The Uyugan Times

Gold Coast Hotel and Casino Resort

Viva Las Vegas! December 10, 2005 - The Ivatan International Grand Reunion 2005 was the mother of all Ivatan reunions, indeed.

True to its name, it was one grand gathering attended by representatives from the global Ivatan communities. The reunion was a great success, thanks to the chief organizers of the event led by Romy, Winky, Delilah, Grace and Mayang.

                                                            Eddie the Ivatan Billy Crystal

The gathering of the Ivatans was of epic proportion, mainly due to the overwhelming response of the Ivatan communities to the call. It was emceed by Eddie de Guzman and Delilah Alviso Aguasa, and DJ'd by Efren Alviso.

Midway across the Pacific, aloha state was represented by American Ivatan Jon von Kessel and his charming lady, the former Nelly Caronilla of Mahatao.

                                                           The gathering of the Ivatans

The majority came from California and the US West Coast, prominent Ivatans too numerous to enumerate or name. Across America, they came to the reunion, and to bear witness to a gathering never before attempted in the history of Batanes and the Ivatans. The Caronillas and the Violas from deep in the heart of Texas represented the lone star state. Further east, the Valiente-Blackburns represented the sunshine state of Florida. From north of the border, it was not exactly a Canadian invasion of the American Southwest, but a great number of Ivatan Canadians, mainly from Southern Ontario, attended the extravaganza. Again, too numerous to enumerate or name.

There was also the banjo musical by The Ivatan Yellow Rose of Texas with Nelly von Kessel and Shane Millan.

The Ivatan Canadians did showcase the world-renowned Palo-palo or Ivatan War Dance and a folkdance in front of an enthusiastic Global Ivatan and Ivatan American audience. To many American-born Ivatans, it was their first experience of a live performance by the Ivatan Canadian Palo-palo or Ivatan War Dancers - North America's finest.

                                                         Heavy action at the dance floor

At the dance floor, in addition to the heavy action and fierce hand-to-hand engagement of the Ivatan Canadian War Dancers, there was the La Jota dance by Amalia Abad and Romulo Valientes. That was some amazing footwork by Malia (Now we know why Poldo went nuts) and Mulong.

It was great witnessing the Las Vegas performances of our fellow Ivatans, and the chance to meet fellow Ivatans, friends and former classmates that we've not seen in years.

The gathering was great! In a word, the Ivatan International Grand Reunion 2005 was: GRANDÉ.

                                                                         Jack Daniel's

Jack Daniel's was readily available so the Ivatans just rolled out the barrel as the night went through and had a barrel of fun.

My friends from L.A. (Sonny Capito, Ursing Mirabueno and others) were there too and we shared great memories of things past.

Oh Las Vegas ... the city that never sleeps. I wanted to stay behind and enjoy more of the city but my phone keeps ringing reminding me of my job in Toronto. As the night passed away, I keep thinking of the trip back home ... to my adapted country that will keep me frozen for the next few months.

I hope the event will be held again soon - and soon is before most of us who were there are wheelchair bound and can't do the two steps forward and three steps backward shuffle any more. [Note: The shuffle, with some help from Jack Daniel's (the Naypudiran of North America), is that fancy footwork that's known as the Kayuganan shuffle.]
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Roger B. Caballero is the president of TICO (The Ivatan Canadians of Ontario). He was the
Provincial Engineer of Batanes in the early 1970s (the Simon Gato Administration).

Las Vegas, Nevada

There were unconfirmed reports that Billy Crystal was interested in emceeing the event (and Whoopi Goldberg also), but it was the unanimous decision of the Ivatan organizers to keep the event truly Ivatan and opted for our very own Ivatan Billy Crystal in the person of Eddie de Guzman.

The delegates were mainly from the Ivatan communities across North America, but Batanes and Hawaii have their own delegates.

Tess Fajardo and Shane Millan came all the way from across the Pacific to represent our home province of Batanes.

Showtime Las Vegas!

The Global Ivatans were treated to some Las Vegas performances by Ivatan groups from various states including Canada.

There was the "Welcome to Batanes" song by Ihuvok I and friends. Ihuvok, indeed, is not just the center of Basco, but also that of the Universe.

Other performances include a solo by Jenelle Castillejos, a song by Mr. & Mrs. Cyrus Galarion, and an instrumental rendition by Jojo, Judy and Romy Castillejos