NESHS '58 Alumni WEB Home
NESHS '58 Alumni WEB Home
NESHS '58 40th Grand Reunion
A Treasure Box of Gems
- As I Saw It: "A singular genuine joy ..."
By : Vicki M. Pascual (Spouse of a NESHS '58 alumnus)
- Memorable Moments: "A string of pearls ..."
Contributors:
Julita Atacador Rodriguez Pablo David Estelita Dino Gotera Mernilo Dionisio Estrelita Fernando Estrella Matilde Garcia Jose Norma de Guzman Camaya Soledad Ligon Inocencio Zenaida Linsangan Virginia Liwag Jimenez Horatio Lotuaco Adelaida Malang Yuzon Iluminada Mariano Antonio Ligaya Mariano Pangilinan Rodolfo Mariano Gloria Pablo Efren Pascual Estrella Reyes Eduardo dela Rosa Remedios de San Jose Eladio de los Santos Eileen Tanghal Olga Tiongco Cruz Emelita Torres Bautista Oscar Vallarta Jacinto Yamsuan Teresita Pangilinan Alvarez
- Welcome Address: "Maligayang Pagdating ..."
By : Jacinto Yamsuan (NESHS '58 alumnus)
- Opening Remarks: "40 More Years ..."
By : Horatio Lotuaco (NESHS '58 alumnus)
- Closing Address: "We shall continue ..."
By : Lt. Gen. Romeo A. Padiernos, Ret. (NESHS '58 alumnus)
- Imprints: "Life's color and sparkle ..."
By : Horatio M. Lotuaco (NESHS '58 alumnus)
Days Before the Reunion
1st Day - Trip to Hidden Valley Resorts
2nd Day - The "Big" Gapan Reunion
3rd Day - Trip to Villa Escudero Resort
4th Day - "Fare Thee Well Dinner", Q.C.
Post Reunion Days
- Photo Gallery: "A treasure chest of memories ..."
Day at the Hidden Valley Resort
Grand Reunion Day in Gapan
Day at the Villa Escudero Resorts
Evening "Fare Thee Well Dinner"
. . . AS I SAW IT
By: Vicki M. Pascual (Spouse of a NESHS ’58 alumnus)
The 1998 NESHS Class ‘58 Philippine Reunion. It was what all class members in the United States were talking about - preparations, bookings, reservations and the thrill of seeing everybody again after forty years. There were other reunions before - the 1988 Pearl Anniversary in Gapan; the first get together in the United States held in the summer of 1989 in Virginia; then in July 1992 in Chicago; followed in 1994 in New Jersey; and, the latest, in San Francisco in 1996. In between reunions, smaller groups met to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, summer picnics or to welcome a visiting classmate.
Although I was not in any of the reunions prior to 1998, I heard the highlights that transpired, one of which is how the group gave up their Kenny Rogers dinner show, in Atlantic city, so as not to interrupt an evening of non-stop antics and sharing of high school experiences. Who needs Kenny Rogers? Rudy Mariano and Thea Aguilar are the dancer/entertainer of the evening. Describing other affairs, Nilo Dionisio and wife Annie counted for me the number of crabs they had at their crabbing feast in Virginia; recounted the romantic evening Chit Palomo and husband Fort spent at the 5-star guest room at Ace and Violy’s; and the bountiful harvest at Lina Mariano’s vegetable garden.
Returning to the Philippines in 1997, I was very excited at the thought of finally being able to attend not only a reunion, but the most talked about reunion. The planning was in full swing by fall of 1997. Excited as I was, I also had some anxiety meeting everybody. This feeling was amplified when the first of many chances to meet an alumna was at the wake for a deceased. Yes, at the wake for the husband of Sol Ligon Inocencio. I cannot find the proper word to say that I was glad to meet her, but not under the circumstances then. I whispered to her when we were introduced “I am sure we will meet again in a happier occasion”.
At the 1997 Christmas party, which coincided with the birthday of Norma de Guzman Camaya, I met Estrelita Fernando, Aurora Young, Into Yamsuan, Renato Ricabo, Gloria Pablo, Olga Tiongco and the late Pilar Carillo, to name a few.
During the regular Sunday dance and choral practice sessions (for the Metro Manila group’s presentation for the reunion), I listened to Jessie de Leon’s -- who is always trying to humor everybody -- “green” jokes; watched as Oscar and Myrna Vallarta seriously practice their dance steps (led by graceful dancers Estelita Dino and Matilde Garcia). Romy and Letty Padiernos; and Efren and myself try to imitate the very romantic tango dip of Eyo and Lilia de Guzman . . . to no avail. The group rehearsed with feeling the song Handog. The chorus line of Lumeng Mariano, Sol Ligon, Remy de San Jose, Ligaya Mariano, Zeny Linsangan and Daisy and Lorenzo Dayao blended well with the duet of Eli de los Santos and Lilia (wife of Rogelio de Guzman).
