Hand in hand.... with hearts aflame

Mo. Adelaida Ygrubay, OSB
Prioress
Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing
Ma. Angeles G. Prats
President
SSAFI
“Hand in hand.... with hearts aflame”
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1
President
s Message
M
y dear fellow
alumnae,
welcome home
once again to the school
that nurtured, cared and
molded us through our
childhood and growing
years! Welcome back
to the halls where
rich
memories
and
friendships began! Welcome back to the alma mater
that taught us the essence of ‘Ora et Labora’ in our
daily lives! Welcome back to St. Scholastica’s College.
The past year may have brought a surge of
nature’s calamities but it was topped by a surge of the
fulfillment of our Mission and Vision, and by the surge
of generosity of all alumnae as we united, strengthened
and rekindled in the face of adversity. It was a terrificly
busy year for SSAFI but it was totally gratifying. Kudos
to the board members as they effectively planned and
implemented fund raisers and get-togethers every
month. The preparation and hard work were worth the
efforts as we were able to participate and closely work
hand and hand with the school and Priory for the relief
and rehabilitation of the Tacloban devastation. And we
will continue to do so!
Congratulations to HS Class of 1989 and to
all jubilarians. It is in fond remembrance that we are
coming together again today. Yes, the Scholastican,
the phenomenal women, must always stand Loud
and Proud. May this homecoming be among the best
memories of your life.
We are here, daughters true, and we celebrate
to remind us of the Mission of St. Scholastica’s. We
live that mission in the integrity of our character. We
never let a day pass without the thought that we pray
and work so that in all things God may be glorified
Welcome home!
Ma. Angeles G. Prats
President, SSAFI
EDITORIAL BOX
Dear Alumnae,
Welcome to Homecoming 2014!
For the past few months, Homecoming
classes have been meeting, planning
and finally, practicing their steps and
grand production. We share with
you the activities they have done in
preparation for homecoming.
2013-2014 was a very active year for
SSAFI. We had several musical shows and get togethers.
We were happy to have seen you at these events.
There were also fundraisers. The money we raised
went to: Yolanda rehabilitation and survivors, Sports
Development of SSC with the collaboration of SSAFI,
the Tuluyan Center of the Benedictine Priory.
We are proud of our platinum alumnae! Read the
stories and marvel at the character of Dra. Remedios G.
Arellano and Mrs. Azucena Vera Perez. Ms. LalaCastillo
has written about the Villegas sisters. Their story is a
walk down memory lane for many Scholastican.
Enjoy the special day and continue to come Home!
Maria Asuncion ‘Charlie’ AZCUNA
College ‘83
St. Scholastica’s Alumnae Foundation, Inc.
Board of Trustees
2013-2014
President:
Ma. Angeles G. Prats, HS70/ABBA74
Internal Vice-President : Ma. Lourdes Simon Lim, HS71
External Vice-President : Ma. April Lorelei Wycoco Pineda, HS79
Secretary:
Anna Leah B. Wong, HS87
Asst. Secretary
: Teresita V. Chikiamco, HS71/BSC75
Treasurer:
Ma. Asuncion Aunario Azcuna, AB83/MA 2000
Assistant Treasurer
: Amparo C. Lim, HS70/AB74
Public Relations Officer : Dr. Mary Elaine Saul-Baloloy, HS86
Asst. PRO
: Ma. Socorro Magpile Del Rosario, HS69/AB73
Members:
Salud Donato De Castro, HS48/AB52
Patricia Viola De Veyra, HS56
Sylvia A. Karaan, HS77
Atty. Michelle B. Lazaro, HS85
Sigrid Reymundo Lizares, HS76/AB80
Ma. Magdalena del Rosario Lopez, HS62/AB66
Maria Elsa Lava Mapua, HS63/AB67
Ma. Edna Pacis Merin, HS65/College69
Ma. Rosario Hizon Nepomuceno, HS71/AB75
Ma. Cristina G. Puno, HS86
Ma. Lourdes Castro Roa, HS59/AB63
Rosemary Mallillin Rodriguez, HS50/AB54
Elenita San Agustin Sandejas, HS56/AB60
Melba Aro Santos, HS72
Tita Rose Li Yao Tan, HS64
Adelaida P. Villegas, HS65/AB69
Moderator:
Sr. M. Angelica Leviste, OSB, HS54/AB58
WELCOME !
Induction of Mother Adelaida Ygrubay,
OSB, Prioress as member of St.
Scholastica’s Alumnae Foundation, Inc.
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Pre
r
o
F
g
n
i
r
pa
ing – SSC Manila
m
o
c
e
m
o
H
Ou r
HS Batch 1989
Christine Gonzales-Danao, Marizen Tadiar-Pagcaliwagan,
Leah Marie Garcia-Morando and Maria Carmen Pasion-Lapus
Photos: Maria Carmen Pasion-Lapus and
Leah Marie Garcia-Morando
Conceptualization.
In September 2010, six (6) gorgeous ladies from the South decided to get together at a restaurant somewhere in Sucat to
discuss HS89’s responsibilities as host batch of the 2014 St. Scholastica’s College, Manila Homecoming. This was the start
of a succession of get-togethers, meetings and other activities in preparation for next year’s event.
In March 2011, a bigger group met up in a restaurant in Taguig to discuss in detail the projects that have been identified,
specifically, a medical mission which later on was called Community Cares Project.
During the first quarter of 2013, the batch had bigger and more frequent meetings that involved creating committees in
preparation for their Silver Jubilee and identifying responsibilities of each committee. It was during these meetings that
representatives of the batch agreed on the theme for next year’s event. Loud and Proud is the theme that has been presented to the SSAFI board, was approved and is currently being used for events.
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3
Medical Missions.
The Community Cares project was a joint venture of St. Scholastica’s College, Manila, High School Batches 1987 and
1989 and with the cooperation of Glaxo Smith Kline Philippines, Inc. The goal of this project was to raise health awareness on cervical cancer, influenza and pneumonia, and to provide onsite immunization for the prevention of these illnesses. Last 2011, Community Cares was brought to three locations, namely, Magallanes Village (May 17, 2011), Moonwalk
(July 18, 2011) and Alabang Hills Village (September 18, 2011).
All three events had a good turnout of people ranging from children to the elderly who wanted to avail of the vaccines.
Some tears were shed, but we had our lollipops on hand to bring their smiles back. Others were quiet and braved the
needles. They all walked away knowing they had done something good for themselves. Follow-up schedules were made
for those who availed of the full cervical cancer immunization program that was comprised of a series of three injections.
Overall, Community Cares was a success and this would have not be possible without the support of everyone who took
time either to help, to be immunized or even just to be with old friends. Be wise. Immunize.
Celebrating life.
Since most of us turned forty (40) in 2011, we also decided to hold a party in November of that year, which doubled as a
fund-raising event and called it “WTF: We’ve Turned Forty!! Kulasa ’89 Party.” We celebrated our birthdays amongst our
batchmates and had so much fun reminiscing about our good, old high school days.
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Entertainment.
HS Batch 89 also had other fundraising activities. The special screening of three spectacularly entertaining movies, Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part I in 2010, Iron Man 3 and Man of Steel this year, 2013, were hugely successful, bringing together old friends and families for good ole’ wholesome fun.
The Harry Potter movie was held in collaboration with San Beda College Batch 1989, that tested the waters to see if support from old classmates and friends would come and extend it to the following years. The next two movie screenings,
Iron Man 3 in 3D and Man of Steel, were sponsored solely by the batch and proved highly successful as well! The three
movie screenings all sold out! Being such entertaining films, they satisfied the palates of the oldies, the goodies and the
babies.
Of course, it was that successful mainly because the batchmates generously extended their time, help and support, no
matter where each one was! Thank you very much, Batch of 1989.
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5
Merchandise.
In line with our fast approaching 2014 Silver Homecoming Event, the LOUD and PROUD 89rs came up with several
merchandise to help raise funds. Last June we came out with our SSC Hoodie. It took months to finalize its design but
it was worth the wait. Stylish, comfy and practical….just some of the comments we have received from people who got
one. Our hoodie can be worn by anyone, for the young and the young at heart, it crosses all ages that’s probably why the
response we got is so encouraging. We are currently preparing for a second round of production as orders keep pouring
in.
We also have items available on zazzle.com and fineartamerica.com (http://www.zazzle.com/prisarts/
gifts?cg=196651612641110387; http://fineartamerica.com/featured/proud-to-be-a-scholastican-pristine-cartera-turkus.
html?newartwork=true), online stores where our Proud To Be A Scholastican (PTBAS) merchandise are sold. This project
is a collaboration with our very own, Tin Cartera-Turkus, a folk artist who is making a name for herself in the US. She
came out with a beautiful “journal” artwork” which is a representation of the Scholastican . There are a lot of items to
choose from and just recently, the PTBAS watch line was added!
We will still be coming out with several items, so please watch out.
Beneficiaries.
All these fundraising activites are for the funding of the 2014 SSC Manila Homceoming and to support two (2) St.
Scholastica’s Alumnae Foundation, Inc. (SSAFI) projects namely, SSAFI Sports Development Fund and Child of a
Scholastican.
Future Events.
For the rest of the year, other fundraising activities have been lined up. These include, a collaboration with SSAFI–Bingo
Bazaar Alumnae Affair, Garage Sale by end of August, Wine Appreciation Night in September, an 80s night and Alice in
Wonderland play most likely in October and another movie screening in November.
Our batch continues to seek support not only from our batchmates but also from all Loud and Proud Scholasticans.
For more updates on our activities, please add and follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loudandproud.
scholastican.
“That In All Things GOD May Be Glorified!!”
