Last year, December 29, 2012, our high school batch (PNHS Class '87) celebrated our Silver (25th year) Jubilee Anniversary. Our theme was "Masquerade Ball". It was the most successful alumni homecoming celebration we ever had. I am proud of my batch and I am very happy that they've united in harmony, as one group, in putting up a good and unforgettable yet memorable show. Thank you God for helping them create an excellent presentation. What a teamwork indeed!
I was just browsing the pictures of my classmates posted on our online Facebook Timeline and I can see that they had a blast. The pictures appeared crisp and full of fun and lively moments. It was vibrant! I really envy my classmates who have attended it because they've enjoyed the festive celebration fully. Needless to say, I also enjoyed the pictures they have posted online. Thanks guys!
Unfortunately, I haven't attended the occasion because I was not permitted at work to take a three weeks off because of the busy holidays. The hospital census was very erratic during those times that's why employees were not allowed to take any vacations during the holiday season. I was so devastated initially but what could I do.
Prior to the first day, I saw some pictures posted by Ms. Daisy Paciente (or if I maybe wrong by Inday Annie also) about my batchmates decorating the enormous Passi City Social Hall, readying the quadrangle for a night party and fun celebration for the following day. They've decorated every corners of the vast space of the social hall with a theme of "Masquerade Ball" which I saw on the tarpaulin caption plastered on the stage, leaving no nooks uncovered.
The theme color was white and black and there were curtain cloths of the same colors hanging at the center ceiling spanning the whole rectangular court looking like a giant umbrella underneath the galvanized roof and at the center hanged a netful of black and white balloons, matching the motif color of black and white of course, and ready to be dropped sometime maybe during the program, I don't know.
Around the quadrangle, were tall bar tables and also big round tables some wrapped in white and some in black table cloths and also skirted chairs wrapped in white cloths arranged carefully around the circular table. And on top of each table were two masks centerpiece of minty green and somewhat light pink colors. The steel shaft of the bar tables were coiled with a slender white and black elongated balloons while the dance floor were neatly and meticulously covered with plastic vinyl carpets. That was very "bonggacious" indeed!
The occasion was a two day affair. The first day was celebrated on December 29, 2012 which was assigned to the Silver Jubilarians and December 30, 2012 which was assigned to the Golden Jubilarians.
There was a solemn mass held early in the morning during the first day, on December 29, 2012, and I saw some of my classmates from the online album wearing a gray T-shirt with a dark blue print at the front and the back. The front part has a print saying "Batch '87" enclosed in a circle and the back part has a print saying "Silver Jubilarians" in a navy blue hue. It was very neat and sleek to look at!
The dirty gray shirt appeared like silver during the daytime, when seen from a distance, which is apt for our jubilee anniversary. I saw my friends and dear classmates sitting near the front pews responding intently to the mass. Inday Annie had really captured a lot of pictures at the church taking into consideration the most famous personalities of Batch '87 as well as the notorious ones also. Bwahahaha.
After the mass there was a traditional caravan parade around the town with the route starting from the church circling around the central market then made a left at Mercado St. going straight to Dorillo St. heading to the top of the hill, where our beloved Alma Mater was settled, which is almost less than a mile farther from the junction of both streets.
I only saw most pictures of the parade at pretty boy Ernie's album. An enormous streamer bearing our batch's name and title was been hanged on his black-and-shiny-well-polished Mitsubishi van/truck (but it looks like a Montero to me) and there were also one or two truckful of Batch '87 people I saw from the picture. Ernie had also posted the route of the parade which was very convenient for the readers to follow and I've heard from their comments on our timeline that they also had thrown or showered bonbons along the streets during the parade courtesy of course of the ever charitable Mr. Ernie Itucas. Thank you Erns!
At the school grounds the group had registered our Batch for the whole day affair and most of my classmates were at the Amphitheater attending the grand opening program where they were regarded as the silver jubilee celebrant of course. I saw some wide array of pictures of them at Inday Annie's album attending the program at the Amphitheater hosted by the PNHS Alumni Association and the Golden Jubilarians.
After the program my classmates gathered in one of the main building (I don't know what building but it looks pretty much large to cater a lot of people) and held a luncheon for all our classmates and batchmates who attended the general alumni homecoming program and also for our previous beloved mentors (teachers and advisers) who impacted our growing years during our most grueling and confusing high school days.
I saw Mrs. Sonza, Mrs. Lalantacon, Ms. Palomo (our maanyag teacher), Ms. Catedrilla, Mr. Parreno (our Biology teacher), Mrs. Anita Linda (sounds like a Sampaguita Picture Actress), Mrs. Denamarca, Mrs. Melliza (my beloved Hilltop Adviser), the unseparable sisters Mrs. Palec and Mrs. Agujitas all catered at the same table. I saw some of the food served but the one I haven't saw was the lechon (which was apparently gone immediately as soon as it was served as I've read from the online comments. Hahaha!). They were all hungry after watching the long general program.
The first day morning mass held at the town's church and the general alumni homecoming program held at the school grounds were a real success as seen from the posted pictures on our online Facebook Timeline. Good job guys!
After the Part 1 celebration, Part 2 of the program ensued at the Passi City Social Hall at the struck of the night which started at 1900H. All the graduate batches of the school were there and were assigned with their own batch space and corner around the big hall. I can see from the pictures that the hall was packed largely with the previous graduates and alumni of the school enjoying the masquerade party that our batch was sponsoring. It really looked like a grand party from the pictures posted.
