February is not only known as the Valentines' month , it is also a month for get-togethers and high school class reunions .
I received an e-mail from Rustica Cervas Miraflor , who belongs to the Class' 67 of the Mangaldan National High School . She was the class Valedictorian and a former AFS scholar . She and her family reside now in Vancouver and she is a Board Member of the Mangaldan Residents of Vancouver (MaReVa ) group . The class '67 reunion was held in their Alma Mater . Rusty was not able to attend , but she received almost a day to day update on what went on . Here is the unedited e-mail of Rusty :
Dear Ate Marie ,
Here goes the little blurb about our class '67 :
Members of my Class '67 of Mangaldan National High celebrated the Ruby anniversary ( 40th ) of our graduation from high school , on February 24-25, 2007. The 2-day reunion was attended by close to 90 graduates including their spouses . Everyone had the time of his/her life reconnecting with classmates of long ago and recalling fond memories of high school. For two days the class '67 members basked in laughter and camaraderie of schoolmates . Class members from near and far came to enjoy the company of their friends. From California came Joe Lavarias , former MNHS student council president , Cecilia Aquino-Descamp and Herminia Idio Somera . Roger Ocoma took time out from his work in Dubai, UAE. No one from Canada was able to make it .
The affair started with the celebration of holy mass at the Saint Thomas Parish Church followed by a motorcade along the main streets of Mangaldan and neighboring towns where some of the school's population come from. A delectable lunch spread was enjoyed by all after the motorcade. The only faculty member who was able to join the group was Mrs. Beatriz Lalata. A business meeting followed the luncheon. To cap the day's activity , an evening dance and program was held at the MNHS social hall which included inspirational talks by Remy Visperas-Buenafe , Jose Lavarias and Roger Ocoma . The three speakers entertained ( and ultimately inspired ) their classmates with vignettes of their lives' journeys ..
The 2nd day of the reunion was marked by more informal dancing , eating , just plain sharing of stories and Karaoke singing at the Center Beach in San Fabian. So much fun was had by all , that they agreed not to wait for another ten years for a reunion but to do it within the next five years.
The affair was spearheaded by Rosalinda Surat-Escorpizo, Racquel Estaris-Marquez , Fatima Daroy-Soriano, Venny Ferrer De Vera , Angel Garin , Norma Mejia ,Olga Reyes , Estela and Johnny Solis , Adriatico ( Boy ) Golea Jr. , Esta Biascan and Lito Mir.
Our town's Vice Mayor Bernie ( aka Berex ) Abalos , who is a class '67 member , gave his all out support to ensure the success of this undertaking . Thanks .
P.S. sty and I decided that it would be fun if the subjects would identify themselves . After all ,after 40 years , changes have occurred in everyone's life . Some have added pounds and some have lost some so whichever category you are in , we surely like to know where you are in the pictures. Remember , I was once your English teacher . You probably won't recognize me with my added pounds and not so young face anymore . Forty years has been a long time to have not seen each other . But no matter how you all look , you are still what you were and what you have become and that is the most important aspect of this reunion...the acceptance of what you are now . So , here are some of the pictures everybody has been waiting for .
We hope to hear from you soon..
Dear Ate Marie,
Thank you very much for featuring the details and pictures of class 67 reunion....It will be nice to put a name to the face so I encourage my classmates to email us the identity of the individuals.. Let us wait and see...
Again my thanks,
Rusty
Posted by: rustica cervas-miraflor | April 04, 2007 at 03:08 PM