The 8th Lagablab Awards 28th November 2015, Unilab Bayanihan Center

Batch 75 of the Philippine Science High School congratulates all the 8th Lagablab Awardees, and in particular our batchmate, Ma. Asuncion A. Silvestre, MD, FPSNbM for Social Upliftment.

Her advocacy is reflected in Unang Yakap, and this highlights the importance of nursing an infant, importantly, mother's milk for the newborns.

She joins the rest of the batch 75 awardees:

For the 4th Lagablab Awards in 2002
Roselmo Z. Doval-Santos,  MD for Community Service

6th Lagablab Awards in 2008
Ma. Amihan V. Abueva  for Children's Protection Advocacy
Joselito H. Sibayan for Industry - Banking and Finance

7th Lagablab Awards in 2011
Benita S. Padilla, MD for Medicine - Nephrology


The nominations are usually made and seconded by batchmates, which are then reviewed and evaluated by a committee.

Philippine Science Foundation day and Homecoming - 5 September 2015 Saturday

T'was batch 75's 40th but the silver jubilarians were batch 90.  Batch 90 catered.

However, our batch had already learnt its lessons and we brought food and drinks so were not dependent on their food.  I dont know who, if any, queued for food.  I wish to thank the group of Benita, Inday, Janet and whoever else brought food for the batch.  The guys, as usual, brought liquor, wine, brandy, and beer.  When Benita told me of their plan, I told myself I would bring some pica-pica food like lumpiang shanghai .... but i got hospitalized and didnt have enough time to make arrangements.  Besides, my brother was returning to the USA soon after i was released from the hospital (but i had to continue meds at home).

i just edited a few things first, i havent fully recovered - that's for sure... am making gross mistakes...

I wish to thank our waiter who brought several platefuls of food from batch 90's bounty/largesse.

i had plans about buying food from the stations but as late as past 6, there was still no food.  why?
i have no idea.

They ran out of ice, and the heat was stifling.  I had my Tshirt in my bag, but was happy i was wearing a cool blouse.  They also ran out of cold non-alcoholic drinks like water (yes, even water)

and much, much later, some of the guys had met a batch....90? lady who was wearing a black sexy blouse with her midriff showing.  I always did say that the guys had an eye for the ladies....

more later....

present from batch 75 - in no particular order ---

Judy Uy Holt, Mianne Silvestre (Unang Yakap), Benita Padilla (Kidney Friends), Inday dela Fuente Dans, Amihan Abueva, Kay Uichanco, Janet Calalang Santos, Nimfa Mendoza, Joan Albito-xx, Joy Masanga-xx, Terry Paccarangan, Lerma
Andrew Dimacali, Sonchy Asuncion, Gardee Estacio, Cris Cabalu, Albert Eufemio, Doy Santos, Xen Yazon, Joey Dumandan, Leo Peter Gonzales, Jo Marcelo, Art Morado, Bobby Reyes, Lino Villacastin

the dancers - Dale Amor Villamor, Vee Dulay Perez, Beth San Agustin Yazon, Lito Sibayan and Min, Rosel Doval-Santos and Tess, Sandy Sales, Jason Mayordomo, Jimmy Valena, Alice and Manny Lim

the xx-stand for the married names of the woman.  i dont remember their married name at the time of posting

Familiar steps, maybe?

Standing: Joan, Joy, Inday, Alice (speaking with a hidden Andrew), Jimmy, Vee, Jason, Cris and Seated: Mianne, Judy, me, Amihan, Dale

The batch performers - the finale

May 10 - Mother's Day

We spent Mother's Day with Mama Orencia, the mother of our Sakonit friend and Sayans batchmate, Paeng Orencia.  She had just turned 99 last May 6 but their celebration was on the Sunday.

She was sitting in bed, having lunch when i arrived, my cake - i chose Chocolate Mousse from Red Ribbon because she wanted something soft, not so sweet - and that was the Mousse for me.

The food was good, as usual - but there was lechon this time, and maki. i liked the 2, and the shanghai.  The shanghai was thin but delicious. Nice for pika-pika.

