REMEMBRANCE HOUR
by Nora Quesada-Catiis
The Remembrance Hour held on the 3rd floor of Vista Marina from 5:00-6:15 pm was a unique celebration of lives.
After a beautiful rendition of Ave Maria by Aura, Egbert spoke about life as a journey. It was followed by Beth's solemn reading of Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold.
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| Aura Gray-Cajiuat |
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| Egbert Abiad |
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| Beth Arcellana-Nuqui |
The most poignant moment was the powerpoint of photos of departed teachers and classmates with the background music of Saan ka man Naroon.
The sharing of memories were made by Edna, Titong, Nina Joaquin, Ofie, Jack, Bong, Delsie, Art Jorge -- appropriately capped by Portia's reading of Shakespeare's sonnet 30 which ends with these last 2 lines:
But if the while I think on thee, dear friend,
All losses are restored and sorrows end.
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| Portia Casambre-Henle |
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| Delsie Abrigo-Horak |
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| Edna Cayanga-Merino |
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| Araw Bernabe & Titong Enriquez |
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| Art Jorge |
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| Nina Lansang-Joaquin |
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| Bong Nuqui |
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| Jack Jacala |
The hour was ended by a benediction sung by Aura, Paul, Lou, and Enteng:
The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord lift his countenance upon you
And give you peace.
The Lord makes his face to shine upon you
And be gracious unto you.
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| Paul Cajiuat, Lou Quejas-Salazar, Aura Gray-Cajiuat, Enteng Velasco |
Certainly, the Remembrance Hour set a tone for the reunion: that life is a journey -- it's not the destination that counts but the quality of the journey. In other words, life is how you make it. A reunion such as this wonderful Class 1957-61 Golden Reunion is surely a moment to savor and treasure forever! Let's make every glorious minute count!
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| After Remembrance Hour |
WELCOME DINNER PARTY
by Portia Casambre-Henle
At the welcome dinner party Friday, each classmate was asked for very brief introductory remarks. Atoy was among the first to speak into the microphone. He said, “This reunion is for Pic,” which acknowledged, I felt, not only the general feeling of missing Pic at this reunion but also our eternal gratitude for all he had done for our class through the years. Pic would have loved the evening. It featured oldies but goodies: vintage songs and dances; fun contests and awards; and wonderful, youthful camaraderie. (We may be in our sixties now but at the reunion, we felt young at heart.)
We also sensed love was in the air, especially in song. The Manila group–Araw, Atoy, Beth, Delsie, Dinky(with his trusty guitar), Egay, Egbert, Jerry, Joy, Nina, Pearl, and Sheila (plus Carmen and Simon who held up the codigo of lyrics)–opened their program with “Everybody Loves a Lover” and “You’re Just in Love.” The audience was then treated to a song-and-dance number “Sinisinta Kita/Katakataka” where the chorus’ distaff side, having put on “baros” in a twinkling of an eye, took turns dancing as gracefully as Bayanihan soloists. The final number, “Those were the days, my friend,” elicited enthusiastic participation from all reunionistas (Bong’s term) in the dining hall.
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| Dinky Einsidel, Atoy Cunanan, Delsie Abrigo-Horak, Joy Vitug-Rivadelo, Pearl Kapunan-Ortega, Sheila Tempongko-Obedeza, Beth Arcellan-Nuqui, partially hidden are Egay Pajaro and Jerry Carandang |
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| Codigo lyrics holders Carmen Torre-Dimayuga and Simon Raborar |
The evening featured solo crooners as well, very ably accompanied by Araw’s inaanak (Nonong). We heard Beth’s soothing voice, Volts’s ala Frank Sinatra, Kaloi’s, Atoy’s, Bons’s—among others. I was sitting by Lelalee by the time Araw sang his first solo so I learned that the sensational (and foreign sounding) song actually belonged to a musical genre known as ‘novelty song’ and this one was ‘Butiki’ by Yoyong Villame. It certainly brought the house down!
