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PHILIPPINE ODYSSEY VI
By Jay de Leon
Chapter 17
Reunion Tour
Metro Manila, Philippines
June 28 - 30, 2011
On June 28 – 30, 2011, I took a trip to Manila and participated in several Luxidmini-reunions, arnis training, business meetings and a little night life.
The entertainment highlight of the trip was watching a Las Vegas-style show featuring Elvis Presley impersonators including Nonie Yambao, the current Elvis Presley of the Philippines, Luxid Leon “Dong” Guinto and a couple others.
This was held on Wednesday night, June 29, 2011, at a favorite Luxid watering hole, Charlie’s Bar, in Makati. Luxid Leon “Dong” Guinto pulled double duty at this event. He was a featured performer as an Elvis Presley impostor, er, impersonator, and also acted as GRO for the Luxid group. Of course, we all wished it was actual GRO’s (pretty, accommodating and female) who catered to our needs that night. Thanks anyway, Dong.
The Elvis show was visually and musically entertaining, and for die-hard Elvis Presley fans, it was nostalgic and brought back fond memories.
It was also a Luxid mini-reunion as more than a dozen Luxids were in attendance. They caught up on each other’s activities and made a lot of noise during the show. A few actually participated in the show. Dong Guinto was one of the featured Elvis impersonators, Leo Roa played drums with the back-up band of the Elvis show for a while, and Atoy Tanseco belted out a few non-Elvis numbers.
Here is a complete roster of the Luxid rogues in attendance that night:
- Atoy Tanseco
- Leo Roa
- Baby Boy Poblador
- Boy Adao
- Paul Asuncion
- Harry Alabanza
- Val Hemedes
- Larry Qua
- Tony Katigbak
- Dong Guinto
- Jimmy Melendres
- Vic Quimson
- Jay de Leon
There was also a sprinkling of La Sallites since Dong Guinto also attended De La Salle University (as well as half a dozen other schools). The La Sallites present included Vince Misa, a former Lia-Com classmate of Jay de Leon, a neighbor of Jake Campomanes in Philamlife Homes, and an NCAA basketball Green Archer whom Harry Alabanza of the Ateneo Blue Eagles had the unenviable task of defending against during NCAA basketball games.
I also brought along as guests two arnis masters, Godofredo Fajardo and Maning Bonsa. Sir Godo is a ranking Modern Arnis master and my personal guro, while Maning Bonsa is an arnis and kung-fu master originally from Bicol.
I had a lively chat with several Luxid personalities including Larry Qua, Silicon Valley success story and now Philippine entrepreneur, Paul Asuncion, Las Vegas impresario, and Baby Boy Poblador, political kingmaker and just plain troublemaker. Speaking of troublemakers, I was disappointed not to see usual suspects Conrad Cuesta, Babes Oreta and Dr. John Nanagas.
In addition to attending this event at Charlie’s Bar, I also had separate one-on-one reunions with the following Luxids:
- Faustino “Noy” Galang who picked up the lunch tab at Dencio’s Restaurant at Eastwood Libis, Quezon City.
- Jimmy Melendres, who along with his wife Lou housed, fed and chauffeured me during this trip.
- Dong Guinto, who took me on a tour of his office and showroom of his Sabrett franchising business. Sabrett is a well-known American brand of frankfurters or beef hot dogs sold in pushcarts, stands or kiosks mostly in New York. Of course, Dong gave me a taste of those delicious hot dogs with the requisite relish.
- Vic Quimson, my Pangasinan provincemate, with whom I hoisted a few at one of his favorite hangouts one evening, and who afterwards chauffeured me home.
I was also able to have lunch with my good friend and fellow arnisador, Modern Arnis guro Michael Gubat. Thanks, Mike, for taking time off from your busy corporate schedule to break bread with me and take care of a few arnis matters.
Thanks to other Luxid buddies like Leo Roa and Atoy Tanseco and DLSU classmate Vince Misa, who took the time to chat with me. And my heartfelt thanks go to my hosts, Luxid Jimmy Melendres, wife Lou and son Carlo, for their gracious hospitality. I hope I did not disrupt your business and household routine too much.
Till the next reunion, arnis training or night life tour…
Animo Ateneo!
Animo La Salle!
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas at ang arnis!
PHOTO GALLERY
Lunch with Noy Galang
Dencio’s Restaurant
Eastwood Libis, Quezon City, June 28, 2011
These were the restaurants and shops around Dencio’s
Restaurant in Eastwood Libis in Quezon City, Metro Manila.
Luxids Faustino “Noy” Galang (right) and Jay de Leon
pose after lunch at Dencio’s Restaurant
in Eastwood Libis, Metro Manila.
Jay de Leon makes a new friend at Dencio’s.
