UP Ibalon Bicol: The coming and going of Ibalon friends

The coming and going of Ibalon friends

11/13/2008 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

NIDEA FAMILY

Lena Nidea, an amiable retired mentor in New York is in town from an extended vacation in Naga City. A long-time friend of UP Ibalon, Lena is sister to Atty. Allen Nidea, a law graduate from the State University of the Paglaom fame, now based in New York City.

Dr. Elna Chia-Nidea, their sister, is an accomplished OB-Gyn physician in Mother Seton Hospital like Ibalon's Dr. Eden Borja-Fernando and Dr. Annelee Badiola-Lojo of Manila Doctor's Hospital. With bubbly wife Joji and their pretty daughter who's in junior high, Allen and the rest of the family call Woodside, Queens their home.

RON & AGNES NAGEL

In a small happy pre-Thankgiving gathering, they were guests of Dr. Marietta Mesia in Astoria on Saturday, Novermber 8, 2008. With the Nideas were Ron Nagel of Florida and lovely wife Agnes Bolo-Flores who hails from Baao and Libmanan, Camarines, Sur. The group enjoyed a memorable afternoon of relaxed togetherness spiced with scrumptious Filipino food, wine, and merry songs which sparked nostalgia with the help of familiar tunes from the rowdy piano.

RONNIE SARGENTO

Originally from Calabanga, Camarines Sur, Ronnie Sargento went to the Big Apple to represent his office, the Department of Energy (DOE) in Manila. On Novermber 11, 2008, in a whirlwind trip from California to New York to Connecticut and back, we met Ronnie late evening in his hotel close to La Guardia Airport. He took the morning plane the next day for Los Angeles before going back to Manila on Friday.

The smart engineer assessed a US waste-disposal system proposal that might benefit Manila. An officemate of another Ibalon buddy, Art Torralba, Jr, he headed back to his family in Pandacan, Manila in time for next week's echo of what he accomplished.

DR. & MRS. RENATO & MEGS ORACION

Fresh from their tour in Egypt, bosom buddy and Ibalon friend Dr. Renato M. Oracion and dazzling wife Megs sent interesting pictures of the wonderful Giza pyramids. In their recent adventure they rode the fabulous camel wearing in part an Egyptian garb to feel the wind and explore the mysterious sand dunes of royalties which never failed to lure enthralled visitors who return to the historic ancient land and marvel the astonishing sights. We had been too glad to know the duo walked the path of Rameses II and the last replendant heroes of the lore of Kings.

The pharaohs must be solicitous to have them take a much-needed R & R away from their hectic dermatology practice in Odessa, Texas. The adorable couple needs their long over-due visit to the Big Apple as much as their esteemed parents Mr. and Mrs. Lossiete and Celi Oracion who keep residences in California and Fairview, Quezon City.

DR. MAYANG KHO

UP Ibalon friend Dr. Mayang Kho, an OB-Gyn who has retired from her US medical practice goes back to take a much needed vacation in her native Dumaguete City after a brief stay at the Empire State.

The scintillating doctor from UP with a heart of gold was with her down-to-earth benign sister Martha who works in Goldwater Hospital in Roosevelt Island. We were together to share an evening--- a memorable despedida in an elegant resto in Manhattan. Mayang! May you have a lot of fun, sun, and tan---the best the Visayan treasure islands can give before we see you again! We miss you!

MS. EMELYN POLOYAPOY

We eagerly wait for Miss Emelyn Poloyapoy, the popular Naga Parochial School (NPS) grade school mentor who is yet to visit us from Michigan.

She is an iconic gem, a repository and living symbol of exquisite memories of great Naga teachers---the likes of Beatriz Calleja, Lorraine Lahora, Nena Estrada, Mia Espinas, Julia Olin, Patria Alberto, Benilda Barrosa, Aurelia Reyes, Remedios Arejola, Carmen Ojeda, Juan Badong, the 5th, and Msgr. Nicanor C. Belleza.

The zesty Madam Inday is happy to celebrate this year’s Penafrancia fiesta away from New Jersey; the last time we were together was during the annual September celebration two years ago. She lives with doting sister Eden P. Chamberlain in Poughkeepsie, NY in a quiet locale where the autumn trees stand tall and grand.

JUN & MAHAL SERRA-GOTICO

Jun and Mahal Serra-Gotico of Stockton, California send handsome pictures of their daughters Neneng and Maria Teresa who celebrated their Halloween with adorable childlike gusto. Mahal, a UP graduate from Naga City sends her warm hello to her Ibalon friends. =0=