The dancing queen of the evening was Juliet Brillo. She actually wore dancing shoes (as did Jess N. reportedly). Those who frequented the dance floor (in addition to the DIs and Juliet), included the Ninas, Pearl, Kaloi, Delsie, AlmaF, Beth, Ronnie, JoyVR, and Mabini (the last two doing a remarkably bigay-na-bigay Twist). JoyS and Lou, Paul and Aura, Nina and Dony, Norie and Roly, ArtnMyr,Marie and Mario, Chit and Al, Edna and Marcelo, Mabini and Mits were among the married couples spotted on the dance floor as well.
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| Juliet Brillo-Coquinco and DI |
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| Jess Nepomuceno and DI |
The ‘introductory’ remarks from classmates yielded some news and tidbits about marriages, retirements, insights, etc. Jerry C is retiring next Friday; Araw’s own imminent retirement prompted Araw to extend a general invitation to Spain, provided he be given a 12-hour notice/warning. Titong said they’re moving back for good.
Even introductions of spouses were interesting. Edna called Marcelo her boyfriend of 37 years; Marie called Mario her best friend for 36 years now. Pearl and Joy identified their respective hubbies (Vic and Vads) as UP Prep grads. The Ninas and Chit noted their marital connection to other UPHS classes. Emma and Cherry noted their husbands (Mario and Willie) happened to be out taking a walk together just then. Somehow we also found out that Norie and Roly have been married for almost 41 years; Aura and Paul, for 42; Carmen, for 45, thus garnering the Longest-Married-to-the-Same-Person award.
Incidentally, other fun contests/awards involving some sportsmanshipwere: Thinnest Hair (Bons beating out Dinky); Smallest Waist (Portia, over AlmaF and Pearl; Enteng and Egay in a tie, over Jack). A prize for the Most Interesting/Funniest Senior Moment was never awarded; in fact, the contest never got off the ground because, as Enteng said, “Who could remember?”
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| Nina de los Reyes-Lesaca and thinnest hair winner Bons Abon |
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| Smallest waist contenders Egay Pajaro, Enteng Velasco, Jack Jacala, Alma Fabella-Karlsen, Portia Casambre-Henle, Pearl Kapunan-Ortega with judge Nina de los Reyes-Lesaca |
Winners of the ‘Kilala mo ba Sila’ contest earlier in the day were also announced: Juliet, Cherry, Chit, Portia, Atoy, and Liza Sol. None of them would have their crush in high school revealed to the public, but Bong announced that his perusal of the contest sheets showed Titong and Egay were the ‘crush ng bayan.’ (Rumor has it that Angelo would have given them great competition had he been around to pen his signature.) Yes, still and forever, the most titillating question when high school alumni gather is who had a crush on whom.
I am reminded at this point of some late “arrivals”—Bobby Maniego, Volts and Rhodie, and Alma Samonte-Conty—which generated a lot of excitement. In particular, there was a clamor for picture-taking with our very distinguished, esteemed, generous classmate who has never let his VIP rank and status in the country create a distance between him and his classmates of long, long ago.
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| Araw Bernabe, Titong Enriquez, Lelalee Pascual-Rabago, Milburga de Veyra, Volts Gazmin, Ted Matta |
Everyone was able to see and talk with Alma Samonte-Conty via Skype. She was in her sunroom surrrounded by lovely orchids. Through her labor of love, we have been viewing videos of Pic, Clarion, and departed classmates and teachers.
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| Enteng showing Alma on Skype to Araw, Titong, Volts, Ted and their canonized friend San Miguel |
This was the first reunion in the Philippines for Aura, Ofie, Trell, Jack, Jess A., Bons, Octavio Mamon, and maybe Horace too. I hazard to say we shall see more of them and others in the future. As Ted Matta said, “I just realized tonight that life is a ball; I’m so glad I graduated from UP High.” Or as Kaloi told us, “I owe my development to all you guys here.” Or as Jess N. declared, “The best is yet to come.”
All throughout the evening, classmates expressed their appreciation to the reunion committees. We all feel, “A million thanks for a wonderful, galing galing na golden reunion.” It’s such a happy, marvelous, uplifting, heartwarming golden jubilee, surely we have to go for the next milestone anniversary.
Mabuhay!
