Manila reunion - February 21, 2004

 

seated front (l-r) Ochie Buenavista, Agnes Paras, Grace Fojas, Mica Calica, Bel Castro, Vianne Lizardo, Emma Samarista, Stella Tanchoco, Cecile Ventura

standing (l-r) Elaine Sarmiento, Aileen Papa, Mina Sangil

seated back (l-r) Rita Festin, Joy Leveriza, Finina Gatchalian, April Son, Suebee Santiago, Cindy Cabayan, Ana Villa (partly hidden but her blonde hair is a giveaway!)

 

front (l-r) Cecile Ventura, Elaine Sarmiento, Mina Sangil, Marilyn Dizon, Cindy Cabayan, Mica Calica, Bel Castro, Rita Festin, Sharon Reyes, Finina Gatchalian & Vianne Lizardo

back (l-r) Aileen Papa, Stella Tanchoco & Suebee Santiago

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Hi there, everyone!!!

That was one fun get together! How we all wish for complete attendance next time!

Considering that this was the first meeting after a shocking 23 years for most of us (has it really been 23 years?!?!),  the total of 30 people was pretty impressive! Thanks to the following who made it:

  1. Finina Gatchalian de Jesus – Chinky is and always will be known for her organizational skills. Galing talaga! She was the only one ata taking down notes. Pakopya na lang ha!
  2. Susan Santiago Preluja – Susan! So glad you came, despite the demands of your 2-year old! Napakarefined mo na ngayon! And thanks for bringing the yearbook! This shows you are organized (tama ba?) We spend time talking over the phone! It’s been a while since I enjoyed a long talk!
  3. Aileen Papa Cortez – Aileen still has the best smiling eyes in the batch! And take note, CPA! I’m sure Aileen makes numbers look so easy to work with!
  4. Rita Castro – Wow, Bel really took control over the meeting! Absent kasi si Joy Yuzon (we missed you, Joy!) Tupi kami lahat! She reminded us to join the Yahoo Group! Ini isa isa kami! So make sure you guys register ha! BTW, Ibel made sure all our dishes were served in the proper way. And maybe the next time, we can all take some wine classes!
  5. Cecile Ventura – As young as ever (paano, walang asawa! hey, she said this!) Thanks, Cecile for offering your company penthouse! What initiative! We need enthusiasm like that!
  6. Criselda Cabayan Dizon – at first glance, I got tongue tied with Cindy, how could I have forgotten your nickname! Your hair is still as healthy as a teenager! Thanks for coming at such short notice!
  7. Emma Samarista-Benito – as slim as ever! The only thing that changed was the color of the hair. Close to ash blonde ata! But it fits you!
  8. Vivian Lizardo-Perdigon – Looking youthful in a printed top, very hip! And the smile is as charming as ever;
  9. Marilyn Dizon Ordoñez – Marilyn, you’ve lost weight na! Late bloomer si Marilyn (inamin na natin, di ba?) Marilyn’s fun to be with! I hang out with her 2x a week for badminton! Anyone else want to join us?
  10. Sharon Reyes – Our Sharon is a pedia! Despite being very funny, she’s a very good doctor (additional discount ha!) Don’t forget the flu vaccine from her! Doc Sharon just had to leave coz a delivery was due any moment ...Sharon, di ka na bumalik! We missed you! Let’s find out what happened to Gina Orbe, ha?
  11. Grace Fojas Vinarao – Grace is such a sight to see! parang model. Maybe we should ask her for some lessons on how to put on flawless make-up! And as enthusiastic as ever! Plus! her slimming secret! She’s got a svelte body! You know, with some people side effect of Reductil is palpitations – ibang klaseng palpitations ang side effect ni Grace - she gets so hot, she literally tired her husband out, in this case, he raised... the white flag! Wait, baka side effect lang ito with Grace! So ask your doctor before trying this! BTW, Sharon is an expert with this... baka may discount pa!
  12. Flormina Sangil Liongson – isa pa si Mina, her skin looks so fresh and dewy! Another one with a ready smile! Charming pa rin!
  13. Estela Tanchoco (Gina Orbe to Sharon) - The best locks of the evening! Mari makes rebonding lool like such a waste of money, if only we could have sexy curls like that! And who would have thought we would have a batchmate ending up as a pathologist (tama ba)?!?! Si Mari pa, of all people! Let’s add in voluptously sexy na rin! ... If you’re wondering, why Gina’s name keeps on popping up, it’s because Sharon screamed out Gina Orbe as Estela walked into the room! Gina, please make sure you join us next time!!! Namimiss ka na ni Sharon and the rest of the gang...one big gang!
  14. Elaine Sarmiento – When we had to think of someone trustworthy, everyone eyed Elaine. Unanimous decision. And Elaine has managed to keep her youthful appearance! Mukhang innocent hanggang ngayon!
  15. Agnes Paras de Castro – Ms. Body Beautiful pa rin si Agnes. To me she looked as beautiful as Venus de Milo... kasi I felt like ripping her arms out sa inggit. But kidding aside, Agnes made it even if I called her last minute.
  16. April Son – Next to everyone asking about Cherry Orosa, April was the 2nd highest on the list. Buti na lang she came. It satisfied our curiosity on how she was. And her story on her encounter with Sr. Magdalene was really something! We never knew that Sr pala told April that she “would never amount to anything!” Ofcourse, this would stick to my mind if this happened to me. So when Sr M asked April if she worked at Bratz Studio, April replied “ No Sr, I own it” Luv the response!
  17. Rita Festin – Buti na lang someone ended up in Public Relations (tama ba Rita?) She brought the wine (with a label pa of ADB on it... I suggest we do the same thing for the homecoming— have wine with our label on it!) Hindi halata that she has a son na! Rita, you look good!
  18. Joy Leveriza – Joy just had to be there— kasi she was in charge of the plates. forks and cups... joke lang, sexy voice pa rin si Joy plus that infectious smile — very good for sales (sa fundraising)
  19. Ochie Buenavista Pacifico – The only doc we know with ADD... Ochie is always fun to be with! And take note, slim pa rin si Doc Ochie! With that very respectable dress she was wearing, its so easy to see she has retained her slim figure! The rest of us were in jeans – nagmukha tuloy kaming yagit beside her!
  20. Ana Villa – I forgot the married name of Anna but I remember the hair color! Blonde beauty (miski na bottled blonde) Only Anna can get away with a color like that. Hey, Anna, don’t make this the last meeting ha, your attendance will be checked!
  21. Mica Calica Kerkdijk – As for me, I think it’s cool that we take time out. I’ve decided since I turned freakin forty, to do other things than work, work, work. This project is going to be fun, so get involved!