I missed Tita Cherry, Tito Billy Abueva's wife.  She and Mama Orencia are best buds, but she wasnt there this time.  I figured Amihan was out of town.  Apparently Butch didnt have a driver for the today so he was home-locked, and i dont know where Jerry and Liza were.  Manny and Alice had just deplaned from Canada so i thought they wouldnt be able to make it.

So twas me, Joey Dumandan, and Dale Villamor who joined Paeng .........

Feb 20 - A meeting with batch mates to see Rubi Sevilla

Setting was at Inday's home once again - at their place in New Manila.

I was saddened by the fact that Tony's big eel (who was situated in the dining room) was gone.  I have to admit i missed seeing it although we - when we toured to check out the art pieces and the renovation upstairs - were ooed and aahed by the light display of the other aquarium, controlled by Tony's cell phone.  Tony, just in case you dont remember from the post last year, is Inday's husband and Inday is a Sayans 75 batchmate.  Both Inday and Tony are MDs, Inday is a pediatrician and Tony is a cardiologist.

i must say the art was wonderful, they had art from Paete and of course, from Tony's mom.  So many wonderful pieces.  We met their 2 dogs again who were temporarily caged upstairs (they were set free after our visit). but the renovation was really wonderful.  Inday showed her skills in setting up and doing the actual installation of the screen for their special window (someone remarked it was created for a harana).  The windows had capiz shells in ye olde format

Attendees - and in no particular order, just with the women first - Alice, (Inday and me of course), MDs Mianne and Benita, Peggy of Papemelroti, Nimfa (Janet was in the US), Amihan, IT Joan, and banker Tylette - an honory batch member, and Rubi

and the men - Manny (yes, he and Alice were there early with the batch powerpoint presentation), Jes, our 2 Bobbys - bankers Bobby of BDO, and Roberto Jesus Reyes of Unionbank, MD Jerry, Jiben, Albert, Doy, Charlie (Peggy's husband)

as usual, their were laughs-a-plenty and a siding of serious assertions.
someone asked, who should i follow - the economist or the banker?
Nimfa is an economist and professor at UP, and Bobby of Union Bank was the other discussant ....

i should say, evaluate their advice and follow your gut....

pics to follow

standing:  Tony, Albert, Jes, Jerry, Bobby (BDO), Jiben, Bobby (Unionbank), Doy, Benita, Amihan, me, Nimfa

sitting:  Charlie, Mianne, Rubi, Alice, Pegs, Inday, Tylette, Manny

Batch 75 - First meeting of the year

First Friday of the Year 2015, and we were at Lito Sibayan's home at La Vista

I was with Dale, Amihan, and Joey - Dale having graciously agreed to bring us over to Lito and drive us back home.  I was half afraid i couldnt manage Lito's driveway - you see, his home has a very steep incline, and thus coming in, a sharp descent - with my lumbar concerns that affect the nerves to my right leg.  I was brought down by car and brought up by Nang's (Dale's mom who passed away June 2014) wheelchair.

We found Jondy (?) Flavier - batch 78, and .... oh i forgot his name, Batch 71-A when we arrived. Alice and Manny were already there, having arrived a tad earlier than us.

Who were there ... well, there was:

     Xen and Beth, and their engineer daughter who sought advice from Lito

     Albert and Nimfa, both in black, and Nimfa looking fab, and Albert looking unchanged

     Gorbo (Kintanar), Jason (Mayordomo), and Angel (Lebanan) - were the rarities

     Jiben, Paeng, and of course, Alice and Manny - and the us  - with Dale

     making 16 batchmates all-in-all

  

missing were Rosel and his wife Tes

Dode, and Doy, Leo Peter, i missed Baba, too - i thought she might be able to make it but i guess not

Beth brought over a surprise for us, which featured Rosel doing all the dances we could think of - and doing extremely well at it.  i wish you could have him go.  Twas amazing and brought us all lots of cheery laughter.

The food?

There was siopao, siomai, seafood karekare (Gorbo brought this), chicken macaroni salad, Pixie's grilled boneless bangus (a hit after all the holiday meats), Amihan's pancit, and there was another pancit, veggie fried lumpia (bean sprouts or toge, as they say), fresh fruits, chicken skin (Jondy), pork rinds, and chestnuts!

