UPDATES
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07 July 2001 The Grand Alumni Homecoming of PNHS Class 74 was a RESOUNDING SUCCESS! Turnout was 24% out of 500 batchmates.
The success of the reunion was not possible without the following batchmates who worked hard for every details: Giovanni Cruz together with Perfecto Tadeo took care of the Physical Arrangement, Transport to and from the barrios, bands and sound system. We have to mention the hard work done by Zeny Aquino-Gonzales in coordinating the different sub-committees in the Lingayen area. There are really two members of the class who made the difference and this reunion should not have been possible without them - Julius Sison and Ed del Castillo. There are times that Julius and I get frustrated due to one reason or the other but Ed del Castillo was always there giving encouragement.
The fun started at 5 AM of June 29 when a group of four batchmates, Jerome, Emil, Sammy, Julius and Sammy's two children went for a nine hole game at Dagupan Golf Club. Who won? Jerome won. Sam promised to get even with me. Well, Sam has an excuse because he did not have his favorite Callaway driver and his iron set. It matters a lot when you are using your own set, you know. The Rookie, Ed, surprised everybody (including me) with his very good powerful drives in spite the fact that he just started learning the game in March 2001.
June 29, 2001, the members of the class arrived in trickles and peaked during the Solidarity Night. Husband and wife, Peter and Gilda Viray, led the praise songs at 3:00 PM. Julius, Jerome, Rhonda and Arlene joined them in the stage for the singing. Later during the Solidarity Night, everybody stood up and started dancing making a big loop around the old Social Hall, North Building. Some old flames (high school lovers and those na hangang ligaw tingin lang) that unluckily did not become husband and wife, started dancing and perhaps wanted to reminisce the feeling of a first love. I saw Jose Rosario and ???(lady from Baay), Gene U and ???(lady from Libsong), Me (Jerome) and ???, Ed del Castillo and ???. On the same day/night, we learned a lot that we never had the opportunity to know 27 years ago. They are:
June 30, 2001, Family Day and Games. Games started at 10:00AM. There was raffle prizes drawn every hour. The game that everybody enjoyed most was the "Trip to Jerusalem". Instead of using chairs, 10 men from the class knelt with a talong na ipit-ipit sa singit. The objective was: the 11 women batch mates have to grab the talong and raise it up in the air when the music stopped. The one without a talong was eliminated. In the end, Jose Rosario was left together with Alicia Orjalo-Leinenger and Elizabeth Sison. Suddenly Joe changed the game. Tumihaya siya and inserted the talong deep sa singit niya. It was only the tip that was exposed. With the two ladies, it took us so many repeats because the talong was either durog-durog or cut into 2 sa agawan. Finally we decided that whoever gets the longer one (best of 3) wins. As soon as the pictures are available, it will be posted. You will see how Jose Rosario loved these 2 ladies caressing his own talong habang pinag-aagawan yung totuong talong!
Gala Night was more formal than expected. Everyone was smartly dressed. In spite everybody being tired during the games earlier, there were still many attendees. Almost all the tables were occupied. Raffle prizes were drawn every hour. The major prize, a TV set, was won by ______. A survey was done on "Who was the most Playboy of class 74?". The voted winner was no other than Nick Gonzales. This we hardly believed because we knew Nick as ligaw nang ligaw pero parati naman siyang basted! How can one be a playboy kung lahat na lang ay binasted siya? I heard later from Jesus Sison that Lea got mad because of the award on her beloved husband and was looking who was responsible for the award. Like the text exchanges on GSM cell phones in the Philippines, "mahirap talaga ang cute and handsome"! Ernesito Tiong got the award for the most number of children. He is blessed with eleven (11) healthy children. He was given a time limit to mention his children's names from the eldest to the youngest. Well, he failed to do it on time!
Members of PNHS Class 74, we have a project for our lesser fortunate batchmates. We have created a "PNHS Class 74 Foundation, Inc.". We will be giving scholarships to their children. We will be sending you solicitation letters for our scholars. No fixed amounts dictated. What comes from your heart, is most welcome. The elected members of the "Board of Trustees" are: USA/Canada Area: Ed del Castillo, Sammy Cruz and Ma. Karla Gonzales-Poco Manila Area: Emil Ramos, Gene Urbano and Jerome Tandoc Pangasinan Area: Rhonda Ong, Virginia Tomelden and Elton Viray
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9 November 2000 Manila Meeting Attendees: Jerome, Emil and Juanito Velasco
Because of the poor turnout of Jerome took the opportunity to update the two gentlemen the progress of the PNHS 74 Homecoming efforts in Lingayen, Manila and US/Canada.
Because of the two consecutive poor turnout in the meeting, we are presently doing a mini-survey on the day and time of meeting. This is to maximize the attendance.
11 November 2000 Lingayen Meeting Number of attendees: Fifteen (15) !
Ms. Zeny Aquino-Gonzales and Rhonda Ong-Raynes are both doing an excellent jobs in coordinating the reunion planning.
Worth mentioning is the attendance of Elsie Abarabar and Giovanni Cruz.
Our two Wonder Women will go to Bugallon and Binmaley, to get updates from Nap Versoza and Felisa Tibalao-Ramires, respectively. |
6 November Lingayen Meeting Meeting with Mrs. Lolita Salomon, PNHS Principal. PNHS 74 representative: Jerome, Rhonda and Zeny.
Discussed with her what Batch 74 can donate during the reunion. Her first priority is to finish the construction of the Gymnasium, beside the old stage (see pictures). The school still needs approximately PHP2 mio to complete the project. Other possibilities are library facilities (tables and chairs) and classroom monobloc chairs (plastic). Information Technology (IT) project was already committed by batch 65 (Mr. Viray's batch).
Solitation letters were provided by Ms. Salomon for the Gymnasium Fund. This will be discussed by the meeting in both Manila and Lingayen.
We were able to get permission from the principal to use the open area (in front of the stage - see picture) for program on the 29th, if needed.
At present there are more than 6,000 students and 200 teaching staff. That means it has tripled since we graduated.
Also took the opportunity to visit and talk with Giovanni, Elton, Rodrigo Tapia, Roger Domagas and Felisa Tibalao-Ramirez. Giovanni, Elton and Roger promised to attend during the meetings. Giovanni further volunteered to coordinate for the Pangapisan area.
Passed by the Aguilar house of Jennylin on the way to Lingayen. Later contacted her to inform her about the reunion. Her address and phone is now in the address book.
Designated Felisa Tibalao-Ramirez to contact the rest of the batchmates in Binmaley area. She agreed after handing her a copy of the Gulf View. Rodrigo Tapia was tapped to contact Maniboc resident batchmates.
Issued check to Zeny as initial deposit for Lingayen operating fund. Vivian will print minimum number of solicitation stub. |
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6 October 2000 Manila Meeting First Manila group meeting was conducted in Alabang Towncenter. Attendees were Julius, Alvin and Laurie.
The following were agreed upon:
Next meeting in Lingayen will be on 14 October (Saturday) at the house of Jess and Vivian Sison, Jacoba Street at 1:00 PM. To be attended by Ofelia and Julius.
Tentative Lingayen meeting for November will be 2nd November. To be attended by Jerome. Venue and time to be announced at a later date.
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