Bernie and I have known each other for years, 18 years I think to be exact. We've been friends since our days at Sandburg Elementary, Challenger Junior High and then Mira Mesa High School. I believe that we became closer friends in Junior High when we were part of a click called PHD. Hahaha...remember that bro! Then from there to High school we both were involved in football and dancing. How many people can say they were on the Co-ed Dance team and played football at the same time? I believe only NHS has! And by the way, I don't care what Noah says, he can't take our sophmore year away from us!

Many years have past and its almost time for our 10 year high school reunion and it's crazy to finally see us starting to settle down and doing what we got to do, grown-up style! Bernie lives four houses down and I rarely see this guy. But we do conversate on the street corner when we pass occasionally. I know that our lives are both busy, but I know I can count on him to talk to and he can do the same.

I wish Bernie and Mel the best of luck and endless years of a happy marriage. I hope to be chillin' on the porch with Bernie and our friends one day with our kids playin' football in the street and our wives making us dinner!

Mel and I first met at an NYR performance at Eastlake High School way back in 2002. But it wasn’t the performance that brought us together; it was our sense of style. We noticed that we were both wearing a very similar belt from GAP which led into a conversation about shopping and that’s when we noticed we had more than just a similar taste in belt, but I believe that’s when we realized we had a new shopping buddy!

Auditions came around for NYR and I was very happy that Mel was trying out. She obviously made the team (woohoo!) and then began a new friendship. We ended up becoming close friends that would go on trips to Disneyland, Magic Mountain, Wild Rivers, Las Vegas (which I believe we hit a record of 5-6 times in one year) and of course not to forget Hawaii baby!

Mel has always been that type of person who has always been there for me in times of need. When I’ve had a bad week, she was there to help me release by being my shopping buddy. Not only that, she was the person I would go to get advice from when I needed it. Mel has always been an honest, caring and genuine person, and that was and is one of the many things I admire about her. When I needed someone to tell me I was wrong about a situation or if I was over reacting about something she was always there to let me know.

I met Bernie for the first time at Mesa College (during the mesa dance auditions) and I remember thinking “I’ve seen this guy perform before, but I couldn’t remember where” Come to find out he was one of the judges at the 220 auditions in 2003. That was the year I auditioned for 220 and I remember that was my most nerve wrecking audition ever! Luckily I made it into the team because if it wasn’t for me getting over my nerves to actually audition and make the team, I don’t think Bernie and I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to get to know each other and become really good friends till this day!

I have to say that it is with great appreciation that Mel asked me to be a Maid of Honor. I’ve accepted the position to honor the couple to be a part of the wedding party. And I have to honestly say that I couldn’t be happier that these two people are going to spend the rest of their lives together. It’s amazing at how Mel and Bernie compliment each other so well and not only that, they are the two most humble couple I’ve ever met (and put together!) I’m genuinely proud of these two. They’ve come along way with their relationship, their schooling which is an honorable mention, their dance career, their family, and their friends. I’m very blessed to have such wonderful people to call my REAL-FRIENDS in my life. Thank you Mel and Bernie for giving me the opportunity to be a significant part of your wedding. I won’t let you down, I promise. -Darlene

What can I say about my good friend Dars? We've only known each other for a few years but I can say that in this time we have gotten close through our passion for dance and also through sharing some special life experiences. She has always been a friend that I can count on. I am inspired by her ability to be genuine & real in any situation. -Mel

The first time I ever met Bernie was in the hip hop class at Mesa College. All I remember was, holy crap, that guy is hella good. I saw him poppin and was immediately intimidated. HA! Then a couple of years later, we started hanging out more because we had the same friends. Our circle of friends later turned into "The Fam." We started traveling together, hanging out more and just getting closer. All I know is that Bernie has always been there for me and will continue to do so. Through ups and downs bro! Thank you! -Nick

The first time I 'saw' Bernie was when he was on 220 (dance team) and I was on Formality (dance team). I was so scared of him because of his hair. It was bald and he had that pony tail like 'Prince of Egypt' (Ramses).

But I officially met the gentlemen when he started dating Mel. He would drop by Formality rehearsals. One instance was when he picked up Mel after rehearsal; as our eyes interlocked across the musty room, I had to say "hello."

I eventually, saw him more often over the past few years. We would go to parties and 'get togethers' with similar friends. When I joined 220, we started kicking it more often and just building trust in each other. I saw him as a great leader, kinda like Genghis Kahn for some reason- just very strategic. We then started going to Vegas every year. He has gained my trust through his optimistic view of living a 'happy' and rigorous life.

Sincerely,
3s10

How Bernie and Sean M. became friends…

Before I first started dancing back in 2000, I was invited to watch my friend audition for Culture Shock San Diego. At the audition, I saw many great dancers. One of those dancers was Mr. Bernard Nefalar. At first I thought that this guy was pretty good at doing the choreography, but when I saw him doing flips during the break I was freakin’ blown away. I would have never thought that a man his size would be doing back flips and round off back tucks. Another thing that stuck out to me about him was his intense Monk/Samoan braided hair.

