Memories are our souvenirs that time will turn into our treasures.. Our lives are full of memories . We try to gather and keep as much souvenirs as we can .We keep souvenirs for our families and our friends.
Most of our waking hours when we were younger were spent in our schools where most of our memories started . Our elementary years were the start of building our own memories. In high school, the camaraderie we started in our elementary grades were strengthened . Then after graduation , it was time to part .
Deep within us , we longed for our old friends and our past while building new relationships in the next phase of our lives . Reunions are meant to reconnect us to our old friends .
My years in Santo Tomas High School ( now Santo Tomas Catholic School ) were full of memories . My Class '59 members residing in North America decided to hold a mini- reunion and we decided on a " Reunion On Wheels ". Venus Jimenez , Norie Cervas and I flew to California to join Tita Morales, Serafin Serafica and wife Rebecca ( nee Aquino and STHS Class '66 ) , Manny Biason and wife Naida and Aurora Calicdan and husband Silverio ( Jun ) de Guzman ( MNHS Class '59 ) at the Serafica residence in Yorba Linda . Ramon Cabrera and wife Nora arrived from the Philippines to join us .Cora (Aquino), STHS class '60 and husband Rodolfo Natavio joined us on the tour. We all spent the night at Serafin and Rebecca's beautiful home . Serafin and the guys rented a 15 seater van . The pictures I am posting show where we were during our Reunion on Wheels . The culminating activity after our tour was a picnic where our Co-Thomasians in the area planned a picnic . Some Thomasians , specially Cecile Ferrer Mejia who joined us requested that I post our 2002 STHS Class 59er's reunion . She spent her first year in STHS but graduated in MNHS . Her request was followed by some of our co-Thomasians .. 
On our first day at Serafin and Rebecca's house : We were starving so everybody helped in the cooking . Manny was the only guy among the gals . He decided to use his cooking prowess of the typically Mangaldan style " pising ". Pinmaway ya siansia so expertise nen Manny ," lutoy Mangaldan" . The other guys went out to pick up the van...
Here's the van the guys rented for our trip . It was more than a van . It looked more like a mini school bus . We were about to board it but Rebecca prepared so much food for the trip . "Mairap lay nairasan ", kuanto met so we had to make room for all those " treats" before we boarded .There were fourteen of us who joined the "Reunion on Wheels" , with eight as Class '59ers ...
First stop was Las Vegas . Nora , Venus , Cora Aquino Natavio( Class 60 who joined us ) , Naida , Aurora and Marie went strolling in the Gardens of Bellagio Hotel .(Note: Agmira kaiba ramay duara ya personas ed kawigui )
Recognize whom we bumped into ? That's Father Reynaldo " Pal" Domagas who was attending a seminar in the same hotel where we booked in , Monte Carlo 
. He was wearing a blue shirt just in case you are looking for him .He is presently the Chaplain at Beth Israel Medical Center at New York ( see article under "Heart Of Gold " posted on Nov. 19, 2006 on this site )
Here's another young priest we encountered during our stay in Monte Carlo . How lucky can we be ! ! Our trip was blessed by two priests from our hometown ..That's Father Francis Posadas at the middle , in black shirt ...
Venus , Norie , Tita and Marie ready for the night in Monte Carlo Hotel. Notice Venus and Tita's curlers ? Just getting ready for the next day's trip .Shall I say curlers are women's next best friend ,next to diamonds ?
We were on the road again .. This time it was a long trip .. Everybody was getting tired .. Manny , Naida , Norie and Rudy ( at the back ) can't help dozing off and probably dreaming.....And Marie ? Could not sleep so she was trying to play some tricks ...
Next stop was Mt. Zion in Utah
Presenting the STHS Class 59ers : Manny Biason , Norie Cervas , Enriqueta ( Tita ) Morales , Aurora Calicdan , Venus Jimenez , Margarita ( Marie )Aquino , Ramon Cabrera and Serafin Serafica .. at Bryce National Park in Utah ...
A Sunday mass was a part of our itinerary . Rebecca was able to find this cute church in Cedar City at the middle of nowhere through the internet . We were able to spend the night in this little town close to the border of Utah and Arizona. The next stop was Grand Canyon in Arizona. 
This time it was "just ladies" photo session . Rebecca , Nora , Venus, Naida , Norie, Tita, Marie, Aurora and Cora posed at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.
Aurora , Marie , Venus and Tita at Grand Canyon which was our final destination in the Eastern part of the US. We headed back to California after enjoying what Grand Canyon could offer .