SUBIC BAY DAY 2, FEBRUARY 12, 2011
The free time in the morning and afternoon were spent touring the attractions in Subic Bay, swimming, relaxing and kuwentuhan.
DINNER AND PROGRAM AT THE SUBIC BAY YACHT CLUB
by Beth Arcellana-Nuqui
AN OUTPOURING OF LOVE IN SONG
Saturday night,12 February 2011
The setting was the grand lobby of the Subic Bay Yacht Club, with its wall of tinted glass sweeping up from floor to three-storey high ceiling, and panoramic view of the bay with moored yachts on a moonlit night.
From the first strains of “There are places I remember all my life / though some have changed…” (the soundtrack for a short Power point presentation of reunions in North America), through the poems read by Ofie Penaflorida-Aid (“ I shall not pass this way again”) and Portia Casambre-Henle (“How do I love thee?” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning), the kundimans (“Sa Kabukiran” and “Minamahal kita”) sung by Aura Vina Gray-Cajiuat, to the classic and jazz improvisations( Schiller’s Ode to Joy/ Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and Gershwin’s “Someone to watch over me”), rendered on the grand piano by the evening’s impresario Enteng Velasco, we were overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, from across the oceans and through five decades of friendship. Bons (Manuel Abon) was a revelation, truly inspiring and inspired in his rendition of “Can this be love?” and “A woman in love” while accompanying himself on the grand piano. His performance prompted the proud cry of “1-E yata ‘yan!” from Bong.
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| Ofie Penaflorida-Aid |
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| Bons Abon |
A challenging round of “Name that tune” devised by Art and Myrna Jorge had 8 teams (tables) on tenterhooks. Each team had to guess not only the titles but also the performing artists of a total of 25 hits, five from each of the years 1957 to 1961. Two teams tied for first place with 48 correct answers each (out of 50): the team led by singer Araw (which also included fellow singers Bons and Voltaire) and the team led by Horace Gillego. Bong won a consolation prize after confessing he had only 8 correct answers.
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| Co-winners of Name That Tune contest headed by team leaders Horace Gillego and Araw Bernabe |
Another entertaining treat was the Five-Pair Dance ( dubbed by emcee Dinky as the “Senior-Senior Prom”): the waltz by Art and Myrna Jorge, the calypso by co-emcee Nina Lansang and Dony Joaquin, the tango by Juliet Brillo-Coquinco and Kaloi Rabuy (yet another revelation), the twist by Lou Quejas- and Joy Salazar, and finally the cha-cha by Norie Quesada- and Roly Catiis. Graceful pairs all, they were loudly applauded.
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| Art and Myrna Jorge |
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| Nina Lansang- and Dony Joaquin |
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| Juliet Brillo-Coquinco and Kaloi Rabuy |
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| Lou Quejas- and Joy Salazar |
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| Nora Quesada- and Roly Catiis |
The photo booth was a hit and attracted long queues. The most popular groupings were pairs, trios and quartets (various permutations and combinations) but since each picture print required 3 rapid poses (change of places, hats, wigs and facial expressions), each trio had to do a total of 9 poses so that each of them could have his/her own picture print. This did not stop classmates from posing for many prints!
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| NinaLes, Kaloi and Sheila whoopin' it up |
Special Awards for the night: For having traveled the farthest, logging 19 hours in flight, Araw Bernabe from Madrid and Alma Fabella- Karlsen from Oslo, who did a graceful boogie despite the difference in height. In high school, as Araw pointed out, they were both equally tall. For having birthdays closest to that night, Jack (Romulo) Jacala and Delsie Abrigo-Horak, both born the 8th of February.. By insistent public demand they had to dance – and gamely did so by doing a flamboyant waltz. For having the most grandchildren: Carmen Torre-Dimayuga (8) and Egay Pajaro (9). In the confusion, the class forgot to choose the best costume of the night but from what I remember, likely semi-finalists: Lou Salazar, Liza Sol Tapado, Emma Dolor, Norie Catiis, and Ofelia Aid in their classic bobby sox outfits with poodle appliques complete with leash, on balloon skirts, and Marie Tanwangco-Maglalang in a flower child outfit with flowers in her hair and the peace symbol necklace.