See you all on February 9, 2014!
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HOMECOMING
ORANGE YOU GLAD
YOU’RE A
SSC HS 1978, Coral Jubilarians
W
e certainly are! And that feeling was made even stronger
during rehearsals before Homecoming Day.
It was a bit like C.A.T. (Citizen’s Army Training)
drills in the field 35 years ago—our very own Battalion Commander
then, Gina Katigbak-Garcia, now our resident choreographer. On
Day One, our opening steps had us march as a platoon, for ours
was a batch that came into being during the martial law era. On
Day Ten, our closing sequence had us exploding into the jive, the
bump and the swing, for ours too was a batch that let loose in
the discos beyond the hours of Marcos-imposed curfew. It helped
immensely that our music was professionally arranged by the
talented hubby, Musical Director Tats Faustino, of our classmate
Babic Flores-Faustino.
This time—amidst chatting about family, careers and
menopause—there was no need to make us squat to make us
listen. Everyone was eager to exert our best efforts so that as Coral
Jubilarians we would be able to put up a good show. Labora,
indeed! We have the sore arms, legs and lower backs to show for it!
And there, sharing snacks of Indian mangoes, Betty’s
sansrival, Mary Grace cheeserolls, and toasted siopao—we
rebonded—the years between our Pearl Jubilee in 2008, Silver
Jubilee in 2003, and graduation in 1978 melting away as though
we’d never left the halls of St. Scholastica’s.
How wonderful it was to feel like little girls in blue again.
During practice, we reverted to calling each other our full names
the way our teachers did during roll-call back in the grades.
It was likewise a time to reconnect with those abroad or
those whose schedules could not permit rehearsing for our dance
number. Through email and Facebook, we let them know of our
progress. They, in turn, unfailingly posted words of encouragement.
Finally, it was a time to remember classmates who needed
support in prayer—one was in hospital in Australia for sepsis,
another had cancelled her trip home to Manila because of illness,
while one’s nephew passed away. Ora, indeed!
On D-day, 26 of us with matching coral/orange-colored
wigs danced our hearts away. With us in the audience were 10
classmates who came to applaud our efforts. And also unfailingly
with us, the enduring spirit of over 180 graduates of High School
Class 1978!
We are proud to be Scholasticans!
-- Fay Balderas-Ejercito
Cookie to commemorate our Coral
Orange wigs –designed & baked by
Flavia “Baby” Calupitan
BATCH ’78
SCHOLASTICAN?
Supporting Roles: (L-R) Meg
de Vega-Francisco, Audrey
Yuchengkang-Chan, Marichi
Del Rosario, Gigi Gutierrez,
Totelle Dimson
From Top Standing: (L-R)
Fay Balderas-Ejercito, Candy Jeturian-Sison, Cielo
Peckson-Perfecto, Jenny De los Reyes,
Miriam Villadelgado-Barredo, Cecile Poblete-Estrella, Joyce Santos-Santos
From Top Seating: (L-R) Cynthia Peña-Montinola, Lori Bella-Hermoso, Agnes
Tabhan, Mir Rogacion, Doris Parco-Panopio, Cecile Concepcion-Sison,
Nina Macaraig-Gamboa, Jay Lara-Suria, Mayet Bayron, Pinky OliveraJosue, Letty Guevarra-Allado, Baby Calupitan, Eileen Muyot-Sarmiento
Meg de Vega-Francisco, Linda Capistrano-Miranda, Mars PascualValenzuela, Gina Katigbak-Garcia
Standing on Left: (L-R) Audrey Yuchengkang-Chan, Totelle Dimson, Marissa
Soriano-Grape with Baby Gabbi, Gigi Gutierrez, Mela SempioChamberlain, Amy Loberiza-Miranda. Not in photo: Marits MilanCarballo.
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BATCH ’68
Reflections
ON OUR
SAPPHIRE JUBILEE – High School 1968
Marilou Soriano, HS68/College72
Last February 10,2013, St. Cecilia’s
Hall in St. Scholastica’s College,Manila
reverberated with thunderous cheering,
heartwarming “Hi’s and how-do-youdo’s,”speeches filled with affection,caring,
and remembering, delightful and
nostalgic songs from different years
with exhilarating rhythm blending
with the beat of loving hearts. The
stage was filled with a kaleidoscope of
spectacular colors and festive setting as
the fabulous jubilarians from different
years gracefully danced in celebration
for their Alma Mater. Touching photos
with fellow jubilarians flashed on the
screen, making the viewers feel they were
strolling in Memory Lane, back to our
cherished, carefree, student days. Our
yesteryears were bridged to our present,
making this celebration more meaningful
and significant especially to our next
reunions with our Scholastican alumnae’s
tomorrows.
Everyone was impressed by the
amazing, gorgeous participants who
displayed their talents in singing and
dancing, their dazzling costumes, vibrant
with delightful colors, and their radiant,
smiling faces, with their
unique charm. The
ruby and corral groups
especially stood out with
their flamboyant red hue,
a fascinating contrast to
the our batch’s alluring,
subdued sapphire blue
costume.
As the program
was ending, there was a
marvelous display of lights
and fountains of paper,
gushing forth in time
with the gush of thrilled
emotions from everyone.
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The end was not like a fading decrescendo
of a song, but like the lingering blazing
splendor of dusk with all its glory. As
I stood with the audience, clapping at
the last performers, I felt so much joy
and blessings to be one with my fellow,
sensational, phenomenal Scholasticans.
Our enchanting night of dancing,
singing, and music was to be continued
in the lovely house of Jeanette Bautista
Zulueta in North Forbes with our SSC HS
’68 batch. The captivating twinkling lights,
charming bouquets, and fascinating plants
all around Jeanette’s house made me feel
I was entering paradise, welcomed by the
angelic, ever hospitable Jeanette in a very
youthful white attire.
Attendees:
Puri Campomanes Achacoso
and Tommy, Lolet Nieva Arroyo and
Mariano, Desiree Ongpin Canoy and Eric,
Marita Recto Gomez and Gabby, Quito
Colayco Hertz and Tony, Poyan Cruz Idea,
Deling Dimalanta Jacinto, Patty Johnson
Jalbuena, Monica Banaga Jugo, Fatima
Sy Lee, Dolly Lim and Dorothy, Bubut
Paredes, Cecile Leviste Pleno, Pinky Pratt
and Ricky, Liz Quinio and Delfin, Emel
Eugenio Reyes and Charlie, Lita Alzona
Santiago and her two nieces, Marilou
Soriano, Amelia Ungson, and Linda Torres
Unson,Jeanette Bautista Zulueta
As I saw the beautiful beaming
faces of my dear classmates, I was
overwhelmed with happiness again,
this same intensely elating feeling that
makes me want to attend every reunion
with them. There is always something
the same, yet something refreshingly
new in our reunions. There is the usual
sentimental opening of hearts, the
sharing of caring and endearing thoughts
and sisterly advice, the heartwarming
jokes and laughter mingling with the
tinkle of plates and glasses, savoring the
beauty of our classmates’ ever gorgeous
and youthful faces, while savoring the
delectable foods prepared with so much
thoughtfulness and affection.
What makes this reunion uniquely
new from our other treasured reunions is
that we have new attendees. For instance,
I was overjoyed to see
Marita Recto Gomez after
many many years. She
resides in California. So,
I have not seen her since
our college days. Marita
was the same effervescent
dear classmate I
remembered her to be,
with her short, wavy hair,
sunny, dimpled smiles
and spontaneously warm
nature. The difference is
she looks more glamorous
now, taller, and lovelier.
How thrilling it
Other attendees I rarely see in our
regular reunions in the Philippines are the
following:
Fatima Sy Lee tried her best to
be with us. She cannot usually join our
regular reunions because she is the only
one running her very time-consuming
furniture business. Lolet had to devote
most of her time to preparations for the
grand reunion of her clan these past
months. Lita Alzona Santiago has been in
London for some time, on vacation with
her daughter and grandchildren residing
there. Other attendees that reside or go
on long vacations abroad were: Pinky,
Puri, Deling, Bubut, Liz, and Jeanette. How
wonderful to see them all again!
Dolly, a regular attendee, made
great efforts to be with us in this special
occasion too. Although she has not fully
physically recovered from her physical
injuries due to a car accident, she greatly
enhanced our treasured reunion by her
presence.
I was also deeply touched by our
other regular reunion attendees who
were also the dance performers and
representatives of our SSC HS ’68 sapphire
batch in our alumnae homecoming
celebration. I thank them very much
for their gifts of time and effort to be
stunning shining gems for our batch
and Alma Mater. They were: Amelia,
Linda, Monica, Emel, Poyan, Patty,Cecile,
Marilou, Lita, and Desi.
By the way, Possy Liwag Gamboa
attended the 3:00 p.m. Mass and watched
our sapphire batch dance on stage. She
left right after our dance presentation.
Mitch Valdes also joined us for a while
before the alumnae homecoming program
started.
How time flies! Before our
reluctant parting, it was now that
significant moment when all would pause
from our endless conversations and create
our souvenirs of the heart: our photo
sessions. We were like high school teenagers again, scrambling for a place in the
group photo taken on the stairs in front of
Jeanette’s house. The husbands had great
pleasure taking our photos candidly and
finally in our best angles. We also decided
to take photos of the husbands who
joined our precious joys in this dinner
party.
This grand occasion was also a
time for celebration of the Chinese New
Year. Thus, we all decided to have a group
photo with the glittering Christmas tree in
the background, all of us holding the tikoy,
delightful gifts by Dolly to all of us.
