The SSS Anniversary, 1 SEPTEMBER 2015

For the first time, in the longest while - SSS had no real announcement on its 58th anniversary.
Many waited for the possible announcement of the additional 2K in pension, but there was dead silence about this from the institution.

Normally, if you are an SSS-watcher like me - you would know that SSS always announces something on their anniversary.  For example, when Neri was president - he opted to give all pensioners a one-time 500-peso gift.

Pension increases are always announced on the SSS anniversary.

But wait, SSS did announce something this year - the increase in funeral benefit - although not everyone would get 40K.



and oh, gsis announced 30k as their new funeral benefit

From double 10 in '64 to double 10 in 2014, 50 years in Kamias

50 years.  Golden Times.
To live, laugh, love, and cry.  Good times through Bad times and Best Times.

Lovely people who have gone ahead, have stayed with me
People who stayed true.  Judas kissers.

i love being home.

i love cooking, especially for other people.

food, glorious food.

i ordered turkey, pancit luglug, lengua estofado ... in white sauce, fish fillet
i cooked roast beef (medium rare), roast duck, embo-cheat style, and wrapped ground beef, mechado (which didnt get to the table, fresh veggie salad, green peas with quail eggs in butter (yum), and i tested a cheat style-pancit luglug.  i know how to make the old style difficult luglug.

guests who came -
my sibs-jonas with jap and yet with patti, patrick and dino, cousins grace and bert, mario and minda, israel and efren, officemates - ging, paulie, clarits, annabel, kat, win with marver, classmates and schoolmates - alice, manny, jerry, amihan with jimmy, dale, babie, tylette, and my aksitants - cha and jie

i had lots of guests who werent able to make it ... and here's to name a few of them, officemates - mamu and chito, rey and candy, ranil, aris and classmates - benits, joey, paeng, boboy ....

pics to follow

The Philippine Science Homecoming. 6 September 2014 - Saturday

It was a wonderful night

For our batch - Batch 1975 - the following people were able to come ....
pictures to follow when i get my copy

in relative order of appearance
(1) - Xen Yazon, (2) - Bobby R. Reyes, (3) - Sandy Sales, (4) - Beth San Agustin- Yazon, (5) - Manny Lim, (6) - Alice Sibal-Lim  and (7) - I - Guia Ongchangco , (8) - Lito Sibayan, our defacto leader,  (9) - Sonch Asuncion, (10) - Droo Dimacali, MD - a pathologist (denizens of the morgue at PGH would certainly know him), (11) - Benjy Catajoy, (12) Gardee Estacio, MD - ortho  (havent seen him for the longest time so it was good to see him), (13) - Fr. Ces Magsino, (14) Lerma Aguda - ooops, i forgot her married name (15) - Benita Padilla MD nephrologist, (16) - Joey Dumandan, MD - reconstructive surgeon (he's from Tacloban)

not a bad showing since we werent the Jubilarian batch, although we made an effort for Sayans's GOLD
we will be one of the Jubilarian batch next year

some were not able to show up -  Amihan -  her Dad, Tito Billy Abueva was in NKTI, so was Kay Uichanco's mom

Lito asked our batch to go onstage since the batch had an announcent for next year -
made a report as to how much had been raised for the teachers (Per Lito, who has all the paperwork, 1.25M has already been raised) wow, ha.  And he was saying that he hoped the group wont mind if the batch will have 2 music numbers for each million raised, and not to worry, we would have professionals to back us up. Ahhhhhh, we still have lots of stars in our eyes - performing stars, that is . :)

****

Batch 74 had a sexy dance number - I was immediately able to identify Helen Lagmay (i dont remember her married name), and Ching Ilao, i think - was the one with the blond wig.   I couldnt remember the other sexy dancer.

The other dancers were pretty good - there was a boy group who danced to Michael Jackson's Billie Jean and they were pretty good, except they omitted the moon-walk part.

another group of dancers wore golden pants (ala Olivia Newton-John in Grease) but the music they danced to was something else.

someone danced to the Macarena -- too bad they didnt have the noodles dancing in the background... i would have

*****

someone said that all the grads have the same DNA.  now, now, being a Sayans grad, we all know that is ... certainly not true.  what we have the same are those embedded in our school hymn -
 and here again is a copy of original hymn

and it is the reaching

THE PHILIPPINE SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL HYMN

ORIGINAL ENGLISH VERSION 

BY MARIO TAQUIWALO

Philippine Science High

Thou stands above with thy thoughts that lift

And fit all thy sons with wings

To lend us flight in the sowing of our gifts

Oh, Philippine Science High,

Thy wisdom arms our youth

As we reach for our dreams, as we strive for our goals

As we seach for the untarnished truth 

Philippine Science High,

The PSHS in us will grow

And go as we wander o’er

The crests and troughs of the sea of life that flows

Oh Philippine Science High

Thy light our beacon be

In our path through the world, in our fight for the right

In pursuit of a glorious thee

Then, Secretary of DOTC gave his cp for any and all questions we - all grads - would have.
i was curious, is there a Sayans grad who is working in the Civil Service.
we have questions to ask ....