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| MarieTanwangco-Maglalang |
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| Emma de Vera-Dolor and Liza Sol Estela-Tapado |
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| Poodle-skirted trio: Lou, Ofie, Nora |
…. The first lunch at Vista Marina, with first-year sections sharing tables in joyful recollections
… “Kilala mo ba sila” the 25-square grid game which each one had to fill up with the autographs of classmates fitting categories such as: “One of your crushes in high school”, “A PMT officer”, “Never Married”, “A classmate you have not seen since HS graduation”, etc. This was a noisy ice-breaker – especially since there was really no ice to begin with.
… the makabagbag-damdamin Remembrance Hour put together by Enteng and Egbert, showing for the first time the elegant combination of Diana’s golden scarves on black tops.
…. Friday dinner with the Skype-enabled participation of Alma Samonte-Conty (having mid-morning coffee at her Virginia home), with Enteng walking around with his laptop. (Alma produced a total of 8 videos, all labors of love: the first shown at the Remembrance Hour and seven shown over Saturday lunch). It was Enteng who made the video he showed on Saturday night.
… the Sunday Just-After-Sunrise Service between the pool and Subic Bay, amid the palm trees, with Deacon Kaloi soliciting petitions, both silent and shared, burned with incense, and thanksgiving for 50 years of love and friendship.
… (in private) the quiet devotion of Octavio Mamon to visually-impaired wife Estelle, the sweet love of Loliza Quejas and Joy Salazar (based on an enduring friendship, Lou says), the loyalty of two U.P. Prepians Vads (to Joy Vitug-Rivadelo) and Vic (to Pearl Kapunan-Ortega), the wisdom of Ofie, the brilliance of polyglot Edna Cayanga-Merino, the generosity and thoughtfulness of Volts (providing security escorts, photography and video coverage, pianist, dinner hosting, etc).
The more formal part of the evening in the yacht club was over by 11:30pm but a group of about 18 regrouped and continued the night into the wee small hours of the morning , over beer and coffee and liquor or liqueur at the Vista Marina hotel bar Cascades. With the expert accompaniment of Nonong , Voltaire’s favorite pianist imported all the way from Manila, the following had their own sweet turn at the mike: Voltaire, Araw, Titong, Beth, NinaJ and Dony, Lou and Joy, Marie and Lou (with some participation by Dony), NinaLes, Simon and Atoy. The session lasted until 3:00am and broke up only because Voltaire had to leave for Manila at 5:30am and some wanted to be able to rest before the 7:00am after-sunrise of Kaloi.
The good news was that everybody had a nice time, Volts was able to leave on time and many were able to get up early to join Kaloi’s beautiful after sunrise service.
SUBIC BAY DAY 3, FEBRUARY 13, 2011
SUNRISE PRAYER SERVICE
by Nina Lansang-Joaquin
A Truly Grateful Class at
An After Sunrise Service on a Lovely Beach in Subic
Day 3 Feb 13, 2011
The Vista Marina Hotel in Subic was such a perfect venue for our reunion. The place had only 3 levels , and we found it so convenient that every morning , we could just peek from the second floor balcony and see if the food was already laid out for breakfast in the dining room below or if classmates were already gathering in the lobby below for the day's activities. We were all within reach of each other, with very restful accommodations for the night, in a safe haven where we could always retire to our rooms even for just a few minutes for whatever reason and not feel disjointed or cut off from the rest of the class. And very best of all, from the moment you stepped into the welcoming lobby, you could always catch a glimpse of the white beach and the shimmering sea beckoning just a few steps beyond the hotel's swimming pool. And there were coconut and palm trees, too, swaying with the breeze. Aha, you told yourself, it would be so relaxing to slip away early in the morning or late at night after the day's activities and step on the white sand on bare feet and feel the breeze on your face and maybe just fall asleep right there.
