Invited to grace to the 15th anniversary celebration of the San Esteban Schools Alumni Association (SESAA), me and Zoraida took off to our journey to the land of milk and honey visiting and enjoying the company of friends, relatives and town mates. It would also take us to beautiful, exciting and exhilarating views in America.
Meeting us on arrival at the airport are cousin William Esperanza and Winston Europa. Our first stay was with Seny and Fe Alegre in Rowland heights. The next day Manong William brought us to Rialto, California to have lunch at Rudy Orpilla’s. Then we motored to Terra Bella and stayed with Auntie Caring Vergara.
The evening of August 30 is the last canvassing hosted by the San Esteban Circle. The next day was a hectic one, having lunch with San Estebanians at the Veterans Memorial Hall. Winston accompanied me to Jaime Guzman’s house in Porterville to encode my speech then we passed by Jacob Benitez’ place. The SESAA coronation night was a successful one. Most people attended in Filipiniana attire, which was the theme of the fiesta. Crowned were Queen Aida Vergara Visaya, 1st Princess Inyang Ayson Esperanza and 2nd Princess Belen Corpuz Sanidad. We capped the night at Tata Tonying and Nana Doring Cardena’s garden chatting with Domitilia and Warlito Dagdagan.
Next day Tessie and Fe Soria took us around Porterville, made a stop at Lake Success then visited Erning and Laureta Tuzon and family. The Tuzons’ treated us to a dinner buffet then we went to Eagle Mountain Casino to try our luck.
San Bruno was our next stay, with Frank and Luming Vergara Mondero as our gracious hosts. Rudy and Linda Vergara came to see us then we went to Hearst Palace in San Simon. We took the scenic route, Highway 1, on our way to Monterey Bay then back to San Bruno. Down town San Francisco was our daily destination as we came to familiarize ourselves using the Bart Train. We did visit Uncle Dinong’s grave at Colma, had dinner at Irineo and Gloria Mariano at Daly City, send off Diosdada Abad at the San Francisco Airport, attended the Methodist Anniversary in South San Francisco on invitation of active members EricVergara and wife. We had a Saturday barbeque get together and met cousin Bernardine, Josie and their families.
Uncle Bert and Cecillia’s place in Brentwood was next. They brought us to Auntie Ching Vergara in Concord, had some fun at the yacht club in Martinez and saw a movie in Antioch. Uncle Bert drove us to Domitilia Dagdagan’s place in Vallejo City for the birthday party of her husband Warlito. Then we went to Antelope near Sacramento as Edong and Lorna Espejo prepared a welcome party where we met many relatives and town mates.
A few minutes drive from Antelope is Rocklin where we met Willy Vergara and staying nearby is Reggie Vergara Veridiano of Granite bay. We had a late dinner at he Thai restaurant in Sacramento courtesy of Rudy, Sonny and wife Zeny. We spent the night at the house of Auntie Lerma and Uncle Val San Juan.
Next morning Sony Vergara and Auntie Sipin took us for nature tripping at Yosemite National Park going all the up to Glaciers Point to have a spectacular view of the entire valley. It was a long drive as Sonny took us to the next destination, San Jose City at Dr. Floro Ramirez’ place. We rested for a couple of days and went around the city.
Manong Floro, son Danny and I took off to Chicago, the Windy City. We stayed at Manong Floro’s brother Popoy and met some Abranians who had a meeting at his place. Brother in law, Charlie took us to downtown Chicago, and the eldest brother Temmy and wife Evelyn treated us to lunch at the sky room of the John Hancock building.
Ricky and Jean Espejo showed me the cultural side of Chicago, after having lunch at
To-dai we went to see the museums and aquarium where Chicago is famous. In the evening we had dinner at the stately Hernaez’ place at the suburbs of Chicago. Present were Nana Cion, the matriarch, Drs. Edward and Nilda, Puline and Elsie. Frederick and Margaret, children of Edward and Nilda entertained us by performing the violin.
We went back to San Jose and Norma Rimando a relative of Ramirezes took us around shopping. Zoraida took the Greyhound going to Oceanside while I took the train to San Francisco airport and off to Seattle. My trip to Seattle was arranged earlier courtesy of Susan Abad Europa thru the Internet Expedia Travel.
John Castro met me at the Sea-Tac Airport. John and wife Vilma were my hosts in Seattle. We had a night cap with Erning Apolonio, Fred and wife Dolor. The next day was a 3-hour drive to Wapato with Tata Erning, Vilma and John. Wapato is in the scenic Yakima Valley famous for apples and other fruits and vegetables. Our amiable hosts were Remy and Marlo Imperial. Manong David and Manang Marcy Alamar were eager to see me. Marlo showed us the vast farmlands to Wapato that appears like Terra Bella only its cold in Wapato. The Imperials have a fruit stand lot of Mexicans working for them. We got some fruits from Maxson Benedicto’s fruit stand. We had a goat party in the evening chatting with the Imperial brothers.
We went back to Seattle with Manong David and had dinner at Fred Cabalo’s house. The next day John took us to the Space Needle and Lakeshore Center. In the afternoon was very cordial welcome party held at Tata Erning’s house and most members of the San Estebanians of Washington led by its President Larry Apolonio were there to see me. The next day John took me to the Bainbridge Ferry that will lead me to Poulbo where Francis Barcena, my former employee at the Bagong Lipunan Lodge is staying. Francis and wife, the former Tessie Dosono of Sta. Maria and daughter Leslie were very kind and gracious to me. We talked about our days at the Lodge and went to attend mass at St. Olaf Church. In the evening they took me to the Clearwater Casino. The next morning, I took the shuttle bus going to the airport and was on my way to Oceanside via San Diego.
Oceanside is the place for the Vergara of Malabon. Its where my mom’s siblings, Consuelo, Gerardo, Romualdo and Ramon are staying. Their children’s families live there too and our visit always make a happy reunion.
Manong William fetched us and went to see her Mom, Auntie Leoning at Monterey Park. Then we went to Redlands, home of Rudy and Imelda Europa. After lunch we went to Rozelle and Randy Laigo’s place in Moreno Valley and stay there up to dinner. We went back to Redlands and on the next day we were off to Terra Bella for our despedida party at the house of Tony and Doring Cardenas coordinated by Winston and Susan Europa. Again many San Estebanians from as far as Los Angels attended the party.
The next morning we headed to La Palma, at Atty. Samuel Orpilla and Marilou Quemado’s place where the final despedida was awaiting for us. We stayed at La Palma for two days and Mario Querubin of Cerritos came to get me so I can bring home some pasalubong at Walmart where he works. Marilou helped us packed our boxes and after six weeks of fun it was time to go home.
It was hard to say goodbye as Manong William, Nelson, Manang Chit, Sam and Marilou send us off at the Los Angeles Airport.
It was during our stay in America where we felt that the true Filipino traits and values came to the fore. Friendly, hospitable, generous, kind, helpful, patient, you name it, they have it. And so I wish to thank again those who extended their hospitality, patiently drive us for miles and miles, gave money and gifts, wished us well and one way or another made our stay in America a very memorable one. May God Bless You always.
/:Susan;(S.A.E.)
