For awhile there, we (a minority of St. Paul College Quezon City High School Batch '73) thought that preparations for our ruby or 45th jubilee had gone kaput, and we would just end up standing to be acknowledged for a few seconds of applause on homecoming day.
Never say never. Nothing like leaving the picking up and organizing to the professionals. So when tireless classmate Miriam Gimenez pleaded that we had to show up for this meeting, who were we to decline and use the bad weather for excuse?
Nothing like 14 heads, some gray with age (the let-it-grow-white school), others turned brunettes (becomingly so), invoking the old Paulinian spirit of can do!
So we quickly agreed on being red hot mamas when we show up attired in red tops on Jan. 12, 2013, at the Gilmore campus, on having a core group of dancers to lead our march up the stage, on having our own be-kind-to-ourselves days before the main event (a spiritual "getaway," my tentative term, since there are the apostates who gag at the word retreat or recollection; a Zumba dancercise session to get the energy level high; a group spa to remove calluses of aging; walking tour of Chinatown or some historic district in Manila for the classmates flying from overseas).
Elaine Barretto calls these activities "bonding time."
Nourishment for body, mind, spirit--how can we go wrong with that at this stage in our lives? We hope it entices other classmates out there to join the homecoming.
Of course, from the funds we raised, an amount will be put aside for classmates with serious health and financial issues."Caritas Christi urget nos" is the school motto, after all.
Audrey Agatep General, who hosted this July meeting, said the ruby jubilee may be our "last hurrah"--intimations of mortality there. If we make it to diamond, we may be in wheelchairs or clasping walking canes or assisted by care givers.
Or still remain in fine form like Bibit who just joined the "Honesty Club" by giving up coloring her hair and letting it turn its distinguished color. Below she models the lead dancers' look.
Never say never. Nothing like leaving the picking up and organizing to the professionals. So when tireless classmate Miriam Gimenez pleaded that we had to show up for this meeting, who were we to decline and use the bad weather for excuse?
 |
| Corporate setting gives our discussions a serious tone with welcome giggling breaks. Clockwise: The blogger, Marissa Ileto, Hayni Estrada Prudente, Eugene Mesina, Lota Alix Medina, Miriam Gimenez,Teresita Rey Evangelista, Jill Racela Narciso, Elaine Barretto, Marie Zamora Lazo and Ana Marie Earnshaw Rigor. Standing are Vicki Narcisco, Adelle Nadres, Bibit Esteva Llamas and Audrey Agatep General. |
So we quickly agreed on being red hot mamas when we show up attired in red tops on Jan. 12, 2013, at the Gilmore campus, on having a core group of dancers to lead our march up the stage, on having our own be-kind-to-ourselves days before the main event (a spiritual "getaway," my tentative term, since there are the apostates who gag at the word retreat or recollection; a Zumba dancercise session to get the energy level high; a group spa to remove calluses of aging; walking tour of Chinatown or some historic district in Manila for the classmates flying from overseas).
Elaine Barretto calls these activities "bonding time."
Nourishment for body, mind, spirit--how can we go wrong with that at this stage in our lives? We hope it entices other classmates out there to join the homecoming.
 |
| A time to be serious, a time to be comic |
Audrey Agatep General, who hosted this July meeting, said the ruby jubilee may be our "last hurrah"--intimations of mortality there. If we make it to diamond, we may be in wheelchairs or clasping walking canes or assisted by care givers.
Or still remain in fine form like Bibit who just joined the "Honesty Club" by giving up coloring her hair and letting it turn its distinguished color. Below she models the lead dancers' look.
 |
| Ruby and silver, yeah! |
No comments:
Post a Comment