Unfortunately, we were having so much fun among ourselves and with each other as class 61, during those first two days , we were not able to get to the beach at all. On the second night, when everyone seemed quite tired after the final dinner , Dony and I ventured to step out into the beach, but were waylaid into an irresistible gathering of small talk and karaoke singing inside the bar beside the pool , where we stayed until the wee hours of the morning, and where after some drinks, each of us ventured at least a song for the night, cajoled by others and inspired by the musical genius of Nonong on the keyboard. Nonong is so gifted , he could play over one's off-key and sour notes, and make you sound tolerable.
So on the third and last day of our reunion, as I scrambled out of bed and walked towards the spot chosen by Deacon Kaloi, Enteng and Egbert for our sunrise service, I felt so happy that we had the opportunity to gather and enjoy the beautiful beach after all. Again, just like everything else for the past two days, holding the sunrise service there was just perfect!! Even the opening song Morning Has Broken was perfect for the occasion. There in front of God-made sand and sea, we realized how thankful we were for being able to attend such a fabulous reunion, for everything that had just transpired, for the great attendance from all over, without mishaps of any kind, for the overwhelming joy and love abounding, for our simply being there.
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| Deacon Kaloi presiding over prayer service |
Deacon Kaloi along with Enteng and Egbert, who were expecting no more than 5 or 6 to show up, could not believe it when classmates came, many with their spouses, that early in the morning . Deacon Kaloi delivered a short piece on thankfulness and how God loves it when we His children ask openly and speak out our petitions, out of humility, showing that we are needful of Him at all times. We had a touching ceremony of making known our wishes and desires and needs, one by one, either quietly or openly and writing them down on paper and burning the paper in incense. Towards the ends, we could all feel a real sense of gratitude swelling from all of us as we sang the hymn Amazing Grace, capping the two days of frenzied celebration in Subic of our 50th anniversary as UP High Class 61.
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| Al Magpily, Lelalee Rabago, Tony Horak |
UP High Class 61 truly has so many things to be grateful for . First and foremost, that we are all truly blessed to be members of UP High Class 61 and that we all know it.
WRAP-UP by Enteng Velasco
While waiting for the bus to take us to lunch in Pampanga, Dinky led an impromptu singing at the hotel lobby. Although we were taking the bus, the group sang with gusto
Leaving on a Jet Plane. To the singing of
Let Me Call You Sweetheart, Egbert got Portia to dance the waltz.
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| Cora Almazan, Dinky Einsiedel, Paul Cajiuat, Nora Catiis, Trell Acosta |
LUNCH AT EVERYBODY’S CAFÉ
On the bus ride home, we stopped at Everybody’s Café in San Fernando, Pampanga for lunch. The sumptuous lunch consisted of kare-kare, lechon kawali,bulalo soup, fried crispy hito, and sweetened saba and kamote. After lunch, there was a queue to buy pasalubong of uraro and turrones de casoy.
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| Nory Tapado, Al and Chit Magpily, Juliet Coquinco, Emily Robles |
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| Reggie and Ed Cailao, Joy and Lou Salazar, Jess Nepomuceno, Mario and Marie Maglalang, Milburga De Veyra, Trell Acosta, Alma Karlsen |
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| Egbert Abiad, Bong Nuqui, Annie and Rolly Eugenio |
The last stop before U.P. was San Guillermo Parish Church in Bacolor, Pampanga. In 1995, lahar flow from the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo buried the church at half its
12-meter height. The present entrance is on the same level as the high window.
ARRIVAL AT U.P. BAHAY NG ALUMNI
We were back at the place where it all started. We arrived at 5:30 pm, exactly on
schedule! Everyone was exhausted and sleep-deprived but still radiant in the glow of friendships renewed and revitalized. We will have pleasant memories that will last us a lifetime. Alas, I am already having reunion hangover. May God hold us in His hands until we meet again, my dear classmates.
VOLTAIRE’S TREAT: A POST-VALENTINE GATHERING
by Bong Nuqui
The euphoria from the 3-days/ 2-nights reunion at Subic was hard to contain. Even after all the seeming delays on Sunday (Feb 13), the Victory Liner bus made it back to the U.P. Bahay Alumni exactly at 5:30pm, just as printed in the schedule. As the participants gathered their luggage (now including Tayabas hats, colorful Jack-donated Guam bags, and personalized luggage tags with the famous Pearl-designed tagilid UP logo) from the bus, classmates were clearly torn between hugging their greeters and hugging their fellow reunionistas. The unsaid question was “We are going to see each other again soon, right?”
