Photos by Gina Beltran-Hernaez, Arleen Medina and the big guy in the small hat.

WE ARE THE WORLD….

This is our song. Actually, there are three songs. On November 22, 2008, a humid yet drizzly Saturday, Bene alumni of host Batch 83 gathered in a recording studio in Las Piņas to put on tape a lyrical offering for Homecoming on December 6.

Standing at center stage, Chet Pastrana conducted the activity with the musical ear of a Cayabyab and with the flair of Kuya Germs, minus the flashy jacket. One after the other, these individual would-be recording artists took to the sound booth to enrich layer after layer of musical chorus to be edited as a single harmonious piece. Even the most reluctant gave his and her best Karaoke performance.

As some sang, some cheered, many jeered, some lent their gourmet palates to wine tasting. Sounds like happy hour? It was.

What was planned as a two hour recording session evolved into five hours of singing, discussions on the program with the Event Organizer, wine and food tasting, a presentation of a possible post-Homecoming project and importantly, a cementing of bonds that twenty-five years ago was not even a forethought.

While “We Are The World” was not sang nor even considered, it reflects how Batch 83 comes together in the world we call Bene.

The Next Boy Band candidate Mark Start.

The Next Boy Band cadidate Froilan G.

The Next Boy Band candidate Ric...or the next Village People?

Not the Next Boy Band candidate. Already was from day 1: Ian Ramos.

Definitely not the Next Boy Band candidate: Evelyn De Leon Estrada.

Brows furrowed, deep in thought, music director Chet Pastrana ponders over harmony...or wonders what's for dinner.

The Next Sommeliers...

Ariel Villamin takes a break after hours of vocalizing... or too much wine tasting?

BINGO AT CASINO ROYALE

Shouts of “Bingo!” rang across the Casino Filipino floor on November 16, 2008 as BeneBatch 83 held its latest fun-and-fund-raising activity for Homecoming.

Well attended and wildly successful, BeneBatch 83’s version of Casino Royale would make 007 proud. Wielding Bingo card markers like weapons of war, Bene alumni, family and friends, found a venue for play and bonding time.  At the forefront of the activity was BeneBatch 83’s secret service, Ariel Villamin, John Batacan, Greg Triviņo, Mark Start and Ian Ramos.  Countless others from BeneBatch 83 worked in the background promoting the event and selling tickets.

While no one from Batch 83 won the grand prize of P100,000, everyone came away from the Casino Filipino richer for the experience.

Due to security and privacy policies of the Casino Filipino, pictures of the event were not allowed. To picture the merriment, however, please imagine Ian Ramos leaping off the table, doing the dance of joy and swimming in a kiddie pool of cash and Bingo cards. Or substitute Ian with your favorite Bene Batch 83 alumni.

THE ROAD TO HOMECOMING…

HAS LECHON ALONG THE WAY

As Homecoming 2008 draws near, host BeneBatch 83’s meetings have come in succession. On November 8, 2008, almost 40 Batch 83 alumni gathered at the Alabang Hills Village Clubhouse to discuss details on the program, the batch song, shirts, posters and tickets.

The conference was designed in signature BeneBatch 83 style: the always appreciated, always effective EAT AND MEET. A pot luck session, BeneBatch 83 alumni brought their share of good eats, highlighted by a savory roast lechon from Evelyn De Leon Estrada. As the plates got emptied, decisions were made, action plans crafted and refined.

At the end of the evening, BeneBatch 83 was another step ahead on the road to homecoming. The road home, however, was a bit slow with all the full bellies making their way out of Clubhouse.

The force behind Homecoming 08

Of course they look happy. They just had lechon.

A bevy of beauties

Photos except the lechon by Carmen Lopez

A Dragon, A Girl, And An Army of Red Lions

How Mulan, Jr. brought together BeneBatch 83 after 25 years

It has been 25 years. Two and a half decades since Batch 83 last saw or heard from each other. Each one went their own way, nurturing their own lives, forging futures in careers and families. Some have gone to the US, some in Australia, and even one in New Zealand, where the cattle population outnumbers people. But Bene has always been there, a foundation for what is today and tomorrow.

The First Meeting

Early this year, with the 25^th anniversary of BeneBatch 83 looming, 30 Batch 83 alumni congregated at the Alabang Country Club to spark the year-long preparation for the Homecoming in December.  A seemingly formal affair, some saw each other for the first time in years. A few wrinkles, a few gray hairs, and some had even fewer hairs. This meeting established what would be a continual series of meetings that addressed logistics, task-oriented committees, fund-raising, supplier-sourcing and all the activities necessary to make the December Homecoming the biggest bash ever.

