Czar SMS-ed me about the LR23’s reunion last week that got me really excited. It’s been quite a while since I last seen my college friends. Date was on July 25, 2009 at 630PM at Gerry’s Grill, Blue Wave, Macapagal Avenue.
I barely made it to the block reunion arriving at 1030PM but it was all good since everyone was still there. I think the only person I missed was Llis and Tan’s proposal. I arrived 10 minutes too late.
Kisses for everyone while Tan gave me a big hug. Jonathan Van Haute, Tan for short, was the base player of our band. You heard it right. I was part of a band before.
Reminiscing Freshman Year
1999 -I remember FROSHIE orientation day vividly where I was standing in the same circle as Tan and Throi, who are both my band members. Each was asked for an introduction and sharing of their interests. Of course there was the usual, “Jane? Where’s Tarzan?” When I said that I play drums, I remember seeing Tan and Throi’s faces lit up. I speak their language. Music.
On to the term, Tan, Throi and Jason started getting together jamming. Tan and Throi have asked me to join their group. I asked what type of music they play and they said the likes of Metallica, Black Sabbath, etc. I played to Hansons’ MmmBop in High School and The Wonders’ That Thing You Do. Metallica was definitely not in my league. I timidly declined knowing that I haven’t listened to any heavy metal song plus the fact that they were all male. I proposed that they ask RJ instead, who is another drummer in the batch. The next term, Tan hands me a tape to listen to. I did and actually liked the music genre. Soon I was banging my head to the loud music. I was asked again but I was still tentative questioning my parity against their experience.
Tan offered a jamming session so I can see for myself. We scheduled it and played after class hours at a studio near Angelo King. Throi on lead vocal and lead guitar, Tan on base, Jason on keyboards and little me on drums. They taught me a thing or two and I actually enjoyed the session that several jamming sessions followed.
FASTIGAN ’98 Battle of the Bands
FAST ’98 sponsored a battle of the bands competition and my band had a bright idea of joining. We had several suggested names for the band but the band name that stuck in the competition was “Dr. Fungus and the Sunshine Kids.” Don’t ask me why. Leave it to the boys and their creative imagination.
I was all so nervous but friends calmed my jitters while Ainge sent me flowers. Hiding my fear, I had my hair all up in “braid” locks (trying to resemble dreadlocks). 3 hours before the event, we went to the auditorium (William Theater) to check the equipment and have a feel of the stage. To our forlorn, the old drumset that the organizers rented sounded like tin can. I don’t know what happened next but I think I volunteered to bring in my drums for our set. There was no time to call for the driver then, my band mates and I immediately rushed to my house in a cab. They swiftly disassembled “Red (my drumset)” and loaded it in the trunk.
The organizer asked if they could use my drumset for the entire thing. Tan was hesitant but I said okay. Later that evening, I see blood and scars on my snare while my tom-toms had nicks.
I remember the support from our block (and the Engineering block, good to have friends from other colleges *smile*) hooting and cheering while we were playing. It was tremendously heartwarming that it gave me plenty of energy to play. At one point, I looked at the side of the stage and saw a group of boys (I think part of the semi-pros) rocking with us, head banging and pointing at me with a rock and roll sign. We played three cover songs opening with Metallica’s “Die, Die, Die, My Darling.” We followed it with Black Sabbath’s Nativity in Black (NIB). We ended the performance with Metallica’s . I felt electrified after and I owe it to my band mates for giving me the coolest rockin’ memory ever! (Much love to Tan, Throi and Jason. You guys lived and breathed rock in college –from music to clothes to lifestyle –I couldn’t keep up ha-ha.)
Greyhounds, Chico Sci and other bands were invited to perform that evening as well. It was fantastic hearing their music. We placed 2nd in the competition while 1st place went to a band from batch ‘98. My band mates probably wanted 1st place but I was extremely thrilled and satisfied bagging 2nd!
News and Updates
10 years later and I cannot believe that it was even real… until I saw my band mates again Saturday night. Too bad Jason couldn’t make it. Tan proposed to his girlfriend that same evening! It would have been nice to jam again for old time’s sake but Tan is already based in Belgium (where his dad is originally from) and is leaving on August 7.
The first 30 minutes of our time, Bubba and I ate to our hearts’ content because we didn’t eat since lunch. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to catch up much with Czar, Francis, Donna, Kathleen, and Liz since they left early.
I was so surprised to hear from Czar that King is pregnant again! Czar, Davy and Eldonn didn’t look like they aged at all.
Panem looked a bit heftier since I last saw him at Megaworld. He has a family now with two kids. Davy is still hysterically funny! I remember telling him in college that I would get him as my “personal comedian/assistant” if I became rich enough to afford him.
Francis Dumaliang who is the brightest in the batch and a consistent dean’s lister is now working for his family’s construction business. Kathleen and Tan lost so much weight since college while I’m getting heavier each day. Both looked so great with their new weight!
Arezu and Liz are now lawyers and I am green with envy. I bumped into Jang at Tektite building the day before and he is also a lawyer working for Puno law firm.
RJ is now with RCBC Bank from Sun as a business analyst. Last time I saw RJ was when I invited him at the Nokia event at Embassy.
We talked about Tan’s future plans, Davy bumping into Ryan Lee (Dihia!) in Cebu of all places, their fart can, Davy’s ICP (instant pancit canton) speech in class that rolled us into laughter.
It was great to see everyone and it felt so short having to leave by 1230am. Still had a blast despite the short time spent reminiscing college days. I’m glad that Bubba met the people that shaped my college years.
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