STAR service in the U.S.

Almost everybody I met in the California cities on our itinerary in the past weeks, as well as in Las Vegas and other parts of Nevada, appeared to be very aware of what is going on in Bacolod City and in the two Negros provinces. "We read the DAILY STAR everyday," they would tell me. "The news items there are usually the main topics at our gatherings, and it is as if we are right there with you all". In fact, they even updated me on the happenings of the more recent days because I myself had no time at all to check on the STAR, except to call now and then for some reminders.

***

Often I would be amused because they would tell me things that had appeared in this column, probably forgetting where they had sourced the stories. At the meeting of a Bacolod group, somebody narrated to me how the delegation from Bacolod with Mayor Bing had been welcomed by Pacquiao at his suite, how they attended mass there. I did not have the heart to tell him that I had written the story. Somebody else asked if I knew that Pacquiao himself had given instructions to his "kababayans" from Bacolod on how to get to his gym. I knew that, of course, since I also wrote it. But I didn't tell the guy that.

***

Some of them had messages for other columnists, some good, some not so good, but I always told them, just write or email them yourselves. We'll publish your letters. But it was truly gratifying to know that our little STAR has been helping to ease the homesickness of our friends, so many of whom I was able to meet in the very short time I was in their adopted country - five days in LA and environs, and five in Las Vegas. That is without counting those who called up from as far away as Montana, to urge that we visit them. I noted amusedly that, like in a previous visit with my sister, "epidemics" hit the places where we had relatives because they all took sick leaves to be with us.

***

Anyway, there were some very strange coincidences that took place. Just imagine, while in Riverside, California, I met our next-door neighbor, Jaime Chua, whose family had been quite close to us. Then in Las Vegas, I also met Jonathan Esporas, who also grew up in the house right next to Jaime's and his family! Our houses were actually 1-2-3 at Rosario Street. Other Rosario residents I met were noted lawyer Eugenio Villanueva Jr., his wife Perla Delfin, his daughter Ina and son Oging, with his pretty wife Lenlen and their two adorable kids. That is without counting my own sister-in-law Nena, wife of Pros, and niece Gretchen, her husband Pio Dumatol, and their mischievous babies, Matthieu and Maia.

***

At a gathering in Pasadena, somebody who looked very familiar came up to me and asked me who he was. It look a long time before I recognized Sixto Castillo, the other half of the famed Castillo twins at LCC. In Las Vegas, I also met his other half, Renato, who treated our group at the Green Valley Resort. Now a Las Vegas resident is Leif Severino from Silay who lives mostly by himself in his beautiful house because his wife, Nanette, works in New York and comes home only on weekends. Another Silaynon who joined us was Rene "Nono" Mejica, who flew all the way from Atlanta to be with his pals and, well, to watch Manny Pacquiao. Nono was the most optimistic fan of the boxer, he bet his money on a third round knockout. So Pacquiao won, but he lost. By the way, my companions were all betting, so I was ashamed not to, although my heart thumped loudly whenever Morales seemed to score. There truly is such a thing as beginner's luck - I won a hundred dollars on my bet, I don't know how much the others made, but I was thrilled enough after I had the dollar-peso rate computed. But I never got tempted by all the clanging sounds at the Wynn casino where the games are played right at the lobby, where you have to pass after checking in and everytime you go to the elevators.

***

Bacoleños who have homes in Las Vegas as well as in California include our own Manny Salazar and his wife Norma, who visit Bacolod quite frequently lately. There are also Abner and Lemy Gonzaga, both now retired, who took me to their lovely home which has a wonderful view of the city and especially the "Strip". Their house is so roomy, they were able to house the Little League team from Bacolod on their last trip there. Another successful Las Vegas resident is Nonoy (Roberto) Cordova who owns a house-beautiful model in the outskirts with his pretty wife, Rose.

***

At Riverside City, which is not too far from Los Angeles, we also have several Bacoleños residing, like Gerry and Paula Gustilo with their mom, Fe, widow of the popular Peping Villanueva, and their three talented sons, Gerard, Gene and Gerome. Allan and Lourdes Gomez are also residents there, with children Loureen, Joey and Christian, in a very comfortable and well-furnished home. Not too far away are Oging and Lenlen Villanueva, and the Riverside home of Abner and Lemy Gonzaga, formerly of Bakyas. While lunching with Lemy and Abner in Las Vegas, we heard Ilonggo chattering at the next table, and it turned out to be the group of the former Maricar Loyola of Bacolod, in town for the Pacquiao affair.*

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