The pioneering 30: 40-somethings plan the 25th year celebration of graduation

The Succeeding Meetings

With activities identified, projects assigned, committees formed, Batch 83, like an army sent to battle, marched forward, making sure objectives were communicated, people were involved, tasks were accomplished.

In one of the meetings, one of the fund-raising activities brought to the table came in the form of entertainment. Tickets to a show. But what show? A movie premiere? Sounded good.

But something came up that directly involved a batchmate. Mulan Jr. The theatrical adaptation of the animated feature that had as a starring cast member, Batch 83's very own Raul Montessa. The story of a girl and a dragon and armies versus armies. It was compelling. It was fate.

BeneBatch 83 would sponsor a Mulan, Jr. playdate. It was on.

This would be the big fund-raiser, the fuel that would get the Homecoming engine fired up. In a series of meetings big and small, BeneBatch 83 came together in various locations near and far, all the while rebuilding relationships temporarily put on standby for 25 years.

Sound serious? Be serious. It's Batch 83.

The 2nd meeting: a little less formal now, yes Mr. Cordova?

Notice the happy smiles, the empty plates. The latest trend in conferencing: The Eat and Meet!

Meeting at Bene: with projector up front, you just know things are serious, which is what Ric Dizon is saying over the phone.

Movers and shakers: some of the leading lights of Homecoming Batch 83...but which one moves and who shakes? And who turns on the lights?

Fuego! Batch 83 fires off a major salvo for batch-hood (batchmate-hood? Eh?)

While the meetings in various conference rooms and in St. Benedict College were productive with a mix of business and having a ball, it needed a bit of a push to get the batch together. For these Bene alumni on the journey towards Homecoming, the solution came appropriately enough with the blessing of a batchmate named after the patron Saint of travelers, St. Christopher.

The solution was an out of town conference at Punta Fuego, a location made available through the gracious spirit of Chet Pastrana. This sparked off a fiery flurry of activity. Emails back and forth. Schedules juggled to and fro. Text messages made the phone companies even richer. It was to be a team-bonding activity with a chunk of business tossed in. Batchmates thought long lost were tracked down and contacted.

The result? An out of towner that tightened the friendly ties that bind.

Front row (L-R): Leo, Ric

Standing (L-R): Chet, Willie, John P., Carmen, Greg, Mark, Miko, Bernie, Ian, Eve.

Business or pleasure? Batch 83 combines both as Ric (with bottle) will attest. (Don't worry Fr. Ole, it was filled with tea. Ahem. And who's that at the back with the red hat?)

A yearbook of memories, small waistlines and big hair. Batch 83 flips through pages from 25 years ago.

Time for a break to stretch the creaky legs...or wings. (Uh, Ric? Quit the "tea" already.)

Boat people. Yup. Miko could pass for one. 

Sing-out Sistahs! (No Father, they were actually making a presentation. )

Carmen: "Yeah I'm small. I'm always in front."

Eve: "Uh, waiter, akin iyang crispy pata."

Mark: "Why is it so dark here?"

Chet: "Where did all the chairs go?"

Carmen: "Yeah I'm small. I'm always in front. What's your excuse, Ian?"

Eve of Mulan, Jr.

Well, it wasn't exactly the eve. Although Eve played hostess with the mostest. A short time before Mulan, Batch 83 needed another meeting to assess things--ticket sales, attendance, and other pressing matters.

The most pressing? Who will be top scorer at fooseball!


Some of the stalwart Batch 83 alumni who traveled north to Eve's warm home.


Yeah they came from work. Or maybe Eve likes to keep things formal at home? Eve?


Eve: Leo, how do you keep your head from shining?


Greg: O, look Ian...one hand!
Ian: Look Greg, wash your hands!


John: Mark, pagkatapos mo iyung bata naman.
Mark: Why don't these players have any hands?!
Kid: Tama na. 42-0 na ang score. Ako naman.

BeneBatch 83 takes centerstage with Mulan, Jr.

Finally, on a calm, balmy Saturday, the BeneBatch 83-sponsored Mulan, Jr. raised its curtains headlined by Batch 83 alumni Raul Montessa. The story of Mulan and her comic sidekick dragon stirred excitement in kids and kids at heart.

While the showing was intended as a fund-raiser for the December Homecoming, the event evolved into something more. It became an opportunity to come together as a batch with families under the larger Benedictine family. It was proving grounds that Batch 83 could come together despite the decades apart, to create and power through a project of grand proportions.

It was an event that could only come about with the selfless, gracious contributions in time, money and effort by the BeneBatch 83 committee leaders and members. Everyone gave of themselves more than was expected. It was a beautiful thing. It is a portent of better things come December. And it was all brought about by the story of a Dragon, a girl, and an army of Red Lions called BeneBatch 83.

Photos by Derick, Batch '81 here