by Pepita Andres-Pilar, Class 1956
The Salettinians of the late 50's were the product of love and tireless devotion of our School Directors Father Lionel Lacasse, M.S., Brother Donat Levasseur, M.S., and others that followed. Teachers who worked with them were most gifted in their respective fields of specialization that molded so many students with tenderness but with firmness. Miss Beatriz Piedad and Miss Graduacion Ramos, who taught English, were both musically talented - a pianist and a singer respectively. Mr. Irineo Ramirez, our Biology teacher, was a very active Boy Scouts of the Philippines Scout Master who was one among those who hiked their way from Isabela to Manila to attend the national Jamboree, a devoted trainor of the LSM Spic and Span Drum and Bugle Corps. Mr. Maximo Caday - PMT Commandant taught Wood Working and Geometry and painted beautiful stage backdrops for our varied school programs. Mr. Sixto Abenoja, who taught Pilipino, patiently taught us how to write "tula" and "balagtasan". Mr. Severo Lachica bombarded us with his teaching in History, a dynamic teacher who later on joined politics and became Mayor of the town. Geometry and Maths were tackled by Miss Vicenta Cauilan and Mr. Elpidio Menrije. There was never a dull moment with our Physics and Algebra teacher Mrs. Valentina Cadiz and reinforced by two nuns of the St. Joseph congregation. The able School Registrar was Mr. Pedro Ramirez.
The teachers did not only teach but molded characters (at that time discipline was a yardstick to Salettinian upbringing) inspired and developed talents. It was a period of Operettas. Who sang "They laugh at danger ha, ha, ha, in The Toreador if not Mauricio Ignacio, his twin daughters Pepita Andres and Jovita Tolentino and their suitors: Victorino Nasog and Andres Garinog. Same actors and actresses in the Forest Prince were Generoso Cadiz, the clown Manuel Santos, Noli Lansangan and a dozen chorus girls and boys that completed the production. The graceful Swaying Daffodils dancers were Lydia Gonzales, Norma Baysa, Elsa Ladores and Nenita Diego.
That young boy from Cabatuan, Rolando Dacuycuy, could beat Mario Lanza with his soaring tenor voice in his "Song of Songs". Equally talented were Patrocinio Dayrit and Feliza Andres who could warble songs at any command performance. The Drum & Bugle Corps Majorette Norma Domingo could contest them with her "Softly as in the Morning Sunrise".
The Glee Club at that time could put the audience under their spell with acapella singing of Harms Choruses which included Charmaine, Don't Fence Me In and Cole Porter's Begin the Beguine under the baton of Bro. Donat or Miss Graduation Ramos.
Adjacent to the Industrial Arts building were two piano rooms which were the music shop of pianists who displayed
their finger dexterity on the keyboard during Recitals. The music makers were Elena Lorenzo, Balbina Tomacruz,
Pepita Andres, Nenita Diego, Belen Del Rosario, Margarita Viernes, Norma Baysa, Eddie Padlan, Augusto Agustin,
and Miss Narcisa Labutong. Piano lessons were held during vacant periods, after classes and on weekends under the
tutorship of Mrs. Carmelita Viola, Miss Beatriz Piedad and Miss Luz Segundo.
Social graces? The 50's was a time for Balls. There were the PMT Ball with cadets in their uniform graced by their lovely sponsors; the Queen's Ball during the Patronal Town Fiesta, Juniors & Seniors Prom wherein the ladies were in long gowns and were fetched by their permanent partners. The JS Prom was a very formal occasion. There was the banquet prepared by the Sniors for the Juniors, a practicum for table manners. Watch out ... do you sip/gulp, spoon the soup? ... and what's next?
On Thursdays, the four room partitions of the hall were opened for dancing lessons. The lady teachers would teach the intricate steps of the Boogie Woogie to the fast beat of In the Mood, Rock and Roll to Jail House Rock, slow drag to the Tennessee Waltz tune and cha-cha with Que Rico Barcelon. These dances would make a Barn Dance or a Jam Session enjoyable. Pedal pushers in long sleeves and straw hats would be the ladies' fashion for the occasion while the gentlemen sported blue jeans and checked long sleeves. We would dance with bright lights on a sound system that could practically supply the entire neighborhood with music.