Elvis Presley Show and Luxid Mini-Reunion
Charlie’s Bar
Makati, Metro Manila, June 29, 2011
The venue, Charlie’s Bar, on Malugay St., Makati.
From left to right, Vic Quimson, Leo Roa, Jay de Leon,
Dong Guinto and Jimmy Melendres.
Harry Alabanza, Larry Qua and Baby Boy Poblador.
From left to right, Harry Alabanza, Vince Misa and Dong Guinto.
Harry Alabanza boasted that during Ateneo-La Salle NCAA games,
he guarded Vince Misa so tightly that he held Vince down to about
30 points scoring. Dong Guinto bragged that he attended half
the schools in both the NCAA and UAAP leagues then.
Tony Katigbak, Jay de Leon and Dong Guinto.
Val Hemedes and Vic Quimson.
Vic Quimson, Jay de Leon, Jimmy Melendres,
and Leo Roa.
From left to right, Godofredo Fajardo and Maning Bonsa (guests
of Jay de Leon), Jimmy Melendres, Jay de Leon and Leo Roa.
Behind them is the bar at Charlie’s Bar.
Godofredo Fajardo (left), and Maning Bonsa. Godo is a
Modern Arnis master while Maning is an arnis and kung-fu
master originally from Bicol.
The reigning Elvis Presley of the Philippines, Nonie Yambao,
gets the show on the road.
Nonie Yambao, the reigning Elvis Presley of the Philippines,
gave a rousing performance during the Luxid mini-reunion
at Charlie’s Bar in Makati on June 29, 2011.
A hunka-hunka burning, burning love…
Elvis Presley ends the first part of his show
with a flourish and is about to leave the building.
Dong “Elvis” Guinto crooned some of the mellower
Elvis Presley songs. He ruefully admitted he no longer
has the swivel hips that he and Elvis used to gyrate
and drive the teeny boppers crazy.
Another Elvis impersonator.
Nonie Yambao again after a costume change.
Nonie Yambao (right) and Jay de Leon.
Ageless boy prodigy with the drums, none other
than Leo Roa.
Good grief, it’s Luxid’s own Atoy Tanseco who belted out
a few songs.
Atoy Tanseco claimed a couple of his songs were
Justin Bieber songs. Aren’t you a wee bit too young
to be singing Justin Bieber songs, Atoy?
Luxid Jay de Leon showed off his alcohol-fueled dancing
form with a sweet, young thing, arousing the ire of her
aged, loutish escort. Next time, bring your own date, Jay.
Jay de Leon makes a new friend at Charlie’s Bar.
Meeting and Re-union With Dong Guinto
Sabrett Office and Showroom
Makati, Metro Manila, June 30, 2011
I got to taste several of these Sabrett hot dogs,
and yes, they were authentic and delicious.
Dong Guinto hard at work at his Sabrett office
in Makati.
Dong Guinto (seated) and Jay de Leon pose
at Dong’s Sabrett office in Makati.
Dong’s office was peppered with posters of
the King, Elvis Presley (not hot dogs).
Night Out with Dong Guinto and Vic Quimson
Le Memoire Club
Makati, Metro Manila, June 30, 2011
One of the featured performers at the club that
night, Raymund Brown, a Motown specialist.
Douglas Masuda, Dong Guinto, Vic Quimson and Jay de Leon
at the Le Memoire Club in Makati on June 30, 2011.
Douglas Masuda is another well-known Elvis Presley
impersonator, and the owner and featured performer
of the Le Memoire club.
Douglas Masuda (right) and Jay de Leon at the
Le Memoire Club in Makati on June 30, 2011.
Dong Guinto, Vic Quimson and Jay de Leon at the
Le Memoire Club in Makati on June 30, 2011.
Dong picked up the tab on this one. Thank you,
thank you very much, Elvis.
Jay de Leon makes a new friend at Le Memoire.
Melendres Residence
Metro Manila
June 28 – 30, 2011
Carlo, Lou and Jimmy Melendres at their residence
in Metro Manila. Thanks for the hospitality, guys.
Jimmy’s granddaughter Sophie.
From left to right, Jay de Leon, Lou and Jimmy Melendres
at the Melendres residence on June, 2011.
Luxids and friends forever, Jimmy Melendres
(right) and Jay de Leon.
Jimmy Melendres conducts business at home.
Photos by Baby Boy Poblador of the Philippines and Jay de Leon of the USA. All Rights Reserved.
To be continued… Chapter 18 Click Here
Prologue, Chapt 1-3 Click Here
Chapter 4 Click Here
Chapter 5 Click Here
Chapter 6 Click Here
Chapter 7 Click Here
Chapter 8 Click Here
Chapter 9 Click Here
Chapter 10 Click Here
Chapter 11 Click Here
Chapter 12 Click Here
Chapter 13 Click Here
Chapter 14 Click Here
Chapter 15 Click Here
Chapter 16 Click Here
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