picture (s)

me (no, i didnt drink too much, and no, i wasnt sleepy...yet). Alice, Lerma, bobby, Gardee, Sandy, Jiben, Xen
standing:  Manny, Joel, Benita, Lito, Beth

1 September - The Social Security System's 57th Anniversary

Today marks the 57th year of the Social Security System
and all branches will be celebrating with the members in a program called "Member's Day"

Independence Day on June 12

Independence Day for the Americans are generally boisterous affairs, with barbeques - and playing all-American games (or watching, that is), and fireworks,  a family-with friends celebration...

Here in the Phiilippines, how do we celebrate our independence day?
or in fact, do we?

Most Pinoys appreciate the day off, but most do nothing to celebrate it
does this mean we value our freedom less?  do we actually have freedom?
do we know what freedom means?
or have we been forever crushed under the bad economic times that we fail to celebrate

when my father was alive, he would of course be busy during these times as he was an Army Officer, being a PMA graduate.....  but i cannot remember if we did celebrate

Celebrations that i remember usually cluster around religious times (Christmas, New Year, Easter) and family related events (birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, house birthdays) -

but Independence Day in the Philippines?  dont remember much.

i remember celebrations in the US, with my friends .....

50-1 Philippine Science High School Reunion

September 7 was the 50-1 anniversary celebration day of the Philippine Science High School, Agham Road Diliman Quezon City.  The hosting batch was batch 88.  Food was ..... some spaghetti noodle stuff, chickenini lollipop, beef ala something.  Food was okay although

The theme, sci-fi, appropriately enough.  and they had the Enterprise, but had lots of input from Star Wars.  I was trying to remember the New Trek props, but TOS is really ingrained in me so i thought the hallways were different - it looked more like the ship from Star Wars, you know, when Darth was intent on capturing Leia

We - Xennon (who was running in the elections) and Beth, Lito with the lovely Min, Alice and Manny, Leo Peter, Sonch, Dode, Ji-Ben Catajoy, Carl Dawang, and me were there to represent our batch. Lito brought a couple of bottles of wine, and i drank some.  i also had the idiocy to drink pepsi max. idiocy? well, only because it causes me insomnia, so i had no sleep Saturday night, and i had to make do with sleeping in Sunday --- all day.  Good thing i had filed for leave Monday to do stuff at Camp Aguinaldo so i did not have to wake up early.

there were several "lectures", for example, the directress of PSHSS (imitating UPS - University of the Philippines System) told us about PNoy's appreciation of PSHS graduates.....

i wondered how true that statement was ......
well, let me ask PNoy ...
how many heads of government agencies know their own?  how many heads know which of their employees are Sayans graduates?  do they even know if there is any graduates?


there was the usual request for money as the 50 for 50 saying went.  this really is the goal - that is, to reach 50 million for the 50th anniversary of the founding of Philippine Science.  i dont know what the Batch plans are -

Have you been to the SSS Livelihood and Bazaar Exhibit?

Yes?  Good, then do return.
If you havent, then do drop by....
it is by the MAC Building, SSS grounds, East Avenue, Diliman, QC
and it will run until Friday, 6 September

i did a quick go-around yesterday (it was almost 5 pm and most were closing up)

and i bought again from the Women's Correctional Institute.  i try to buy from them every time they exhibit at SSS because their food allowance from the government is only 50pesos/day ... for 3 meals, and their work certainly adds to their food budget.

they have crochet items - mostly shawls/shrugs, very in these days at a very suitable price
... i told them they should have crochet stuff -dresses sized S-L  or even vest types

i bought some kitchen towels, having paired them by color - red, light blue, blue, and orange

and i showed them the crochet pullover i was wearing and told them i want one if they could manage

i also got some doormats, of the cloth type as this is the season for rains, and wet/muddy shoes just simply wont work.


i am also eying blouses, pretty, pretty - except i want them with 3/4 sleeves.  guess i should have gotten pics.

there is also a stall selling ready to hang curtains.  120x56 inches.  nice.  am rather partial to the blue but our main sala is a gorgeous red and our dining room is a cool green so ......

there is one lady selling costume jewelry, some freshwater pearls.  very nice.
could be a gift for Christmas, or a birthday.

