missives that we hopefully shall be sending to one another from hereunto, are truly more than enough to compensate for the absence of the "real thing." It is indeed truly wonderful that the once dormant communication lines, have finally and at long last, been re-established. So let the "tsismis" commence!

My eyes had a tremendous feast savoring the photos ( 2002 and Pantz's recent homecoming re-unions ) that Arthur sent me...while the pangs of envy and nostalgia painfully rung in my chest. Tipong "trip down memory lane" ang a-mats! Most were familiar faces to which I instantly recognized but there were some that took a lot of imagination... to retrieve and identify "who's who." Marcial Samson and Ray Bueno were in fact, the toughest! It was strainfully difficult for me ... buti na lang my "alzheimer's" is still at it's early and formative stages! I'm also deeply appreciative and thankful for your benevolence in assuming the arduous task as the designated "chronicler of events"...kindheartedly documenting "da happenings" of the '"for the boys"...providing us here with graphic narrations spiced up with a refreshingly humurous touch! Muchos kudos! Manang-mana kay "er-pats"...reminiscent of his media days as a columnist of Bulletin Today. Di ba?

As for me, fortunately I'm still alive and kicking. Divorced with 1 son (26 years old now) and pretty much "hanging in" here in San Jose, California helping out in the family business (medical facility) for quite some time now. My eldest sister being a doctor (a practicing pediatrician) at ako naman ay isang "assisting kun-doctor!" Life nowadays is very much a "struggle"...with the rising cost of fuel (almost $5.00 a gallon) and almost all the "essentials" as well, the depleted real estate market aggravated by the alarming increase in unemployment...frightening indicators of our "worst of times"...it's really a miracle that somehow we still manage to survive! The once touted perception that America being the "land of honey and opportunity" is rapidly losing it's essence and appeal...overshadowed by the emergence of the newly strong and solid "global markets." Pahirap na ng pahirap ang buhay dito...buti pa siguro dyan na may "Wowowie at Luningning" to alleviate matters!

Let's call it quits for now as this is turning to be quite a "novel" now. I hope to be hearing from you ASAP. May God bless you and your family. Always take care too!

Sincerely,

dennisabella

P.S. (Por-got Something)

Mike Tagle I heard went back there and is now living at John Hay up in Baguio! If so, send my regards to him as well as "everybody"else...Dickson, Jale, Koots, Monty, Ray, Marcial et al! I almost forgot...also to your beloved cousins...Boyie and Anton!

Ditto