Manny and Alice brought lechon, by a new vendor. Very nice, but then lechon always is.....

I enjoyed the talk with Jason - he talked about his life at the UN (i teased him about working for the CIA, you see....) and his stay in Canada, Europe, and Africa and his future plans.  A gentleman farmer, that is what he aims to be....

pics to follow ... am waiting for my copies

My BIrthday - 28 December 2014

Birthdays are days to say Thank You, God
Thank You for Your Blessings and Graces
Thank You for my friends and loved ones

There were my friends from Sampaloc, Israel and Efren
My sibs Jonas and Yet (with daughter Patti)

Alice and Manny, Amihan, Boboy and Amy, Jerry, Paeng, Dale, and a surprise - Gorbo
Clarits and Annabel, and Khristian

I had fewer guests this year because i thought i was going to be sick
and worried about managing my guests

But all was well, and we had a nice get-together.

pics to follow

A Goodreads quote

It seems serendipitous that the quote comes from James Hilton because this year gives back to teachers, and to my mind Mr. Chips (along with Robin Williams in .....Dead Poets Society) is one of the good examples of a teacher.  

In Philippine Science High School, our class - batch 75 - was priviliged to know many wonderful teachers - and in no particular order .........
Agnes Vea (English), Helen Ladera (English, History), Evaline Gerochi (my first homeroom advisor), Nita Alfonso (Filipino), Ms Alfonso (bio), Vicenta Reyes (bio), Rosita Sta. Maria (bio), Cesar Brillantes, Mr. Arboleda (i cant remember his first name)........

People make mistakes in life through believing too much, but they have a damned dull time if they believe too little. 

James Hilton

Novelist James Hilton (born September 9, 1900) wrote Goodbye, Mr. Chips for The Atlantic magazine, where it first appeared as an article before being published as a book. It was inspired by Hilton's father, who worked as a school headmaster.

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

Countdown to the Philippine Science Golden Anniversary

Well, there you go.
This week ends in the Alumni Homecoming on 6 September 2014, the traditional Saturday homecoming.

so, Schoolmate, are you attending?

well, the family is attending ...
that's me, Guia, Batch 75
my bro, Jonas, Batch 80
and my sis, Yet, Batch 84 (a jubilarian this year) and current registrar

our cousin, Renato Ongchangco Lorenzana,  Batch 69 has passed away and i dont know if Rose Cabio-Lorenzana, his wife is attending. Yes, she too is a Sayans, same batch as Reny

and well, some of my batchmates are surely attending ....

mostly Sakonit.  Liza-wife of Jerry (taking the pic), me in my brace, Alice, Benita, Tita Cherry, Amihan, Manny

Yet (batch 84) - with Micko's pet snake

Jonas (batch 80 - who was Corps Commander then) and son Jap

To Sayans - Batch 75

I recently had time to see FB posts on the Philippine Science group.  Altthough my batch does post in that group sometimes, we tend to be quite insular  in our communications and post in our batch group instead where posts sometimes fly - back and forth -

Bragging rights.  Seems to have a lot of bragging about respective batches
From batchmates "without Kupas" or talented ones or honored ones

What can i say?  maybe that our batch has no need to brag?

we seem to be quite happy with who and what we are NOW, as we were then
Hmmm, that sounds like bragging, and i really do not mean to brag

I recently had a short email conversation with Gorbo Kintanar, a classmate now based in the US.  I think that as part of our personal growth and in pursuit of fulfilment of our dreams - as we conceive them to be, we - as classmates - went off on our own - to study, pursue our careers, fall in love, fall out of love, find other friends, find extraordinary persons who have lit our eyes, and won our respect - and then, on-and-off, come to meet to reaffirm our ties - as batchmates and friends.

As batchmates, we differ in the degree of our closeness to each other, we are sometimes closer to some than to others, but there are, definitely, strong ties.among all of us

I am very proud of our batch - not just in the achievements individually the batch members have reached and turned into reality, but those the batch have joined together to achieve.  I am particularly proud of our ties to each other

here are the names of the graduating class of 1975

The Philippine Science High School is turning Gold

and it is time to retrieve the memories ....... where is your grad picture?

this is my grad picture .....