Our batch theme was "Masquerade Ball" and our night T-shirt was in pitch black with some catchy silver prints in the front. The silver eye catching caption in front says "Batch '87, Silver Jubilarians" in block form with a beautiful graphic picture of a party shadow just a little above the caption. It looks very elegant to look at at night which even masked the curves of some of our classmates making them appeared thin from a distance. Hahaha.
The festivities started with a short program conducted by the silver jubilarians (which is our batch of course) highlighted by the turning over of the key of responsibility to Batch '88 who will be the next silver jubilarians next year. During the program we were passing on to them the Silver Jubilarian's responsibility key as well as all the difficult accountabilities and expectations by the PNHSAA (Passi National High School Alumni Association) especially for the following alumni homecoming year. It is a lot of challenging responsibilities, difficult tasks, unexpected accountabilities, over rated expectations, and mind boggling preparations so good luck to Batch '88. Hopefully they will top what our batch had just did during the last year's celebration.
The night was also highlighted by our batch's presentation which was prepared for months by the group with the aid of a choreographer whose name I forgot already. But hey Mr. Choreographer...... thanks for your help in putting up a good and festive show. I've heard a lot of positive comments and high-end praises about the dance extranvaganza you've choreographed for our batch. Your services was indeed very vital to us in putting up a well deserved and well applaused presentation. Thank you very much personally from me.
The pictures posted on our timeline about the presentation were all very good and nice as downloaded by several people of my batch. I especially thank Dhing Paciente for posting the pics first in a jiffy, trying to quench our jittery excitement here abroad. If not for her utmost care, we the jubilarians from abroad have not seen the event in a minute-by-minute account and how it was been transpired during that actual day.
Thank you to the ever beautiful and sexy Dhing for your kind empathy, high regard and care, and for filling our unquenchable thirst during that day where we quiveringly try to check our PCs and laptops every minute just to check if the pictures were downloaded perhaps. In that you never fail to fill us by your minute-by-minute account of the event through the countless vivid pictures you've posted early on. Good job as well to you. Like what you've clearly emphasized before, you exactly know the feeling of anxiously waiting for the pictures that have been transpired during that day because for once upon a time you're also been on our pathetic shoes before. We greatly appreciated that huge effort a lot. Big hug to you!
I also saw a very clear video account downloaded by Mr. Ernie Itucas (although he posted it late) which was very vivid in giving us a blow-by-blow account documentary of the whole festivities happened that wonderful night on December 29, 2012. We from abroad had greatly appreciated it because we've seen how fabulous really the long presentation and the beautiful dance galore were. It was indeed worth the money we've paid to the competent and over-the-top hired choreographer. The costumes were very very nice and elegant, the masks were very very fabulous and elaborate although I still recognized some people wearing them, even though it was on, and the dance presentations.... (oh my God).... all in all were awesomely stunning. Bravo for a magnificent dance galore!
The flamenco was indeed the fabulous highlight of the show and that scrawny white lady bird, spreading her enormous wide wings all over the center court and the stage, gracefully flying and dancing to the beautiful instrumental tune of "The Prayer" had put a lot of mesmerized gasps on the awestruck audiences. Various wide-open eyes of the hundreds of captivated spectators around the quadrangle were just darted at the middle of the court but what I like most of the dances presented were the ones did by my very beautiful and graceful classmates and batchmates who did all the simple and natural"liki" and the "ki-ay kia-ay" at the center court.
You're all beauties at your own rights and also real stealers of the show. Without all of you the show would not be possible. Thank you all for your extreme perseverance, your patronizing dedication, your indomitable patience, your precious participation, your excellent teamwork, your enormous cooperation, and a lot of things that you did that I could not or did not mention here. I luv you all guys!
Of course the night would not be possible without the "disco fever" held after the program wherein our class had hired a global band in person of the "Ritmo Tambores" owned and managed by Dr. Regil Palmares. I can see that every body had enjoyed the party a lot, sharing the fun and the excitement of the festivities and seeing each other after several years of leaving the portals of our beloved school. The night was a peaceful night indeed and all the graduate batches were intermingled and harmoniously gathered as one..... as the united alumni of our proud Alma Mater... the PNHS.
All in all the night went through without any hint of major violence or disturbance and I can see that everybody had enjoyed the public dance, especially the two lady bug balikbayans (hehehe) .... Ms. Alegria Palabrica Silva and Ms. Precy Pabilona Lustre (I love you girls). Hopefully next time around I can see you all on our next jubilee (that will be a long time from now.... it will be our Golden Jubilee. Crossing my almost arthritic and contracted fingers. Hehehe) and I am very sorry for not taking part of last year's celebration because of some unexpected personal reasons.
But by just browsing with the pictures and videos posted on our Facebook timeline I can say that I am also there celebrating with you. To all the officers of Batch '87 Silver Jubilee and its ever cooperative members kudos for what you've contributed to make this momentous occasion a great success. You all deserved a nice pat on the back for a job well done. Thank you very much from a friend, a classmate, and a confidant from the other side of the ocean that includes all Batch '87 who were based abroad.
Lastly, to all the Batch '87 alumni based from abroad who willingly and unselfishly send their much deserved personal donations and contributions for our 25th Silver Jubilee celebration, on behalf of Class '87, I myself would like to thank you all, from the deep abyss of my heart, for all your wonderful help, unsurpassed cooperation, and unconditional charitable acts. If not with your precious precious personal contributions this 25th jubilee will not be a great success. You too deserved a nice pat on the back and a big beautiful bright star for your caring big heart.
Kudos to every one for a job well done from Passi City and here abroad. May we all gather happily again next year and the following years ahead. Ciao!
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