Taken at Coco Lime: April 2008

This was taken at Coco Lime (SBMA) when Ved attended the St Jospeh's High School 60th School Reunion. He also took the time to see fellow SRF employees.

Shown above (from left to right) is Ved Reyes (formerly Combat Systems), Mario P. Baylon Sr (Shop 61Elex Cal Lab) and Jun Soriano (Shop 67 Sonar Section).

Edith Sarmineto and kids

Actually Edith's hubby just left before all the picture taking for some business; as in - money making business errand.

So for this photo, only Edith and her kids while hubby and daddy is making more money!

Thess and Joji "ni Thess" Pablico

Another lovely couple, whose romanced started in the halls of Shops 67/61, Thess and Joji Pablico; shown here with their youngest son.

We were talking about Joji and Ved Reyes' first name, "Vedasto". We reckon it is a very unique name that Joji only knows of two other people whose name is Vedasto. Same thing with Ved "Boy" Reyes, who knows only Joji as his namesake.

Joji and Thess are also active in INC, like Zoey and wife, who left after lunch to attend choir practice. Good thing the local Iglesia church is just across Western Highway from Tolayt's house.

Irene and Mario Baylon Jr

That's me and my wife, Irene (nee Mendoza). I guess we are the only couple who did not met in Shops 67/61. I met my wife at Columban College, where most of the apprentices also study after work.

Irene use to work for Fuji-Xerox Olongapo and was assigned as a work comptroller at PWC, handling all Fuji-Xerox maintenance work Subic/Cubi/Olongapo wide.

Jun and Mimi Capistrano

Here's another couple very much active in Couples for Christ and Gawad Kalinga, Mimi and Jun Capistrano; pictured here with one of their sons.

They just live a stone throw away (in short, malapit lang!) from Tolayts and Ruth's place.

Ani and Aerlene Musa

Another "product" of Shops 67/61 who met at work and got married. Now this couple have three grown up young men, which is why they no longer come with their parents; as all grown up kids tend to do.

They are also active in Church and in Couples for Christ, like most of our Shops 67/61 tropa. One of our originals SRF in Sydney Oz balitaan group.

Jing and Jei Tallada

Just continuing on featuring our Sydney Oz kabalitaan members of Shops 67/61 who attended this month's reunion.

Well, what can we say about Jing and Jei (sounds much better, than "Jei and Jing", isn't it?). They are a happy couple with an all girl brood (shown here with one of them). They' re active in church and love to sing and play various instruments.

The Bachelors

From left, Mar Guerra, Emil, Anthony and Zoey. Actually, Zoey's wife left earlier for church.

For those single ladies reading this, they are not really bachelors. Nagkukuwanri lang...

The Kids

Sorry I don't know the names of these kids (except duon sa 3rd and 4th from the left, mga apo ng Mrs ko yan, Ashlee and Jaylen) at kung kani-kanino sila. Just leave a comment on this page for their names.

The 1st on the left eh bunso ni Tess, followed yata ng ke Edith, after ng mga apo ni Irene, anak ni Tolayts in stripes (all girls, babaero kasi! Hehehehe... kidding lang), tapos ke Edith and lastly yung girl on far right ke Jei. That is my best guess.

Lito and Ruth Almazan: The Hosts

Siyempre, next ang mga hosts, Ruth and Lito "Tolayts" Almazan.

We found out later that Tolayts moonlights as The Filipino Channel (TFC) resident contractor technical support and installer. He is inundated with work kaya maraming nag-apply na tropa para sidekick nya!

Ved and Ruth Reyes

We took some pictures ng mga couples (yung iba Couples for Christ).

First off is Ved and Ruth Reyes.

Hindi ito according to age. According to the sequence ng picture taking.

All Aboard HMAS 6167

Upon the request of Ani Musa, "Tito Rey.......malapit ng mapuno ng mga crew ng ating dapor....baka pwedeng magkaroon ng sister ship, HMAS 61/67."

"Nice of you to respond so quickly. OK ba sa lahat kung hindi lamang members ng balitaan ang kasali sa poster but including their spouses too?" Tito Rey said.

Tito Rey Victoria immediately commissioned HMAS 6167. Thank You Tito Rey for the wonderful artwork!

Sabi naman ni Mike (Sinongco) "Saan ang ibang ka batch namin? Cristy, Relly and Mon L. And daming guwapo at guwapita sa pictures. At wala pang mga puting buhok. Di ba Noel?"

I am afraid naiwan sila sa Sydney Harbour at di nakasakay sa dapor. Maybe next time...

Noel said...

Photo shows Dave Dumlao and Noel Fabrigas at (I think??) the Dumlao's "The GoatFather" goat farm in Southern California.

"Where are the rest of the pictures guys. We want to see more. Masaya sigurado ang re-union.