My friend Alice sent me this picture of my first year classmates (incidentally, you can find this picture in our yearbook). I was in Neptune and Ms. Evaline Gerochi was our class adviser.  This picture was taken as a reminder of  a class project under literature with teach Ms. Carmencita Alcid who later on became Ms. Mamao, if i have the spelling right.  First year - in the quad, Marcos-type building, where it was easy to spot anyone and everyone.  Efren Abaya who was 4th year then could usually be found playing ping-pong. :)
Efren is the older brother of our batch-mate, Bernie who is now in Texas

I am not sure if that is Cesar Samaniego or Robert Hizon behind Rollie Angeles

the Teach, Rosel, Willie, Vic (+), Bobby, Dp, someone, Rollie, Cindy, Marivic, Kay, Baba. Dale
Rene, Apollo, Ariel, Benjie (+), Ed Roque, Ces, Guia 

Weekend of June 20-22

I had an activity-filled this particular weekend 20-22 June 2014

Friday night - twas Winnie Avila's birthday blowout at 106 Maginhawa.
Ricci and Sipen brought out 2 bottles of red wine.  i didnt get to read the label.

So i got home a little later than usual.

Saturday - i woke up late as i usually do on weekends.
i got myself out of the house by 3 past in the afternoon to go the NKTI - i have laboratory exams on the 28th so i made advanced payments.  i was done before 3:30

My friends the Lims picked me up - Yes, they are very nice people - and we went to the wake of Dale Amor Villamor's parents. Her mom Maria L. Villamor and Atty. Alfredo Villamor died 14 June and her Dad followed on her birthday, 17 June..  we attended the Sunday Eucharist and left a little pass 8 pm

Wake of Dale's Mom - 17 June 2014, Jerry and I sitting, Kay, Vee, Manny, Pegs, Amihan, Boboy, Alice

We went to the wake also to greet Dale "Happy Birthday".   Her Dad died the morning of her birthday. Her mom the Sat before

The Lims then drove to Lito Sibayan's home at La Vista - and promised me that i wouldnt have to negotiate the slope down (it is a sharp incline from their main door to the street).

and whoa -
David Pomeranz - Lito Sibayan's Surprise Saturday Guest
I remember David Pomeranz has having written some of the songs that Barry Manilow sang.
i have a complete set of BM discs

This included "Tryin to Get the Feeling Again", "The Old Songs",

and he gave a short impromtu concert..

that sked tired me out terribly

Meeting up with Fr. Minch Fabio and Fr. Ces Magsino

We met at Little Quiapo. Who's we - Alice and Manny, Amihan (whose Dad is again at NKTI), me, and the 2 Fathers - Father Ces and of course, Fr. Minch.

Little Quiapo is the resto behind SSS, along Malakas - nearest cross steets would be Matapang  on one end and VLuna Road at the other end and their main thing is Filipino cuisine.

Those of you who saw Belle's picture of Fr. Minch at Inday's would note that he has white hair, and is much thinner now although he pretty much looks the same.  He said he is a cancer survivor.  I guess that's part of the reason he's thinner.  He also got to view our pictorial records, the 2 huge scrapbooks, courtesy of Alice.

So he's based in Iloilo and is leaving on the 13th of this month.  Fr. Ces says he goes to Manila every now and then to do things.  When I asked what things - he said - visit the doctor (physician is the more accurate term), attend seminars and the like.  He said he was also open to be spiritual director for retreats .... DALE this answers your question.

He also asks for prayers from everyone, and promises to say prayers for us all also.
He also said i should  go to confession sooner than ,,,,,, rarely.  Every week is his recommendation.  I guess he saw the shock in my eyes because he said he knows it is hard, but to try to do it anyway.  i told him i have a personal confession everyday, but he said confessing to a priest gives one the assurance that one is forgiven.
i was going to tell him that i didnt need the assurance because i was very confident i was forgiven.  Fr. Ces did not comment on this exchange.