Before our final parting, I decided to sit
by the very refreshing, soothing, relaxing
pool in Jeanette’s heavenly garden. I
noticed that the pool had the same color
as our sapphire blue attire. I sat in this
same garden many years ago, during our
dinner party celebrating our ruby reunion.
Our red attire then reflected how we
felt then and now, the color of love. This
BATCH ’68
was to see Quito Colayco Hertz too!
Like Marita, I have not seen her since
our college days because she resided
in many countries abroad in the past
years. Now, I’m very glad to know that
she now lives in the Philippines. Quito
has the same sweet, endearing gentle
demeanor, who makes me feel she listens
to my heart through her expressive eyes
and understanding smiles. Like Marita,
she now looks more appealing and more
youthful-looking than during our school
days.
time, I realized that sapphire blue also
reflected and expressed our emotions in
this memorable occasion, the emblem’s
color of our Alma Mater and the color
associated to our Mama Mary, the
epitome of selfless love. I was especially
reminded of The Visitation in the second
joyful mystery of the rosary. Our dear
classmates are modern Mary’s who made
painstaking efforts to travel across the
miles, to visit their loved ones and bring
so much joy to them.
After all the cheers, applause,
blaring music, glitter and glow of our
alumnae celebration, I deeply felt the
meaning of these thoughts I reflected
on in one of my meditations: “The best
moments are shared in silence that flow
from the heart, that needs no recognition,
that sacrifice and fully share what is
hardest to share—our very selves.”
If I had magic crayons from God, I
would draw all the touching, sentimental
moments with my dear classmates and
show them how happy they made me all
these years, for their gifts of themselves.
For me, they are God’s heavenly “crayons”
who bring so much warmth, rainbows of
joy, beauty, and sisterly love in my life. In
my heartprints of Time, they have drawn
so many touching masterpieces of sisterly
love.
As the unstoppable hands of Time
moved, we all had to reluctantly part, but
not for long. We are all planning to have
another heartwarming reunion in Quito
Colayco Herz’s house in Westgrove on
March 3, 2013.
I am excitedly looking forward to
another memorable bonding moments
with you all!
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Memories of Cincuenta
A
BATCH ’63
Erlinda Gonda Raezer GS59/HS63/Coll67
year ago, I
realized that
this reunion
was going to
be a once in a lifetime
experience that each and
every one of the Golden
Jubilarians should not
miss. I wanted to do
something special for
me and my friends. Thus,
I initiated the JarGon
project (Jar for Jarencio
and Gon for Gonda).
Yvette Jarencio, who
maintained our class
database on the web, immediately embraced the idea. I am
happy and proud to have been part of the publication of our
yearbook,Cincuenta and our book of memories, Shy Wings
in Flight. Memories of Cincuenta I will always treasure: 1. The Book Launch. The sentiment and excitement on
that day was overwhelming. It was toned down a bit
when I made my presentation and inadvertently said
“OH SHIT” in front of the holy nuns! Everyone, most
especially the nuns, was very impressed with what we
accomplished. The attendance of the newly elected
Mother Prioress, the President of SSC and our former
teachers made the day extra special.
2. The Camaraderie during practice. It was interesting to
see everyone taking our dance practices seriously, and
wanting to practice even at the umpteenth hour.
3. The Big Event. We came in dazzling costumes.
Everyone went overboard with blings and colorful
outfits! What a sight to behold, even for just five
minutes of glory. The sumptuous buffet, endless picture
taking and dancing to the 80’s music completed this
memorable event.
4. The non-stop parties - Cafe
Juanita was a blast, and
Bistro RJ -- Oh to be young
again! We danced till
one am. However, reality
set in as we watched the
Moonstrucks (are we really
the same age as them...
how can that be? They look
so old!). The luncheon the
18 Balikbayans gave for
our classmates was another
opportunity to bond, giggle
and laugh out loud.
5. Our visit to the retired
nuns in Marikina. The nuns
were so appreciative of
10
PAX
our gifts and our stories. They even served us a buffet
lunch. We ended our visit with a short, yet uplifting
recollection moderated by Sr. Mary Bernard, our
Biology teacher. 6. Our overnight trip to Lucban, Quezon. We were a
coaster-load of crazy giggling 66-year olds who who
went on the “Eat. Pray, Love (and Shop)” trip and
came home with 86 dozen longanizas, 104 red salted
eggs, 12 boxes of budin, six cans of barquillos, boxes
of pilipit, and hundreds of espasol (they ran out). The
highlight of the trip was the healing mass by Fr. Joey
Faller who blessed us individually and gave us the
opportunity to pray for our sick classmates, friends
and family. On our way back, we visited the ancestral
homes of Jojo Palileo Sangalang and Nene del Rosario
in Pila, Laguna The best part of the trip was getting to
know classmates we did not hang around with in HS
due to the “gang” thing in our time.
7. The “Grand Finale” birthday luncheon hosted by Milou
Locsin von Einsiedel on Valentine’s Day. We were
happy and at the same time, sad, since it meant that
we had to part ways. But we were so thankful for the
opportunity to rekindle our friendship and love for each
other. It was, indeed, a Valentine treat!
Marivic Segismundo - Lemette, HS83
B
y the time we finished the last
practice of our presentation for
the 10 February 2013 SSC Alumni
Homecoming, we all knew that we
had blockbuster. Months before that Batch
’83 President Anna Chincuanco-Bautista
started to round up the girls by text and
via Facebook and even under the guise of
lunch, coffee, or in my case, a badminton
match. “It’s just a dance number,” she,
Lalaine Liamzon-Regino and Tessa
Punzalan-Brodeth convincingly told me
while I was gasping for air between games.”
I can give you a ride to and from practices,”
Cecille Asuncion-Casas said during one of
our early Sunday morning brisk walks.
The “dance number” kicked off
with the silhouettes of 37 dancers standing
quietly in the dark amid the boisterous but
funny cheers (from co-Kulasas) and shouts
of encouragement (from family). Then
the whole St. Cecilia’s fell into respectful
silence as the screen in the background
started to show pictures of four of ours
who have passed on. After a few seconds
of stillness and blackness, Katy Perry’s
“Firework” came out and then the flicker of
the accompanying light sticks made for a
beautiful transition to THE dance. When the much-recognized first
notes of the Batch’s “anthem,” High
Fidelity” (from Kids from Fame) blared out,
the entire Hall was in frenzy. The screen
started showing videos of batch mates
dancing in synch (yes, in synch!) to the
37 dancers on stage. What a sight that
was! There they were larger than life on
the screen—classmates in San Francisco
dancing outdoors with the winter sun
AND the Golden Gate bridge as their
spectacular backdrop. And a classmate in
Rome, at dusk, dancing all by her lonesome
right outside the Coliseum. Classmates
in New Jersey and Brisbane dancing in
their respective living rooms. Another one,
also in Jersey, with her children in tow,
all dancing (even the little kiddies also in
synch!) at their snow covered backyard.
Not to be outdone was a classmate from
Japan dancing in a tiny rustic street in Kobe,
oblivious to all passers-by. And the dancers
on stage? There were enough oomph and
swagger and star complex to scare the
dreaded “Ms”--menopause and middle age-away to the next decade!
And so a blockbuster that number
was. And how could it not be? It was,
after all, a culmination of many hours of
practice. But for me and a lot of my Batch
’83 sisters, it was not just going back to the
hallowed walls of our dear Alma Mater or
our “presentation” that was the highlight. BATCH ’83
Celebrating Pearl: How the Universe, the Batch Pres,
and Social Media Conspired to Bring Batch ‘83 Together
blessed we truly are to have our highschool
friends still be our friends up to today.”
For Corina Bengzon-Noche, it was
being “amazed by all the energy that my
40-something batchmates generated on and
off stage!”
For Cecille Elicanal-Villanueva, it was that
awesome feeling of belonging—“of being a
part of the Homecoming despite my being
in Brisbane and not being able to make it to
Manila.”
For Grace Guerzon-Nakano, it was the
actual dancing on stage that made her
trip from Japan to Manila “totally worth
it!” Similarly for Almonds Jeturian-Hughes
who flew thousands of miles from Alabama
“seeing good old friends is so worth the trip,
I will definitely do it again!” For Maloy Mendoza in Vancouver, it was
that feeling of pride over belonging to a
And for Anna Chincuanco-Bautista,
the Batch’s “El Presidente,” it was the
batch with a strong sense of “sisterhood and
friendship that keeps us beautifully bonded
despite some of us being so many miles
away.” preparation for the Pearl Jubilee itself
because “every moment spent with high
school friends brought back wonderful
memories of our youth and strengthened
friendships built over 30 years. “
For Tonette Bito-on Lasam, participating
in the preparation via social media and
watching the presentation from far away
brought her “nostalgia and pure joy.” “One
day, soon ... I’ll be back!” she adds.
For Pia Young, the highlight was that “It
didn’t seem like a typical reunion because it
felt like we never left each other since ‘83!”
For Anna Arevalo-Carrion in New Jersey,
it was the rekindling of old friendships and
the forming of new ones and that “all those
years and distance was reduced to a mere
“blip” as we sang and danced in unison.” For Jet Lacson, it, too, was “bonding with
old familiar faces, & stronger Sisterhood for
our HS batch 83 even after 30 years.”
For Margot Balderas-Torres, the
homecoming was a “reminder of how
It is indeed a lot of things:
the Saturday practices leading up the
homecoming, the joy of reconnecting with
60 or so Kulasa sisters, 60 reminders of
how unique our growing up years in St.
Scho were, 60 examples that you can be
in your late 40s and still look fantastic.
For me, reuniting with the Batch via the
Homecoming has given me a lot of things to
look forward to, like more catch up lunches
and badminton games and the retreat
that Ingeborg del Rosario is organizing in
September.