And to other batchmates (grade school and high school) who made it to the reunion (o, di ba? Hanggang other schools and batches, umabot ang news – thanks to Marilyn Dizon Ordoñez):
Kit Balagtas, Stella Gaston, Yvonne Hahn, Renee Espina, Cecile Rodriguez, Suyen Rodriguez (the last 2 parang my memory failed me...sssshhhhh)-- so nice to see them too! It was fun getting reacquainted also with them! (Pwede kaya silang sponsor?)

It was great to see all the faces we grew up with...

Of course, this being the first meeting, we highlighted the social side. Catching up on what happened since high school! Who are still single, got married early, who married late, how many kids (hey, some of the kids are working na!) What we do for a living... Very interesting batch!

And the food! It was like a fiesta of sorts! I can’t recall everything but everything was so yummy! Parang tinapat sa akin yung carrots and dip. My first reaction was...naku diet food! But it was superb! the rest were all rich. May caviar pa beside cow label... Hummus beside chocnut... Red wine and diet sarsi to name a few... My personal favorite? The grilled sausages of Chinky (Finina).

All high school memories came back to life... The stories of teachers... The slashing of chairs — what an issue! Rita pala did not do it! After all these years... Remember the I-admit-it medley? Rita, Ochie and Finina sang this, galing! we should have this in the program during the homecoming!!! It’s a must!

After reintroductions, We weren’t sure about what the response on the homecoming 2006 would be like. The hours put in (you know, it is no joke, just to call up everyone was such a task...what more calling and searching for everyone else?) and the money aspect. The good news is, all those present were pretty much excited about putting in their talents to good use for the homecoming. I say it was the way Bel put it... Ano nga ba ang sabi ni Bel? As much as possible, no money out on our part {I like that). And we use the homecoming to get and stay in touch. The money we raise will follow. Tama ba?

We’ve come up with names for officers and committee heads. So far, we’ve grouped ourselves to 2: membership and ways and means... As Rita Festin said, 22 months is not far away. Finina will supply us with the names of those nominated. Those in the US and Canada will take part also ha. And wherever the others are... So that this will be fair. We want to hear from everyone! Joy Yuzon! We need you!

This early, we have some homework na:
  1. PLEASE sign up with the Yahoo Group. According to the computer savvy Bel Castro, go to groups.yahoo.com and do a search on spcm hs 81. Register! We all were asked “Do you Yahoo” by Rita Castro with the tone of a CAT commander, I was about to respond Ma’am yes ma’am! Kaya please...do that asap!
  2. Think of a theme for the homecoming. I’ve mentioned Rowie’s idea of the Paulinians being an international bunch... And there is Emma’s “The Return of the Rebel”. (Well, if our teachers could see us now, they would be shocked! I’d say we turned out pretty much ok!)
  3. Contact as many batchmates as you can! If you see one in the mall, catch up naman with them and get their contact number!
  4. Check out the attic for those precious pictures and memorabilia... pack rats, we need you!
  5. Submit ideas for a logo, to make us stand out. I’d say... Something classic like a crest or like a designer label so it will look cool on giveaways and printed materials.
  6. Kick off project is the UKAY-UKAY/ Garage Sale of our batch. No money out on our part! And we get to sell our junk!

The next meeting is on March 1 with the Ways & Means people at Gram’s Diner in Rockwell. So please keep the ideas coming... Let’s make this one fun project!

General Meeting is on April 24! Mark your calendars!


Get involved!

Mica Calica Kerkdijk

PS Now for the minutes of the meeting, let’s wait for Susan Santiago’s report. For the pictures, Finina :-)

PPS Mary Ann Cruz Ragaza did not make it to the reuinion but I met up with her yesterday for lunch at the Podium. The face is the same, except she has loooong black hair. She was branded as quiet during high school...Wow! She is one oozing with self confidence! The difference of night and day...Cool! We crammed 2 hrs with updating each other what happened during the past 23 yrs. And she’s another batchmate who managed to lose a lot of weight! Through the reliable diet and exercise. She’s lives in Cebu now and performed as Arielle of the Little Mermaid during a competition in the company she works for... Ayan, another performer in our batch!

 

 

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