The members of our organization are UP High School alumni, consisting of Class 1950 graduates and former batch mates or classmates anytime between the years 1946 and 1950 who would have graduated with us had they remained in the school. It is interesting to note that while the first category constitutes the majority of our alumni, those in the second category are equally attached to our batch and continue to participate in our projects/activities whenever or wherever they can.

For example, FRANCISCO "Paking" FLORO started with us in 1946, but after our sophomore year his parents sent him to the US to complete his education there. Upon his return, he rejoined our group and attended our meetings and activities because he felt he belonged to our class. He was elected to replace Nandy Perez before our first president left for Saudi Arabia where he worked as a personnel manager. Since then, Paking has devoted his time, efforts, and resources to enhance the warm fellowship and cohesiveness of our association.

Other stalwart alumni in the second category include MAGTANGGOL "Big Ambo" AMBROSIO, AURORA SALEGUMBA-GENUINO, and RAMON CRUZ, JR., who were originally in our freshman class in 1946. Because they took advance classes for several summers, they graduated ahead of us (with Class 1949). Whenever possible, they continue to attend our activities.

GRACE BALMACEDA was our classmate from First Year up to the first semester of our junior year, but she transferred to Philippine Women's University when UP moved to Diliman, Quezon City. After obtaining her AB Foreign Service degree from UP in Diliman and doing a short stint at the Department of Commerce and Industry, she worked for the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations until her retirement. But she rejoined our group, maintained her friendship with our batch-mates and attended as many activities as she could during her lifetime.

Still others, like ROSEMARY DEL RIO and RENATO CALLEJA, etc. have considered themselves to be part of our Class of 1950. We need help in locating them as well as others we haven’t accounted for (please see our membership directory: Philippines-based and Foreign-based).

The idea of getting our classmates together on special occasions started with FERNANDO "Nandy" PEREZ (our first president), ENRICO "Ikong" ANDAYA (our first treasurer), and FE ABARQUEZ-SUACO (our secretary for life). Patiently, they called up or visited batch mates who had not forgotten the friendship and camaraderie forged during our carefree high school years.

The core group formed at the outset has slowly evolved into a closely-knit and enduring Class '50 organization that has been reinforced by equally

dedicated leaders such as Paking Floro, Nanding Campos, Naning Bagabaldo, Johnny Sanchez, Jun Elicano and Jun Tengonciang, to name a few.

To facilitate the task of contacting one another, the personal data sheets submitted have been compiled and consolidated by the "Tres Marias" (Secretary Fe and her two secretariat members, Delma Dojillo-Dungan and Patsy Putong-Sison) into a comprehensive directory.

Initially starting with birthday celebrations, we also had potluck/KKB (Kanya-Kanyang Bayad) socials, Christmas reunions, bienvenidas, despedidas, etc.

Our major activities included:

1. 1975: Silver Jubilee Luncheon, U. P. Education Building, Diliman, QC;

2. 1980: 30th Anniversary Reunion, Manila Peninsula Hotel Ballroom;

3. 1985: 35th Anniversary Dinner, MERALCO Lighthouse, Mandaluyong;

4. 1985: Implementation of UPIS Student Scholarship;

5. 1990: Ruby Anniversary Celebration, Manila Polo Club;

6. 1993: 43rd  Anniversary Reunion, Philippine Columbian Clubhouse;

7. 1995: 45th Anniversary Dinner-Dance, Manila Polo Club;

8. 1997: 47th Anniversary, Hotel Rembrandt, QC;

9. 1995, 1997, 1999: Three outings to Poblete-Tengonciang Resthouse at Tagaytay City (one in each of these years).

To prepare for our momentous 50th (Golden) Anniversary, our Finance Committee, ably led by retired Philippine Army Colonel JUAN "Johnny" SANCHEZ was able to raise considerable funds for our organization from our generous classmates.

We held two well-attended reunions during our golden anniversary year -- a pre-Anniversary Celebration (informal Hawaiian luau) at the World Trade Center's Skyline Restaurant on Buendia Avenue in Pasay City on May 28, 2000 and our Golden Jubilee Dinner-Dance (formal occasion) at the Century Park Hotel Ballroom on Vito Cruz, in Manila on December 28, 2000. Several UP High School faculty members  graced these events with their presence and then-UP-President Francisco Nemenzo, Jr. was the guest speaker in both reunions. The programs of these two jubilee celebrations consisted of:

Pre-Anniversary Luau (5/28/2000)

- Pambansang Awit led by Andrea Estrada-Sarapuddin

- Invocation by Emmanuel Pinga

- Opening Remarks by President Francisco Floro

- Acknowledgment of Special Guests by Fernando Campos

- Message from Dr. Paz Ramos

- Speech by Guest of Honor UP President Francisco Nemenzo, Jr.

- Remarks by Pasay City Mayor Wenceslao “Peewee” Trinidad

- Group Singing of "Salamat Sa Buhay" (an original composition of Betty del Rosario, now Sister Mary Pia, RGS) participated in by all jubilarians present

- Song Medley by Family Ensemble of Dr. Marcelino Reysio-Cruz

- "The Nearness of You" sung by Eileen Putong Sison accompanied by the AFP Band

- Tahitian Numbers by Horty Salazar's Hanalei Dancers

- Solo Hula performance by Maridel Dungan-Azarraga

- "Polynesian Dance by the Fantastic 7" - Benny Agbayani, Naning Bagabaldo, Nanding Campos, Tom Carunungan, Eddie Elejar, Tony Protacio, and Nitoy Valera. This finale, choreographed by Horty Salazar, brought the house down.

Golden Jubilee Ball (12/28/2000)

- Pambansang Awit led by Andrea Estrada-Sarapuddin

- Invocation written by  Sister Mary Pia (Betty del Rosario) and read by Fe Abarquez-Suaco

- Welcome Remarks by President Francisco Floro

- Acknowledgment of Special Guests [Balikbayan Classmates and Spouses of Departed Members] by lst VP Fernando Campos

- Responses from Balikbayan Classmates Grace Balmaceda and Sergio Domondon

- Inspirational Message from UP President Francisco Nemenzo, Jr.

- Song Number from recording artist Tootsie Guevarra (daughter of Emmanuel Pinga)

- Special Performance of Philippine Dances by Quezon City Performing Arts scholars under Eddie Elejar Mendoza, Tony Fabella and Luther Perez

- Latin-American Dance Medley by "The Oldies But Goodies" eighteen classmates: Tessie Vasquez-Marzan, Fe Abarquez-Suaco, Delma Dojillo-Dungan, Andrea Estrada-Sarapuddin, Luz Rodriguez-Ramos, Horty Salazar, Auring Alcantara-Ramos, Emma Palec, Patsy Putong-Sison, Tom Carunungan, Bert Garcia, Nanding Campos, Naning Bagabaldo, Nick Eliazo, Tony Protacio, Nitoy Valera, Teddy Bonifacio, and Ric Gemora. [This number was choreographed and directed by multi-awarded Eddie-Elejar Mendoza).

Copies of our 2000 Souvenir Book & Class Directory and our first quarterly newsletter were distributed during the Golden Jubilee Ball held December 28, 2000 at the Century Park Hotel, Manila.