North American Chapter Chairman Roger Austria (far right) and Secretary Fe Abarquez-Suaco (second from right) hand gifts of appreciation to 60th Anniversary organizing committee secretariat members (from left): Ophie Ongkingco-Lagmay, Patsy Putong-Sison, Mercia Crisostomo-Aquino, and Delma Dojillo-Dungan.

Manila Polo Club scene of uninhibited recollection of old campus adventures

It has happened!

The UP High School Class of 1950’s “60th Anniversary Grand Reunion” is now history. [View Pictures]

More than 100 members [list of attendees] of the University of the Philippines’ High School Class of 1950 and their guests celebrated the 60th anniversary with style on December 29, 2010 at the Manila Polo Club Turf Room in Makati City, Philippines. [Programme]

It was a night to remember, and paradoxically a night when memories floated about in every conversation. 

It was a night that everyone wished would never end.

And it was a night that everyone vowed would repeat itself -- not ten, not five, but two years later.

Led by class president Francisco R. “Paking” Floro, the celebration started with an invocation by Sister Pia, RGS (classmate Betty Del Rosario) and the singing of the national anthem (Pambansang Awit) conducted by classmate Andrea Estrada-Sarapudddin. Paking then welcomed participating classmates and their guests who were individually introduced by class first vice president Fernando C. Campos, emcee Johnny Billote, and North American chapter chairman Roger Austria.

Acknowledgments of reunion hosts Peewee Trinidad, Johnny Sanchez, and Dr. Victor V. Perez were followed by a keynote speech and special message from incoming UP president Alfredo E. Pascual who was introduced by first vice president Fernando C. Campos.

The celebrating alumni actually started having fun after dinner when the North American chapter presented a series of skits [View Videos: Skit #1, Skit #2, Skit #3] depicting the life of the Filipino diaspora in the US and sang a Christmas carol. The chapter also presented plaques of appreciation to the officers of Class of 1950 alumni association including Salustiano Tengonciang (posthumous), Naning Bagabaldo, Nanding Campos, and Paking Floro and special gifts to reunion sponsors Peewee Trinidad, Johnny Sanchez, and Victor Perez. Gifts of appreciation were also presented to organizing committee secretariat members Ophie Ongkingco-Lagmay, Patsy Putong-Sison, Mercia Crisostomo-Aquino, and Delma Dojillo-Dungan.

A Spanish dance was presented by choreographer Eddie Elejar Mendoza and classmate Mercia Crisostomo-Aquino’s balae Cecile Carrion-De Joya, who were joined by Mercia’s daughter Maritzi De Joya-Aquino.

The party was capped by ballroom dancing to the music of the Los Caballeros (a Philippine Army combo contingent). Patsy Putong-Sison made sure the dancers conformed to monthly social rules that were in force during Class 1950 days.

This year’s reunion was hosted by the alumni association’s Philippines-based members who honored their homecoming classmates from around the world. Celebration emcees were Roger Austria, Johnny Billote, and Naning Bagabaldo.

US-versus-Home team Golf Match

A golf match between the US-based contingent and the Home-based alumni took place on the West course of the famed Wack Wack Golf & Country Club, Mandaluyong City, on Thursday, December 30.
[View Pictures]

Playing for the US team were Roger Austria, Julius Willis, Serge Domondon, and Enrico Garcia, while taking up the cudgels for the home team were Paking Floro, his nephew Rafael Floro, and Pons Bernardo.

Because Home-team member Cario Laurel had a scheduling conflict and was not able to make it to Wack Wack, he hosted a second round at the posh Mount Malarayat Golf & Country Club, Lipa City, Batangas, on Wednesday, January 5, 2011. [Read details]

Who won these matches? Because neither side kept good scores, both matches were declared “draws.”

Side Trip to Bohol

A side-trip to the province and island of Bohol in the southern Philippines took place January 1 - 3, 2011. Thirteeen classmates made the trip.

Click here for a full account by NAC Chairman Roger Austria.

View a video of the group’s singing while in Bohol.
Read the story about the famous Bus Singing Group.

VENUE:

The 60th Anniversary reunion and celebration took place in the Turf Room of the Manila Polo Club in Makati City on December 29, 2010.

HOME-vs-US GOLF MATCH:

A golf match between the Home-based (Philippines) and US-based alumni took place on the West course of the world-famous Wack Wack Golf & Country Club in Mandaluyong.

SIDE TRIP TO BOHOL:

A side trip to Bohol took place January 1 through January 3, 2011. The trip ended the 60th Anniversary celebration, or it seems. This photo is of the famed world wonder Bohol Chocolate Hills. More . . .

Remember?

We resided on the third floor, where we learned about the linear expansion of heat, the species, and Thomas Moore, among other things. We don’t see our old ice cream vendor who served generations of us, but remember him.