Homecomings are not my thing
and I’ve always managed to dodge them.
But the Universe, our Batch President, and
Facebook conspired to get 60 odd girls
together in the last one. I’m glad to have
been part of the conspiracy. On to Coral!
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11
RONDALLA
ROCKS
CONCERT
R
ONDALLA ROCKS
CONCERT ISKWELAHANG
PILIPINO (IP) is a not-forprofit cultural organization
run by volunteers. Founded in 1976,
it was conceived by a group
of parents who expressed a
need for an environment for
their children to learn about
their Filipino heritage. Parents
participation is school activities
is a pre-requisite in joining IP.
The goals of the school
are to develop in Filipino
American children a strong
positive ethnic identity
and instill pride in the students’
cultural heritage; to promote better
relationships between the children
and their parents through the
understanding and appreciation of
the Filipino and American value
system; to foster a sense of group
ethnic awareness and to promote
friendships among the children; to
develop awareness of the choices
12
PAX
possible for conducting one’s life
through evaluation and selection of
‘the best of both worlds”; to develop
a sense of community among the
Filipino American residents in
the Greater Boston area through
understanding and acknowledgment
of their common linguistic and
cultural heritage and to heighten the
consciousness of New Englanders
about the existence in their midst of
an important Asian ethnic group.
The curriculum includes Wika
(Functional Tagalog), Sayaw at Tugtog
(Fold Dance and Music); Bahay
Pilipino (Pilipino culinary arts
and crafts). Kultura (stories from
our culture) and the Rondalla
program.
In 1976, IP began
its ongoing community
involvement through the annual
Spring participation of all its
students at the New England
Folk Festival Association (NEFFA)
at Natick High School, Natick, MA.
That same year, the first “Christmas
Carolers” was formed to serenade
local families with yuletide greetings.
In 1988 IP participated at the Lowell
Folk Festival, the largest free festival
in the USA. The Food booth became
the school’s biggest fundraiser. It
has become an annual event in the
summer to date.
Aside from the regular
curriculum, the children and their
families also participate in communal
activities such as the Palaro Olympics
(Pilipino games), Celebrity Series
(Pilipino Celebrities who visit IP), Tea
Musical (talent showcase), Pasko na
Naman (Christmas traditions such as
Parols, Mano po Santa, Aguinaldo,
Noche Buena are celebrated on this
day).
Iskwelahang Pilipino is the
“longest continuously running
Filipino school in the United States”
(Filipino American National Historical
Society, Seattle, Washington).
Play bill Rondalla Rocks 2013
Remember
Neni Sta. Romana Cruz, HS63/College’67
“Youthful at 102 and Counting her Blessings”
R
emedios Goquiolay Arellano
of HS 1929, the oldest
surviving alumna born
on November 1, 1911,
remembers that the last time she
attended a social on campus was when
she came to perform a tango with her
dance instructor, a nephew-in-law of
hers. But that was years ago when
she was strong enough to do regular
dancing sessions for exercise.
Meding used to attend the
homecomings regularly too until
she realized that fewer and fewer
of her 27classmates could still
manage to be physically present.
However, her heartwarming
memories of school life keep
her happy and reminiscing these
days, when her life is quieter and
more serene than when she was
still active in her professional life
as a pediatrician and an involved
doctor in various organizations
like the Philippine Pediatric Society,
the Philippine Medical Women ‘s
Association, the Zonta Club. She
is included in Women Physicians
of the World, a Medical Women’s
International Association of 91 pioneer
medical women from 27 nations.
A Scholastican from Grade 1 to
fourth year high school, she has fond
memories of her years spent there.
Her parents chose the school for her
because her mother, who ran a well
known dress shop making ternos and
elegant Filipino attire, had clients she
admired whose families studied there.
With the school’s German nuns, it was
considered the school for prominent
families.
Her friends made school life
fun. She confesses to being so talkative
that her teachers like Sr. Willibalda
would make her sit in front or beside
the outstanding students who would
not talk at all, like class valedictorian
Gloria Lucero Monzon. She cannot
forgot Glo’s kindness because when
Meding did not know the answer
during tests, Glo would write the
answer on a piece of paper and pass
it on to her. Another friend who like
PLATINUM
An toAffair
Glo would not encourage her
talking was Concepcion Basa who
became Sr. M. del Divino Amor.
Sr. Eusebia was someone strict
but approachable, and Meding
liked the subject she taught,
arithmetic. She made Meding
stand in the corridor when she
would not stop talking in class.
The only mischief she recalls
today is buying kakanin from a
Chinese store outside the campus,
something expressly prohibited.
Two classmates who willingly
chatted with her were Pilar Albert
(or alberto?) and Aguada Guariña.
She said in an earlier interview,
“At Saint Scholastica’s in those days,
our desks had removable tops under
which were compartments where
we stored our pencils, papers, and
other supplies” and a particularly vain
schoolmate Pitang Buyson Eusebio, had
colorete (rouge) in there too.
Mary Sy (before she entered the
Benedictine community to become
Sr. Lieou Sy, OSB and HS principal
and school directress) was someone
she was close to. Mary was a year her
senior, but they became especially
close because they both had Chinese
ancestry and spoke Chinese. Meding’s
loquaciousness would continue at
home when she would carry lengthy
PAX
13
PLATINUM
phone conversations as well.
The Sisters were rather close to
her parents because they would buy
telas the community needed from her
father who ran a business in Binondo.
Because they lived in Binondo, quite
a distance from the school, Meding
was hardly on time for classes. Even
her school yearbook, a slim volume of
class photos and profiles says that her
pleasant and outgoing personality only
lacked the trait of punctuality.
During her years in SSC, she took
up piano and even had two pianos to
practice on—one at home and another
one in the family owned Binondo store.
Her dedication written in lovely
script in her friend Glo’s leatherbound
autograph book dated December
16, 1928 reads: “The path of a good
woman is strewn indeed with flowers,
but they rise behind her steps, not
before them. Your ever loving friend,
Remedios Go Quiolay 17 Brixton Hill
Manila P.I.”
She is proud of the excellent
education she received from SSC,
allowing her to pursue a Pharmacy
degree and to enroll in the UST College
of Medicine which had just opened
for female students. She was magna
cum laude of the class and went on
to years of teaching and practice in
the field of pediatrics. She topped
the competitive exam to be resident
physician for pediatrics at San Juan de
Dios Hospital and was the first woman
in the position. She also was the first
woman instructor at UST’s Department
of Pediatrics, then headed by Dr. Luis
M. Guerrero who had inspired her to
be a pediatrician like himself.
It was in medical school where
she met Dr. Servando Arellano, a
nephew of the first Supreme Court
Justice of the Philippines. She was
borrowing his textbooks as he was an
upperclassman. He said he would
only lend it to a pretty student. When
he saw her, he blurted out a phrase
he coined to mean, “How ugly”, cara
delapecua???. The next time they
formally met, he got to know her better
and romance bloomed. She wondered
then, was it my fair skin? My shapely
14
PAX
legs or my sense of humor? For many
years after, he would always say her
laughter was so distinct.
Vanding was a jealous suitor,
even minding that her first dance at her
post-board exam ball was President
Sergio Osmeña. She had topped the
medical board exam.
Today, Meding lives in her
spacious and well-appointed La Vista
home, lovingly cared for by Mary,
her adopted sister from Hongkong
who came to their family at the
age of 6 and is now in her 70s, and
round-the-clock nurses. She hardly
goes out in the afternoons but makes
occasional visits to the Clinica Arellano
General Hospital on T. Alonso in
downtown Manila that she and her
husband founded. Sunday Mass is her
mandatory visit to the village chapel.
In her active years, she would travel
yearly and her favorite destinations
were HongKong and Rome, especially
since she was an officer of the
Catholic Physicians. She keeps valued
photographs of her meetings with
Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Pope
John Paul II.
Unlike the Meding in her youth,
she now spends much time being quiet
and praying, a spirituality nurtured in
school and by her mother. Her mother
used to advise her to pray for guidance
for the right man to marry. Her prayers
enlightened her on two previous
relationships and when Vanding turned
serious, she had a special novena to St.
Joseph that her mother advised her to
follow. It was an ideal match because
they were both in the same field
and understood the demands of the
profession. She is given to reminiscing
her happy student days, the milestones
in her career, and her years with her
husband, obstetrician Dr. Servando
Arellano, grateful for what continues to
be a life of blessings.
The day of our Saturday morning
visit, Dr. Arellano wore an emerald
green blazer and fashionable earrings.
She has no need to have any additions
to her wardrobe because her dress
size has remained the same, and she
still maintains the clothes she wore as
an active medical professional. Her
personal dressmaker was the popular
Neneching Valera who had high society
clients. Known to be always well
dressed, she credits her mother for her
flair for fashion.
The secret of her longevity, aside
from her long ears, the length of which
she points out with her manicured
fingers, is twofold: “I do not abuse
myself.” She eats moderately, takes
afternoon siestas, and sleeps a good
nine hours daily. What is there left to
wish for? She has accomplished much
both personally and professionally,
all documented in a published
autobiography “My Name Means
Beautiful and Bright”. From six children
(Eduardo, +Roberto, Ricardo, Milagros,
+Antonio, Marita—three of whom live
in the US), she has 15 grandchildren,
among them actor and tv host Drew
Arellano, and five great grandchildren.
She wants to be remembered simply as
a Church-going person and as someone
who was helping other people. Her
philosophy in all her endeavors has
been, “There should be more love in the
world; and with love, more peace.”
Azucena
Vera
Perez
Azucena Vera Perez
PLATINUM
High School 1935
A
zucena was born in Camalig, Albay on May 26, 1917 to Jose
Vera and Dolores Honrado. She is 96 years old.
