POST (SVP) FIESTA

While our Philippine counterparts celebrated with great pomp and prizes the feast of SVP, we, those based in Houston, “sweatly” remembered the feast with barbeque and basketball brawl. We were joined by our wives and equally exciting kids (who smeared Kris’ sofa with chocolate jelo) at the home of Kris and Cathy in Missouri City. We were blessed to have Giovan and Jackie's family.

While our wives prepared dinner, we excitedly went to play basketball. I was personally worried because I have not written yet my last will. I had not played in more than two years and my body was objecting to my sudden sports endeavor. Ravaged by diabetes, high cholesterol and baldness pressure, I knew my body was not in sync .

Thanks to our years of meditation exercise/training. It helped a lot. What the body couldn’t accomplish, the mind can get it with a breeze. The first game was an excuse. “We had not had a game in forever.” The second one was hard to swallow. I was thinking more of the barbeque than the basketball. And the third? It was a murder. Even with all the huffs and puffs and prayers, still we lost. I was so sorry for Kris’ untiring effort and Giovan’s gigantic heart. Our excuse? We are too old for them.

My consolation though was, for the last 3 years that I’ve been here, this was the first time I was able to celebrate SVP’s feast with other alumni.

What do you expect from us but to vent our anger to the smokey barbeque and slimy spaghetti, washed with Corona light. That night, we not only had fun, we had family.

Next time, you’d better come Stanley A. for we really need a center.