THE DE LEON CHRONICLES
FOR OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER 2008
By Jay de Leon

The months of October and November 2008 were extremely busy months for the de Leon clan, including many individual birthday celebrations, trips, athletic events and a couple of family gatherings at two different venues.

The October gathering on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008 was held at the usual venue of Martin and Tracey de Leon’s house in the San Fernando Valley, in Granada Hills, California. It was for the numerous October birthday celebrants, namely as follows:

Oct. 3    - Tracey de Leon
Oct. 4    - Sabrina de Leon
Oct. 6    - Adolfo R. de Leon (Grandpa),  R.I.P.
Oct. 11  - Brett Arneson
Oct. 15  - Rey de Leon and Michael Long
Oct. 20  - Al de Leon

As you will see from the pictures, the October gathering was well attended, including a contingent of the Narcisos, Tracey’s relatives. In addition to the usual suspects, the other attendees included Pia and Charn Rugprayoon, Emily Tiongson and we also welcomed Kimmie, Maria’s current adoptee.

Brett Arneson celebrated his birthday by competing and finishing respectably in a triathlon in San Bernardino, California. His huge cheering section of Maria, Rachel, Tabi and Kimmie spurred him on. Well done, Brett.

On the weekend of Oct. 18, 2008, the Martin de Leon family took a weekend trip to San Francisco, northern California. That same Saturday, Jay de Leon held his martial arts Tipunan workshop in Westminster, Orange County, California (see separate article).

On Oct. 23 -25, Friday to Sunday, Cris Rugprayoon and Grandma drove to Las Vegas, Nevada for an assault on the slot machines and other gambling games at the casinos, but came home empty handed. So Grandma took off again with Nancy and Leo the following day for a few days’outing to Harrah’s Rincon in San Diego, California.

November was ushered in by Halloween, including trips to the pumpkin patch and some pumpkin carving and trick or treating.

Diana Rae de Leon celebrated her 21st birthday on Nov. 12, 2008 by going to school and work, then to dinner in the evening with parents Rey and Gigi. She may now legally gamble at the Las Vegas casinos and will be joining Cris’s and Grandma’s junkets to Las Vegas one of these days.

On Thanksgiving Day itself, Thursday, Nov 27, 2008, Al and Elda de Leon hosted a lunch at their house in the San Fernando Valley, in Porter Ranch, Northridge, California for those who could make it. Most everybody made it, except for the Rey de Leon family which was hosting their own Thanksgiving celebration. We were happy that some of Elda’s family members joined in the festivities.

Grandma cooked her family favorites of asparagus soup and chicken salad, while Al made it a traditional Thanksgiving lunch by cooking the turkey, to complement the numerous Filipino dishes, including desserts of leche flan, bibingka and cheesecake. While there were some medical situations during the year, including a couple of eye surgeries, dental surgery, apnea, arthritis, gout and high blood pressure, still there was an abundance of blessings during the year, including surviving two fire scares and evacuation.

The Thanksgiving get-together also commemorated Grandpa’s death anniversary. Several siblings made separate trips to visit and put flowers on Grandpa’s grave site.
This gathering is probably the last reunion of the year for the clan before the Christmas celebrations.

Until the next gathering…

October Gathering at Granada Hills, California

Da Girls

Da Narcisos

Maria Arneson, Jay de Leon, Nancy de Leon, Tracey de Leon
and Kimmie

Da Beauties – Michelle, Marissa, Rachel, Nancy and KROQ (?)

Da Oldies – Leo, Rey, Cris and Jay de Leon
(left to right, youngest to oldest)

Da Cutie – that would be Kimmie, the baby.Senior cutie Maria
and over-the-hill cutie Jay just wanted to share the limelight.

Da Neighborhood Gang – Sabrina, Kirsten (neighbor)
and Marissa

Sabrina (left) and Kimmie sharing and getting acquainted.

Jay’s Tipunan Workshop at Westminster, California

Group picture of the Tipunan workshop at Westminster, CA on Oct. 2008.
Participants included kung fu students, Jay’s former and current
Filipino Fighting Arts-USA students, and Michael Long’s fight club.

Sticks of Fury. Michael (left) and Jay perform a fast and furious
demonstration of double sticks sinawali. Such form, such grace,
such power, such speed, such humility.

For a full article on the workshop and more pictures, click on www.filipinofightingartsintl.com/Filipino-Fighting-Arts/USA/ffa_usa-westminister_workshop08.html .

Brett Arneson’s Triathlon

The venue…

Our hero…

The cheering squad…

Martin and Family’s Trip to San Francisco, California

Marissa at the Fisherman’s Wharf
in San Francisco with the crab she ate later.

Da Issay (left) and Da Butter frolicking
with the dolphins at the Fisherman’s Wharf.

Tracey and Marissa at a famous landmark.
Halloween 2008

Peek-a-boo!

That’s Da Butter amidst the pumpkin patch.

I want this one, Mommy.

Marissa shows off her pick.

Trick or treat! From left to right, Rachel Arneson as
Cinderella, friend Merit as Strawberry Shortcake,
and Tabi as Aurora.

Marissa de Leon (right) in cowgirl outfit
with classmate.

Sabrina de Leon in
hand-me-down shark costume.

Marissa (second from left) at school Halloween party.

Jay’s Ateneo friend Raoul Gatchalian with grandson Tristan
go trick or treating in New York, Halloween 2008.
Notice the pretty fall foliage behind them.

Thanksgiving Celebration at Porter Ranch, Northridge, California

The De Leon Gathering, Thanksgiving Day, 2008
at Porter Ranch, Northridge, California .

Al, Elda (Al’s wife) and Grandma. For the record,
Al cooked the turkey, which was delicious.

Martin de Leon (center) also shows off his two prize turkeys
named Marissa and Sabrina.

Some of the Filipino food.

Some colorful puto.

Busy kitchen. Pictured here are Michelle, Al, Nancy,
and Cris and Mark Rugprayoon.

Sabrina, Grandma, Leo, Nancy and Jay de Leon.

Rachel Arneson, Marissa and Sabrina de Leon, and Tabi

Elda’s relatives.

Maria Arneson and Kimmie, and green puto.

Cris Rugprayoon and Kimmie, and that green puto again.

Kimmie showing off her pretty smile and teeth.

Pretty Michelle, Nancy’s daughter.

Nancy de Leon with KROQ, who is wearing a
stylish shirt but forgot his pants.

Brett and Maria Arneson, and Kimmie
enjoying Al’s backyard.

Ken Rugprayoon roughing it outside.  Note that
he is actually wearing a necktie.

Ken Rugprayoon, the next Tiger Woods, in trouble
at the rough.

At the Park

Marissa off to a cattle drive or maybe a round-up.

Sabrina at a full gallop to catch some rustlers
and bandidos.

Sabrina and Marissa pose with their walrus friend.

This is a picture of the park near Martin’s house that burned
&during the fires. Martin and family were forced to
evacuate temporarily to Al’s.

Copyright, Jay de Leon, 2008