For Grade school, “Nene”, as she was fondly called by
her family, studied in St. Agnes in Albay, which is a branch of
SSC, Manila. Her parents sent her to Manila for High School so
she could study in St. Scholastica’s College, Manila. Nene was
a very intelligent lady and her favourite subject in school was
Mathematics. However, she would be scolded sometimes in school
for being talkative. Her best friends Paquita Vallarta Chikiamco,
Lina Obieta Sevilla and Pepita Teves Escano.
Nene and her batch mates joined most of their Jubilees in St.
Scholastica. They would celebrate each other’s birthdays regularly.
The value she learned most from SSC was to ” Live By The Golden
Rule.” She passed this on to her children. Her eldest daughter,
Marichu, remembers that she would always say, “Whatever you
teach your children, do so by example and not by lectures.” Among
her daughters, It is only Marichu who studied in St. Scholastica.
Elsa Lava-Mapua, GS ‘59/HS ‘63/ College ‘67
For
College,
Nene went
to Sto. Tomas
University
and obtained
a Bachelor’s
Degree in
Science,
major in
Chemistry.
She graduated
Magna Cum
Laude. It was In
UST where she
met, Jose Perez
who was in
Medical School,
who later
became her
sweetheart.
In my
interview with
her daughter,
Marichu, she
recounted to me
the unique story
of her parent’s
wedding. Jose
“Doc” Perez
and Nene
originally
planned to
get married on
December20, 1941. But when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor
on December 8,1941, and knew that the war would come to the
Philippines soon after, Jose and Nene decided to advance their
wedding date to December 10. When I googled the name Jose
Perez, it showed more details of this unique wedding. The couple’s
reason for moving it to an earlier date-“If we are going to be killed
in the war, we might as well be together.”. The grand reception
was cancelled and Nene got married at the San Marcelino Church,
wearing a simple dress. She never got to wear her Ramon Valera
gown as it was not yet finished. Doc Perez and Nene survived the
war. Nene bore him seven children- Marichu, Pepito, Gina, Bobby,
Lilibeth, Chona and Kokoy. Nene has 19 grandchildren and 17
grandchildren.
It was the Vera family that started Sampaguita Pictures
in 1937. When they got married, Doc Perez, joined the movie
company. Thus, the movies that were made later, were known as
Vera Perez Productions. In fact, they made a movie of their unique
love story. Nene was the treasurer of Sampaguita Pictures for 40
years, They are very proud that Sampaguita Pictures was truly an
all-Filipino enterprise. It closed down in 1982.
Azucena Vera Perez
Nene attended our Platinum affair In September, 2013. At
96, Nene was in a wheelchair and accompanying her were her 2
daughters, Marichu and Chona who were beaming with pride when
she was being honoured as one of the special honorees- Platinum
Scholasticans 95 and above!
PAX
15
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St. Scholastica’s College, Manila hosts
International Benedictine conference on education
M
ore than 200 educators from
Benedictine schools all over
the world will troop to St.
Scholastica’s College Manila, for the
third International Conference of the
Benedictine Network (BENET) from
October 23-2013.
The BENET, established in
2002 to promote education as an
integral part of the Benedictine
vision, convenes every three years
to discuss learning trends,
developments in the
academe, and approaches to
the formation of Benedictine
values in God’s service.
The BENET also aims
to foster an international
network of support, friendship
and cooperation between
Benedictine schools; an
appreciation of Benedictine
education expressed within
different cultures, especially those that
serve the marginalized; and initiate
discussion about the Benedictine vision
of education.
It is the first time for the
Philippines to host the BENET. The last
Conference in 2010 was in St. Ottillien,
a Benedictine monastery in Bavaria,
Germany. In 2007, the BENET was
held in Santiago, Chile.
For this year’s Conference, with
the theme Benedictine Education:
Good News for the World, Manila
has been chosen as the country host
for BENET 2013 and St. Scholastica’s
College as the host school.
As Father Christopher Jamison,
President of the International
Commission of Benedictine Educators
declared, the Philippines is the
country with the biggest enrolment in
Benedictine schools.
Benedictine schools in the
Philippines educate some 40,000
students.
Preparations for this big
event in Benedictine education
were under the chairmanship of Sr.
Josefina G. Nepomuceno, OSB ICBE
Commissioner for Asia, and Sr. Mary
Thomas Prado, OSB President of St.
Scholastica’s College, Manila.
PAX
17
FUNny’ fund-raiser
for Leyte
schools
Neni Sta. Romana Cruz, AS’ 59/HS’63/College’67 • Reprinted from Philippine Daily Inquirer, November 25, 2013
I
ndividually, Mitch Valdes and Jon Santos
would have drawn a crowd.
But together, for the dinner show fundraiser of St. Scholastica’s Alumnae Foundation
Inc. (SSAFI), “A FUNny Kind of Blue,” the
comedians performed to a packed audience.
Staged just six days after Supertyphoon
“Yolanda” hit Leyte province, it was the
alumnae’s response to the havoc left by the
typhoon and the needs of the Leyte Benedictine
communities, as well as the barangays they
were helping.
Yolanda did not spare St. Scholastica’s
College (SSC) and Divine Word Hospital in
Tacloban City, and St. Peter’s College in Ormoc
City.
SSAFI moderator Sr. Angelica Leviste,
OSB, said it was also a welcome occasion
to laugh and begin to heal together after the
week’s difficulties.
Other beneficiaries of the fund-raiser
18
PAX
included SSAFI’s scholarship program, the
Benedictine priory’s outreach and SSC’s sports
development programs.
VALDES
The audience howled at Santos’ clever
impersonations, from Nanay Dionisia, mother
of boxing hero Manny Pacquiao, to television
host Boy Abunda and former Presidents Joseph
“Erap” Estrada and Fidel V. Ramos, complete
with FVR’s characteristic cigar and his wellknown Edsa leap.
Valdes is always well-loved by
Scholasticans. With her extraordinary wit, she
made the alumnae feel nostalgic for their own
youth on campus, as the performer talked about
the heavily starched gym clothes and bloomers
students had to wear, and the Spartan rigor
and discipline of the German Benedictines,
especially the legendary Sister Odiliana who
called her a harlot, a word she had to look up
in the dictionary.
Valdes recalled being punished in high
school when she spoke her mind and fought
for her rights as a woman. Women’s rights are,
of course, the advocacy now of former SSC
president Sr. Mary John Mananzan.
The audience could not have enough of
Valdes’ stories and irreverent sense of humor.
Although she poked fun at the nuns, she also
expressed her appreciation for their concern
and how they had always greeted this true-blue
Scholastican, “We are praying for you.”
Santos may well be SSC’s adopted son.
His mother, Zenaida Adriano Santos, belonged
to high school Class 1956.
Completing the evening’s entertainment
were Scholastican alumnae the Fernandez
sisters, Hot Flashes, Replay Band and a
delightful group of greying senior citizens who
reminded the audience of the aging Lettermen
and sang songs from the 1960s.
SSC TACLOBAN’S campus after
Supertyphoon “Yolanda” struck
Santos was delighted by the group’s
name, “The Emphysema,” but feigned confusion
and called it “The Eczemas.”
The successful fund-raiser was a project
of the ways and means committee headed by
Ampy Lim and Melo Roa, who chaired the
event. Committee members were Elsa Mapua,
Terly Chikiamco, Elaine Baloloy, Mayette
Merin, Marilou Lim, Chu Nepomuceno, Anna
Leah Wong, Corie del Rosario, Mitch Lazaro,
Baba Santos and Bang Karaan.
Major
sponsors
included
Smart
Communications, Rizal Commercial Banking
Corp., Petron Corp., Air Asia, the Philippine
Charity Sweepstakes Office and Rocio Prats
Baltao, high school Class 1965/college 1970.
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19
SSAFI Christmas Party with
the Benedictine Sisters
Tribute to the Sisters of Tacloban
20
PAX
Christmas visit to St. Benedict’s
Home for the Elderly Sisters
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21
22
PAX
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23
SSAFI Christmas gift giving for Singalong
community and SSC General Services
24
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T
here is a house at the corner of Bautista and Don Pedro Streets
, a stone’s throw away from Becky’s Kitchen, where once upon
a time, 4 Scholasticans lived and moved and had their being.
I guess, everyone of us who knew one of them knew them all, in
those happy, bygone days of yore when most of the students of St.
Scholastica’s lived just around the school.
Their names were Gaudelia, called Gaudy ; Adelaida, called
Didi; Rebecca, called Becky and Asteria or Aya for short.
And yes, I know all of them. They lived on one side of Singalong
Street on Bautista Street and I lived on the other side of Singalong Street
on Capitan Ticong Street. All the Villegas children began their studies
at St. Scholastica’s College from Kindergarten, including one brother,
Celso.
I do not remember when we started going home together,
the Villegas sisters,two other classmates, Melisse del Rosario and
THE
HOUSE ON
NO. 2544
BAUTISTA STREET
By: Lala Feliciano-Castillo, HS60/College65
The Villegas Family
Aya, Becky (L) and Didi, Sr. M. Lydia (R) with thier Mama
Celso, Sr. Gratia boy, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and
their niece Jennifer Villegas to Jason dela Cruz.
