UPCC Batch 1990 at 25: Day 1, Tito Chef and Villa Crisanta

To start our three-day 25th Anniversary Celebration, we needed an ice breaker, so to speak. Of course, we also needed a general rehearsal for our performances, especially for the Dinner Concert on December 28. We wanted a private place where we could sing and chat loudly, without other guests being disturbed.

So the name Villa Crisanta Garden Resort in Rosario, Batangas came up during the planning phase. It seemed the resort was the most suitable place for us to sleepover, unwind, and practice.

It was a blessing in disguise that Villa Crisanta is owned by the family of a former 1990 UPCC trainee, Virna Caringal-Divino. She has been Lionel Guico's voice student, and so we also invited her to join the group.

The assembly place going to Villa Crisanta was at Chef Menoy's restaurant at BF Homes, Paranaque, Tito Chef Restaurant and All Things Culinary. I arrived Manila from Cebu at around 8:30-ish. My father picked me up at the airport and brought me to Paranaque, where Tito Chef is located. I was initially worried because I thought I would be the first one there, since the assembly time was at 10:00 a.m. It was a good thing that my two best friends, Egay and Nu, were already there. Nu arrived from the Netherlands a few days before, while Egay arrived just on Christmas eve. Unfortunately, one of his baggage was left behind by the airlines at the LA Airport, so he had to go back to the airport early morning of the 26th to retrieve it. That's why they were at Tito Chef earlier than I was.

After a while, the other Chorus members started coming in. What a riot we made inside the resto. Good thing Menoy was THE Tito Chef! No one dared tell us to keep it down! Well, it also helped that it was still a little early for other lunch customers to come in.

These pictures can't capture the noise we made as we saw one another again after so many years of being separated.

If the food was an indication of how successful our event would be, I would say right there and then that everything was coming in full gear, with Chef Menoy ordering food for us. Ang sarap ng brunch!!!! I don't normally show pictures of food that I eat, but this was exceptional. Everything was PURR-fect! (Er, not to mention that the food was on the house courtesy of the great Chef!)

These radiant, smiling faces only mean their tummies are happy too!!!

We were already having a blast at Tito Chef's, I thought we would not go to Batangas anymore!

A big thanks, Chef Menoy! (Check out Tito Chef and All Things Culinary. President's Avenue, corner Adelfa Street, Paranaque City. 02-8425577)

Finally, after satisfying our gastronomic cravings and singing a little bit (of course, we need to earn our meal!), we set off to the South. Traffic was moderate, thank goodness, so we arrived in Rosario, Batangas at around 3-ish.

But first, we needed to stock up on pica pica and some food supplies. Manong Sam, could we pass by SM Hypermart Rosario, please?

What else to do but do a "groufie" Bibili lang pala ng shoktong si Menoy!

Yep, we bought all kinds of chichirya, some calamansi and honey for those who have colds, some red wine...at sa tatlong bags at isang kahong grocery na binili, nakalimutang bumili ng....kape!!! And what was Mother Lowell's excuse? "E, akala ko, may kapeng barako na sa resort, e!" Hehehe!



When we arrived at Villa Crisanta,  we felt at home at once.

We were warmly welcomed by the Caringals at their main mansion. This is where their family stays whenever they are vacationing in Batangas. We were all in awe of the beauty of the place.

Villa Crisanta is all seventeen hectares of pure feast to the eyes and soul. It's ideal for events like weddings, debuts, company team building, camping, and other occasions, especially if you wish an old worldly, close-to-nature ambience.

Who wouldn't fall in love with its raw beauty and quiet splendor?


We couldn't help ourselves but sing for our wonderful and gracious hosts.

And what was the best thing to do after two hours of travelling and thirty minutes of singing? Why, have a hearty afternoon snacks, of course! Virna and her Mom treated us with an indulgent snack organically made by the people of Rosario.

Maraming salamat po, Villa Crisanta and the Caringal Family! (For a relaxing vacay, try Villa Crisanta Garden Resort. Rosario, Batangas. 0906-2273710)

Naturally, a venue like this would not escape our camera lenses from capturing its beauty for posterity's sake. So while the others were busy eating, some of us just had to unleash the hidden models in us. (Itago na lang 'yan!)

When it was time for us to find our place to retire, we trekked a little bit to find the houses assigned to us. Some cheated and rode their cars, but I was glad I walked with the others. We found very charming nooks in the garden, which Virna said were orchestrated solely by her Mom.

So this was the main house where most of us slept. It had two big rooms with a bathroom in each room, a huge receiving area (where we were able to practice our choreography), and a kitchen. It even had a billiard table in front and a table tennis at the back. It was huge enough for all sixteen of us!

There was a swimming pool beside the main house where braver souls like Neysa and Menoy took a dip at once.

Two families, the Guicos and the Cabreras, each had their own casita since they brought their kids with them.

 Of course, dinner was served at the main house so everyone had a wonderful time eating and chatting and drinking and laughing and reminiscing our youthful days in the 90's.

We were ecstatic that Sally and Lito Jose drove to Batangas and joined the sleepover. It was a spontaneous decision on their part for them to stay with us for a night. Thanks, guys! Your presence made our first night extra fun!

O, busog na? Time to get serious and practice!!

But honestly, with all the junk food in the kitchen, I don't know how we were able to seriously practice without  choking on these chocolates, nuts and chicharon. (Again, why no coffee?)

Sara, kasalanan mo ito!!!

The idyllic setting channelled the romantic kundimans in these oldies:-)

And what is a sleepover if boys and girls can't get together in one room?

And for those members who didn't go with us in Batangas, sorry, but we were also given givenchy by peeps from abroad:-) Thanks, Egay, Nu, and Sara! (Hoy, I gave some givenchy too, ha!)

So, we literally had to shoo the boys out of our room. Time to retire for the night. It was going to be a big day ahead of us tomorrow, with two different audiences expecting a lot from a supposed world class group of performers. Call time was at 7:00 a.m. We all prayed we would be able to wake up and hit those high notes like we did in 1990. 

To be continued...