Another
first; what a way to
start the second half of
2007!
This July
1 morn, June 30 eve in
the US, the venturesome
class of USTHS 80 held
what is to be its first
Virtual Global Reunion.
The germ of an idea to
connect members from
different parts of the
globe in a party,
through technology,
sprouted in our very
fertile egroup, was
quickly picked up by
those who had the
capability, thrown back
to the group and its
members, and exceeding
expectations, it is not
doubtful a tradition has
taken root! Sure there
were hitches and
glitches (garbled,
muffled audio), but it
only added to the
amusement, and the
snickers and hearty
laughter got more hits
than the technical
difficulties. We were
like ditzy-head high
schoolers again.
Judging from the
responses of those who
were there to witness
this first of its kind
batch event, this will
be a memory to linger,
and inspire. The
closest ever to that 25th
Grand Jubilee and Las
Vegas euphoria we
experienced.
(To begin
with, the cleavages were
something to crow
about. Issa Zara made a
splash in her debut
appearance with consintidora
Con beside her,
as they gamely oblige to
lend the air a bit of
insouciance. And we can
only..sigh. Attagirl!
Looking around, I saw
brightly-lit faces, new
members cozying up, old
faces reactivated and
re-energized, I saw a
new start. )
Our
members in the US and
Canada arranged this
East Coast Reunion as
early as last year and
as the preparation
unfolded in our egroup,
the local members were
drawn to join them by
holding a simultaneous
reunion and simulcasting
the two events that
could be tapped in by
any member from any part
of the map. It was a
simple plan but a
brilliant one. Sweet
and brilliant and the
result is heartwarming.
To make the event in the
Philippine end more
meaningful, Dr. Evelyn
Songco, the new
president of the Office
of Alumni Relation of
the UST, partied with
us, enjoying the event
as much as anyone,
especially when she was
asked by one which
section she was in
during high school.
This fortuitious event
will lead to a closer
relationship between our
class and the
university’s alumni
office.
We thank
Bernie, Leo and their
families for opening
their lovely homes to
the batch. We thank
every member who had to
take leaves from their
jobs and travel far,
those who re-arranged
their Sunday schedule,
those who brought food
and contributed by
lending their services
either to clean up, make
calls, plan the menu, do
the collection - each
one of you added life to
this virtual reunion.
It would not have been
the same without you.
We thank those who
happily tuned in to us
through their YM
connections, patiently
watched us and waited
for us to type in our
messages for them to
read, you turned this
event global. And I
thank God for making
this first virtual
experiment an actual
success!
From our
end, I name the
participants:
Teng
Aguilar, Gina Bautista,
Dante Bonoan, Anthony
Castillo, Jeff Castro,
Fides Cayme, Tess Chan,
Chie Candelaria, Happy,
Yeng Guanlao, Noel
Mayuga, Wendel Mediarito,
Leah Militar, Rene
Molano, Jobet Morales,
Joel Navarro, host- Leo
Riingen, Jerry Simon,
brothers Ponch and
Mackoy Villaroman, and
Yna.
Long-haired
Jun Baylon, Robert Dizon and
his better-looking son,
Ompong Generoso, Sigrid
Tactaquin – our cyber
partymates
