Batch '73 reunion news in Alumni Newsletter

The following news item will be published in the next issue of the NDDU Alumni Newsletter in August:

NDD Batch ’73 holds 35^th Grand Reunion

By Gilbert Y. Tan

Batch ’73 of Notre Dame of Dadiangas Boys and Girls Departments (High School) held its 35^th Grand Reunion on July 27. The organizing core group for this event was composed of Danilo Sanchez, Nelia de Guzman-Soriano, Victoria Gonzaga-Firmalino, Virgilio Lauzon, Sonia Garcia-Lauzon, Gilbert Tan, Gilda Bantawig-Elemia, Glynda Dumanig and Ceferina Graciosa. The core group planned the Grand Reunion for a year. Batch ’73 also maintains a blog on the internet to keep in touch with alumni here and abroad (www.nddbatch1973.blogspot.com).

The reunion kicked off with a mass Batch ’73 co-sponsored at the Passionist Novitiate Compound in the morning. As the batchmates started to congregate there before the mass, the air was punctuated by shouts, laughter and screams when they met long-lost classmates and friends. Some batchmates like Engr. Roberto Cruz (class valedictorian), Evelyn Abueva-Olarte flew home from Metro Manila and the USA to join their batchmates. Ma’ams Susan Guipo and Fe Cardiño, high school teachers, also joined in the mass. Fr. Willy CP, the celebrant, welcomed Batch ’73 and exhorted them to continue to grow as Notre Dameans.

After the mass, Batch ’73 proceeded to nearby St. Gemma’s Orphanage to share blessings with its 31 orphan-wards. The alumni distributed special gift-bags individually prepared for the children. Also a bag of rice and school supplies were donated to the Orphanage. Batchmates also helped feed the wards with a sumptuous lunch of spaghetti and fried chicken. In gratitude, the kids regaled Batch ’73 with action songs while Directress Paz Salazar thanked the alumni profusely for the assistance they extended to the Orphanage. Batch ’73 solicited advertisements for its Grand Reunion souvenir program proceeds from which went partially to St. Gemma.

The evening Grand Reunion program at Arnevel’s Le Jardin had a western motif so many of the alumni came in cowboy/girl attires. 24 from the Boys Department and 48 from the Girls Department attended the affair. High school teachers Nelia Albite, Fe Cardiño, Thelma Fernandez, Ernesto Nanali, Concepcion Penpeña, Rogelio Rebucan, Virginia Cabangal-Rebucan, and Lourdes Valencia also graced the occasion to the delight of their former students.

The emcees were Roberto Cruz and Susan Guatlo-Acosta. In their able hands, the alumni was able to raise P4,639.10 by passing around cowboy hats for Ma’am Aida Hoyumpa, a high school teacher who is ill.

Batch ’73 also turned over P10 thousand each for the scholarship funds of NDDU and ND of GSC. Miss Mea Dayot of the NDDU Alumni Office and Nelia de Guzman-Soriano (representing the Girls Alumni Association) accepted the donation. The donation was made possible from the proceeds of the souvenir program solicitations.

Spicing up the party were special dance numbers from Colleen Garcera-Janssen and her family and the Hot Mamas (Gilda Bantawig-Elemia, Ceferina Graciosa and Glynda Dumanig). Special awards were given to Evelyn Duran-Flores and Evangeline Yumang for being best in cowboy attire.

Special tributes were also given by Batch ’73 to the teachers present and their batchmates who had already passed away. In turn, Sir Roger Rebucan gave an impromptu inspirational message for Batch ’73. He expressed his and his co-teachers’ exhilaration over the achievements of their former students.

Batch ’73 plans to have its next reunion two years from now.