I was about to leave the bank inside the Victoria Plaza after my transaction when I met this fellow at the door with this familiar eyes from a face hidden inside a face mask.
Nelson Villamor, a colleague and a golf partner in the old Lanang Golf club. We were in a group we call the Bangkaw group in the olden days. “Pa bangkaw bangkaw lang” meaning in golf parlance, hitting it short but safe inside the fairways.
“Can you join our tournament on Wednesday? The old Lanang boys will be there .The JV Ayala group of present and former employees and the Lanang Boys headed by Paul Dacudao.
Of course. I will play.
I feel nostalgic to play again with these bunch of golfers who use to dig divots in the old golf course along JP laurel Avenue, Lanang and excited to recall once again some old tales about our old home course.
As we gather at the clubhouse of our new home, the Apo Golf and Country Club, I threw a test trivia question to the group..”Did you know that if you’re sipping a coffee at the present Starbucks at the SM in Lanang you are actually standing at the green of the Hole No.9 of the old Lanang golf” ?
I was met with answers of varied disagreement. No, it can’t be says King Eagle Dennis Salvador ,Executive Director of Eagle Foundation. You must be standing at the starter house in Hole No 1 which is manned by Amay of which everyone agreed with a burst of laughter…Cheers to the good ole days. Cheers to the old Lanang.
Personally I experienced some nostalgia everytime I pushed my grocery cart along the isles of the grocery section of the SM Lanang.
“Did you know that we’re now standing at the old Lanang Driving Range? I once asked my wife. For which I was met with a quizzical look with a deep sigh. “ Let go of Lanang Dad “,she quipped. “ I can’t my dear, I answered back. I can’t forget Lanang. I can’t forget those good ole day. Those were the days that I will always reminisce with pride on the side. I started my golf in Lanang and she already became a part of my system.
To settle our discussion Paul promised that he will dig into an old file of Lanang of which I will super impose to the present SM Lanang layout . An idea first broached by Architect Omar Payumo, during one of our lively discussion at the Hole No.19 of South Pac golf..hehehe
The reunion cum mini golf tournament was in celebration of the January birthday celebrants. My golfing buddies Bok Mata ,Nelson Villamor and Judge Elmer Pasion.
In the midst of our celebration Paul Dacudao, announced that the Lanang Golf Club will participate in this year’s edition of the PAL Interclub in Cebu. Lanang will be sending teams both in the regular and the Seniors Division of which he will be the Team Captain. The regulars will be compose of Dacudao, Danny Nagayo, Danny Gotera,Bok Mata,Abu Mata,Luis Balajadia,Henry Evangelista,Mikey Dizon,Pogs Cabreros and Mark Villorente.
Comprising the Seniors to play with Dacudao will be Bong Belen,Bobby Plana,Bobet Te, Dennis Salvador,Raymund Salvador,George Cabebe and Pitoy Palma Gil.
They are practicing three times a week in Apo Golf,Rancho Palos Verdes and the South Pacific golf.