Next stop was Sequoia Kings Canyon in Southern California 
The final itinerary of our "Reunion On Wheels "was Yosemite National Park in California
After a few days on wheels , we headed back to Serafin's house in Yorba Linda . After a few days of rest , we had the grand picnic at Yorba Linda Regional Park . Mrs. Josefina de Vera , our former teacher and adviser , with her husband Pedrito , attended . Many Thomasians living in the area were present . One thing was sure , though , about us during reunions , boys or girls alike, was and still is, we never get tired talking of the past . We had a relaxing day at Serafin and Rebecca's house after a week on the road . Serafin and Rebecca were great hosts . Rebecca was a terrific homemaker and an excellent cook . Both of them made us feel so much at home that we felt like staying longer .( Opps ! ! Kababaing met so man over stay! ) But I guess we had to say our goodbyes , till our next reunion . ......
Joining our class '59 were Atchi Pinay de Vera and her husband , Kuya Pedrito . In the picture are Cecile Ferrer Mejia ( husband Ross is in the first picture above ) and Aurora Calicdan de Guzman who are seated at the front . Manny Biason, Ramon Cabrera, Mrs. Josefina de Vera , Mr. Pedrito de Vera , Marie Aquino Junio , and Venus Jimenez Dioquino are seated at the middle row . Tita Morales Quinto and Serafin Serafica are standing ... Reconnection have been made and it was a great reunion . Sad to say , though . We lost three among the 14 who joined the Reunion on Wheels .
We have lost also Kuya Pedrito . For those who reside in Mangaldan and who could not make it to the North America reunion , I am posting our pictures during our previous reunion in Mangaldan .
The picture below was taken at Ramon and Nora's garden in Mangaldan , Pangasinan . Seated front row are Francisco Rheberg , Vivien Cera , Nieva Biala , Rosie Sarzaba, Marie Aquino and Dionie Biason . Standing 2nd row are Norie Cervas, Rosie Barrozo, Cora Cabrera ,Ludy Mir , Lita Sarzaba , Virginia ( Aida ) Aquino and John Gilladoga . Behind are Remigio and brother Teofilo Imuan , Rodrigo Tibig, Venus Jimenez and Manny Biason . Higher up in the tree are Serafin Serafica and Ramon Cabrera . Sadly , five have joined our Creator ; Ramon , Dionie , Norie , Aurora and most recently Remigio Imuan . Let us remember them in our prayers . We will be terribly missing them ...
Till next STHS Class '59 Reunion .. We hope to see more of our dear former classmates "Batch '59ers ".
Thank You Pecs for posting
those pictures from Australia. It must be so nice and warm "down under"!...everyone is smiling! While we are still digging out from our last snow-storm. And in those photos I even got to see faces of old friends, esp. my good childhood playmate, Ramon Orap. Thanks, once again, Pecs for helping me get in touch with Elsa Velante. Two New Yorkers (and we live nearby) making a connection through you...and all the way from Aussie-land.
Mangaldanians forever kwanda man.
Posted by: Father Pal Domagas | February 19, 2007 at 06:43 PM
Hello , Ramon , I am so glad to hear from you . I have been waiting to hear from you and your sisters and your family . If you have some pictures , please do send us some to be posted . Abaluan ko akalmo kala na aray retrato na familiam ya ipawit mo dia .
Posted by: Marie Aquino Junio. | January 25, 2007 at 11:54 PM
Hi, Cecile and Ross Thank you for your very positive comments . I have the answer to your question in my recent e-mail to you . We welcome any comments from you and other readers because it shows we are able to reach out and connect with you .
Marie
Posted by: Marie A. Junio | January 25, 2007 at 11:48 PM
Congratulations to the STHS Class 59 on their class re union. It is really great to see that after 49 so years,you are all still in the spirits of friendship and fun. You all looked lovely and I gather you had excellent time during your "on the road again" trips. Thanks for sharing this.
Posted by: Ramon Orap | January 25, 2007 at 11:11 AM
P.S: Marie, my hubby Ross wants to post an article about the forthcoming MNHS 59ers' February, 2007 Reunion either here or in AliguasMangaldan.net. How can he do that? Thanks. Cecile
Posted by: Cecile Ferrer-Mejia | January 24, 2007 at 10:40 PM
Thank you so much, Marie, for taking your time to do a write-up and postings of the beautiful pictures on the following STHS '59ers' Reunions: (a) On Wheels; (b) at Yorba Linda Park; (c) at Serafin's residence; d) at the late Ramon's residence in Mangaldan; and (e) in front of STHS back home. Truly wonderful to see again the pictures of our classmates. Definitely, they brought back memories that are priceless!
Posted by: Cecile Ferrer-Mejia | January 24, 2007 at 10:37 PM