After that year, I got into the dance scene and found out that Bernie was on a hip hop group called 220. I saw Bernie around at all the shows but never really talked to him. Finally in late 2003, Bernie began to date my best friend Melissa Valdez. At the time, my closest friends and I always hung out at the house of my other best friend, Vonna Esteban. Melissa formally introduced us to Bernie started to bring him over to the house to hang out with us on a regular basis. Bernie instantly clicked with every one of us and was permanently welcomed into our circle of friends. With the addition of Bernie our circle then became known as “La Familia”

5 years later, Bernie is still one of my best friends. He has been my director, teacher, fellow mixologist, and best of all, my brother from another mother. I can always count on him for anything that I would need. Bernie never lets me down. I would love to thank Bernie for doing so much for me and being such a great friend. What makes this story even more wonderful is that fact that he is marrying one of my best friends. I am happy for the both of them, and I wish them nothing but happiness. I Love You Guys! -Sean

Once upon a time there was two short, fat filipino’s playing against each other at Mira Mesa West Little League. Bernard Nefalar who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Noah Fajota who played for the San Diego Padres. They knew of each other but never became friends during the season. Bernard and Noah continued playing baseball for several seasons after, but strangely never became teammates. Bernard had a reputation of being a power hitter and a decent outfielder, while Noah was trying not to make errors or his dad would beat his ass. The year 1994 came along and both Noah and Bernie played Pop Warner Football, but as luck would have it, they would be split up in divisions because of their age difference. The next yr, Bernie went on to high school and Noah ended up going undefeated that yr and winning the Q- Bowl. So it wasn’t till high school where these two kids could finally share the same sport on the same team. High School football, is where both Bernie and Noah played with each other. They both played defense, but with Bernie being so versatile, he also played running back. He was like Jerome Bettis (the short version). Well, in the summer we had practice called two a days. There was one series where the short bus (Bernie) was playing running back, and noah was playing corner. The offense ran their play, the ball carrier was tackled, and the WHISTLE BLEW. So the play was already dead, and like 4 seconds later, her comes the short bus running full speed ahead around the pile and comes over to hit me. Like I said the whistle blew already so I was just standing up, when all of the sudden I’m blindsided. I go flying, but luckily Ryan Reyes is standing right behind me, so I fly into him and he falls down about 4 yards away. I honestly don’t remember what I did after that, if I got mad nor if Bernie explained himself but I just remember being thankful that Ryan was standing next to me. So as the season continued both Noah and Bernie shared the football field more than 1 way. They were also part of the Sapphire Sound. Bernie was dancing and touching girls, while Noah was tooting his horn. As the season ended, both of them started practicing their other passion which was baseball. Fortunately both of them made the team, and was finally able to win something together. They ended up winning their division (eastern league) but no one counts junior varsity so it wasn’t a big deal to the school. From there, I guess you can say they became more than acquaintances, they became friends. They shared football, sapphire sound, and baseball together. It really wasn’t till after high school though were these two became great friends. Bernie had his click already. NHS and Kirby. They played flag football together at challenger middle school. They were tired of losing to the deep ball so they started to recruit for their team. As the interview process wasn’t going as well, they thought it would be a great idea if they can get the record holder of interceptions from their alumni mira mesa. That’s when Noah started playing with Mervin, Mike, Bernie, and Kirby. I guess he worked out cause they kept him on the team and started playing more leagues and tournaments. They basically did everything but go to school together. All five of them worked at Mervyns. Some went to school, and some waited for everyone to get off work or school so they could hand out and play cards at Mikes house or Mervyns house. They would do this almost every night for a long time. They started to even play basketball together at the base. They got so good, they started playing at Rimac. By that time it was already set. The 5 of us great friends. The 5 of them used to go to Kirby’s house as well. Kirbys mom would cook us pizza. Not delivery, it’s digornio. So we entered the air it out tournament one year and needed a team name. As we were eating Noah thought of Team Digornio, since we all love eating Digornio pizza. The team was cool with it and that was the name of our gang ever since. Bernie was also a groomsmen in Noah’s wedding. Noah is very grateful to have a friend like Bernard, and very honored to be a part of his wedding.

The following words, phrases, and experiences are just a few things that come to mind when I think of my friendship with Bernie that has lasted through the years since I met him back in junior high school: the other white boy, little league at Mira Mesa West, no Bernie it's not just a stinger, "the roots" basketball at the rec center, both were 1 for 1 in receptions, #35, you told someone about the other use for the route tree, fugitive nights, global domination, "apples", U of A trip, Oklahoma drills in the hallway, that crazy thing you do to buffalo wings, "wow", Tj nights, Friday's holding onto the handicap rail, French Connection, Captain Morgan, going to your teams' dance shows, Vegas, ski trip, "you're not wrong", team DiGiorno, kicking butt in flag football leagues, Let it Fly champs, thanks for the USCD rec cards, congrats he's a teacher, go Comets, Barage nights, Superbowl party, hookah rendezvous, Nick and the Ambulance... Somewhere in there Bernie met an awesome woman named Melissa, fell in love, and I gained yet another friend to create memories with in the years to come. -Kirby

Alicia Licudan & Thelma Felix
Romeo & Mercedita Valdez
Orlando & Eterna Valdez
Victorio & Maria Rivada
Gat & Nita Fama
Luis & Mercy Arcena
Rick & Joselita Halva
Roger & Nena Agarma
Francis & Elsa Gonong
Romeo & Ludy Valdez
Jojo & Evita Tabilin
Mr. & Mrs. Elpedio Alegre
Albino & Helen Labrador

To bind us as one.