The last few days of the year were a busy time for school homecomings and class reunions among the many schools in our province of Camarines Sur. For us of the Ateneo de Naga High School Class of 1983, we have been at it for the past four years, taking advantage of the positive energy generated from the successful 2008 school homecoming where our batch was the host.
For this year 2011, the batch reunion is something special and sweet. Why? Because this year’s reunion is the first time that we celebrated it in collaboration with the lovely ladies of Colegio de Sta. Isabel (CSI) HS Batch 1983, and handsome gents of Holy Rosary Minor Seminary (HRMS) Batch 1983.
Held on December 29, 2011, it was an enjoyable and meaningful celebration. No surprise as this triple joint reunion was the brain child of CSI leader, Bitang Llacer-Sanchez, a dear friend, with exceptional organizing skills. She coordinated this with HRMS members Fr. Rey Caceres, parish priest of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish, Bombon and Raul Relloso.
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The outreach lead organizer Bitang Llacer-Sanchez of CSI with Fr. Alex Badiola, SJ of Ateneo and Fr. Rey of
Caceres of HRMS |
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The December 29 reunion was two-part. Held in the morning was the first part which was an outreach effort focused on the town of Bombon. The second part was a dinner reunion in Champagne Garden in Naga City.
The December 29 outreach activities included the following :
1. Medical/Dental Mission for 450 residents of the municipality of Bombon
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Colegialas manning the medicine distribution |
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Nurse volunteers at the medical mission |
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Doctor volunteers at the medical mission |
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Our classmate, Dr. Batoy Claveria of Buhi, in action at the medical mission |
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Colegialas outnumber Atenistas 2 is to 1 at the medical mission |
2. Feeding session for 600 chidren of Bombon
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Eager to start the feeding |
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Colegialas’ turn at the feeding session |
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Colegialas and Atenistas helping each other at the feeding session |
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Cooperation |
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Ed Balcueva with our batch scholar Carlo Reburiano |
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Our classmate, Fr. Alex, in the thick of things |
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Enjoying the food with the kids |
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Trying my hand in the feeding |
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Young ones at heart |
3. Gift giving for 100 families of Bombon.
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In front of the altar for gift giving |
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Lorenzo Cuyo of Ateneo and Evelyn Bellen of Colegio handing over the gifts |
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Val Gonzalez, Fr. Rey and Jun Cereno lining up to give |
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Bec Brillo at the gift giving |
The outreach would not have been a success without the support of Mayor Ma. Luisa Angeles and her staff, plus the many nurses, social workers, doctors and dentists who volunteered. Of course, many Colegio, Seminario and Ateneo classmates (local and abroad) donated money, medicines, food and gift items to the endeavor.
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With Fr. Rey and Bombon Mayor |
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With colegiala Angelica Belgado, a grade school classmate at La Consolacion, who came from Canada |
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83neans with Bec Brillo, who came from California |
The dinner reunion was ably emceed by Nannah Zaens of CSI. The dinner party started at 6pm and lasted until the early morning hours (3am) of the following day. Proof positive that many, if not all, enjoyed. More than the usual number classmates attended the dinner reunion. I counted more than 60 Colegialas and more than 30 Ateneans. HRMS had 7. On the part of the Ateneans, we have Ed Ventura (thru his radio program) and Allen Tolledo (for his constant kakulitan) to thank for mobilizing our classmates. Plus, we have our North America-based classmates (Gerry Cortez, Dan Espiritu, Jonel Villegas, Vic Perez, Joseph Navera and many more) for their contributions in making the dinner financially feasible.
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Nannah with the early birds of the dinner party |
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The lovely ladies of Colegio de Sta. Isabel HS Batch 1983 |
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The handsome few of the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary |
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The cool gents of Ateneo de Naga HS Batch 1983 |
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With Fr. Rey, Jovy Tataro and Pinky Villasenor |
With such an enjoyable reunion, we have a lot to thank for in 2011. Foremost among them is the gift of friendship, without which the cooperation from the 3 batches for this joint undertaking would not have been possible.
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Friends in high school, friends in outreach : Joel Tresvalles, Butch Concon, Ruben “Fards” Fajardo and Art Abonal |
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Maraming maraming salamat.
2 comments:
most def - for 2012 - a great thought - cooperation not competition equals - success! and the three become ONE! Impressive!
*** San fran - calif
Hi anonymous,
I wish you could have joined us last Dec 29. Positive energy abounding in the activities.
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