Lourdes Hernandez-Sianghio and I. We would leave school at 4:00
on weekdays and at 5:00 or even later on Fridays . Oh! We must
have been a sight to see in those days – we were graders in the early
1950’s – it was a rather common sight : a group of grade school girls
walking four deep and holding hands along the sidewalk, one or two
maids trailing behind them, carrying their bags and perhaps umbrellas
when it rained. We were always angry when it rained because it never
got flooded on Estrada Street. And heavens! It never got flooded on
Pennsylvania Street (Leon Guinto now)!Our whole kaboodle would
turn right where Friedenshause now stands. Oh, we’ve seen that
streetcorner change hands so many times. First, it was just part of the
barbed-in school property , an extension of the ruins of St. Cecilia’s Hall
before it was reconstructed in 1955. Then it became a grocery called
Fairprice Grocery. Then it became an ice cream parlor called Merry
Mix then it became the Salvacion Apartments owned by an alumna, Ms.
Salvacion Feria and then it became the printing press of De La Salle .
And now, of course , it is Friedenshause.
The Villegases were very important to me as a child because I
often did not finish copying the next day’s assignment on the board.
So my mother’s only hope that I would pass grade school was Gaudy’s
homework notebook . And Gaudy was so generous that she would
hand over her homework notebook to our helper and just wait for her
to bring it back . There were peak seasons for notebook borrowing .
These were rainy days or days when one or the other of us had some
contagious childhood illness like mumps or a bad cough.
Gaudy was always a model student. Her notebooks were
very neat and clean and she always looked like she just stepped out
of a powder box. Early in our grade school, she assumed positions of
leadership in class. Aside from being class officer, she was also a long
time Promoter for theSociety for the Propagation of the Faith. She and
our classmates Melisse and Ondes were promoters for the longest time
that I can remember now. When you are a promoter, you recorded how
many Holy Masses, Holy Communions, rosaries, ejaculations , and
Confessions each member of your group made for the Missions. And
you submitted a very neatly ruled half sheet of paper with all that data
ON TIME! (Which is why I never became a promoter.)
We
came on
Saturdays to
help teachers
make bulletin
boards and
we were also
the “externs”
who went
with Sr.
Irmen to
Welfareville
and to Forest
Hills and La
Mesa Dam
where she
brought the
boarders
for Sunday
picnics.
As we
did all these
things in the
company of
the Sisters,
little did they
know that we
also became
privy to many
convent
happenings.
We were
Puring and the rest of the clan (brother
never taught
grandchildren) during the wedding of
the sequence
PAX
25
of a nun’s entrance into the religious life but we knew everything
about the nuns: how they entered the convent, became candidates
and then postulants and what they wore when they made their
temporary vows and when they made their perpetual vows; what
time the Grand Silence was and what they did behind the brown
curtains behind the altar. But Gaudy went one step ahead! SHE
BECAME A NUN!
Gaudy lived up to that name when she left in 1989 as the
first Filipina Missionary Benedictine to work in the United States,
specifically, in JacksonKentucky in the Parish of Holy Cross Church.
She worked as a Visting Minister and carried out some of the duties
of the Parish Priest. And so, when High School Class ‘60 celebrated
their Golden Anniversary, they proudly declared that though they
had only one vocation, she was both a nun and a priest!
After her work in Kentucky and came Juniorate Directress in
Manila an 8-year term as Secretary of the Generalate in Rome from
2001-2008.
Gaudy now is Sr. Lydia, Subprioress of the Philippine
Province of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, Bavaria.
Next to Gaudy came Didi and Becky. Didi and Becky both
began their working lives as elementary school teachers.
Didi spent her first year as a teacher in Cotabato at the
Notre Dame School in Midsayap. Then she came home to teach
at St. Scholastica’s Grade School in 1970, rising up the academic
ladder from teaching in Grade 1 to being Head Teacher to being
Coordinator for Reading and the Language Arts and Special
Programs and then to the Assistant Principalship from SY 19841985. She became Principal of the SSC Grade School from SY
2004-2008. Presently, she is a professor in the College Unit 0
Education Department, giving her college students the same patient
attention she gave the graders and inspiring them towards diligence,
excellence and dedication.
Didi and I worked together for almost 35 years beginning
together first, as Reading and Language teachers and graduate
students at De la Salle and then, later, we tandemmed as Reading
and Language Coordinators. If Didi was appointed Reading
Coordinator, I was appointed Language Coordinator and vice versa.
And the greatest gift of my 22-year term as a Grade School Principal
was an Assistant Principal named Didi.
No article about Didi in school would be conplete without
mentioning how complete her files are. Nothing but nothing can
compete with Didi’s files. It was a long standing joke in grade
school. If you needed any important document better check with
Didi first .Didi’s files were our best archives in those grade school
years. She might even have a copy of your marriage certificate!
Another Didi not many people know is Didi the actress.
Through her years in grade school, she had played a good number of
lead roles in classic plays, the most important of which was the role
of Candida in Nick Joaquin’s “Portrait of the Artist as Filipino.”
At the same time that she was doing all that schoolwork,
Didi lived another life quietly as a leader in the CLC (Christian Life
Community) . For the longest time I can remember, Tuesdays were
always reserved for her CLC meetings.
Whenever elections came around, Didi continued her
involvement in the polls which began with the Namfrel. She has
been an active member of the PPCRV since it was organized.
Likewise, she is an active member of the SSAFI Board since 2008.
One sometimes wonders how she can manage to be so organized ,
so dependable and so generous with her time and still enjoy life! But
she did so with wonder and aplomb!
Now, right at the corner of Bautista Street and Vito Cruz, is
a beautiful vintage house which everyone on the SSC side of heaven
knows. This is BECKY’S KITCHEN, Becky being Becky Villegas. And
thereby hangs a little tale.
My daughter, Elizabeth, teaches Fine Arts in SSC. She
overheard some of her students getting ready to buy a cake from
Becky’s one day. It seemed that some students have the habit of
pitching in once a week to buy a cake which they would divide
among themselves from Becky’s Kitchen as a one-week treat for
themselves. When my daughter proudly told them that Becky was
26
PAX
her godmother, they were aghast!
“Wow, Ma!” my daughter exclaimed when she came home,”
You should have seen their eyes pop out of their sockets. Akala nila si
Tita Becky ay brand lang! They didn’t know she was a real person!”
This daughter was in first grade when Becky was beginning
to bake. And whenever Becky baked anything, she would be one of
those little girls given the privilege to lick Becky’s ladles. Also, a field
trip to Becky’s Kitchen is still one of the favorite walking trips of little
Scholasticans. Unless Tita Becky happens to be there, some of them
still think Becky looks like the woman on the logo of Becky’s Kitchen.
Becky started her working career by being a religion teacher
in the lower grades. She was a teacher the children never forgot.
A fashionable dresser, she had an air of glamor about her that I can
only describe as a cross between Mary Poppins and Vogue.
Becky’s culinary saga begins with a course in Philippine
Bakers Institute when she temporarily moved out to Marcelo Green
Village upon the demise of her father. Living alone, she turned
to orchid raising and baking. And that was, by a long shot, the
beginning of Becky’s Kitchen.
A kind and generous entrepreneur, Becky does not bat an
eyelash about how exacting and demanding she has to be with
her staff to ensure the quality of her products. There’s no such
thing as a halfway standard there. Her family and staff agree that
Becky’s “hands-on- training” is an all -or -nothing affair, nothing
less. But this is balanced by a generosity that sends the children of
her workers to school on Becky’s scholarships and makes medical
services , retreats and recollections easily available to them and their
families.
Her philosophy of learning is very simple . She said she still
hopes to study organic farming and hog-raising and to learn more
about the arts. A rather unlikely combination but she adds with
charming honesty:“Gusto ko kasing matuto,” she says, “Akala nila,
ako’y marunong.”
Aya (the first A pronounced long a as in aim) , the youngest
of the Villegas sisters resides in New York. At present,she is the
Chairperson of the School of Information Technology of Monroe
College.
Aya belongs to HS’66 and BSC’70. Before taking on teaching
as a career, Aya worked for 13 years with the Security Bank and Trust
Company.
Then she taught at SSC for 6 years as Chairperson of the
Department of Enterpreneurship. After that was a one-year stint at the
DeLa Salle University as Lecturer/Instructor.
She has now lived in the United States for 32 years. Among
the most notable of her teaching history were 11 years of teaching
Online to New York City Public School teachers and 9 years as
Technology Educational Consultant for the New York City Public
System, the Archdiocese of New York and the Hartford Public School
System.
But our portrait of each of the Villegas sisters will not be
complete without one wonderful woman behind them. Her name, to
all their friends and workers is Tita Puring.
Unlike her four daughters who have chosen to live out their
dreams as single women, Tita chose to get married and bring up
a family. She married a lawyer, Potenciano and had six children:
two boys, Mario and Celso , and 4 girls: Gaudy, Didi, Becky and
Aya.Today, still beautiful at 90, Tita Puring holds the fort in the old
house, with a ready smile and an ever-ending offer of merienda and
memories for her children and their friends.
And so, there they are, the 4 Villegas women , born and
bred in the house at the corner of Bautista and Don Pedro Streets,
witnessing to the many facets of a Scholastican education, serving
God and hearth and home and country in the many ways parents
and teachers dream their children will someday become.
Their somedays have come long ago: Gaudy is in the
convent, Aya is abroad, Becky lives in her beautiful Rockwell place
and Didi keeps the home fires burning on Bautista Street. And now
through the many and various ways of living life and loving life ,
each one in her own way is making the somedays of others come
true for them.
ST. SCHOLASTICA’S COLLEGE, MANILA
Confers the
PAX
AWARD
On
ALMA QUINTANS KERN, HS1964
March 2013
T
he PAX Award is the highest award given by the school to her outstanding
alumnae. The award is conferred on former Scholasticans who have
distinguished themselves in the field of service to community and country
and/or in the field of arts and sciences.
The PAX Award plaque reads:
“For her distinguished long
term involvement in community service
as president, founding member and
chair of organizations that worked as
voices for Fil-Am youth and senior
citizens.
