Class'61 Bloggers

Dear loyal readers,

Thanks for keeping the momentum of this bchs61 blog, through your expressed and unexpressed opinions vocally, or via email or through the Comment boxes.

Imagine, that about ten years back it would have been impossible to do instant messaging, emailing, social networking (Facebook and its army of wannabes), cellular phones and others which are out there... Blogging is another way of getting in touch, sharing news and views, and providing access to areas of interest. We were raised in a generation where these newfangled stuff are so foreign: the next generation was steeped into its use. For instance, I type on my keyboard like I do on a typewriter, like the lessons and exercises I took at Adamson University to fill in my summers (together with shorthand which I found extremely useful in taking down notes while at classes). One finger one letter at a time, constructing each word from each letter. But my daughter and her cohorts: they type while their fingers fly at the keyboard, word by word! I bought a first generation Blackberry but have not mastered its use: I think it is still in its original box, overtaken by features of lesser expensive and easier to use devices.

So let us put technology into good use through more use of emails and the blogs.

The most difficult part of blogging is to figure out what to write, what the readers would be interested in, the frequency of posting, waxing and waning motivation and enthusiasm. For this particular blog, the underlying principle was: would a classmate be interested in this entry?? Maybe yes, maybe no: but if there is even just a thin glimmer of interest, then it goes in.

Heaven help us if a burnout and creative-process-block occurs!! There are some days when there is no idea entering the gray matter, or perhaps there is an idea but no supporting facts. Ngem uray pay, uray bassit laeng nga posting will combat the DONOTBLOG demon.

If you are now in the market for something familiar but quite new, something interesting and not so interesting, try visiting (and commenting, hopefully) the other blogs created by your Class 61 circle. For various types of readers. For various types of subject matter. You know, your comments, ideas, no matter how large or small, are always, always welcome!!

"Blessed are the Bloggers, for they shall inherit cyberspace". I could not find an appropriate quote, so I made up one myself. Congratulations to me! But really, it should read, "Blessed are the Blog Readers, for they shall verily be informed."

Rudy L's blog: have you visited it yet? It reflects his passion for baseball and the Yanks, his faithfulness to his frat, the spiritual journeys and religious side of his family life. But not necessarily in that order, haan aya, balet? Here is the link, and if you fail to remember it, just remember RUDY LAMBINO and it will take you there via Pantranco ooops no, via Google.

http://rudylambino.blogspot.com

Evelyn D-B's blog: Our ten-year posting in Kathmandu, Nepal was one of the most rewarding, in our UN life. We had developed, over the years, a group of friends who were also highly enthusiastic about their own tours of duty there with the UN, USAID, SATA, JICA and other organizations. It was truly a most memorable place and chunk of time for us. From time to time, we recall what we did, places we visited, people we met, in this culture-rich Buddhist country. The blog reconstructs bits and pieces of what our life was like there. Do visit!

http://kathmanduettescentral.blogspot.com

FOR YOUR READING CONVENIENCE, updates to these two blogs are placed on the right hand column, soon after 'LINKS'. We would be very happy to post your blogs as well!!

November 2nd

Please note that Joe Andaya and Delma Lavarias have made arrangements to hold the reunion/ planning meeting at the Golden Pine Hotel at 2 pm on 2 November. It appears that the road conditions into Baguio are now operational with little disruption. The hotel is located below City Hall and the Insular Life Building. Class 61 and Class 86 members are invited. For details, please contact: Joe Andaya 09194159870 or Delma Lavarias 09155415407
We look forward to hearing about the meeting, soon!

CHICAGO! Not the Musical

Have you got your pencils and 2011 calendars ready?? Then mark the dates 5 through 11 August, for the 6th BCHSIAA Triennial Reunion. Our Chicago Chapter bretheren planning committee have already met a couple of times to firm up plans and activities, for what promises to be an exciting reunion in the third largest city in the USA, also known as the Windy City or Chi-Town.


Perhaps those of us who will be going there, could plan on a brief visit, and probably together with Nap's family, to his grave to pay our respects and remember him as one of us: Class 61.

GUESSING GAME 7-(a)

We Are Family

You know how special our coming together as a class can be! Then we encourage you to join us and experience renewing old friendships and old acquaintances become friends! Pencil-in, in your busy datebook, the first Friday and Saturday of May 2011 for our alumni homecoming.

High school: I have to admit this experience was nothing like I thought it would be. We often hear about high school years being the best of years. Perhaps so, perhaps not. We don’t get to choose who our classmates are: we may not always like everything about them. But what makes a class a family? It is the collective memories that bring us closer together? Like it or not, we all share an experience that has bonded us for the rest of our lives.

Marlo: add an “n” and gives you a popular man’s name. As in that Brando chap. Add “kong” and gets as close to an Ilocano bowl as you can imagine. She got teased often because of this, but has never revealed the origins of her name although she has a brother who has a fairly unusual name too: Zeno. As Valedictorian at the New Baguio Central School, she came into our freshman class as one of the tallest girls. Because of this she had a tendency to stoop a little bit.

