Get-Together of the McBrats in Anaheim, California
I finally met the McBrats in the Los Angeles area during the get-together held last Saturday, 10 February 2007, at the beautiful home of Billy and Marivic Friedlander in Anaheim, California. I must say that it was one of the liveliest and most memorable gathering of friends I have attended ... and we sure were very noisy that night. Apparently, everyone was just so excited to see each other.
After about 5 decades I had the chance to meet once again former neighbors, schoolmates, and childhood friends who used to live in Fort William McKinley. Present last night were the following: Louella Cruz-Hall, Lilette Cruz, Brenda Bulfa and husband Gregg, Rose Bulfa and husband Anthony, Raul Bulfa and wife, Rommel, Bulfa, Phil La Putt, Bong Sebastian, Diuty Alba and husband Pat Cruz, Billy Friedlander and wife Marivic, Jojo Alba and wife Tita, Lando Almuete and wife Claire, Celine Tamondong and husband Eshel Nathan, and their daughter, and of course, myself. For this particular gathering, I noticed that the Bulfa siblings without doubt dominated the attendance as compared to the get-together I attended earlier in Hayward (California) which was dominated by the Jocson siblings.
There were other friends who also came, unluckily, I wasn't able to take note of their names. I also took a number of photographs and most of it are portrayed below. With my younger brother Phil, we were among the first to arrive at the home of Billy and Marivic. We arrived at about 5:20 pm. Rommel, Rose and her husband were already there when we arrived. Phil had just arrived from Manila last February 7 and was in time to join this get-together. It was Billy himself who was at home to welcome us in. It only took us about 20 minutes to travel by car from Irvine to Aneheim and we didn't encounter any difficulties in locating Billy's home since the car I rented from BUDGET was equipped with a portable GPS (Global Positioning System) which guided us all the way so easily. Phil and I were visiting our nephew and his wife in Irvine where we were their guests for two nights.
As expected, being a pot-luck dinner, there was a lot of food that was served ... and I must say, very tasty Filipino dishes prepared by those who came to attend the get-together. Billy had beer, wine, soda, and whisky. He also prepared other finger foods and nuts on the table, and the arroz caldo really tasted good. And after the merry making, eating, picture taking, and story telling, there was still a lot of food left that many of us were able to bring home plates of food yet.
Louella and her sister Lilette came prepared with a contest and even awarded a prize to the winner. They asked us to identify the email addresses of some of the members of the Fort Bonifacio Mailing List. Even as the moderator of the mailing list, I found it quite difficult to know and remember the email addresses of the members of the list. It was Rommel Bulfa who won the contest.
It was about 9:45 pm when some of us started leaving Billy's home ... and many had with them plates of food to take home. Even my younger brother Phil brought with him a lot of food and some of which we ate for breakfast the following Sunday morning. The food was really tops and getting to meet once again former neighbors and childhood friends was an experience I will always remember. And I would like to thank all those who took time to arrange this get-together which made my visit to Southern California a most memorable and exciting one.
Attending last night's get-together was to us a preview of what to expect during our 3-day reunion in Las Vegas on May ... and I can tell that it is going to be fun-filled memorable gathering which should not be missed by anyone who used to live in dear old Fort William McKinley.
junylaputt@yahoo.com
