Other Activities ,More Photos, More Fun

The Reunion of the Decade is still ongoing....lots of fun being together. Let me enumerate the unplanned activities with some photos:

Jan.18 Dinner at Nelia 's Place
Jan.19 Picnic at Morning Breeze Beach Resort ,Bagac
Jan.20 Bingo Session at Violet's Place
Jan.21 Dinner and Bingo at Luna's Place
Jan 22 Pot luck Dinner for the Birthday Celebration of all Batchmates
born from January to June
Jan.23 Dinner Meeting of the Food Committee at Max Restaurant hosted by Lagrimas
and Siony with Nelia,Pilar Lucing, Emma, Julie, Violet and Luna.
Jan24-28 Bingo Sessions
Jan.29 Trip to Camaya Coast in Mariveles

I will be posting pictures at Luna's place,Max and Camaya Coast.

Reunion of the Century

I coined the name "Reunion of the Decade" to differentiate it from our first reunion, the "Grand Reunion".

I suggest that we call the next one, the "Reunion of the Century" since we will be celebrating half a century.

Kindly send in your ideas, on how it should be called. Many heads are certainly better than one.

Financial Statement

As per record from our treasurer Belen Almazan before
our reunion eh we have P19,000.00 sa ating pondo.
During our reunion, this is the report sent to me by
Belen through overseas call:

Total Contributions..............................................P96,415.00
Expenses:
Catering...........................................P28,750.00
T-Shirt........60x300=......................18,000.00
Lou-is Restaurant............................ 17,000.00
God Winds Resort...............................6,000.00
Two Dance Instructors.................... 3,000.00
Financial aid to Norberto Roxas..... 2,000.00
Pika-Pika............................................ 1,000.00
Wreath for Lando Reyes'brother.... 600.00
Tarpauline.......................................... 360.00
Stamp for Special Delivery(invitation) 216.00
Miscellaneous....................................... 160.00
Total Expenses --------P77,086.00
--------
Net Income ---------------P19,329.00
Previous fund-------------P19,000.00
------------
Total fund----------------P38,329.00
------------
------------
If you have any question regarding our financial statement
just contact Belen Almazan.

Reunion of the Decade 2010

Habang ako'y nasa eroplano pabalik dito sa amin sa Pennsylvania, na halos humigit kumulang sa 18 oras na pagbibiyahe ay muling nanariwa sa aking alaala ang mga kaganapan sa ating Reunion of the Decade. Reuniong kinaiinggitan ng ibang batch sa JRI pagkat hindi lamang dalawang araw tayong nagkasama-sama kundi halos siyam na araw bago ako umalis at marahil ay patuloy pa rin hanggang mayroon pang natitirang balikbayan na nariyan. Yong anak ko nga na kabilang sa batch'88 halos iilan lamang sila ng sila ay magrunion na magkakalase. Sa bawat nating pagtitipon ay kababakasan mo ng labis na kasiyahan ang bawat isa sa kanilang mga mukha. Sabi nga ni Pareng Fredo Gabriel at ng iba natin ka-batch mate, ito ang kasiyahang hindi maaring bilhin ng salapi. Ang isa sa hindi ko malilimutan eh yong kaganapan sa Lou-is restaurant na kung saan sa pamamagitan ni Pareng Ernie del Rosario ay nagkaroon ng pagkakataon ang lahat nag-beso beso ika nga at suerte si Pareng Delmo Labrador pagkat nakadoble siya kay Lagrimas (ha! ha! ha!) joke lang pare.

At tulad ng nasabi doon kina Mareng Nelia noong Jan. 22 biyernes ng gabi nang magkaroon ng evaluation eh ang aking lubos na pasasalamat sa working committee sa pamamagitan ni Pareng Rolly na hindi ko na isa-isahin ang mga pangalan, ng dahil sa inyo'y naging matagumpay ang ating reunion. At gayundin ang aking pasasalamat sa inyong lahat na nagsidalo pati na ang mga nasa Manila at sa lahat ng mga balikbayan. Tulad ng isang awitin "Sana'y Maulit Muli". Umaasa ako na sa tulong ng ating Panginoong Diyos ay muli tayong magkikita-kita sa ating Golden Reunion sa 2013 na sa pakiusap ng nakakarami ito'y ating gaganapin sa May 16, 17 & 18, 2013 pagkatapos ng piesta, halalan at piesta ng Bantan.

Muli kong inuulit maraming maraming salamat sa inyong lahat.

Mga Lumang Dasal

Sa mga pagtitipon-tipon ng Batch '63,maraming bagay ang napaguusapan. Isa na rito ang mga paraan kung paano tayo pinalaki ng ating mga magulang at mga lolo't lola. Maraming nakakatuwang kwento ang ibinahagi ng karamihan kung paano ang ipinadamang pag-aruga at pagmamahal ng ating mga lolo't lola. Ang dalawang dasal na ito ay sadya kong pinili upang itampok sa ating "blog". Isang magandang ala-ala ng mga Lola nina Josie at Perting. Ating dasalin at balikan ang ating kabataan .

Mula sa Lola ni Josie:

Hesus ako'y matutulog
Bendisyon yaring kumot
Nang di ako matakot
Sa masamang bungang-tulog.

Hesus ako'y hihiga na
Bendisyon yaring kama
Nang di ako magitla sa masamang ala-ala.

Umalis ka riyan, Demonyo
Hindi ka mananalo
Sa Santo at Santang Kalagyo ko.
Amen.

Mula sa Lola ni Perting:


Hesus, Maria, Josep
Iligtas mo ako sa panganib
Liwanagin mo yaring isip
Ituro mo ang daang matuwid.