I can relate to Marlo in some ways: our older siblings all attended City High, and therefore were subjects of constant comparison with them, all the time. She was known to many of the teachers: Miss Soledad Blancas was her next-door neighbor (I think hers was the closest to the Imperial house, now owned by Lucio Tan) at the Teachers Camp cottages , Mrs. Dequis-Teodoro was her mother’s sister, Mrs. Felisa Beltran was her godmother (I think), and so on. This was an advantage to her, having reduced considerably the life-altering cycle that is high school, and got adjusted quicker to this cycle than many of us. She retired from Rizal Elementary School at Pacdal in 2005.

It is somewhat surprising, that none of her three sons have entered the teaching profession as well. They are, respectively, a military dentist, a lieutenant colonel and PMA graduate based in Samar, and a civil engineer in Baguio. Perhaps it was the influence of her husband, Camilo D. Aspiras Jr., as he served as mechanical engineer with the city’s Public Utilities Services. By her own admittance, he is her favorite person! And perhaps one of their three grandchildren might still become a teacher someday?

I enjoyed having Marlo as a classmate and ka-barkada, and I think a lot of the other classmates did, too. She was easy-going, positive and a lot of fun. (She still is!)! Teaching runs deep in her family blood: her mother was one, her Dad was the custodian at Teachers Camp. So it was no surprise that she took a degree in Education from Saint Louis University, having the teacher-skill set in place, already. Back to her Dad: he was a kind man, always hospitable and welcomed us (the rowdy classmates with shoe soles stuck with lots of Baguio clayish mud) into their house at Teachers Camp, to hang out a bit or just to spend some time before the trek back home. He reminded me of a Filipino version of Mr. Rogers with his ever-warm cardigan.

Since graduation, Marlo and I see each other when we can (about once every four years?). When we reconnect it is as though time stood still, except for the little clues here and there: the streaks of silver hair, the gait that has been replaced by a shuffle, but the smiles and jokes and recalling stories are still there. The often-thought of innocence of our high school youth and how much fun that was, are forever imprinted in us.

One incident that happened, during our junior year is something quite unforgettable. For some funny reason which I do not recall now, Marlo had the notion that a group of us were avoiding her. Mrs. Beltran, in our Biology class, mentioned that some of us were “boycotting” Marlo. She added that if we did not know the meaning of the word we should consult a good dictionary. That afternoon I had to return some Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys library books at the Baguio Public Library (which was housed then at the former Amapola Café on Upper Session Road), at the basement. The attending Librarian, Mr. Gacad (husband of Mrs. Florfina Gacad) was clearing the books that I had borrowed. I think there were three of us together at that time: Ludy B and Salvacion F. In the middle of the transaction, Marlo came bounding down the spiral staircase and inquired from Mr. Gacad where she could find the dictionaries. He inquired what word or words she would consult, and she said, “boycott” – so he referred her to some of the large-size dictionaries which stood on wooden stands, one floor up. So the three of us looked at each other with quizzical looks!

"Haaaay, matay akkk-kon!!" That is a quote, uniquely Marlo Pimentel-Aspiras. Friend.

"Viewing the Philppines in a Different Light"

Good News Pilipinas website contains a positive and inspiring article, written by an Aussie who has fallen under the siren spell of the Philippines. He takes the view that the various linguistic and cultural groups are rich, strong and proud… friendly and welcoming to outsiders.

Scott Allford says, "On a trip to Sagada I was welcomed into a very warm and friendly Kankanaey family. They showed us around Sagada and told us stories of Kankanaey cultural practices. They even taught me how to wear a traditional bahag (a hand-loomed loin cloth or G-string)."

"With all that this country has to offer I am baffled as to why it has been branded in such a negative way by the International media. However, I think that more and more people are starting to discover that there is a different side to the Philippines to the one they have been bombarded with for the past few decades. Those who come to the Philippines to seek out the beauty of this country will not be disappointed. However, first time travellers to the Philippines should beware, just like me and many other foreigners, this amazing country may compel you to stay quite a bit longer than you initially planned."

What a refreshing way to re-brand the flip side of poverty, disease, calamities, corruption which is the staple on which the international press thrives on about the country.

Thank you Norma G-A for this article.

http://goodnewspilipinas.com/?p=8873
http://tourism-philippines.com/viewing-the-philippines-in-a-different-light/

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Your Golden Pine Tree

You can now view it at www.iaabchs.com and look for the Golden Pine Tree. It may take time for it to appear - it is 34 pages but just be patient and wait.

GUESSING GAME 9 Responses

Thanks for your responses. Parehong tama!

"The answer is Angelica B-M and Evelyn D-B!" from Rudy L; and also from Ano N:

"And, I thought, I could nail this guessing game #9 with all the clues included.. however, big brother beat me to the punch, he must have been awakened by his loud snoring @4:00AM.

To: Angel - finally.. we have a picture of you during your younger years...

To: Evelyn - Thanks for this picture and all the "old" pictures you have been sharing."

... And here is a non-Photoshopped photo of Angel and me. And Angel, on a recent holiday in Prague (extracted from her Facebook photos). Just goes to show that "nothing changes". Except maybe for the pedal pushers.