i have to redrop by the Baguio and the Davao booth because they were almost closed when i dropped by

SSS Anniversary Events - For Members

Happy Anniversary to the Social Security System

For Members of the SSS

Things of Interest to See or Participate In -

See the Gat Bonifacio Exhibit 
 (150 years celebration of Andres Bonifacio!)  opened today, 30 August
at the SSS Gallery, 2nd floor, SSS Main Bldg., East Avenue, Diliman Quezon City

Participate in the SSS Anniversary Mass 
 at 8:15 am, 2 September 2013
San Lorenzo Ruiz Chapel, 2nd floor, SSS Main Bldg

Visit the Livelihood Bazaar and Exhibit 
this will open at 9:30 am, 2 September
MAC area, SSS grounds, East Avenue, Diliman, QC
This will run until Friday, 6 September 2013
Maybe some early Christmas shopping? and do some good at the same time .....

Avail of the Medical Mission
from 8:00am-12:00 noon, Wednesday 4 September
at various locations




Enjoy the Stakeholder's (Members) Day
on Saturday, 10am-7pm 7 September at various malls

1st Debt Anniversary on their 56th

............... was a remark overheard at the ladies ....

 room of  a government office that will soon have their 56th anniversary

for the first time in the longest time, this institution does not have any anniversary bonus at all
only in the time of PNoy.

morale is at an all-time low

yesterday. 10 February 2013

Thanksgiving lunch for my 5th Anniversary,  Twas the fiesta at the Parish, and Twas Chinese New Year
The Year of the Water Snake

i was charging the batteries of my camera so i wasnt able to get a picture of everyone... yeah. silly timing.
anyway, aside from the people in the 3 shots here - Ging went solo as Paulie was tired & Justine was a-studying, Aris Balisi and family were there, Batchmates Atty. Paeng & family and Nephro Benita.

other Officemates were simply not able to come, and other Sakonits were not able to join.

Here are my ex-STI friends, siblings Yammy & Choodze, and Sampaloc friends, siblings Israel & Efren.

Choodze and Yam on either side

Israel & Efren on either side, me in my gladiator braces

Happy 55th Anniversary to the Social Security System

Happy 55th Anniversary to the Social Security System, its officials, and particularly to the staff.

September 1 is the actual anniversary date of the System but SSS has chosen to celebrate its anniversary today, Monday, 3 September 2012.

Today started with the flag ceremony, followed by the Mass, and a program


The President of the Republic of the Philippines was a guest in the morning program.


pictures .....

Happy Anniversary to Philippine Science High School

Happy Anniversary!

PSHS was established in 1964 and 1969 saw the first graduates of the Philippine Science High School.

My cousin (his mom and my dad are siblings), Rene Ongchangco Lorenzana (+) was among the first graduates.  my lolo Sixto (+) was so proud of him. 

my mom thought that her children was at least just as bright as he was and she set about researching how to get into the school for the gifted.  so. she succeeded with me as i am also a graduate of the Philippine Science High School, with honors yet. 

my 2 siblings followed me. 

i attended the reunion tonight - and i was with these batchmates - sorted alpha by first names

Alice Sibal Lim

Andrew Dimacali

Carl Dawang - flying overseas tomorrow

Dode Arcilla

Beth San Agustin Yazon

Jimmy Valena

Lito Sibayan

Manny Lim

Rosel Doval-Santos

Xen Yazon

that made 11 of us for our batch

Tylette Moreno, Nina Santos Keppler dropped by our table for chitchat.

batch 87 was the main hosting batch as they were celebrating their 25th.

the food was good, and the lechon was superb.  i only ate a little, well - because i cant afford to eat a lot.

my stomach would get upset and i do NOT want my tummy upset

the elected people are as follows.

ONGCHANGCO-DIAZ, Theresa Anne O. “Yeyet”
FLAVIER, Jonathan David A. “Jondi”
BARANDA, Edmund Jason G. “EJ”
SANTIAGO-EUBANAS, Gina Antonina E. “Gina”
ESPINO, Jan-Michael B. “Jan”
STA. MARIA, Victor David T. “David”
BUCAYAN, Julianito Jr. G. “Jubucs”

i voted for 3 people here.  the other person i voted for was Danny Silvestre, batch 73

alas, he didnt garner enough votes.  i guess a lot of grads didnt know him.

will update for the pics.

Dode, me, Rosel, Alice, Carl - pointing to Benita's picture

this time with Manny

The lovebirds - Alice and Manny by the Arc de Triomphe, Sayans style

Standing:  Lito, Manny, Sonchi, Dode, Alice, me, Droo with Carl, Beth, Rosel

Alice and I