Thursday 30 June 2011

1945 - year of your birth?

(Click on photo to enlarge) This is the scene of Baguio when you were being pushed out of the womb (maybe). Perhaps most of Class 61 members were born in 1945. Here is a photo kept at the US Archives, part of the collection of the Bureau of Insular Affairs. It shows a number of bombed-out ruins, to be reconstructed in later years. Luneta Park, where the old Pines Hotel stood and now SM, would be on the upper left corner. Do you remember that big gash on the hill, opposite Baden Powell Hall, as you walked from City High to upper Session Road? It was already there in 1945, as you can see.

So this is what Burnham Park looked like when you were a tiny tot or a newborn.

Wednesday 29 June 2011

"Tatay" - Dr. Fernando Bautista



Delma, at our last lunch on 8 May, mentioned that her mentor was Dr. Bautista.

Dr. Fernando G. Bautista, has always been addressed "Tatay," and Mrs. Rosa C. Bautista, was always addressed "Nanay,"- appellations that depict the familial atmosphere and culture that have always pervaded the University of Baguio.

It also became the title of his 8-chapter biography, available online, “Tatay, a biography of Dr. Fernando G. Bautista”.

His story will certainly touch hearts, with the “rags to riches” path he took alongside with his beloved wife, Mrs. Rosa Bautista. The biography is full of beautiful and touching stories of how he overcame many obstacles along his way, starting from his early life in Tondo to the time that he became President of the University of Baguio and his other major accomplishment, a pillar of Philippine athletics: he has attended every Asian and Olympic Games event to the extent that he could, in his lifetime.

This is one of the excerpts:

“I have faith in the number 8. I was born in 1908. I graduated in 1928. Nanay and I were married on April 18, 1938. I have eight children. My first name and surname each have eight letters. Baguio Tech was founded in 1948. I was installed as president of the University on a December 8…

http://tatay.ubaguio.edu/?page_id=18

Thursday 23 June 2011

Srta. Maria Montenegro


Thanks to Class 62's blog, we are lucky to have a likeness of Miss Montenegro. She later married Dr. Ramirez, a senior educator. It is believed that she is the only surviving teacher from our high school days. Viva, Senora Ramirez!

Guessing Game 23: Who am I?

For our Chicago-bound reunioners, this game should be a breeze:

This gentleman from Chicago is a famous urban planner and architect.
He designed a landmark New York City building on 5th Avenue, English for plancha.
Also, the Union Station in Washington DC close to Congress and the Supreme Court.
You can rent boats or bicycles at the park named after him.

Sino siya?

Tuesday 21 June 2011

Golden Pine Tree is now available. vol. 15 no. 1

The link to the latest issue of Golden Pine Tree is found in
http://www.iaabchs.com/bulletin/

Above photo was taken just before the 2011 Grand Reunion parade, commencing from the Post Office on upper Session Road and ending at Gov. Pack Road.
Ed Buenaflor, Evelyn Domingo-Barker, Rey Cordoviz, Tony Orpilla, Lito Villanueva, Art Balagot, Jane Andres, Joe Andaya were the early birds, awaiting the arrival of our other classmates. Note our nice maroon T shirts! And white hats with floral leis!
Save these T shirts and hats for the 2012 Parade: our addings from Class 62 will be holding their Golden Reunion!

Sunday 19 June 2011

PEÑERA FIRE

At our last gathering – lunch at Baguio Central School – Art B. mentioned that his role model was Mrs. Feliciana V. Penera. He further told a story about her, comparing Art to his sister Beta. Mrs. Penera mentioned that it would be most ideal if his grades were the same as Beta’s. (Beta was a brilliant student, who graduated first in her class of ‘64. She later became chair of Mozcom, but succumbed to an illness in 2010 – bless her soul). And Art’s mother was dismayed at his final grade, which was a “wasay-wasay” or scythe, being in the shape of the number seven!


A blog created by one of Mrs. Penera’s daughters contains a video, a series of black and white photographs of Mrs. Penera’s life. I quite enjoyed viewing it, having recognized some of her in-laws, Mrs. Valdez, 5th grade teacher, and her sister Mrs. Gaerlan, 4th grade teacher of both Ludy’s and me. It is called Mommy’s Tribute Final. It is also found in YouTube.


http://penerafire.blogspot.com/2010/05/dr-feliciana-penera-change-of-heart.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3U_jeDOqNM&feature=player_embedded#at=46

And please find below some excerpts about Mrs. Penera during an interview. (it so happened that the interview was conducted by my sister Carmen who did this for her class – also being a classmate of Lourdes Gaerlan Maconald, Mrs. Penera’s niece).


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Dr. Penera is also a model in grooming. I looked forward to what she would be wearing when she taught our class. I could see her in a beige suit, simple hairdo, light make-up and matching shoes. When she lectured, once in a while she would toss back her head slightly and look at us without emotion - but one becomes aware that one is looking at an intelligent woman. One has also to be careful in answering her questions as one is aware she is critically evaluating your response.


….

I noticed a change of heart in Dr. Penera's metamorphosis in the field of education. She related an experience that happened when she rode a jeepney and when she was paying for her fare, the driver said he already paid for her. A conversation ensued and she found out that the driver is a former student who failed her class. She said that this was the greatest lesson she learned - she apologized for the low grades that she gave and when she became principal at City High, she made it a principle not to fail anybody. She added that a child fails not because of the child but because the teacher has not succeeded in teaching the child. This is definitely a change from being a terror to being a teacher with a heart of gold so to speak.

