English in the morning, Chinese in the afternoon

Before... and After. The Baguio Chinese Patriotic High School became the Baguio Patriotic High School in 1976, to comply with government rules. Those of us who walked to and from City High through Harrison Road, will remember it as a landmark building, although at that time it was only two stories high, with the chinese characters written on the second storey. A third level was added to house its gym. It was one of the buildings spared by the earthquake. It has retained its "pink" exterior paint.

Lino's Photography: Including Panagbenga

A very talented Filipino photographer who is also an electronics technician has a photography blog, containing, which I consider so far, the best collection, of Panagbenga 2009 and 2008 photos. The Cathedral photo above is also one of the attention-grabbing images in the blog. Enjoy Lino’s site!
http://linophotography.com/category/panagbenga/
http://linophotography.com/category/baguio/

100 years of Baguio and Baguio City High School

A concert, “10 Decada: 100 years of Baguio and Baguio City High School” will be presented on Saturday, August 29th at the BCHNS Auditorium, at 0700 pm. The Host is Class 1985, the Silver Class for 2010.

Performing in the concert is The Third Party Band, composed of JB Balinong, Roland Rabang and Badj Palugod. A series of concerts have been organized, as fund-raisers for worthy causes, called Generation X Parties.

As Generation X Parties organizer Pigeon Lobien puts it, “what better way can we, as a collective group, help our community than this - fellowship, have fun together, party and be happy helping our fellowmen?”

The first party in 2008 was to help a cancer patient. The 2nd of the series (photo, above with band members and Pigeon) held in April 2009, was to help raise funds for Baguio City High School’s Batch ‘85 hosting of their Grand Alumni Homecoming next year.

For further details, please contact Pigeon at pigeonlobien@yahoo.com, Tel 09212840955

Pedro Bayuga in Guessing Game 4

Rudy L’s Deduction Method worked!! It is indeed our Pedro Bayuga!! However, I have not had confirmation from Pedro about certain items. Yes, his initials are PB. He lives in Michigan (“Mitt-tchiggan” as my 102-year old aunt says it). I THINK his wife’s name is Mercedes, but who knows it could be Patricia or Delane: the only way to know it is to meet her, either at the Baguio reunion in May 2011 or at the overseas Alumni Homecoming in Chicago in the summer of 2011. Yes, he has four grandchildren unless there have been additions since a few months ago. The photo has Jack, the 4th grandson (grandchild?)

He did write the Class ‘61 Prophesy. Does anyone have a copy of the Prophesy, or the Graduation Program, or any other precious historical document we can add to this blog and later on to the Smithsonian Institution? In the Prophesy I think he predicted that I would become Principal of City High or some such thing. Waaay off mark, Pedro! IV-I yata si Pedro, unless my memory fails me as it has been doing these recent years… (Kaya nga, eh. We do need the reunions for medical reasons!!)

Pedro, baka naman All of the Above ang response mo sa favorite food mo, puro manok, or di kaya naman Pride Chicken (I heard the Baguio-Cubao Victory Liner bus driver say this to the conductora, or rather Hostess for the below-freezing DeLuxe Aircon bus – BTW, may discuento ang mga Senior Citizens sa bus fare!!). Totoo ba, 65 ka na this year, according to Rudy L? Subject to confirmation, Pedro’s son’s name is Schenley. Apay, nangal-alaam iti ngan nga kasta, adda ngata met iti deep meaning na, a?

End of Game 4. Watch out for Game 5, Coming Soon!!!!

Pilipino Site

Our Pilipino teachers, especially Mrs. Rosa Espiritu-Bangaoet, have been instrumental for our class to gain proficiency in spoken and written Tagalog. This was a particularly daunting task, since only a handful of us came from Tagalog-speaking households. My own household spoke half Ilocano and half Tagalog, my father hailing from Malabon, Rizal and Binakayan, Cavite. He was one of the few Tagalogs I knew, who could speak Ilocano, though with a strong accent and some quirks in grammar such as “inalamo didiay plato sa kusina?” I guess our practice came about speaking with our Tagalog-speaking relatives and visitors.