For her advocacy for Filipino
World War II Veterans, engagement
in the education system of Southeast
Seattle, as well as Women issues of
domestic violence, human trafficking
and immigration services to Filipino,
Hmong, Loatian and Pacific Islander
communities.
For her significant fund raising
skills and organization of three stateled trade missions to the Philippines,
China, Laos, Vietnam and Korea.
For being instrumental in
partnership agreement between the
State of Washington and Pangasinan
State University
For her Catholic engagement in
her archdiocese of scholarships
and cultural cooperation
For her noteworthy
business acumen as coowner and publisher of
Filipino American Herald
(1998-present), owner and
manager of Jade King (19982008), co-owner and VicePresident of International
Market Board (1988-2005).”
This PAX Award is
conferred on Alma Quintans
Kern.
PAX
27
RESPONSE of Ma. Victoria C. Viñas
In recognition of thirty years of deep involvement and dedication in
the financial management of the funds of the La Salle Brothers and
the La Sallian Community, Mrs. Viñas was recognized on September
7, 2013. The letter of affiliation gives her this due recognition. The
process is approved by the Superior General of the congregation
together with the council in Rome. The Affiliation was awarded to
Ms. Viñas on September 7, 2013. She is the 34th Filipino and the
7th female to be honored by this affiliation.
We, at SSC, are proud of her! We are printing Ms. Viñas response
on the occasion of her recognition.
B
ro. Dodo, Bro. JJ, fellow FSC brothers, the La Sallian community,
dear family and friends – Good Evening.
Let me start off with a confession. When I was told of this
occasion I told my husband and children that I was not comfortable
with it. I told them I was “shy” and did not want the attention. I
wanted to suggest a more private ceremony. Of course I heard
vehement objections from my children. My daughter, Angelica,
said: “Ma among your many achievements, this to me is the most
meaningful and it’s just fitting that you are recognized.” My eldest
son, Marc, said: “Ma you don’t keep a lamp under a bushel basket,
you put it on a stand; you have to allow yourself to be an inspiration
to others.” My preacher son, Mike, was more emphatic: “That’s
false modesty Ma because you are not bringing attention to yourself
but you are glorifying God and what he has done in your life. He
further said: “Ma you have the best of both worlds – a family and a
religious affiliation. Di ba you wanted to become a nun? This is it.
Basta huwag mo lang kami iiwanan.” My family and friends know
that it has been my long held dream since I was young to become a
nun. I guess this is the closest I can get to being a religious. Not a
sister but a brother!!
Allow me to share with you my journey with the La Sallian
community.
My association with the La Salle brothers started in 1986
when the late Bro. Rafe asked me and Ramon del Rosario to
present an investment management proposal. At that time I was
heading a Trust Division of an investment bank. Bro. Rafe wanted
to professionalize the provincialate office including its finance
systems. My involvement went beyond my responsibility of
managing investible funds under a trust account. It expanded into
rationalizing the finance organization, setting up the budget system,
control measures, accounting and implementing a reportorial system
for better information management and decision making. I was
likewise involved to some extent in fund development strategies. I
remember Bro. Rafe telling me, Mari-vikk you have to teach the
brothers to budget, because when they see money they spend it
at once and ask for more when it’s all gone. ( This is the brothers’
version of the PDAF –joke)
I sit as Trustee in some Boards of the different schools ,
as well as Chairperson and/or member of several Finance and
Investment Committees. My service has spanned the tenure of
seven Bro. Provincial/ Bro. Visitor/ Sector Head – From Bro. Rafe ,
Bro. Ray, Bro. Benildo, Bro. Armin, Bro. Dodo, Bro. Ricky, and Bro,
JJ.
When Bro. Armin moved to DLSU, he requested that I
join his finance team to review and rationalize the investments
of the university. It was a unique opportunity to establish the
portfolio management capability operating like a trust department
of a bank within an educational institution. This was a challenge
I took as it had the same pioneering element when I set up the
investment management unit for a manufacturing conglomerate
when I joined San Miguel Corp. It was a difficult task as we had
to hurdle a fragmented and outdated finance system (some of you
may remember that precious little notebook that contained all the
investments of the university). The pseudo-trust organization we had
established would turn out to be the foundation of the IMU or the
investment management unit today of the De La Salle Phil Inc. We
had endeavored to put a place in the Investment Policy Guidelines
28
PAX
that would serve as the
compass for the management
of the funds of the different
schools, an accreditation
system for our banking
relationships and the other
finance dealings and a
portfolio operations group
that would handle client
servicing, accounting and
reportorial requirements.
I was privileged
to have participated as
well in conceptualizing
and implementing the
reunification of all La Sallian
schools. One La Salle is now
a reality.
When I was asked
to be a consultant to the
chairman of GSIS for their
global investments, I
considered trimming down
my involvement with other
religious congregations and
orders, dioceses, NGOs
and foundations that I was
helping – all on the pro
bono basis. I didn’t have the heart to leave the Christian Brothers. I
stayed on through it all – The Black Friday Market crash of 1987, the
Asian crisis of 1997, the sub-prime lending crisis of 2007 and the
subsequent global meltdown of 2008 . By the grace of God, funds
under our care were kept whole during those trying and turbulent
times.
Let me say that the 27 years of serving the Brothers have
contributed to my personal growth. I am what I am today in part
because of my association with the La Sallian Community. It
had kept me grounded in spite of the never-ending task of money
management. The goal of the La Sallian community to have 20% of
student population under scholarship especially for less privileged
youth was something I latched on to as a shared aspiration. This
social dimension has put meaning in my life as a fund manager.
However, the investments, ROIs, benchmarks and yields were
secondary to the friendships that have been forged with the brothers.
I have seen some of the brothers grow from being scholastics
when I first came in to become university president and later on as
Secretary of Education and Culture. A lot of brothers whom I have
seen grow with the community have likewise enriched my journey.
I stand before you today, brothers, full of gratitude. Thank
you for the friendships, thank you for being a part of my personal
growth, thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve and most
especially, thank you for this honor.
I believe that my involvement with the La Sallian community
may turn out to be one of my best personal investment decision thus
far in my 37 years as a fund manager. My yields and returns on this
investment I’m sure is not just double digit, it is infinite and it is safe
and secure in a place all of us aspire to be in when we are called to
perfection by our creator.
I bumped into Bro Armin last week at Mass in Christ the King
Greenmeadows. He excused himself as he would not be able to
join us tonight. He however said : It’s your special day….. and he
went on to say --so that means you are going to be with us for better
or for worse ….. Hmmm , then I told myself— that sounds familiar-I made that vow some 30 years ago to a very supportive husband….
I am making that declaration tonight …. for better or for worse I am
making a commitment to continue to contribute in whatever way I
can to the fulfillment of the goals and aspirations of the La Sallian
community—all by the grace of God. TO GOD BE THE GLORY !!
Thank you very much.
Ma. Victoria Claudio Viñas, HS1972
N
adeth Rae E. Rival, a batch 2010 AB Literature and Literacy graduate, won first place in the English division,
Short Story for Children category of the 63rd Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards. Along with the other 57
recipients of the awards in various categories, Rival was formally conferred with the award on September 1,
2013 at the Manila Peninsula Hotel.
Rival’s
winning entry,
“Marvino’s
League of
Superheroes”
is a story about
the aspirations
of the 6th grader
Marvino to enter
a newly-opened
toy museum
in town and to
join a postermaking contest
in school.
Nadeth
is currently working as a Creative Writing Program Adviser and teacher of Poetry and Fiction in grades seven and eight
students in the Philippine High School for the Arts. For aspiring Palanca awardees, Rival’s piece of advice is to “Read,
research and revise your work over and over again.”
Scholastican
alumna
grabs
Palanca tilt
4Th VPAA Testimonial held
T
he 4th VPAA Testimonial for
Student Achievers for SY 20122013 was held on February
23, 2013 at the Sr. Kuniberta
Strathman Hall. It was attended by
the student-achievers themselves
in the Grade School, High School
and College Units, their mentors
/ coaches, their parents, Parents’
Association Board members, Faculty,
School Administrators and Mrs. Wilma
Crumb-Crisostomo, an alumna and
an achiever herself, who addressed
the awardees with her very inspiring
message. She posed a challenge to
everyone through the story of an egg,
a carrot and coffee. She emphasized
that for anyone to achieve her / his
goal she/he must be like coffee, which
when placed in boiling water would
give an aroma that can fill the entire
space of the room - not an egg, which
hardens nor a carrot, which softens
when placed in boiling water.
In her welcome address, Prof.
Fornias mentioned that excellence is
a tradition at St. Scholastica’s College,
Manila and she gladly announced
that the number of awardees has been
increasing through the years. There
were 120 student-awardees in this
year’s testimonial compared to 96
awardees last school year. This year’s
top awardees were Louise Angela
Villamin from the Grade School Unit,
Cristina Aquino from the High School
Unit and Alyssa De Asis
from the College Unit.
More
Than
Dance Ballet Group
of Ms. Abigail Alvia
welcomed
the
audience
with
a ballet wushu
to the song of
Mulan while
Katrina
Y s a b e l
Sison and
Nicole
To m a s
delivered
a n d
rendered
their winning piece to all present.
Likewise, Myramae Meneses and Ivan
Niccolo Nery sung “Makikiliti Ka”
from a musical play “Walang Sugat”.
There were also raffles drawn
during the event.
PAX
29
Schools new admin
As school year 2013-2014 begins we
welcome the following Sisters who will be serving
SSC in various administrative capacities.