Saturday 11 June 2011

The Young, the Old

Tuesday 7 June 2011

Our Last Parting Shot

(To the tune of “Crown Him with Many Crowns”, sung by Gloria, Nora, Evelyn). The last song before Class 61 broke out on Sunday, 8th May at Old Baguio Central School.


OUR TRIBUTE SONG TO JOE
BELOVED PRESIDENT
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
OUR TIME VERY WELL SPENT!
AGYAMAN KAMI ADDU
ITI LEADERSHIP MO
TAY EFFORTS TIME DEDICATION
OUR SPECIAL CANSION!

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Saturday 4 June 2011

Our Town - Ili Tayo

Friday 3 June 2011

BCHS 61 is on You Tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADd7_sEyjHY

Thursday 2 June 2011

'86, Salamat

Wednesday 1 June 2011

Nick Flores, fellow alumni of Class 59

The photo of Nick above, with Delma and me, was taken at the 91st alumni homecoming in 2010. Nick's class celebrated their well-attended 50th anniversary in 2009, and he also came back for another reunion - alas, it was to be his last as he passed away in late 2010. His class was in 3rd year when we were in 1st year: the same batch as Cecilia Batnag, Josie Caccam (both have also joined their Maker); Cynthia de Guzman, Eduardo Natividad, Amelia Querimit, and others.

Nick is a graduate of UP- Accounting, and joined SGV. He was instrumental in setting up the SGV Thailand office which also had jurisdiction on other neighbouring countries. There is a photo of Nick in SGV's coffee table book for their anniversary, a young Nick Flores burning accounting sheets in a drum at their Saigon office just before the Vietnam War broke out.

We used to run into each other at receptions, especially those sponsored by the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok, and had been keeping up with his "medical bulletin" through a next-door neighbor of ours, a colleague of Nick at SGV, the Ballesteros'. Just how fleeting our lifetimes are: parang kahapon lamang, we run into each other in the Trancoville-bound jeeps or Trinidad-bound buses, the City High corridors, cafeterias in UP campus, and at Sukhumvit Soi Philippines.

Nick, we will miss you.

Jimmy

"Baguio" - an Ibaloi Song

You might enjoy this song. Please share, if you If you know any other songs which others might enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY9HludPDjM

Generosity: thy name is Ludy, and Art




Ludy, you are well-remembered with your generous contribution to a classmate in need. Art, your time, effort, sweat, sleepless nights, energy and resources to enable the raffle to be a success, are very well known and well received by your classmates! Hats off to both of you!

Outstanding Alumni - statement

OUTSTANDING ALUMNI for INTERNATIONAL SERVICE. Award on 7th May 2011

I am very pleased to be with you tonight, especially on our golden anniversary of Class 1961.

There is no question that the world has changed from the time we graduated. In certain respects things are much better, and some ways, not. It is so discouraging to check out our declining global and regional report card for the last grading period, where we are indicated that the Philippines is nearly in the last position in the line of development. But we still can gain a lot from global experiences elsewhere. And we face unique challenges and dynamics, both man-made and nature-made.

At this stage when most of Class 61 have retired and enjoy the fruit of their blood and sweat, enjoying the company of their kids and grandkids, time out for Facebook and Googling events and places, we also have grown more determined to espouse good causes, restore relationships with kin, engaging in frequent conversations with the Supreme Being, being sensitized to health issues.

We need to validate our belief in City High. We can do this individually and collectively, with our own inner selves telling us what we can do from here on. In the United Nations, our work is guided with thinking globally, and acting locally. This can also be true as City High alumni, we only need to recognize the opportunities.

Cith High teachers were results-oriented, change-drivers and aware of a service environment, a long while before I embraced these in my UN work place.

There was never a disconnect of high school throughout over forty years of a global reach career: helping shape ideals of infrastructure in World Bank developing members, or being in the middle of land mines in war torn African UN assignments, or working toward the Millennium Development Goals in Asia and the Pacific.

After retiring, I now teach quilting to poor Cambodian village women who earn the equivalent of $1.50 a day for making quits sold to finance shelf help community projects in places where electricity is absent, no basic medical care nor tarmac roads.

And teaching too to refugees living in poor tent camps in Kathmandu where each quilt sold is possible for one refugee child to attend school for one year covering tuition, books uniforms, meals. I thank Mrs. Subido who gave me a 95 in Geometry and Mr. Calica who gave me an 85 in Math. They made me appreciate isosceles triangles, 45 degree rotation, ratios and proportions. This understanding is very essential in producing precision-made quality quilts.

Have you heard the saying that the best years are between the ages of ten and seventy. I dedicate this recognition as Outstanding Alumni, to my dear classmates whom I have known these past fifty years or so. For their encouragement, for their camaraderie, and for being friends as well as classmates.

I acknowledge their firm belief in my abilities and have followed the progression of my career with the World Bank and United Nations. I salute my fellow awardees, and sincerely grateful to our Silver Jubilee hosts, Class 1986, for partnering with our golden celebrations.

Thank you.

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92nd Alumni Homecoming awardees include:

Mercedes Lopez-Persiew, (Class 1951) retired professor from the University of Brazil in Rio de Janiero, Luz Calvo-Sianghio (Class 1955) head of an NGO providing housing for the poor, retired Philippine Navy commodore Justo Prado Manlongat (class 1963) for military service, Evelyn Domingo–Barker (class 1961) for international service and Col. Jacquiliano Lagiwid (class 1979) for military service.