Btw, Fr. Ces knows how to get in touch with Willie Olaer, not directly - but through Willie's brother.

*** i had to go back to work, but i was lucky to get a personal blessing before i left
:-)

Fr. Minch is a member of the FB Sayans group Batch75

PICTURES COURTESY OF THE LIMS

Amihan, Fr. Ces, Fr. Minch, Alice, me

Amihan, Fr. Ces, Fr. Minch, Guia

Manny, Amihan, Fr. Ces

Fr. Ces

Frs Ces and Minch

A Batch 75 Reunion ....... at Inday's

Belle Catajoy Eleazar is in town, and reserved last night for a night to touch base with the batch. Inday and Tony Dans were our gracious hosts and the mini-reunion was held at their home in New Manila.

Tony is into fishes (and turtles) and eels.  The eel was solo in the aquarium in the formal dining room, and there was one tank in the sala, and i thought the colors were lovely. I have to get the pictures from maybe Dale who was snapping away like mad (she already has the pics posted in her facebook so you can go look now).

Alice and Manny picked me up at work and helped me with my potluck share of fresh lumpia (Ubod, actually and i would never have thought that 25 pcs would be that heavy) and the Lims brought salmon (brought frozen from Canada) and cooked by Manny (delicious), and drinks (Manny said beer).  Alice said we might be the first to arrive, but i said i didnt think so. When we got to Inday's, Amihan was the first!  We were shortly followed by Dale, and Vee Dulay - who i havent seen since freshman college days in UP  They brought cake (from cakes2go). Peggy followed bringing a small bilao of pancit malabon.  Janet was next, and she brought chicken.  Mianne brought ice cream and gelato. Benita brought fish - grilled boneless bangus - abd Someone brought karekare, with bagoong.

Inday asked me if i cooked the ubod, and i said no because there was no time to cook (i had work)

then i lost track of the arrival sequence.  the guys mostly brought wine - and they mostly drank it as well.. the women mostly drank water and soda and coffee.

so, a short recount of the people

of course Inday and Tony, sibs Belle and Jiben, Alice and Manny, me,  Amihan, Dale and Vee, Mianne,  Peggy, Benita, Janet and Chito, Lito, Albert, Dode, Doy, and i hope i did not miss anyone ....

they all thought about Kay and Maristel who celebrated their birthday yesterday.

So here's the latest from Belle.  She's in IT, yes in Canada (i think it was Toronto), with Honda, handling legacy systems - an IBM mainframe so she was in DB2, etc. etc.  She has 5 kids, the eldest is 25, and the youngest is 12.  All single.

Inday's son just got married last weekend, and we saw the pics.  The pics were lovely, documenting lovely people!  Janet's youngest is now 18, just like Boboy's youngest, Juancho is now a 3rd year student in Sayans and nope, Boboy did not make it to this reunion, but he joined us at the wake of Drabacs.

So they brought up the debate again on when we had Russian literature at Sayans.  I maintain we had it during our 4th year - I was Pi-Meson, and we had Brothers Karamazov, written by Fyodor Doestoevsky.  They maintain it was during 2nd year, but second year i was in Champaca, and i dont remember 

I never had a classmate for the entire four years.  I was Neptune (Mrs. Evaline Gerochi), Champaca (ah.... who was our advisor?), Argon, then Pi-Meson.

standing (l-r) Jiben, Albert, Dode, Mianne, Pegs, Dale, Doy, Amihan, Benits, Manny, Alice, Janet, Chito, me

sitting (l-r) Lito, Tony, Inday, Belle, Vee

picture courtesy of Alice Sibal Lim

Drabacs - Director Cleofe M. Bacungan - passed away 20 April 2014

Drabacs said goodbye to this existence last Easter Sunday, the 20th of April 2014.  Her wake was held at the Bacungan Hall at the Philippine Science High School, Agham Road, Diliman Quezon City.  Interment was last Friday, 25 April 2014.

Her wish was that donations be made to the PSHS Foundation instead of flowers.  However, a group of us - Alice Sibal Lim, Amihan Abueva, Benita Padilla, Caesar Octavius Parlade (Boboy), Joey Dumandan, and me  :) - took the view that this gracious lady should have flowers and i was tasked to get the flowers for our batch - batch 75.  we figured that donations to the foundation can come at another time (and besides, we had other classmates) - and the rest of the donations could be for the donation.

