Our High School Class ' 65 Golden Jubilee

The pictures from top to bottom: Kindergarten class picture, first communion picture, first and second year high school pictures (boys and girls were in separate sections starting fifth grade).  Pictures were provided by Nilda Lorenzo Tuazon.  Thanks Nilda.

I just came back from a six week stay in the Philippines the main purpose of which was to attend my High School Class '65 of St. James Academy, Malabon, Metro Manila Philippines Golden Jubilee activities.

The organizing committee after much brainstorming and even some lively discussions prepared for us Golden Jubilarians not one but four activities during the two week celebration between February 15-27: 

GOLDEN JUBILEE

CELEBRATION ACTIVITIES:

15-17 FEBRUARY 2015, SUNDAY TO TUESDAY

Trip to Baguio City

21 FEBRUARY 2015, 6pm SATURDAY

SJAAA Grand Alumni Homecoming

at SJA Auditorium

23-24-25 February 2015, MONDAY to WEDNESDAY

TUGUEGARAO SORTIE—Las Palmas Hotel

27 FEBRUARY 2015, FRIDAY

Farewell Party—Lunch To Dinner

at Raymond's (BoyG's son) Residence

University Hills Subd., Caloocan City

An impromptu one was added to the two week activities namely the luncheon/overnight stay at Dulce and Manny Quimson's Tagaytay place.  We are grateful to the members of the organizing committee and our classmates who hosted the various events.



Some of the members of the Class '65 Golden Jubilee Organizing Committe pose with Ozzie Cruz and Bishop Rolly Santos in this group picture.  Left to right:  Boy Garcia, Oswaldo Cruz, Linda Paez Calixto, Bishop Rolly Santos, Paeng Robles (Lifelong President) and Lory Sevilla.  Not featured is Danny Reyes but you will see him in other pictures, promise

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I actually retired earlier than I intended in order to attend the two week celebration.   I did not want to worry about coming back as soon as possible like I did during the 2009 reunion in order to get back to work.  I want to relish every moment.  But why do we attend class reunions? 

First of all, it is always a joy to see classmates one has not seen for a long time.  As Paeng Robles, our lifelong class president, recounted it was quite a heartening experience for him (and also I am sure for all of us) to just witness the excitement everyone had as each former classmate alighted from the vehicle that brought him or her to the Trinoma Shopping Mall at six in the morning.  We met at this mall to start the first of four activities planned for the two week reunion, the trip to Baguio.  You could hear the squeals of joy miles away as each person was recognized.



Members of our Class '65 waiting for everyone to arrive at Trinoma Mall in Quezon City.  We started meeting there at 6 am in the morning en route to Baguio City.

There was a lot of guessing that went on as to the identity of the person who had just arrived.  After all it has been 50 years since we had seen some of our classmates and some have changed including myself who had packed so many pounds since then.  And then there were some who we hated to see since they even got prettier.  I am not naming them so classmates just consider yourself as one of them.  (Ha, ha)

When we attend reunions,  there is nothing more fun than reminiscing the funny and sometimes embarrassing events with our former classmates.  There are also other intangible reasons that move us to go to reunions.  Life is a journey and it is always nice to be reminded where we have been and how we were "then". 

We have a saying in the Philippines that goes something like this, "A person who does not look back to where she or he started will not know how get to her or his destination."  Somehow going to reunions remind us of the ideals we have perhaps long forgotten or just the joy and innocence of those foregone days.  Reviving them gives us strength and courage as we go further in our journey in life.

Reunions also remind us that we were never alone and will never be alone.  They, our former classmates, were and will be there in our thoughts and prayers.  Our class '65 has been very lucky to have Paeng Robles as our lifelong class president. His emails have kept us together.  His inimitable wit makes his updates interesting and worth looking forward to.  He had zealously called for prayer brigades everytime one of us or our relative got sick. I was one of them who benefited from this when I had my first knee operation and then when I had cancer.  The comforting words from my classmates really helped assured me everything would be alright.


Paeng Robles, Class '65 Lifelong President.  We are so grateful Paeng for the time and effort you put into those emails. 

In future posts, I will be recounting my account and insight on the activities of this grand reunion.  I will include recipes of dishes that I connect with the activity.  We talked, laughed, ate and prayed.  We also danced and sang whether we liked it or not.  And most importantly we were with each other after 50 long years!  Mabuhay Class '65.

Below are pictures representing the various events.  More will be shown in later posts.







February 15-17, 2015 - Trip to Baguio City. Group picture on the last day at Baguio.  This was after the Mass officiated by Bishop Rolly Santos the Holiday Park hotel.  In blinding neon green is Danny Reyes, our classmate and the owner of the Holiday Park Hotel where we stayed.



 Feb 19, 2015- Luncheon/Overnight Stay at Dulce and Manny Quimson's Tagaytay Vacation House.  Left to right, Glory Camus Orlina, Esther Gutierrez Banaag, Ondes Lucas Herold, Dulce Aquino Quimson, Linda Paez Calixto, Nora Yanga Miranda, Malou Santos Salumbides, Flordeliza Vivandor Ongkeko, Charito Lazcano Lazaro, Raquel Sioson Huliganga, Zeny Mendoza Parayo, Vida Rivera Isip, Ossie Cruz and Girlie Garcia.  At the back is Lory Sevilla and Manny Quimson. 




 Feb 21, 2015 - SJAAA Grand Alumni Homecoming at SJA Auditorium

  Class '65 group picture with the teachers during the St. James Homecoming held at the school's auditorium.  The great turnout of attendees from our class is due to the hard work and effort done by the organizing committee.  They actually went door to door recruiting our classmates for the events.   They did a lot of research looking for their addresses and/or relatives to get to them.  My roommate in Baguio, Imelda Aguilar Tiongson, told me how impressed and touched she was of this wonderful effort and so were all of us upon knowing about it.

23-24-25 February 2015, MONDAY to WEDNESDAY TUGUEGARAO SORTIE—Las Palmas Hotel.  Seating Left to right:  Dulce, Lita, Baby (Myrna) and hubby Bob, Danny, Nora and Beth (Tony's wife).  Standing Ossie Cruz, Florie (Ossie's wife), Girlie (Boy G's wife), Boy G, Paeng, Tony, ZenyP, Linda, Susie, Malou, Flor, Esther, ZenyG, Vida, Elvie, Glori, Lulu and Ondes.




Feb 27,  2015 - Despedida Party hosted by Boy and Girlie Garcia.  View of the amazing despedida party hosted by Boy and Girlie Garcia at their son's residence in University Hills, Caloocan.