Fortunately the answer was yes. Voltaire and Rhodie were to host a post-Valentine treat on Tuesday evening. The 1-day break turned out to be fortuitous too: it provided time for the reunionistas to rest (yes, admit it, we all needed that) or enjoy the Valentine’s Day milieu of heavy traffic and full restaurants in Manila. It also enabled participants to let all those emotions sink in, evaporate, or brew as the case may be.
Volts and Rhodie pulled out all the stops and laid out a feast at the official quarters of the DND Secretary in Camp Aguinaldo. The setting was superb and expansive: 8 big round tables under two huge colorful parachutes wide a big lighted acacia tree to one side of the huge lawn. As if pre-arranged, it was a cool Manila evening with an almost-full moon. The food was sumptuous (including 2 lechon de leche, fresh lumpia, beef caldereta, kinilaw na isda, native pinipig suman, etc.). There was live music too: Nonong (again) at the keyboard, this time accompanied by violin- and leaf-(yes, dahon) playing Lovi Celerio, the son of the late National Artist Levi Celerio. Our very own Dinky was there with his trusted guitar and Peter-Paul-and-Mary beard to accompany the encore of “Katakataka” and “Those were the Days”.
Because he had to accompany PNoy to Jolo earlier on Friday, Volts (and Rhodie) did not make it to Subic until 10pm Friday night (almost nine hours after the reunion group arrived). The Manila group in its musical presentation had to make do without him (one of the main singers of the group). Then too, because he had to attend the Sunday morning military funeral of General Angelo Reyes, Volts had to leave Subic at 5:30am that day while everybody else was still recovering from the Saturday bash at the Yacht Club. In spite of all these commitments, the virtual reunion kickoff on Sunday Feb 6 (where Nina Joaquin and Kaloi Rabuy attended as vanguards of overseas participants) and the closing dinner on Tuesday Feb 15 were both hosted by Volts/Rhodie. It was not originally planned that way but that is how it turned out with a mixture of good scheduling, luck, and of course generosity by the Gazmins.
In honor of Volts’s achievements and gratitude for so many things the couple had provided the class (including the full video and photographic coverage of the reunion from the Friday morning assembly until the Feb 15 closing dinner itself, the wonderful pianist Nonong, and the ever-present but unobtrusive security), the class serenaded the Gazmins and presented them with a bouquet of flowers and basket of fruits. In a semi-circle the class sung “What a wonderful world!” and “Paano kita mapapasalamatan”. It was a modest gesture of thanks but Rhodie couldn’t contain her tears. In the depth of her emotional involvement she represented all the spouses who have been so active, physically or in spirit, in our class events, just like full-fledged classmates. No reunion would be a success without the active and supportive participation of the spouses – including those who (like Jim Henle and some others) could not make it but encouraged their spouses to come anyway.
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| Rhodie and Volts Gazmin |
Jim Henle, Smith College math professor, could not attend because of classes but urged Portia to come, even just by herself. As his unique participation in the reunion, Jim sent a card-cum-logic-puzzle personally distributed by Portia. As you might remember, the card had 3 statements: 1. There is exactly one true statement on this card. 2. 1961+50=2011 3. Gold na, galing galing pa…rin!
The real point of the puzzle is that the 3rd statement is true – even if all of us agree on it without need for proof. But the mathematical proof of the 3rd statement goes as follows (as emailed by Jim himself): - First note that the second statement is true: 1961+50=2011.
- Because of this, the 1st statement cannot be true. If it were true, then there would be two true statements, the first and the second. But then the first statement would be untrue since it says there is exactly one true statement.
- Now since the first statement is false and since there is at least one true statement (the second), it must be the case that there is another true statement. The only statement left is the third. Thus the third statement must be true! Gold na, galing galing… pa rin!
