By Marie A. Junio with Arturo Aquino
Arturo Aquino sent the following letter and pictures taken during their MNHS Mini Class '66 reunion.
"September 8, 2007 was an exciting and unforgettable day for thirteen former MNHS classmates , class of '66 , as they gathered in Manteca , California , for a reunion. Carlito Torio flew in from Seattle , WA , Vicente Padre from New Jersey , Mercedes Lim Custodio from Michigan and the rest from nearby California communities : Rhoda Ungos Zarate ( Mapandan ) from Sta Maria , Henry Tambot ( San Fabian ) from Daly City, Elpedio de Leon from Vallejo , Lito Lavarias ( Mangaldan ) from Milpitas, Rudy de Guzman ( San Jacinto ) from Morgan Hill , Josie de Guzman ( San Jacinto ) from San Jose , Julian Placido ( San Fabian ) from Hayward , Estrella Biagtan ( Mangaldan ) from Stockton , Lydia Aquino Somera ( Mangaldan ) from Sacramento and myself ( Manteca is my home ..no travelling needed . )
The previous day , Carlito ( a.k.a Caloy ) , Mercedes , and myself spent the day in San Francisco , visiting the Golden Gate bridge , Lombard street and the Fisherman's Wharf .
The day of the reunion came . Initial greetings and excitement after 41 years apart was indescribable. The laughter , cheers and a lot of " kumusta ka la ey '" can be heard over two blocks away .
The day was spent reconnecting with each other over plates of calderetta , cappocan, pinapaitan, pising ya nan lalaok ( saluyot , rosas na calobasa , pagda , bulong tan bunga na agayep ) . Valerio and Goldilocks goodies and specialties were in abundance .The party started outside the house and continued on inside .
The ladies belted their best songs at the karaoke and impromptu dance lessons were given by Rhoda Ungos and Esther Tecson .
After 58 years of " wear and tear" , my classmates' health concerns became the "hot" topic : " Agi , wala lay high blood pressure ko " , "siak atagey met so cholesterol ko " ." Antoy exercise mo met natan ?"
After a great night , we said goodbye to each other hoping to see each other again in 2010 in Mangaldan ."
The MNHS mini class '66 reunion participants : Clockwise :Lito Lavarias , Estrella Biagtan ,Rhoda Ungos Zarate , Mercedes Lim Custodio , Lydia Aquino Somera , Arturo Aquino , Julian Placido , Vicente Padre , Carlito Torio , Rudy de Guzman and Henry Tambot . Not in picture are Elpedio de Leon and Josefina de Guzman but they were in attendance .
Caloy and Art in Fisherman's Wharf .. 
Mercedes Lim Custodio at the Golden Gate Bridge ..
The five guys under the umbrella are Vicente Padre , Elpedio de Leon , Julian Placido , Lito Lavarias and Henry Tambot .
These two pictures inside the house were taken when they were watching old high school class videos .Isaias Aquino ( brother of Art ) attended the occasion , but he belongs to another class in MNHS .
In the group picture at left are Ellie , Art's wife ( standing ) , sis-in-law Esther , Rudy , Henry , Dominic Diaz . Seated are Emma Diaz , Lorie Lavarias , Julian and Estrella .
Thanks for sharing our kabaleyans your exciting and wonderful class reconnections , Art . Cheers and Maaliguas komon kayon sankakaklase la lawas .
Atchi Marie
just saw the write-ups and pix of our mini-reunion class '66 and i tell you guys out there. ag yo la alagaren so ikapoy na laman yo, minengnengan kayo la ed saray kaklase yo ta da bes ya la ya agawa ed bilay ko leleg kon wadya ed amerika.
i am looking forward to another reunion but the big one is the 2010 grand reunion in the Phil. let's all come together,folks get out of your hiding place and let's enjoy being together again. we got two more years to get ready and i think we can do it if we really put our hearts to it.
SO LET'S GO FOR IT!!!! MABUHAY MANGALDAN, MABUHAY MANGALDAN HIGH SCHOOL, MABUHAY ALIGUAS MANGALDAN, MABUHAY CLASS '66!!!!!!!
SEE YOU ALL THEN!!!!!!
CARLITO(CALOY)TORIO//////
Posted by: carlito torio | November 12, 2007 at 11:02 AM
It's real things folks, It's so sad for me at that time, coz I was not able to make it for some reason behind. I am here at Salinas, California not far from Manteca.(Arturo's house)I would say I was not lucky enough for a chance to meet our old and getting young beautiful & handsome class 66'. Good Job Art' for this wonderful and great ideas by making it so fuuuuntastic and a chance to see each other for 41 - 45th. Hopefully year 2010 will also be one of the greatest reunion for class 66'. keep up the good works. Thanks Art and thanks for Aliguas Mangaldan.
Francisco
Posted by: Francisco G Embuido | October 25, 2007 at 08:45 AM
41 years an the pictures tell us all ... you guys are still "in form" and the ladies are "agagangana". I would have love to be there and hear Art in the karaoke time. Congratulations class '66. I bet you had a great time under the great weather of California. Good job Art and good to see your pictures again with Isaias my good mate. Lito Lavarias, I heard a lot about you from my brother Kuya Lito.How are you now these days? Henry Tambot, is Fabian your brother? He was my classmate as well from San Fabian. Please pass on my regards and love to hear from him. We will have our class 1972 re union in San Francisco and Las Vegas in 2009. Thanks again for sharing this mini gig.
Cheers
Mon Orap
Posted by: Ramon | October 25, 2007 at 06:12 AM
Congratulations Class 66!
Makapa-ibeg so inpan-reunion yo ed California. Comon, saray arom ya classmates yo et makapan toyao ira no iner so san kaasigaran ya 'venue' da ta pian 'na-renew so spirit'.
Celebrating life with childhood friends is a gracious gift from Heavens. I am also from Class '66 but from SBC (San Beda College). I missed our own 40th year reunion in Manila as I had just landed as immigrant here in Vancouver, BC. Hopefully would be there on the 45th year meet-up.
Take care all and thank you for choosing Aliguas as your venue for sharing the story of your reunion.
Posted by: Djoma | October 23, 2007 at 08:21 AM