On the week of the reunion, alumni from the United States started arriving via Korean Air, Asiana and the unforgetable Northwest Air flight of Esper Magbitang and Rolando and Linda Siwa (which was first communicated to us by Benedicto Siwa). Because of the latter incident, our phone lines suddenly became Efren’s hot line. Listening to my husband and his colleagues, I can almost hear teenagers exchanging pleasantries; asking advice how to get here and there; and how to recover lost luggages. I have never seen my husband so enthusiastic.
At the Gilarmi Apartments, on the first day of the reunion, anybody speaking English had an American twang. But when they talk about school, the Gapan intonation is suddenly in the air. After lunch at Hidden Valley’s Pavilion Hall, the ladies enjoyed a dip in the pool, reminiscing who had a crush on whom; while Jess Tanghal (husband of Esper) sang his heart out with the rondalla ... until one of the guitar’s string broke.
At the reunion at the NESHS school grounds, Esper’s voice cracked and her eyes got misty while conducting the singing of the National Anthem, nostalgia filled the air. Soon thereafter, games, song-and-dance numbers started. Zeny Linsangan distributed fans while Cecilia Yamsuan gave everybody a tube of lipstick. Who can forget the emotional Ace Lotuaco as he received a plaque of appreciation from his peers; and the eloquent closing remarks delivered by non other than the general himself - Romy Padiernos.
At the end of the day, as everybody was leaving with their raffle prizes, there were mixed emotions as the alumni said their goodbyes. As if mother nature was on our side, a heavy downpour started as soon as the school grounds were vacated.
During the trip to Villa Escudero (the day after the Gapan reunion), we laughed till we cried as Dr. Vic Singzon (husband of Leonora Antonio) delivered punchlines after punchlines, between our recollection of the previous day’s affair in Gapan. Not mindful of the laughter, Thea Aguilar prayed the rosary; Rudy Siwa kept himself busy photographing whoever he caught sleeping in the bus; and Sol wasted no time bargaining off leftover T-shirts and caps.
That evening, back from the resort, a smaller group convened at the hotel room of Ace and Violy to practice line dancing (where they also saw Ace “graduate” from Rudy Mariano’s dancing class). The dance master’s next protege - my kumpadre Nilo Dionisio.
At the farewell dinner, the gentlemen and their ladies (in their formal attire) ran in droves as soon as somebody held up a camera to take a picture of a couple or a group. Frank Grajo (Norma Afable’s husband), the self-designated videoman, was unable to keep up with his ever mobile and increasing subjects. Tameng Camaya obliged to deliver a declamation in Tagalog; and Marietta Ramos, the Class’ muse, surprised everybody when she joined the affair.
I watched in appreciation and awe as each and everyone’s character and youthful self unfolded during the four days of the reunion. The U.S. and the Philippine group were like puzzles that made a lovely pattern. Everyone is generous with words of appreciation. News, be it good or sad, received by phone or via the Internet, is circulated to the group as quickly as possible. Some, due to other engagements, may not always be available to join in celebration of a happy occasion. But each feels a sense of personal commitment to support, console and extend help in time of sorrow or need.
Above all, I feel the high level of respect that the alumni have for their classmates and the latter’s spouses. The alumni treat each other as equal - no rich, no poor, no valedictorian, no “goat”, no achiever, no failure. A compliment is received with delight while a suggestion is given with utmost tact and sincerity. The alumni seem to just pick up from where they left off forty years ago with no effort at all.
I have been very lucky to be in the company of some NESHS ‘58 class members in the United States; and have been privileged to experience their genuine hospitality to no end. When I returned to the Philippines, I witnessed a bigger scale of this kind of hospitality.
Every moment of the 4-day celebration of the 1998 reunion was memorable. I would like to sum all those moments into ONE. It is the singular genuine joy and glow in the eyes of every alumni; it is the warmth in their greetings to one another; the thoughfulness, the camaraderie; the jokes and laughter ... all of which can only emanate from individuals who have concern for each other. The happiness manifested did not come from men and women in their fifties, but a happiness that the “teenagers” of Class ‘58 haved shared with each other since they were in their teens. It is what makes a reunion a memorable one ... because without this, the reunion will be ... just another reunion.
CLOSING ADDRESS
By : Lt. Gen. Romeo A. Padiernos (NESHS ’58 Alumnus)
(Transcribed from video records by and thru initiative of Vicki Pascual)I feel it would be inappropriate if I really have to give a closing remark that will be too lengthy. Inapproriate because I grew up in a culture where the lesser is said, the better you understood. Meaning, I spent more than thrity years as a soldier.
Nevertheless, before I even proceed, allow me to state one or two “truths” about our classmates. Puede bang magbiro? Forty years was really too long to condition some of our missing classmates. Specifically, I would like to mention Imwuit, Ricardo Pangilinan. If you recall . . . Nangiti agad si Ligaya. Condition, in the sense that pag ganoon ni Ligaya . . . (speaker pointing to command), “Imwuit! Sa bahay ka! Ako ang a-attend ng reunion!” Katotohanan lang.
I also heard another “truth”, a painful “truth” from Esperanza, when we just met at Gilarmi Hotel . . ., when she said Sa amin daw lahat na kaeskuwelang lalake, mayroon daw sama ng loob si Conchita. Ano yoon? Bakit daw wala man lamang isang lumigaw kay Conchita Palomo . . .? O. tama na yoong katotohanan na biro.
