|
Masquerada Ball 1997
“THIS MASQUERADE”
A Very Enchanted Evening!
Sinbad's, by the bay, San Francisco, California. November 1. A starlit night and the
temperature was just right. It was cool and the waters were still. No Breeze. Perfect time
for the goblins to come out of their woodworks, on this halloween night.
This was the mood at Sinbad's, where the GASA Masquerade Ball/Dinner Dance was held. By
5:30PM Sinbad's paradise was converted into a goblin's haven. Leo Mamicpic, Laling
Calunod, Art and Carmen Zosa, Cesar and Metzie Katada with 'Nang Teling Katada joined
hands in transforming the place into a cavern festooned with black and orange balloons.
By 6:00PM, as the witches turned the evening eerier and the air chillier, the children of
the night started arriving. Dili ka maka-ila sa uban nga guests because of their masks.
Very many wore costumes. 'Nong Dodong and 'Nang Denden Quijano came as newlyweds, the
bride in her lovely wedding gown, complete with a bridal bouquet. Gi-bagtingan pa gyud ug
mga baso aron "mag-kiss". Dan and Cyd Deale with son, Ian walked in as the
"flower children" of the early 60's. Laling Calunod slipped away and came back
as a benevolent witch. Leo Mamicpic wore his magical mask. The Miraflor kids became
Vietnamese villagers, complete with bamboo hats, selling foodstuff on stringed
"nigos" balanced on their shoulders with a bamboo pole. Carmen Zosa won the
"best costume award" as a baby doll while Art became Dr. Zosa, the
"Jeer"iologist, in his green surgery gown, cap and stethoscope.
It was a hilarious sight to see, a Nun on the
dance floor doing the cha-cha. Evan Yuag became a Mother Superior, complete with a large
cross hanging over her chest. Pastilan! Her beloved Nenito had a western outfit, sans the
horse op kors. Si Priscilla Bucol Mene, entered the door as Miss Siquijor, with husband
Sam as her royal consort. How she played her part! Hing martcha and how the crowd loved
it!. Dr. Rob Brent as Zorro came with infanticipating wife, Zing, a Lady in
"distress". Dennis Fernandez looked like a real "Bombay", while wife
BabyLou opted a fierce look as a lady pirate. Tom Davidson and wife Harrianne Mills looked
very relaxed as Hawaiian tourists, complete with towels and snorkels. Dorian Alcantara
also came as a tourist in her dark glasses. "Wala baya pod ma-pandol". Anthony
and Cleopatra came in as Rene and Nancy Rocamora. Gitugnaw si Rene because, wala siya
salawal underneath his robe.
'Nong Jr. Miraflor became Willie Nelson escorting 'Nang Conching, an old she-troll. Pedrit
Gubuan and wife Eva transformed themselves into characters from Alice's wonderland. Permi
lang mahulog ag fake nga "ilong" ni Eva. Samantha Katada was a juvenile ghost
while Naida Maghanoy was an old ghost. Chuchay Inskeep was another witch while beau Jon,
became a walking skull. John and Gigi White's Jordan and Joshua, Batman and Robin shared
the award for best children's costume with their cousin villagers from Vietnam (the
Miraflor kids).
Little Brittany came as a very pretty little lion, as parents Rene and Gina Lucero and
Lolo Burbur smiled approvingly. Penny Salindo looked very elegant in her exotic mask.
Narcing Sumaylo, kay dili man "mo-dance", just watched wife, Susan cover the
floor, as she danced the night away in her brocade chinese cheongsam. Cyd's friends Mandy
Korpela came as Snow White , Coutney Pennick boogied away as a cheerleader and Rose
Certeza was the scary Morticia. Anthony Concepcion was ready to defend his goal with his
hockey goalie uniform and a ghoulish Jason ("Halloween") mask.
Chuck Cordima announced, "I want to become a Filipino." In an instant, he became
one, in his Barong Tagalog. His wife Rose Siangco Cordima smiled behind her mask. Their
host Mesia Boctulan, was a lovely Seņorita. Kim Daug was a stranger in a mask, until he
took it off. His wife, Emma complimented her husband's mask with a flair by wearing a
beatiful flowered evening gown.
Other guests to enjoy the ball were Rico Puno's brother Benjie and wife Amy, with their
two friends. Pedoy Rubi and wife Jean, Lita Montalvo and friend, Mina, Junior Rubi, his
daughter Archie and husband Ed Yabot, Baying Pandayhag and son Rey who flew in from
Florida. Rob and Zing's friends, Viv Silva and Marco. Later, naka-agpas si Dr. David Lim,
gikan pa intawon sa trabajo.
Of course some of the guests came as they were. " Kay ga-maskara na man mi
da-an", says one. Jojo Gumalo, Junjun Garcia, Nick Padayhag, Donski Ligutom, Angelo
Concepcion, brothers Myner, Metsu and Manvel Tan, brothers Rey and Myrell Generoso. Mama
Josephine Generoso just watched as her young 'uns hit the dance floors. But she too, took
to the dance floor, danced a little, gamay lang. Eileen was no match for dear one, Lucito
Malanog. "Too slow ang music," said Lucito. Masulay man na unya ug tukararan ug
puro rak en rol. Sister Ethel it turned out, had some hidden dancing talents,
hing-diskobrehan.
The younger generation Jason Yuag, sisters Lindsey and Heather Malanog, Harriette
Quilicot, sisters Mona and Hazel Yurong, in their teen world, huddled together in dance or
in amazement as they watched the "olds" do their best samba and cha cha.
The weather was very giving. A nice comfortable evening, it turned out. The cool
waterfront turned out to be a temporary relief for the boogieing crowd not to mention the
beautiful harbor and bay lights. Behind were city lights that glittered downtown San
Francisco's autumn skyline.
Time travels fast when one is having a good time, so they say. By 12:45AM to the last
second, the last few couples had to be dragged out of the dance floor.
It didn't end there. Al and Luz Quijano herded the "diehards" to their lovely
home in Daly City for a post mortem "feast", where humba and linat-an nga sabaw
sa baka, bulad ug torta, were waiting. Those who didn't manage to get lost along the way,
continued the party. "Hing-kabuntagan na pod ag mga la-agan ug hi-mayle, pero pulos
busog." Thank you, Al and Luz.
In all, GASA would like to thank its members and friends who supported the affair, making
it a very successful and enjoyable one. A million thanks too, to the following sponsors
and donors, especially Rene and Nancy Rocamora for the very pretty party favors, to Sylvia
Mondragon, proprietor of Custom Beauty Balloons in San Francisco, for the colorful
halloween party balloons, to Cesar and Metzie Katada for more balloons and a helium tank,
to Daryoosh and Beth Razvan for the many door prizes, to Pedrit and Eva Gubuan for more
door prizes, to Leo Mamicpic, Art and Carmen Zosa for decorating Sinbad's, to Roy Mayer
Miraflor for his tireless legwork, and to all the officers and staff, (the power movers
behind it all), for their true dedication.
When all was said and done, from a corner, a voice, "Let's make this GASA Masquerade
Ball, an annual affair!" . . . Yeah! See ya'll next year . . . Otit Yohc
|
