BCHS 61 is on You Tube

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

'86, Salamat

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.