The puzzle card was presented on Saturday noon and I was supposed to announce the proof on Saturday night but just too many things happened that night. But thank you, Jim, for the puzzle. Most of all, thank you for encouraging Portia to come. We would have wanted her to attend Voltaire’s Treat too on Feb 15 but her itinerary had been fixed before the Feb 15 treat was finalized. |
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| Jerry Carandang, Titong Enriquez, Volts Gazmin, Jess Aquino, Egay Pajaro, Araw Bernabe |
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| Jimmy Borres, Bons Abon, Ofie Aid, Aura and Paul Cajiuat, Dinky Einsiedel |
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| Ronnie and Nina Lesaca, Perla and Pete Sagge, Mabs and Mita Juan, Diana Advincula |
Voltaire’s post-Valentine dinner provided a chance for some classmates who could not be in Subic to join at least one 50th reunion event: Percival and Perla Dalugdug (who were supposed to be in Subic but missed it because Percy got sick), plus Diana Franco-Advincula and the long-missed Roberto Mataverde, Jimmy Borres, Pete Sagge (with spouse Perla) and Octavio Gonzales. Amazingly, all of them connected instantly with the reunionistas, especially since all the pictures and videos of the Subic reunion were being played continuously on a big screen during the dinner. At times it felt surreal, as if being simultaneously in two time zones and places: Feb 11-13 at Subic (on the screen) and Feb 15 at Camp Aguinaldo (live!).
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| Juliet Coquinco, Dinky Einsiedel, Roberto Mataverde |
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| 3 tenors? Hindi, tatlong kalbo: Percy Dalugdug, Pete Sagge, Bons Abon |
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| Ete Manalang, Octavio Gonzales |
Voltaire gave out a CD to every classmate. Each disk contained all the still pictures taken by the DND photographers starting from Friday morning as the class assembled in Diliman until Sunday afternoon as the class gathered for one more group picture outside the lahar-buried San Guillermo Church of Bacolor. For distribution later in the week is a DVD which will feature the video coverage of Feb 11-15 (in raw form a total of about 12 hours, to be edited) plus all the still photos taken at the Tuesday dinner itself. All in all, these are priceless mementos of all that occurred during the reunion. The photographs are helpful even for those present physically at the events because even while there was a grand reunion, there were many otherwise-undocumented mini-reunions between classmates. Late into the night Beth and I would exchange notes about all the mini-reunions we witnessed or participated in during the day. For those who did not make it to any of the events, the CD and DVD will be the next best thing.
It was very difficult to say good-bye on Tuesday night. Egbert led the one-on-one hugs around an approximately 60-person circle and Dinky ended up singing Auld Lang Syne almost by himself because the huggers were madaldal – and therefore could not sing! Soon it was time to go but only because physical fatigue had set in on 65-year old bodies, many had to leave with their sundos, and for some, Wednesday was either still a working day or another day of touring or reunion with other friends and relatives. The U.P. High Class 1961 50th reunion has just ended but in fact it merely shifts from the physical to the virtual or spiritual mode. Very aptly, the banner for the evening did not say “Good-bye”, it said “Till we meet again!” – wherever and whenever that will be.
NOTE (Feb 22 2011): The comments below were solicited during the Feb 15 dinner at Camp Aguinaldo. Additional comments and responses are very welcome. Please email to Enteng.
Wishes and predictions by classmates for 5 years from now (February 2016?) were also collected and “sealed” in wine bottles (a la time capsules) to be kept by Enteng for those in North America and by Egbert for those in the Philippines. They will be opened five years from now.
THE FUNNIEST MOMENTS/ CLASSMATES:
- The jokes, reminiscing our “awkward” high school days.
- I loved every moment.
- While posing at the photo booth at the Subic Yacht Club, I was trying for a wacky pose and almost fell back. This was caught in the picture.
- The “Kilala mo ba sila?” game.
- The “Name that tune and singer” game.
- Lots of laughter during the 3 days. Classmates do not take themselves seriously in spite of their lifetime achievements. Kaloi predominates in terms of funny remarks, gestures and movements.
- Trying to match names and faces. Many senior moments encountered.
- Jack’s brief comments.
- Kaloi and Atoy always made me laugh.
- The award for the one with the least hair.
- During our Saturday morning tour, Atoy kept a running humorous commentary inside the taxi, all the way from the start to the end of the tour!
