Nelson Cena cc'd me in an email to four other "Math-mates" giving them updates.  The light bulb shined on....would'nt it be neat if there is a way to link and update other classmates???  A simple website arised to welcome the Year 2000....the Aftermath '78. With the pictures sent to me over the years by Lex , Tess, Riz and Dana, I was able to create something to start with.

The following month Liby Rueda-Odiamar & her husband Ernie went back to Manila for a visit and it paved the way for a big reunion among the Math group. They got a warm welcome from Ariel Nepomuceno & wife Lady & kids (Isaiah, Isaac, Elisha & Samuel), Nell & Beng and the 2 kids (Kevin & Kim), Solly & hubby Romy, Galor and daughter Camille, Cora, Josefina (Bong & kids left earlier but Penn stayed), Wilma & Pastor Frederick, Ariel Ciego and his son RJ,  Willie Torres and Bong Ramos. There were talks about a Grand Math Reunion on our 25th year anniversary which will also include other groups.

Meanwhile, California has been hot for visitors...Tet Castro-Solitaria, Chris Jornales, Inia Asuncion, Liby and Cris Aniag had a series of mini reunions with the Parados and the Bautistas. Beng Nuguid-Evangelista and family plus Inia spent a week with the California Quad.  The bonding that took place not only with the former classmates but with their families was historic.  I got a chance to taste the hospitality of Inia, Lei Garrido, Vic E and Chris J when my family visited New York.  It was amazing to see them again after so many years.  My wife and kids loved them all.

In the meantime, I got hold of Rey Bisda....or should I say Rey got hold of me through Diana Lansangan-Gonzales with whom I exchanged a couple of email a while back through the AlumniNet (same as Jay Po).  Rey became my buddy....finally, I'm not alone in Toronto!  Rey's wife Gretchen and kids Randell & Russell became close to my family, too.  Then there's that wonderful Fenchie and Ruben from Vancouver who got Rey and me hooked-up to the email with long love stories and our humble beginnings here in Canada...(still humble up to now!).  We became Cyber-Buddies.  Then there is Reuel Cruz from Ohio who became my Tech-Buddy.  Because of them plus Jay Po and Vic Edrosolan, the "Friendship Page" was born.  A surprise email from the funny Romeo "Boyet" Kabigting, then later on from Celso Galvez...widened the scope of the Friendship Page to include other THS batch.

When Rey B linked me to Paring Erick....I knew we're in for a big treat!!!  The info machine has joined the group.  I found out that the desire for a Grand Reunion is out there and God must have paved the way for us to meet to make this a reality.  Father Erick seemed to be just around the neighborhood....(although we have'nt even heard each others voice) with the tons of email we exchanged, we get to know each other very well...another Cyber-Buddy.  With all the updates coming from Padre on other batchmates and the desire for the 25th Grand Batch78 Reunion and Rey B's suggestion..."The KaEskwela, atbp" (name courtesy of Tess Parado) came to existence.  The AfterMath 78 and KaEskwela co-existed for 2 months and was finally merged into one thereafter.

With the "KaEskwela, atbp" in May, the Friendship Page of AfterMath became the "Math After"  featuring the Math group of Batch 79 which we hope will have their own website soon, under Ed Rafael's creative and techie juices.  Who would think Romeo Austria and the Parados will meet in the crowded Universal Studios in the City of Angels?  I was surprised to bump into Manny "Olong" Tuazon in a crowded Port Authority terminal in the Big Apple, too?  Some signs that the batch is everywhere.

Sixteen great souls convened to light the torch that would start it all....the Manila Core Group ( Leonor Rivera-Piguing, Eleanor Directo-Fabie, Edna Adriano-Gilera, Ofelia Celestino, Marilou Cruz-Santos, Consolacion Cabildo-Albornoz, Evelyn Cena, Merlie Sugay-Leocadio, Jesie Guevara-Moran,  Edmundo Liao, Dante Manalang, Ariel Nepomuceno, Felipe San Jose, Erick Santos and  Nelson Cena) made the bold step and get so much fun and laughter in return....not to mention the good food and hospitality of Manila Cathedral College.  It was a riot and from what I heard you could'nt say that there is only sixteen people in the room at some point.  The Manila core deserved the recognition for starting the long trip to year 2003.

