By Enrique "Ike" Calicdan
NHS Batch '73 Alumni Association President
"Hep Hep Hooooray!!!!!! Congratulations Everyone!!!!!"
March 29, 2008: Club Filipino Greehills
March 29th affair was indeed a success! Five alumni from abroad came, but all in all there were 71 alumni attendees and 7 former NHS Batch ’73 faculty mentors who attended -- Mr. Cesar Santa Maria, Ms. Fely Tiong, Mrs. Letty Inabangan, Mrs. Candida Biglang-awa, Mrs. Flor Malabanan, Mrs. Embodo, and Mr. Edgardo Dancel.During the 3pm to 4pm registration, a photo presentation (lasting 29 minutes) with musical scoring and graphic special effects of past and recent and not so recent pictures of Batch 73 Alumni was being played on the video screen using the EPSON LCD projector we purchased for eventual donation last April 3rd to the NHS.
Aside from the lechon, Club Filipino served a sumptuous 7-dish buffet dinner. We also have reunion souvenirs given to both alumni and our batch mentors as well. While handing out the reunion souvenirs, in the form of a large diamond wrapped in a net having an inscription "NHS Batch73 Grand Reunion, Club Filipino, March 29, 2008" -- alumni were asked to remain in the stage one after the other for a group photo shoot and group singing the tunes of "That's What Friends Are For, Through the Years and When Will I see You Again".
Lots of games about seven (7), including most notably - Limbo Rock’s “palambutan ng balakang”, with men's and women's segment. Limbo Rocker Menandro "Nondee" Santos won the men’s event tied with another great limbo rocker Rey Torres. There was a ladies segment too won by Yolanda "Yolly" Gonzaga who beat Precy Cano Nueva by a mere thread. For obvious reason which I would like to explain here, the special prize for this event is a “golf umbrella”. That is, in case ‘na may bumigay sa mga balakang ng mga contestants, the committee thought the golf umbrella would come in handy for them, as this can very well serve also as a cane to help and assist them in walking...heheheAnother game that everyone enjoyed was the Balloon-Popping contest done towards the latter part of the night. The sound created by the bursting balloons seemed like New Year firecrackers which added more fun to the already riotous festivities.
Game winners for each event took home either a golf umbrella, a thermos or a set of glass bowls, among other game prizes. Extra money generated provided raffle prizes in the nature of about 18 small home appliances and 2 cell phones. Mr. Santa Maria won a 2-burner gas stove. In between games, raffle, were sporadic ballroom cha-cha dancing to "Oye Como Va", "Black Magic Woman", and swing with VST & company tunes being played by the live band and alternately using downloaded 70's danceable CD tunes.More pictures to follow…
March 30, 2008. Group Outing at Balay Indang
After our successful March 29 Club Filipino Grand Reunion, the planned outing to Balay Indang went through alright with a small group of alumni plus 7 guests (21 attendees in all) for an overnight of further merry-making and fellowship. At the Resorts main cabana just beside the swimming pool, the night was filled with eating, drinking, jokes rendering by Marissa Clamor and yours truly, and singing with Efen Bartolome’s guitar accompaniment. Some of the ladies however decided to retire early thinking the others were likewise in their respective room, not knowing that we were waiting for them to join us at the cabana. With their pajamas and sleeping attire on, they were surprised when we came over to their room and sang "De Colores" Mananita style. After allowing us to their room we continued the singing and the fun-time cracking jokes until lack of sleep and rest caught up on us, and by midnight finally decided to retire to our respective rooms.
March 31, 2008. Group Tour at Tagaytay Ridge
The group decided to cut short its supposedly 24hour booking a the resort, owing all these to the TV show taping activities GMA's "Daisy Syete" featuring the Sex Bomb girls among other noted TV personalities at the Balay Indang premises causing conflicts on the use of their resort facilities, the group proceeded instead to a tour of the Tagaytay Ridge. We visited, mostly for photo ops, Splendido View Deck, Palace in the Sky, and the Pink Sisters convent and a short stop at a fruit stall, before having a sumptuous lunch sponsored by Evelyn "Vienne" Bravo, at Leslie's at the ridge with a magnificent view of Taal Volcano. After taking some more pictures at this picturesque dining venue, the group except for Vienne and Flor Eugenio, who had to rush back to QC for a prior commitment, went to the Canlubang, Laguna wake of Ernesto "Erning" Nana, fellow B73 alumni who passed away March 30. Erning was not able to join the March 29 affair as he had difficulty moving around because, according to his family, of his back pains.
