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STC Class 1964
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Evelyn, your account jogged my memory. A few more inputs. We really started planning for this about two years ago (or more) when we had a turnover of officers from Lilu's term. I knew that in about two years' time we would be rubilarians. My sister Susie, who is the STAA president (or was, I don't know what the results of the election are) gave me an idea of what to expect as a rubilarian - a donation to the STAA which would be in the form of sold tickets, ads in the souvenir program, and a presentation. Being curious about how the homecoming was being conducted, my other sister Choo-choo (scheduled for a coral jubilee) and I attended the first homecoming in a hotel venue, which happened to be the Intercon. Well, guess what - the silver jubilarians at that time had 60 (count SIXTY!) jubilarians on stage. Looking at those 60 women on stage, and remembering that in our time we were only about 15 or so, I got all fired up and decided that we, too, would have a good showing when the time came. At that time the group which had been meeting regularly for the past 15 years ranged from a low of 12 to a high of 20. So the first order of the day was to update our class directory and try to get in touch with as many high school classmates as possible. The yahoo group - originally set up by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard - was a brilliant idea...an example of technology in service of humanity. Those without e-mail, but included in the STAA directory, were sent letters at their last known addresses. US-based classmates who knew where other classmates were located contacted them. As classmates responded, they were added to the yahoo group. Excitement! Instant bonding! As Sandy Sumpaico said, it was like being back in school again, listening in on so many conversations! In one week I counted about 80 exchanges, compared to about six on my other yahoo group. The next item on the program: money. As of two or three years ago, the contribution to the STAA was P100,000. But being realists we knew that the homecoming would entail additional expenses, both individually and as a group. Well, we only had about P16,000 in our kitty, after consolidating the two existing class accounts. In a meeting with Darn, Mila Santillan, Sandy Sumpaico and Carol Teodoro, we tossed around various ideas for fund-raising, but with only P16,000 as seed capital, we realized we didn't have the wherewithal to undertake a big effort. Finally we adopted Carol's (or was it Mila's or Sandy's?) suggestion that the simplest way was to assess the existing known classmates. P200/month for the locals and $20/month for the overseas ladies, for 16 months. Carol and Mila assured us that this was quite doable, since their Maryknoll class had pledged to raise P1 million (and, in fact, succeeded in raising TWO MILLION). Later, we also decided on two more doable fundraisers - a walkathon (Evelyn's idea) and a garage sale. The walkathon, organized by our northern group - Lillete, Mila, Lyn, Carmela (have I forgotten anyone?) was a great success. We held it, if I remember it right, on Holy Week - Maundy Thursday. Not the best time of the year, considering the heat and all, but it was a success - another bonding experience. We had breakfast afterwards at Delifrance and drove the staff crazy. Then in November we had the garage sale, this time organized by the southern girls. Then, after we heard Carol Pintor's account of how the Maryknoll group disposed of the last items of their silent auction, someone got struck by a brilliant idea - why not have a pre-garage sale garage sale? And so it was done. We assembled at Alice Gonzales' house, cooked a hearty breakfast and had a great time bidding for each other's items and laughing till the tears came. During the garage sale which was held at the Alabang Town Center, everyone pitched in, enduring the discomfort of the rain and the heat. Our earlier fear, that we would run out of clothes and items to sell, was groundless. Emy Celis to the rescue, with imported clothes arriving just when our stock started to thin out. Then the bad news - the STAA donation requirement had been upped to P150,000. Well, I was still complacent, because by this time we already had P70,000 in our kitty, while the silvers were still organizing themselves and having a hard time doing it, too. (But they did get their act together and raised over P300,000 from a golf tournament.) However, I sent out an SOS call to people like Guia, who upped her own contribution, and others assured me of their pledges. I have to mention Carol Pintor, who religiously contacted the overseas group, and campaigned for both contributions and attendance, and who took care of them, too, while they were here in the Philippines! Then, another blessing. This time, Mariel Arcilla Aguilar, whom we were able to contact only towards the end of the year, took it upon herself to locate still other classmates, and even called me long distance to relay the news that she was campaigning for people to come home, and to send money! At the end of the day, we had 13 happy balikbayans, and 30 even happier locals! When our 45th comes around, I think we will be more than 50 ladies on that stage, which will be a record of sorts, because Cecilia, Mariel, Hely and the rest will set the ball rolling for the overseas classmates. Why were we the happiest, loudest, most loving class? Cecilia hit the nail on the head when she described it as a sisterhood. It isn't only the fact that we have been lunching together for 15 years. Now that I think about it, that chemistry, that cohesiveness, didn't happen overnight. In the past two or three years, we have really become much, much closer - we have trusted each other to the extent of sharing our lives, our joys and our heartaches. We have consulted each other, and - naturally - freely given advice, just as sisters do. We have bonded not only because of the good times, but because of our shared effort. The officers were the most visible, but everyone cooperated. Everyone contributed - in time, money, effort, and loving concern for each other welfare.The fund-raising efforts brought us not just money, but a genuine appreciation of each other's kindness, goodness and generosity of spirit. I, personally, treasure the time I have spent working with the girls. My term has deepened my affection and regard for my classmates. Personally as I get older, I have come to realize that these friendships and personal relationships are the most valuable assets that we own. Long live STCHS64! Tillic
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