In another corner of the world, Reuel Cruz and wife Lida and daughter Krizzia spent a night in our humble abode in North York.  In addition to the great friendship that developed from the get-together, another milestone arised....the "KaEskwela.com" which became the home of two euphoric CyberReunions.  The brain-child of Reuel gave us the chatroom where 16 batchmates from Greater Manila, Vancouver area, Ohio, Missouri, California, and Toronto logged in to join the pandemonium in the boisterous room. Edgar Atienza was a great hit and so is Mr. Mon "Amnesia" Salas.  Even Jollo and wife Monette who's in honeymoon in Antipolo tried to find a landmine to connect to the room. The chatters were (in order of arrival)....Val, Rey, Reuel, Mon, Paring Erick, Perlie (tele-conferenced Jesie & Edna),  Fenchie, Beng,  Edgar, Jollo,  Jessie,  Edna, Riz and Celso. The chat lasted for 4 hours.There were spouses and kids who tasted the fun of the CyberReunion, too.

Another Math Reunion was triggered by Inia's visit to the Philippines held at "Cabalen". Nell & Beng,  Bong Ramos & wife Emily,  Dante,  Galor,  Cora,  Solly,  Willy Torres,  Wilma,  Ciego & Son RJ,  and of course INIA.  It was a great reunion where Ciego got the name "Congressman".

The CyberII should have been spaced out, it did not lure others to come back.... but the New York trio of Vic E, Manny T and Romeo K was enough to make the room chaotic.  Most notable is Vic who was TOL (Talking Out Loud) in the room...every letter's in caps....bigggg letters!  It was great to have Nell with his infectious jokes, too.  A new addition is Terry Javier-Abad who logged-in from Vancouver. Celso was there, earlier this time. Riz & Dana (fresh from their mini-reunion with Beng, Fenchie &  Ruben, Celso and their families) were the most punctual.  Other chatters are Tess, Reuel, Mon, Edgar, Paring Erick, Rey B. and Val.  Edna got the tail-end of the chat.

I have to amend the part about Fr. Erick and me, not hearing each other's voice because he called at 3:30 am in Manila just to say hi.....as I am writing this summary.  Though he sound sober and sleepy...it's great to get a call from him.  Which brings me to the highlight of the year....his Birthday Party/THS Batch78 Fellowship Meeting.  It was the grandest and the best reunion for the batch to date.  Thanks to Paring Erick for his generosity and leadership.  It was supposed to be a prelude to the Big Family Day (which was postponed) but it ended up as the Grand Finale of the Year 2000 for the batch.  I still can get over the joy of watching the video of the affair that he sent me which I in turn tried to share with our Vancouver, LA and NYC group.   Here is the list of the attendees in that classy gathering:
 

As I am writing this, another reunion is happening in California where Ching Cabildo-Albornoz is finishing up her cross-American tour.

The fire that the Manila Core Group started is now being heard globally, as batchmates from all corners of the world are starting to show up.  We have people from Saipan, Alaska, Guam, HongKong, Thailand, Australia, USA, Canada and just recently from the Great Britain....  Ramon Angeles, Noel Cabug, Jay Po, Joy Mortel-Fabilla, Inia, Ramon Del Rosario, Jun De Guzman and Antonio Aquino.  Not to mention the batchmates that are added to our group profiles from back home.  I apologize in advance if I miss anybody and any other important occasions.

These accomplisments were unbelievable.  It seems like so many happy events took place in the Y2K.  And looking ahead, I can see an activity-filled 2001 and batchmates who will show up and contribute to the stories and memories that we are making.   The Family Day, maybe bigger CyberChats, A North American Reunion, and hundreds of mini reunions will grace the coming year.  Who knows something good might come out from our group that would be beyond just having reunions and updates.  Ross Misa started it with a plan to give something to THS that will remind them of our batch.  With the bonding and comaraderie that our batch is showing, I will not be surprise if business and other projects come up from the group.  Unity is strength that can work wonders.  Buzz-on!!!!!