UP High '66 35th Class Reunion    June 22-24, 2001 New York   Sign Our Guestbook NEW !!     Mini Reunion in DC   November Birthdays  Upcoming Event:  Reunion at Cat's - Nov 25     Invitaion & Directions NEW    Jess USA Funds - coming    Maline's RP fund Report Visit last month's Web Page October Web Page LINKS: Related Web Pages Maline's Bday in LA Al & Prunie's RP Vac  Senen's visit to LA  Jeannie's Birthday  email addresses  1996 Reunion Pictures

Schedule of Events: June 22, Friday 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM     Leave Courtyard Hotel  (Transportation provided)                          8:30 PM - 11:30 PM   Spirit of New York Dinner Cruise  ($63.00 per person) June 23, Saturday - Brunch at Rene Bersamin's Residence - Games and Socials                             - Evening; Dinner/Dance Courtyard by Marriott June 24, Sunday -   Brunch at the Hotel (Classmates only)

Hello there!  Our apologies for the period of silence...but we were working!  Although UPHS Class 65 used the Spirit of New York cruise at their reunion,  we decided to look at other options (like World Yacht) to make sure we  would have the best for our Friday evening (June 22) event. Mario Gaerlan did the research and we are now decided on the Spirit of New York cruise.  We thought you would appreciate having the following information:

Spirit Cruises has 17 years of sailing experience in 8 cities - New York, New Jersey, Wash. DC, Chicago, Seattle, Norfolk, Boston, and Philadelphia.  Their starlight dinner buffet cruise lasts three-hours. Although sailing hours may
change depending on the season, it is now from 8:30 - 11:30 P.M.  It  features two live dance bands and an upbeat high energy professional show.  The ship sails down the East & Hudson Rivers and through the Inner Harbor that
shows New York's breathtaking skyline and waterfront landmarks including the Statueof Liberty.  The buffet dinner includes mesclun salad with fresh mozzarellaand cherry tomatoes, four entrees (hand carved roast angus beef, roast
sugar-cured smoked ham, roast chicken breast roma, and penne pasta with a creamy basil tomato sauce), three side dishes (rice pilaf, sauteed belgian dill carrots, spinach souffle), and dessert and coffee & tea.  The group's discounted price is $63.00 per person (adults and children are the same price) inclusive of meal, cruise and entertainment tax.  They also have a fully stocked cash bar.  We will also arrange for transportation from the hotel to the cruise's  departure pier and back to the hotel.  Hopefully, we will have enough cars to use and if not, we will use a reliable car
service and pay the cost from our class funds.

When we sign the contract with Spirit Cruise, we have to pay 33% of the totalcost for the entire group.  The entire balance is due 45 days before the date of sail.  A full refund will be given if cancellation is made before 45 days from the date of sail.  To minimize the collection and bookkeeping work for the organizing group, we request that all classmates pay the entire cost of the cruise in one payment.  Besides minimizing the work for the organizing group, think of it as spreading the entire cost of the reunion for your family through several months.  It will be like paying in installments first the cruise cost, then the dinner dance expense will be due when we sign the contract with the Marriott, then your transportation costs, and the final bill you will have to pay will be on your own credit cards for all
your New York City expenses!  A reunion bank account will be opened by Becky and all voluntary contributions, cruise, (and later dinner dance) payments received will be deposited into this account.  We would appreciate your sending in your cruise checks by November 30, 2000 so that we can sign the contract.  Please make your checks payable to Rebecca G. Raval and note on your check how many persons you are paying for.  Here is Becky's mailing address: 25-52 76thStreet, Jackson Heights, NY 11370.

We hope for your prompt response and full cooperation.  If you have any questions, please let us know and we will do our best to answer your concerns.  Thank you.

The New York Organizing Group    back to top

Classmates Meet in DC - by Jess Socrates

Al and Prunie expected us for lunch at 11 in the morning, Saturday. I live two hours away from them. By 10, I was still in the lab finishing up odds and ends so, I called Al to let him know I'd be late, probably won't get there till 12 or so and to just go ahead without me. When I pulled in front of Al's house, he was outside waiting. After saying hello (which was not really our first hello after high school or college - since he had been to my house years ago when Daphne visited), he informed me that I was the first to arrive! Pilipino time talaga!

Prunie was in the kitchen cooking. The house smelled so good, so appetizing! A few minutes later, Spike arrived from North Carolina. I guessed that his trip took 4 or 5 hours. Spike lives close enough to Wake Forest where my daughter Aileen goes to college so, I have an idea how far away he is. To my surprise, Spike said he made it in three
hours, going at 80 miles per hour! Medyo masyadong mabilis ata ‘yon.

