Enjoy the pictures and stories from Ronnel Samson on our newly found Rosalinda Corpus-Valdez.  With the recent tragic death of her oldest son's, the Manila Core decided to take her out for dinner to console and give her moral support. 

   ..... Sabi nga ni EGA, “kala ko tayo ang magpapasaya kay Peechy, eh tayo pa ang pinasaya nya, eh”.
 

   Joseph Gelito headlined a cast of Filipino performers in a -stand up comedy show directed by Bernardo Bernardo held in L.A..  More details will follow but for now enjoy these 3 pictures with our new Hollywood superstar. 

   Way to go J. Brocken!!!
 

   Here is a picture of our Holy Moises Sta. Ana and his family.  Moises has been a model citizen.  From the mischievous buddy we know in High School, he is now a Minister of Iglesia Ni Cristo.  It takes a great woman to make a man change. Teresita Basa Perez-Sta. Ana is the better half of Moises.  His handsome son who took after his Dad was named Moses. 
 

   More and more buddies are coming out and thanks to our CIAs- Lodela, Evelyn (Ega), Jenny and Paring Erick for finding them.  We will bring you more stories on them as they come.  It looks like Eloisa Uy Marcelo will join our ranks of Batch '78 CIAs.

   Please change or add the following email addresses in your list.  Also notify us if your email address changed.  If you know the email address of other batchmates who has not contacted us yet, please let us know and we will contact them.

   Here is an inspiring and original Christmas message from the Liao family.

   Here is a weekly Gospel reflections from Fr. Erick Santos for the month of January

   I regret to inform you that we lost another Dad of one of our batchmates.  I just got off the phone talking to Gerry "Duroy" Teodoro with the sad news.  His dad, Jose Teodoro passed away last December 18th, 2002.  He went back home to attend his interment held on Dec 26th.  Being the only child, he was so busy attending to so many things and did not get a chance to contact anybody in the batch.

Gerry's email address is GTeodoro@StateStreet.com if you want to send your condolences.  Duroy is now back in Toronto.
 

amidst the raging terror. . .somewhere. . .peace
josh,   unabashedly  declaring  that  even as provoked, school fights he is
       careful  not  to  start__fondly  considering  everyone  a  long lost
       friend,  an  imagery  he  always  thought had formed while in mama's
       womb__consistently  routing  for  underdogs,  unmindful  of  mocking
       sneers__dabbling  there  in  a  corner  with  his  oil paintings and
       charcoal drawings, as if bathing in inner calm__

amidst the faceless struggle. . .somewhere. . .hope
job,    seeking  endlessly for father god's help to get him through grade 1
       and  onto  grade 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, "may grade 7 pa ba?"__feeling overly
       proud,  repeatedly cherishing that single significant moment when he
       beat  a smart 12-year old in a play of memory game__sincerely asking
       papa  jesus  to  "bring  back daddy," a dear lolo foregone 15 months
       passed__ tirelessly yearning, "christmas na ba?"__

amidst the undiscernible pleasures. . .somewhere. . .joy
jonas,  diffusing  many  a nerve-racking situation with his wacky "don't be
       sad!"-"don't be mad!"-"don't get stressed!" one-liners__theatrically
       keeping shape for his impromptu one-act, one-actor plays on reserved
       corridors  and  silenced  hallways__dutifully  eating  and  drinking
       alongside  intense  pain,  believing truly that doing so will up his
       platelets  and  scare  away  mr.  dengue__devotedly  carrying  on as
       teacher to job without fret or force__

amidst the empty fury. . .somewhere. . .love
joseph,     readily flashing a faint though reassuring smile, despite great
       discomfort  while  at  the ER__ensuring that his signature snout-lip
       kiss  is  safely delivered by early morn before school, and at day's
       end  before  bedtime__  tenderly  reaching  out for your hand during
       weekend   walks__gently   stroking   your   hair   while   at   sick
       bay__snuggling    on   your  lap   ever so  close, his  fluffy  arms
       'round  you  ever  so  tight__whispering a 'thank you' for assisting
       with homework, then uttering a 'luv ya' ever so sweet__

      indeed, even as we live in constant fear of an uncertain world,
              a soothing, relentless, vibrant star stays on.
   unperturbed, unblemished by the deafening stillness across the globe,
                    it fills us, warms us, embraces us,
     reminding us of that one sterling night many, many moons ago. . .
         mary, humbly accepting that her youth, she would forego.
     joseph, courageously submitting that much risk, he would undergo.
         this, all done to share and fulfill the word of the lord,
    that the babe jesus be born, to save mankind from the sinful sword.

      so even amidst the terror and struggle, the pleasures and fury,
               and even as the sun does set on our horizon,
            we may yet stand watchful, though no longer afraid,
  only grateful, that yonder lies another opened window to partake of the
                                   good earth,
               for the promise that same bright star holds,
                    teaches us, assures us, guides us,
           leading us to the path of peace, hope, joy, and love!

            may the star of yore shine upon you and your family
           this christmas season and throughout the coming year?
 
 

              our prayers,

                                                                    edmonlala