On our way home afterwards, Imelda "Meng" Romano invited the group for a Pizza, Salad and Chicken dinner at Pizza Inn at the Shell Rest area just after Sta. Rosa exit.
April 2, 2008. Impromptu Despedida Gathering
Rod Alcantara and son Christian left for Chicago on their 12:05 flight via Seoul. Earlier, that day, we assembled a small group and invited Rod to an impromptu despedida dinner at Dampa, Macapagal Avenue. Usual faces were there to bid farewell to Rod with the addition of Luz Matutina Milana and her family. Luz was absent at the Club Filipino. Then, in 2 vehicles, we delivered Rod to the Airport at a little past 9pm just in time for an early check-in of luggage.
April 3, 2008. Visit to NHS: Class Gift Turn-Over
Earlier that day after being informed by Mrs. Mirasol Abordo of the availability of Dr. Ma. Noemi Moncada by 6pm, incumbent NHS Principal, we decided to conduct the Alma Mater visit and delivery of the EPSON Multi-Media LCD projector, the item of donation by the Class of 1973 to augment and enhance the instructional capability of our beloved Alma Mater, Novaliches High School. Aside from Mr. Efren Fegalquin and other incumbent NHS mentors, the following Batch ’73 alumni witnessed the turn-over of our donation:
Genia Abergas, Eddie Alix, Efen Bartolome, Lolit Bernal, Precy Cabrera, Ike Calicdan, Ophel Corpuz, Nanette Fortich, Johnny Guilalas, Jojo Llaguno, Beyot Llarinas, Metronila Manangkil, Anita Principe, Nida Reyes, Remy Rivera, Meng Romano,
Nora Saclao, Juana San Diego, Theresa San Diego, Nandy Santos, Aida Secreto, Leony Villar
Pictures below were taken during the turn-over of our LCD MultiMedia Projector donation to Novaliches High School. Ms. Maria Noemi M. Moncada, Ph.D. Principal IV, incumbent principal of NHS accepted the Batch 73 donation witnessed by several faculty mentors and 22 alumni belonging to the Class of 1973.
And to document the turn-over of the subject item of donation, a Deed of Donation was executed by and between Novaliches High School represented by Dr. Moncada and yours truly, in my capacity as President of the NHS Batch 73 Alumni Association representing the Class of 1973.I opined that our weeklong affair was a success when I got several inquiries from first-timers and old-timers alike as to when will the next affair be. Some of them are even pondering on a Summer Outing very soon. Many are delighted and overjoyed with the March 29 gathering specially those who came from abroad who were quite overwhelmed by the warm welcome from long lost batchmates. I sincerely hope that those who were not able to come will soon realize what they have missed and will thereafter try and attend future batch gatherings.
Once again, congratulations everyone for a job well done!!!
1st Grand Reunion Organizing Committee:
Eddie Alix, Efen Bartolome, Beyot Llarinas Calicdan, Ellen Morales Ghananathurai,
Marissa Clamor Calalang, Precy Cano Nueva, Aida Secreto Aquino, Flor Eugenio Gancia,
Ofelia Corpuz Lambino, Nida Reyes Carpio, Nanette Fortich Dacanay, Roberto Analupa,
Vanessa Austria, Vienne Bravo Cruz, Adrian Poblete +
DONORS:
Vital Sagayno, Necy Caliwag Go, Imelda Romano Benipayo, Ellen Morales Ghanathurai,
Raquel Baraceros Collanto, Yolly Gonzaga, Leny Daez, Vienne Bravo Cruz, Joey Taupa, Sally Lingat Banares, Pat Geronimo, Rod Alcantara, Vanessa Austria, Theresa San Diego Tawag, Emilie Escalante Carillo, Leovy Delos Santos, Nondee Santos, Nida Reyes Carpio, Ricky Ligon, Eddie/Adam Alix, Ruben de Jesus, Efren Clamor, Luz Matutina Milana, Leovy Mayuyu, Fe Espartero Welton, Mer Camagay (B74, Reunion Graphics]
2008-2009 Officers
NHS Batch 73 Alumni Association
Ike Calicdan: President
Eddie Alix: Vice President
Nanette Fortich Dacanay: Secretary
Beyot Llarinas Calicdan: Treasurer
Efen Bartolome: Director for Design, Engineering & Technical
Ver Jerusalem: Director for Special Projects
Emi Francisco Catacutan: Director for Overseas Affairs
Ofelia Corpuz Lambino: Director for Recruitment and Retention
Marissa Clamor Calalang: Director for Internal Audit
Mr. Cesar Santa Maria: Batch Adviser