Magaling mag-alaga ang mga guys. All the ladies shows sign of good living: Arlene, Jie, Mimi, Tess and all the rest. Asan ang other half ni Zoey, Emil and Mar J.?

Si Ved R. not much of a change, lalo pang bumata (he-he). Mar B and Emil, life's is like that when you go DOWN UNDER too often, lumalawak ang hihilamusan (joke lang)."

Well gusto na yatang simulan ang alaskahan... heheheee. How about sending one of your pics without the bonnet... hehehee... joke din.

Meron ka yatang ibig sabihin tungkol sa "good living" ng mga ladies. Kasi kakain lang eh... busog pa sila! Di ba mga ladies?

This was a good opportunity to publish this picture of Dave and Noel, bago lang ito. Panay ang inuman yata nila sa goat farm ni Dave... panay papaitan. Well, nagdala din ng papaitan si "Chef" Emil. Ang bagong racket, ehe sideline pala at passion nya ngayon eh cooking at catering. Kita naman sa katawan di ba? I mean naiinitan ang ulo kaya nalalagas ang buhok namin.

Incidentally pala Noel, the Hoff (James Hoffman) didn't showed up. Anyway we will track his email and phone number for you. Kababata at school mate ni Ani si James.

Some of the ladies eh busy kaya wala, except for Zoey's wife who have to "eat and run" and go to church. I am sure we have a picture of her somewhere.

Mimi Said "Thanks"

Photo shows the ladies posing for another photo, this time inside Ruth and Tony's sala. Ruth kept insisting that we go inside their lovely home, but I guess being SRF'ers we were used to the more "relaxed" outside settings of their garage and marquee (tent).

"The mini reunion was indeed a good one.....time to once again reminiscing the past happy moments of our SRF days. A big thanks to Tolits and Ruth for hosting this gathering. Also to Tess and Jei for organising the event. It's good to see you all once again." Mimi

But above all, thanks to all who showed up and shared their time and stories. Not to mention the food and drinks all shared, which could have fed a small country!

Meanwhile, Lerma said (via email):

"Hi there guys! I enjoyed looking at the pics, ang saya rin ng mini reunion niyo dyan sa Aussie. Its nice seeing you kahit sa pics lang, medyo nahirapan lang akong kilalanin yung ibang guys, like Joji ni Thess at si Zoey. Buti na lang nilagyan ng captions ni Kuya MarBJ, thanks! Congratulations to all of you who shared happy times once in awhile. More pics to come please."

So to all those who took photos, please email me a copy of your favorite ones!

While Ramir remarked:

"Congrats sa mini reunion sa Aussie! Nakita ko na ulit si host Tolights, we're both comm techs sa Saudi Royal Navy. Walang kupas pati si Kuya Boy Reyes. Ayos! God bless! " (Jose Ramir T. Ballesteros, S-67 Batch 92)

Marami ngang nainggit ke "Kuya" Ved "Boy" Reyes. One of the guys even touched his hair to make sure it is the real thing! From the photos, alam nyo na kung sino yun.

June 1 2008 Mini Reunion Photo

The ladies updating each other (in short nag-chi-chismisan, just kidding), while partaking some of the numerous food and desserts.



While the boys are all smiles, for no other reason than they are enjoying each other's company or maybe they are tipsy from too much wine and liquor (???).

Front row (from left to right): Mimi's husband, Jun Capistrano, Joji Pablico, Emil Eclarinal and Jing Tallada.

Back row (from left to right): Ved Reyes, Mar Baylon Jr, Zoey Zuniga, Ani Musa and Lito Almazan.

The Ladies Photo Opt

From left to right: Ruth Reyes, Irene Baylon, Jei Tallada, Tess Pablico, Aerlene Musa, Ruth Almazan, Mimi Capistrano and Edith Sarmiento.

Photo with the Host: Tolayts

Photo above shows, from left to right: Mar Jueco, Mar Baylon Jr, our host; Lito "TFC-Tolayts" Almazan, Emil "The Chef" Eclarinal, Bayani "Ani" Musa and Ved "Boy" Reyes.

The tropa wishes to thank our host Tolayts and Ruth for welcoming us to their lovely home.

June 1 2008 Mini Reunion

Photo above shows former workmates at the old Subic Bay Ship Repair Facility, Shop 67 (Electronics) and Shop 61 (Calibration) having a mini reunion in Rooty Hill (a suburb of Sydney), New South Wales, Australia.

June 1 did not bode well weather-wise.

When we were doing the barbeque, it started to rain. But even this autumn wet weather could not dampen the excitement of seeing each other. We usually communicate via phone, SMS and our Balitaan Yahoo Groups. This is one "eyeball" reunion we had for a long time.

Won't bore you with too many chit chats, but instead present the pictures of the reunion.