Eventually, Dave (and wife Jo) pulled in their big customized travel van. They had stayed overnight close by with relatives. Al must have thought that Dave's kid was asleep in the van because later in the afternoon, he asked Dave to bring him in. Wala na palang tao sa van. Dave and Jo left their kids with someone in Philadelphia.  We started working on the shrimp appetizers Spike brought in while waiting for the others to come. Al told us stories about their trip with the Siasoco's when their son was in Wisconsin for camp. Al and Sonny are avid fishermen who would stop wherever there is a body of water to fish. Their most convenient fishing hole was in a spot close enough to a shopping center so, while they fished, the ladies shopped.

Rene had informed us earlier that he would be late, so, we went ahead and started lunch. Everything was good, Prunie; no, everything was excellent. And like any Filipino host, there was too much to eat. We ateccontinuously. Lunch started probably around 1 pm and dessert was not over until past 10 p.m.! (that's not a typo). And that was a continuous meal interrupted only by bathroom breaks. Al in fact asked us if we wanted to "change our venue" from the dining room table to the deck outside. We objected because all the dessert was already laid out conveniently on the table.  We missed Grace Zabat and Chona Olay. Both could not make it. I believe Grace had tickets for a ball game and Chona had to work overtime. Tama ba, Prunie?

One of the highlights of our get-together was the "business section" of the reunion. Rene asked that he be allowed to make a presentation  regarding the proposed New York City reunion. (Complete with a folder and notes). We allowed him to do so, but he was interrupted hundreds of times with stories, memories, chismis, jokes, etc. His business meeting  must have lasted over 4 hours! Many names were invoked - either in jest, in wonderment, by query or by "news account" - o sa madaling sabi, tsismis. This is no way a complete list of names mentioned and talked about so, if your name is not listed, don't worry, we talked about you: Maline, Sue, Bopeep, Doy, Wawie, Prof Roque, Prof Maceda, Mrs dela Cruz and Pineda, Prof Gaceta, Baby Z, Rey Alcasid, Gene Senga, Joy E, Kuts, Del, Tito V, Siebe, Bopeep, Ed S, Bobby N, Grace Z, Gigi J, Becky, Mario, Pidio, Raddy, Butch de L, Heck M., TonyA, Patty, Edith, Lorna, Sammy, Oca Lumen, Noy Sarte, Didi, Jet, Chuchi, Bopeep, Daphne, Raul D, Peter D, Honny F, Senen, Beulah, Betsy, etc, etc, etc - I might as well have listed everyone's names!

So far, the reunion activities for this summer include: Friday night cruise, Saturday picnic at Rene's, followed by a dinner dance in the evening, then Sunday brunch. I suggested, based on my experience with my medical alumni group, that we also have a Sunday morning Catholic mass before brunch - for those interested. Rene and Becky please remind me to give you the name of that priest from the Philippine mission in NYC. Becky, you might even know him. For games and contests, I suggested  "paramihan ng push-up" so, to the guys specially who did COCC, start flexing those muscles again. I will be ready. Don't worry, on account of our aging and aching joints, no one will be asked to "drop." Rene asked for contributions but singled out only the doctors in the group! I wonder why. Don't worry Jet, he did not go home empty-handed. The Philippine contingent, we are told, will be extending their trip after NYC to Washington DC. Please confirm. Sama ako! I want to take time off when you are around. Maybe we can have a picnic or something here in my house.

We took some pictures. Empi, Al and Prunie's grown-up daughter helped out with this one so we did not have to use the tripod and timer (although we did earlier). Trivia: Dave and I had exactly the same camera. I am hoping that Spike will post pictures in the website. Don't count on me to do this. I am so ignorant when it comes to this, it's embarassing. And by the way, I had to explain to Prunie and the rest that the only reason I can email in my office is because I am in front of either a specimen, a microscope or a computer screen all day long. So, whenever I am in between cases, I get into my email. This "essay" is an exception. I am right now at home working on my laptop and will send this off tomorrow.   back to top

MALINE REPORT ON OUR FUNDS IN THE  PHILIPPINES
I got the latest figure from Foundation secretary today  (Aug 31,2000) regarding our fund balance with the UPHPEIS Foundation. We have the total of  P421,267.10 which is deposited with the Foundation and more or less "restricted" since this should be used for the benefit of UP Integrated School. Included in this total is a dollar fund of $2,705.58, now equivalent  (@45 to 1) to Pesos 121,751.   All the funds from the US are deposited here. It used to be so easy to report to you guys about our fund situation when I was treasurer of the foundation. But of course I had actually "given up" the post since Dec 1998 so I am not too updated - at mukhang sila din.

We spend only the interest on these deposits - to give cash incentive to the Tony Tagamolila Academic Excellence Award every graduation. I shall furnish details on this later.

In addition to the above funds, we have "unrestricted" funds deposited with another bank now amounting to P131,859 -this is as of August 30,2000.  The seed fund came from the proceeds of the golf tournament. The class decided we should have some funds which we can use for projects outside UPIS that is why we did not deposit the total tournament proceeds to the UPHPEIS Foundation. Instead, we donated P50,000.00 to the foundation  and put the rest in a separate fund.   This gives us a grand total of  P553,126.10.
 back to top