Sr. Rosalina
Fajardo, OSB will be
the incoming Principal
of the High School
Unit. Sr. Rosalina is
currently assigned at
St. Scholastica’s College-Westgrove as its school
directress and high school principal.
Sr. Mary
Vincent Feliciano,
OSB, our former
Vice-President for
Academic Affairs,
will be the new
Head of the Institutional Quality Assurance
Office and Dean of Graduate School.
Sr. Regina David, OSB will serve the Grade
School Unit as its incoming Principal. Sr. Regina
was also assigned in SSC-Westgrove as its former
directress and high school principal and served our
community this school year as the Sister-in-Charge
of Special Facilities.
Sr. Mary Emmanuel Espera, OSB will
be our Assistant Social Action Director.
 Boys of Sister Gratia
 Lifetime Card
Php500.00 5 year validity
Php2,000.00 Lifetime
The SSAFI Card offers the the advantage of an alumnae card with benefits and
formalizes the support that you, as an alumna, give to your alumnae organization and via SSAFI, your school - St. Scholastica’s College Manila. Most nonprofit organizations survive because of the support of their members. The collection of alumnae dues (during homecoming) and SSAFI Card fees from new
members/renewals contributes to the operational viability and existence of
SSAFI. So please support SSAFI so SSAFI can support you!
List of Participating establishments:
•
•
•
•
•
BORACAY SANDS HOTEL
BELMERE SKINCENTER
CASA NICAROSA HOTEL & RESIDENCES
DENTAL SOLUTION CENTER
GOODWILL BOOKSTORE
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
INFINI Line Boutique
My Sanctuary Wellness Center, Inc. (Skin Station)
PRIMER Group of Companies
SUGARHOUSE
SGS HOUSE OF MINIS
ST. NAILS NAIL SPA
THE BUFFET INTERNATIONAL CUISINE
THE LEATHER COLLECTION
TOUR FLAIR
VINO ATLAS NEO INC.
VILLA ESCUDERO PLANTATION AND
VISION EXPRESS PHILS. INC FREE EXAMINATION
ZENEA SLIMMING AND BODY SCULPTING
ZIEBARD/CARSAVERS
•
Get a SSAFI Card Now! It serves as an ID
 Your way of showing you are “Proud to be a Scholastican”
 Facilitates campus entrance when availing library services and
transacting alumnae matters.
 Enjoy privileges and discounts in SSAFI Card’s Discount Partners.
SSAFI Card fees are different from alumnae dues
Therese are two(2) types of cards – Regular and Lifetime
 New HS/College Graduates
 New Grade School Graduates
 Old GS/HS/COL Graduates/Renewal
30
PAX
Php500.00
Php120.00
Php500.00
4 year validity
4 year validity
5 year validity
KYOTO FLOWER SHOP
Tuluyan
San Benito
Blessing
PAX
31
Alumnae
Josefina Rosales-Eleazar, HS40
Lourdes Henson Galvez College 1940
Angeles Mercado Marasigan, HS41
Sincera Villavicencio HS42
Amparo Eugenio Santos, HS47/AB51
Sylvina Sevilla Clemente, HS47/AB51
Amb. Luz del Mundo, HS47
Myrna V. Socco Arizo, GS49, HS54,
COL58
Angelica Alday Soriano, HS55
Dr. Cynthia Martinez Jorge, GS49/
HS56
Corazon Viado Penos, HS57
Patricia Jacobi Todd, HS57
Ruby Rivera Cruz, HS57.
Corazon Capistrano (Gonda) Ruelos,
GS55/HS59
Florecita Lazo Hoersch, College61
Maria Eleonora Trinidad, AB66
Ma. Theresa “Buena” R. Luz, GS69/
HS73
Florencia “Bengga” de los Santos
Calaqui, GS69/HS73
Veronica “Nette” VillapandoGabriel,College73
Socorro Coligado, HS76
Maria Georgina Grande Marcelo,
HS78
Cynthia “Jojette” Yuhico Poblete,
HS79
Antonietta Marasigan-Acuña,
College88
Karen Ebrahim Torre, HS89
Family and Friends
Carolina Lacuna Grande, mother
Victoria, HS77 and Gina, College80
Agustina Jimenez Obias, mother of
Dulce Obias-Manno, HS71 and Ma.
Socorro obias-Bonnefroy, HS69/
College73
Lorrie M. Refugio, mother of Melinda
Herrera Calanoc, HS75
Emma San Luis Mijares, mother of
Sandra Mijares-Tolentino, HS67
Norma Limjoco, mother of Pia L.
Mauleon, HS77, Susan L. Acuna,
HS82, Anna Liza L. Tobias, HS86
and Mother-in-law of Nina Guevara
Limjoco, HS76
Judge Oscar Leviste, Jr, husband of
Rosemarie Pineda, HS47 & father of
Gina HS75, Mael HS76,Mean HS77,
Berry HS78
Butch Mirasol, husband of Vilma
Musngi Mirasol,HS67/College71 and
father of Nadia Marie,HS95 & Marla
Carmel,HS97
Lucy L. Huang, mother-in-law of Odette
Augusto, GS73/HS7
Clark Kidwell, husband of Princess
Cartera-Kidwell, HS86
Miguel Ortiz Luis Villaflor, father of
Gladys Villaflor-Gozon, HS87
Juanita Tagle San Jose, mother of
Susan S.J. Pineda, HS72/College76,
32
PAX
Bernadette S.J. Garcia HS77,
Rosemary, HS74 and Jennifer, HS91
Maria Sychuanco Tan, mother-in-law of
Tita Rose Li Yao-Tan, HS’64
Antonio Domingo, brother of Virginia
Domingo Gonzalez, HS39
Luz Fernandez Sandejas,mother of
Pilar Sandejas Lazaro(HS66) & Lydia
(HS68), Ma. Inez S. Puey (HS69),
Marilou, Paz, Mary Anne & Alma
Frederick Leviste, brother of Sr.
Angelica Leviste OSB, HS54/AB58
Eddie Romero (National Artist for Film
and Broadcast Arts), brother of
+Teresita Romero Romulo,HS49
and uncle of Jackie RomeroLaurel,HS80, Sandie RomuloSquillantini,HS78 and Rowena
Romulo-de Pasquale,HS80
Antonio Arellano, son of Remedios
Gocolay-Arellano, HS29, husband of
Bernadette Estrella-Arellano, HS64
Fidel Domingo G. Vivar, husband of
Normita Chua-Vivar, HS89
Jesse Emmanuel Paredes Leviste,
brother of Christine, Cecile, Monina
and Cari and cousin of Sr. Angelica
Leviste, HS54/AB58
Jesus Gil Magsaysay, brother of
Maryann Magsaysay HS’72, Cecile
Magsaysay HS’73 and Jessica
Magsaysay
Capt. Ricardo Catalan, father of Cynthia C. Alejandro,
HS’73, Myrna HS’75 and Cecilia HS86
Maria Juana Carrion Mapua, mother of Tess Mapua,
HS64, Ixi Mapua, HS68, Obi Mapua, Jr. (Architect of
renovated St. Cecilia’s Hall) and mother-in-law of
Elsa Lava Mapua,GS59/ HS63/College67
Rogelio Z. Sempio, husband of Carmencita GonzalezSempio, HS51/AM54 and father of Ma. Asuncion
“Tani” S. Bautista, HS77, Ma. Carmela S.
Chamberlain, HS78
Leo Estacio, father of Nathalie Estacio-Siao GS73/
HS77
Alex Hontiveros, Sr. father of Marianne “Maan” HS66/
College70, Ma. Ramona H. Bernad HS67/College71,
Sandy HS74, Thaddea HS75/College79 and Maria
Editha HS81/College85
Esperanza Ramirez Zosa,mother of Grace Zosa
Fernandez HS78 & Caroline GS
Marian Paz S. Hale, mother of Christine, HS69 and
Marian HS70
Raphael Locsin, father of Carmen “Joy” Locsin Cailles,
HS86
Jose Arboleda,father of Nini Arboleda GS73/HS77
Aristeo Feraren Jr,son of Elena Onrubia-Feraren+ HS32
& brother of Elenita Feraren GS73/HS77
Marites Javier Dela Cruz, sister of Noemi J. Laca
(SSAFI Office Secretary)
Ma. Zenaida T. Wycoco, mother of SSAFI External VicePresident April ‘Loyan’ Wycoco-Pineda (HS ‘79) and
Mignon Wycoco-Ramos (HS ‘77)
Jesus Celdran, father of Zenaida Celdran-Dalao HS67
Lorenzo G. Yulo, brother of Lorrie Yulo GS73/HS77.
Francisco Rosal Lopez, husband of Mabait Concepcion
Lopez, HS35
Elvira Evangelista Macaraeg, mother of Eileen
Macaraeg-Bergado, HS87
Hildegarda Regalado, mother of Carina RegaladoCiocon GS73/HS77
Eduardo B. Bella, father of of Ma. Luisa Bella, HS67,
Lea Bella Garcia, HS68, Pilar Bella Hinlo, HS70, Lori
Bella Hermoso, HS78, Norma Jean B. Mirasol,
HS80 and grandfather of Lea Garcia, HS86, Christine
Cruz Jovellanos, HS87 and Camilla Minch
Jovellanos Santos, HS91
Bobby Dungca brother of Sr. Lumen Dungca, OSB,
AB72
Antonino (Tony) Roman, husband of Herminia Batista
Roman, HS 56 & AB ‘60.
Trinidad Alicer, mother of Annalee GS73/HS77 & Ayesa
HS82
Nelly Soriano, Mother of Marilou, HS68, Guia, HS’64
Ildefonso Santos, Husband of +Amparo Eugenio, HS’47