Apart from Mrs. Bangaoet, our other Pilipino teachers were Miss Pilar de Leon, and Mrs. Ramos (did we have others?).

I came across this site, since my non-Pilipino speaking daughter was spending some time in the Philippines, as intern in a graphics company, an animal rights organization, and a PR outfit for a total of about three months. She was not taught Pilipino at home: I struggle to find reasons why not. In her early twenties, she figured it was not too late to learn it, at least enough to be able to catch the phrases and the language of the streets of Morato, Adriatico, de la Rosa. Thus a website search.

For our dear ones who would like to learn the language this site provides an excellent resource. For those who would like to re-live our Pilipino lesson days (“ano ang pangalan, at ano ang pangngalan?”) the site gives engaging sections such as games, riddles, proverbs and other interesting aspects of the language. http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/

"The Power of Words"

The Reverend Franklin Frigillana, is a committed pastor of the Nazarene Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in the tough Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York. One of the oldest African-American congregations in the city of New York, Nazarene has a distinguished track record of service to the African-American community nationally. The sanctuary of the Nazarene church is a model of elegance amid simplicity. Its beautiful stained glass windows extend up to the ceiling. The entire sanctuary is a marvel of design, with varnished wood ceilings and elaborately painted walls across the sanctuary facing the colorful windows.

If this appears to be an invitation, yes, it is: worship services are held on Sundays at 11 am. To our knowledge, Franklin is the only classmate who has made a lifetime career as pastor. Franklin has kindly penned the following essay in tribute to Ms. Dolores Valdez, our English teacher in fourth year.

The Power of Words

Our English subject in the Highs School was handled by a very refine lady of good character and speech in the person of Ms. Valdez whose articulate English was influence by the western culture. A student to pursue academic excellence can first excel English language to be able to communicate and comprehend ideas contributory in enriching to the world order. Ms Valdez inspired us and made good impression as communicator.

She told us a story of a couple who parted ways because of poor communication on English language and at the end of heated rebotling of words the woman said: “ip you will not tolirit let us sipirit”. The two separated ways as husband and wife and their married vows of the “yes, I do” ended because of wrong words and diction. There are many instances in human relationships in politics, social, economic, and “what have you” or any enterprise can bring devastation if words are not properly use and how it is said.

Words are powerful; it can transform the world. Words can destroy or to build up. It can reconcile enemies or alienates a person. Words should be handled with care. They are very precious yet dangerous. I was once a student who stammers and stutter in the class and my peers laugh at me and the sad thing I am sickly.

Say the word and you can move the mountain tantamount to saying that “you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you”. Talk to the stars and they will display their shinning ray. Talk to the tress and they supply you their produce. Say good words in the garden and the flowers start to bloom to give you beauty Say, I am healthy and you are well. Say, I am sick and you are really sick. What you say to yourself is what you are. Speak the word and you can command anything in your favor. When you are stressful and or distress and your heart starts to beat fast, talk to your heart and say: Calm down dear heart, “keep still and know that He is God.”

I stammer and stutter and sick that was then. And now I am a preacher who shares the Word to give life and shares the Truth who is Jesus Christ.

Update: Balay ti Alumni

Arthur Saldivar-Sali (Class 58) sent an update on the building, as follows:

The construction of the canopy, (see photo on right) the cement topping of the first and second floors in preparation of the laying of the tiles, and the cement topping of the two staircases have been completed. Installation of the hand rails of the stairs was ongoing until last week when work had to be stopped because the whole school was closed and classes suspended due to cases of the swine flu that hit the student population.

We hope to resume work in 10 days time when the school reopens and if more generous souls continue to contribute.

After the last reunion, the latest to augment our funds was Class '55. Esther Mendoza Pacheco came to my office last week to hand over more than P46,000.00 she collected from about a dozen of her classmates :)

May their tribe increase!

For the alma mater, Arthur