- Every moment!
- Kakalugan ni Kaloi.
HINDI MAKAKALIMUTAN
- Lahat!
- The whole event – from start to finish! The fellowship, the warmth of the feeling of caring among all of our classmates.
- The surprised faces when people realized that the person/s in front of them was/were someone they used to know 50 years ago.
- The whole time I was with classmates during the reunion, especially the Sunrise Service.
- Sincerity of wonderful friends. Wonderful performance of everyone.
- The entire magnificent celebration of Gold na, Galing Galing… pa rin.
- The wacky posing for the Photo booth.
- The solemnity of the Remembrance Hour – the venue, the music, the program and the black-and-gold outfits.
- Camera malfunctions: leaving the lens cover on, flash not working, low batt, etc. Ako ang may kasalanan!
- The friendship and the spontaneity.
- The presentations of the Manila and Overseas groups.
- Ang samahan nating magkaklase na kahit paminsanminsan lang magkita ay parang kailan lang!
- The Just-after-Sunrise-Service on Sunday.
- Hindi ko makakalimutan ang masayang pagkikita sa likod ng UP Theater, lalo na ang matagal nang hindi nakita mula ng graduation.
- The sea of maroon on Friday morning as classmates first assembled for group pictures. Almost everyone was on time.
- The “after-party” at the Vista Marina Lounge Bar, between midnight and 3:00am, after the Saturday dinner at the Subic Yacht Club.
- Dancing the waltz with Portia at the lobby of the hotel.
PINAKA-NAKAKAIYAK
- Remembrance Hour, especially the video footage on Pic Anonuevo.
- Hearing the names of departed teachers and classmates being called out. Memories kept coming back. How I missed particular classmates.
- Remembrance Hour.
- Slide show showing the departed teachers and classmates.
- “Saan ka man naroroon” as background music at the Remembrance Hour.
- When I saw the video on Pic, I spontaneously started crying.
- When we talked about some of those who have left ahead of us.
- If Percy had gone to Subic, I would have gladly given up my crown to him for the most glaring head.
WHATEVER YOU WANT TO SAY
- Everything was well-planned and everyone cooperated. Congratulations to the reunion committees for a job well done. I am glad I came.
- “Humongous” thanks to the reunion committees – excellent job. I personally, deeply appreciate it.
- Thank you very much for the reunion committees, both in the Philippines and North America, who put in so much time to make our 50th reunion so happy and very memorable. Thanks to Voltaire and Rhodie for hosting a party for us, provided music, photo coverage and security services too.
- Thank you to the reunion committees. The love, loyalty, hard work and dedication are much appreciated and “truly golden”.
- A glittering event.. that’s what gold is all about. Everyone showed off his/her golden spirit and golden hearts. The interaction among the attendees was marvelous. The planned activities were conducive to mingling. They were meant to be not only for the classmates but for the “mates” as well. Hoping for more frequent reunions.. soon.
- Time flies!! Catch it while you can. Lipad, classmates, lipad!
- Best reunion so far. I hope we can still see each other again soon, healthy and well.
- I was so happy to see classmates I had not seen since graduation.
- Thank you very much to all who helped plan and implement this memorable reunion. Thanks for leaving no stone unturned to make this reunion the success that it is. Maraming, maraming salamat.
- Maraming salamat sa mga organizers at mga classmates na tumulong na maging masaya at maayos ang reunion. I had a marvelous time. Kudos to you all.
- Very, very enjoyable. Well-organized. Everyone was friendly and ready for friendship renewal.
- Thank you, God bless you, and may we meet again.
- After playing the Kilala-mo-ba-sila game, we should have asked the described classmate/s to rise and be acknowledged, as in “PMT Officer”, “Lakambini candidate”, etc.
- The whole group was wonderful. Everybody went with the flow!
- Sana we will stay healthy (with God’s blessings) so that we can still enjoy each other’s company.
- On a scale of 1 to 10, the reunion was a 10+. The reunion committees did a super super job. They left no stones unturned. I love everything!
- Let’s meet more often.
- I want a reunion not more than 2 years from now, say 2013.