Well, really! Forty years was quite long to be able to gather us together. With the Guiding Hand from above, when we trekked this life, when we imprinted our feet on the sands of time, things were really uncertain. We just knew when we set forth from the portals of this Alma Mater, we have only one precept, one command in our minds and that is enshrined in the logo of our Alma Mater: PER ASPERA AD ASTRA. The only way to the stars is through struggle, through hard work. That was the command that we received when we bid farewell forty years ago to our Alma Mater, to our mentors.
It is unfortunate that today, we have missed from our ranks some twenty-six classmates. We have missed so many teachers, so many mentors we always associate with the happy and the sad, with the good and maybe nothing bad. But nevertheless, we are here today for a reunion.
And what is a reunion all about? To my simplest mind, reunion is the gathering of comrades, the gathering of associates, the gathering of friends to relive the happiest years of our lives. To recall, to reminisce the happiest moments, the carefree years we spent together at the Nueva Ecija South High School. The more romantic will remember Lambingan Bridge. I, for one, would associate happy moments under this acacia trees - which were having trunks that small (spoken while showing size of trunk with his fingers) in those years, because the moment I reached this place, I felt I was free to smoke together with Cipriano and Rufino Herrera. I would like to recall also those years, you and I would like to remember. The years when I suggested ”O kaya naging Section 2 si Matilde eh, hinde pinakopya ni Esperanza”.
Today, we are all recipients, we are all beneficiaries of the untiring efforts of, to name a few, Eli de los Santos, Jacinto Yamsuan, Soledad Ligon, Estrelita Fernando, Horacio Lotuaco … Well, I may have to spend until sunset if I will have to name everyone. But without the enthusiastic efforts of these classmates of ours, we won’t be here to enjoy the day in the company of each and everyone. From our side, we would like to convey to our classmates overseas, much that we would like to be together with you, much that we would like to share with you, it is not really so easy. And that is why we are lucky, we have so many among us who spared no effort to bring each and everyone of us together and for the next few more days.
I recall when we started regularly getting together some ten or a little over ten years ago. Everubody was enthusiastic but nobody seemed to make the first move. And now, after forty eyars, we are together. I think we have all the reasons to look forward to the fiftieth, the Golden Anniversary of our class when it graduated from the school. Of course, in those years each and everyone of us were keeping track with each other. Maybe not in a whole, not as a whole class but circles entwined within other circles.
Meanwhile …, wala kaming problema ni Ades, kasi halos forty years palagi kaming may contact ni Ades. Wala kaming problema ni Fanny. Wala kaming problema ni Eli. Somehow, they relate to us what is going on and what is happening to our other classmates. I am sure each and everyone of us is doing the same. Naalaala ko tuloy, favorite ko ‘yang si Gloria, eh (spoken while pointing to Gloria Pablo). A few days ago, huling nag submit ng retrato. And Eladio was complaining. Sabi ko kay Eli … “Bayaan mo na. Matagal talagang mag-decide si Gloria. De pa nga nag-dedecide mag asawa, eh. Sa mga kaeskuwela natin, mga ilang araw ng nakaraan, ang sabi ko, bagama’t nahiwalay ako sa common walk of life, I was happy, I was blessed, I would even say more blessed than the others, because just like you, I find fulfillment as you find fulfillment in the direction each one chose to trek.
We were one-hundred fifty-two then. Despite the physical absence of some twenty-six among us, I am sure by the enthusiasm each and everyone manifested today, we can say we are still one-hundred fifty-two in Class of 1958. Maybe some of us do not understand why. Maybe we are standouts among the graduates among the postwar graduates of our alma mater. Maybe, with all these reasons we can cast modesty aside and say, “Class of 1958 of the Nueva Ecija South High School is the best class of this high school!” . Among other reasons, no one, no class has succeeded in being able to bond together, not only in a reunion but on a day-to-day basis as Class of 1958 had bonded together.
And sooner than we know, we are leaving into the four directions of the wind again, with the thought that Class of 1958 is one. We shall continue to share, we shall continue to care, we shall continue to be concerned with each other, and we shall continue to set the example. If you recall, when we used to go through the portals of our alma mater, there is something there also at the portals. I do not know if many of you or many among us can recall. Any volunteer? It says “Example is the Best Precept”, if you recall. Kayong mga naka kalesa, siguro hindi napapansin yun, eh. Yung nakasulat doon sa gate natin noong araw - Example is the Best Precept. We are setting a Class of 1958 tradition, that Class of 1958 has set for others to emulate or to follow.
So from here, we are not saying farewell. We shall again in a short while break into the four winds. We shall continue to trek on the sands of time. We are still young enough to look for greener pastures, to reach and break new horizons. Don’t lose heart. Kahit na kami in Ine ay may rayuma na. By the way, ale ko si Ine. (speaker pointing to AuroraYoung). Siguro magaling, pinagmano ko is Eladio para malaman niyang ale ka namin. From here, as I said, we shall continue to struggle, we shall continue to live by the precept that we have inherited from this alma mater of ours. PER ASPERA AD ASTRA.
Thank you.
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