The rest of the group - who were not able to go with us to the wake Monday 21 April also gave for the flowers - Dale Amor Villamor, Jerry Obaldo, Kay Uichanco. The rest of the batchmates donations, whoever will be giving, willl go to the foundation - i guess. they can do so directly.

i digress.



The history of the Philippine Science High School is entwined with the life and dreams of Drabacs.  Part of this history is documented in the book, "Romancing the Gifted".  The tenacity of Drabacs in the creation of the school can be gleaned from one picture - one of her and then President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

A few of us - Sayans batch 75 have copies.  Every graduate should have one, and should read it.  Roselmo Doval-Santos, one of the wonderful writers of our batch wrote a piece in that book.  I dont know what in the world i was doing when all that was being done, but i should have volunteered to do or assist with the editorial work.

If the PSNAA is listening, they should either reissue an edited version of this or have something similar for the golden anniversary of the school.  IF they do so, i am volunteering to assist with the editorial and layouting or the work -

Many of our lives have been changed because of our high school life, and in so far as we can, we would like to pass it forward

PICTURES COURTESY OF THE LIMS

Fr. Ces

Kay and Doy

Kidney Friends Fund Raising

Dr. Benita S. Padilla, Nephrologist and President of Kidney Friends, giving her opening speech for the benefit

Dale and I

Manny and Alice, Benita, Nimfa, Janet and Chito, me, Dale

J M Chan

Mitch Valdez. Still as lively, still as fun, she claims she is a senior now

  

photos courtesy of dale.  friends since neptune!

A Story from Ryna

Ryna is a Philippine Science Graduate who works at the SSS Zamboanga Office

This is her short story.

 

We are on the process of recovery. My in-laws are directly affected because their house are located near the mangroves and they had to evacuate to our place. But nevertheless, it is better to have lost a little goods (they tend a sari-sari store and it was ransacked by the rebels) as long as they are alive. After the crisis (still undergoing clearing operation until now), we experienced continuous rains for 4 days and our house was partially damaged. 

 

Thank you for the help the SSS family extended us through prayers and words of encouragement.

 

September-October birthdays

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS TO ....

Minda M - b75
Sandy S  - b75
Terry P    - b75
Archie N - b75

Dodo
Ermatzki
Nelia OP
Yet OD
Kams

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 -

happy weekend to everyone,

 and a happy 3-day rest to denizens of Quezon City and Quezon Province.

cant talk now, but do get the chance to read Horace Templo's column today. Manila Standard.
will put up the link some other day,.

As for me, i am planning to rest my ribs after a quick trip to the xray rooms of NKTI tomorrow
to make sure there are no breaks or fractures in any of my ribs - i had a small domestic accident last Sunday night, led to painful ribs. Monday i had to rest as it was too painful, and the pain lessened per every day.
muscles are still sore though, so i must rest. Thank You God for the Monday holiday.

i also want to greet, belatedly, as she wasnt in Manila, Amihan Abueva, my Sayans classmate
she will be having a Proud to be Filipino day tomorrow so i am going to wear a Filipiniana outfit tomorrow, even if my ribs hurt and even if i have to wear brace (i might remove it for the photo ops, to be done by our good and brilliant photo shooter, a serious hobbyist who has shown of f his photo works. Dr. Jerry.
i guess this means i have to put on some makeup (i rarely put on makeup these days, but i suppose a few concessions have to be made for posterity ...*grins*)

part of my homework is Pinoy food, our friend Alice and Manny is bringing Dinuguan with puto, so i am bringing Pancit Palabok ... i guess from Little Quiapo, bilao and all.

then Sunday, i am off to a healer, so that all these illnesses of mine will be healed.  some of my illnesses have shown a marked improvement, and i am hoping they continue to stupendously improve.  Also my ribs!

so, have a good one everyone.  the healer, if you want to know, is located in Manila.
if you really, really want to know.  write a comment and i will respond.