Hesus,Hesus ako'y matutulog
Bendisyunan yaring kumot
Upang di ako matakot
Sa masamang bungang-tulog.

Demonyo, umalis ka rito
Sa bahay na tinutuluyan ko
Ang kahalili mo rito
Ay si Hesus Nazareno.
Amen.

Napakagaganda ng mga iniwang ala-ala ng ating mga magulang at ninuno . Ito marahil ang naging gabay ng lahat ng Batch "63 upang landasin ang matuwid na landas at abutin ang tagumpay.
Panawagan sa iba nating kaklase,ipadala ninyo ang mga kwento ,tula o dasal na itinuro ng mga mahal natin sa buhay upang maibahagi sa lahat sa pamamagitan ng ating blogsite.

The Dinner Dance

The Dinner dance of Batch'63 at Lou-Is Resort and Restaurant on January 17 was really an affair to remember.Other than showcasing the dancing skills of some of our classmates ,it also afforded some opportunities for us to throw our inhibitions into the air . Imagine,after 47 years,everyone had a chance hugging and kissing everyone. Ernie DR was able to convince us to be closer physically .And yes,we felt so much closer . The other parts of the mini program during the dinner dance brought so much memories of our youth. Emma had asked participants to complete the lyrics of songs during our time and Adoring showed her talent in this contest . Josie shared trivia about Orion by asking the group to guess delicacies native to Orion like pabitak,palidosdos,patko, balikutsa. She also enumerated the different "bansag" of some people in Orion like "Turing na magbababoy","Kikong Huweting " etc.These part of the program elicited laughter.
The dancing feet of Ernie S, Pilar, Nelia, Violet, Tuding Rollie and even Mike were honed . Those who were not dancers joined the "line dancing" with the Dance Instructors (DI) . The finale of the program was the singing of our Graduation Song which made everyone teary-eyed.

Visit to Gawad Kalinga Housing in Daan Pare

Right after the photo ops at JRI, the group proceeded to the Gawad Kalinga in Daan Pare where we had our breakfast of sinangag and itlog and other variants like,tapa,tinapa,longganisa,and tocino .Many chose the tinapa.sinangag and itlog and they really like the tinapang alugasin.Emma brought the round tsokalate which were prepared using blenders instead of the "batirol". Everyone enjoyed the meal. Those who have not previously visited the area looked at the finished structures which are already occupied . Editha, Nelia and Josie distributed candies, chocolates and some toys to the children. Then we had a short meeting to update everyone of the projects we had sponsored . For the scholarship in high school education of sons and daughters of our classmates, all of them are already employed. The GK project is already completed and the assistance to Ondoy victims has been sent to ABS-CBN .

Visit at JRI Campus

The second day of the reunion, January 17 started with a visit to our Alma Mater, JRI Orion . We gathered there,went around the campus. The only remaining familiar structure is the one story building which used to house the Office of the Principal,the library and the rooms. We peeped inside and our batch mates began narrating stories about our high school subjects and our teachers . All are eager to have their stories heard. The photo ops were enjoyable too...everyone rushing to whoever is clicking the camera,even sitting on the laps of the males to have a nice pose .Indeed the Maria Claras before had great transformations after 47 years.
I had my solo picture taken near the bulletin board which was donated by my Dad, Reynaldo Diolola's Dad and another World War II veteran.
Enjoy looking at the pictures...guys!

More pics...Play Time at the Picnic

With our very own class valedictorian,Zenaida Mendoza Sison as the facilitator of the games,once again we have pushed the "Child in us Button" and actively participated in the games like Pamaypay relay and placing the straw in a bottle. Despite the arthritis in the knees, Doming and Boy arrived in the finish line. Everyone were de stressed because of their hearty laughter.Prizes were provided by the balikbayans.

At Godwins Resort

From the church where a thanksgiving mass was celebrated,we proceeded to Godswin Resort in Limay.All were wearing a blazing red T shirt...to symbolize passion, vitality,increased entthusiasm and interest,action and confidence to go after our dreams. The pictures won't lie.....

Reunion of the Decade Pictorials

As expected the Reunion of the Decade started after some Balikbayan classmates arrived.After the meeting at Mike's place, dinner at Nelia's place followed in Jan 12. Fun, food, laughters and jokes dominated the gathering. Ernie DR drove all the way from Paranaque to be with the group and Luna just took a little rest after she arrived from California that day. Here are some photos:

GREETINGS TO THE AWESOME BATCHERS - JRI 1963

Wishing you all Loads of Laughter and Reminiscence and, of course, Food, glorious Food.

Dinner Meeting at Pres. Mike's Residence

Pres. Mike invited batch mates to a sumptuous dinner at his place Jan. 3, 7:00pm. Fifteen of us were present there. We gave Pres. Mike some updates on the activities.Those who were around also had the chance to fit the sample Red T-Shirt for the right size. As expected we had fun sharing jokes,recalling high school adventures and other stories. Tuding sent a text message greeting the group because she was informed by Violeta about the dinner meeting. Tonying Apolinario and Norberto Roxas attended the meeting an addition to the usual attendees.

We agreed to have another meeting at Nelia's place on the 12th, potluck dinner. Plans for the 50th year of Batch '63 on 2013 are being hatched .So watch for another two years planning for that event.

Birthday Greetings

Happy Birthday to January born batchmates:

1.Estanislao Sabino --- 17

2.Luzviminda Santos Jungaya---24

3.Erlinda Aquino Pangan ----30

Wishing you good health, good life, peace and love.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

WISHING EVERYONE A BLESSED,PROSPEROUS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!MAY THIS COMING YEAR BE WONDERFUL FOR ALL OF US!LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU DURING OUR REUNION!

NELIA