This is the valedictory address of former MI'65 President delivered during the our 43rd reunion held in Meycauayan last year.
“You are all my destiny”.
If you will read the message of our Honorary Pres.& Class Adviser Edgardo Gonzales through our website, this is his
concluding statement, “You are all my destiny. And maybe this is the reason
why up to now, he is still alive and kicking inspite of his poor health condition,
having dialysis twice or thrice a week. His destiny played a vital part in
placing me in the position I am holding now because he was the main reason
why I am here through the encouragement of Pareng Delfin. Kung si Pareng
Edgar, sa kabila ng kanyang kapansanan ay nagawang mag-ukol ng panahon para
sa kapakanan ng MI65, sino ako para hindi gawin ito. Aaminin ko, na
tinanggap ko ang tungkuling pamunuan ang MI65 dahil kay Pareng Edgar, pero
nabago ang lahat nang unti-unti kong maramdaman ang saya na naidudulot nito
sa amin kapag natatagpuan namin ang ating mga kaklase. Malungkot kapag
natagpuan namin ang ilan na may iba’t ibang kapansanan, ang iba ay kinuha
ng ating Dakilang Lumikha, ang iba ay walang maipakitang maganda sa kanyang
buhay. Ito marahil ang nagtulak sa akin upang lalong magsumikap na marating
kayo, kahit sa ano pa mang buhay meron kayo, upang kahit sa kaunting meron
ako ay maibahagi ko sa ilan sa inyo.
It was fate that gave me the privilege
of having you as my batch mates of 1965, and it was divine providence that
granted me the most opportune honor of experiencing the dedicated services
of our officers & coordinators here and abroad and their committed loyalty
to MIClass65 since the start of our head hunting activities, special mention
to the magic 12 - Past President Edgardo Gonzales, Webmaster Rolando
Malinis, Vice President Sunny Prodon Graham, Chief Head Hunter Delfin
Zafra, Secretary Evelyn Gregorio Peters, Activities Director Elsa Pena
Roberto, Spiritual Director Gani Lazaro, Treasurer Jack Bordador, Flora
Mendoza Baetiong, Corazon Agapito Ira, Marlita Banes Sipos & Gerry
Villareal. Our Fundraisers Efe Salvador Fajardo, Raffy Contreras and Eden
Abano Jen-Kin.
I consider myself very fortunate to come across this remarkable and
endearing individuals and I owe Pareng Delfin for this honor because he was
the one who encouraged me to lead & take this privilege of finding our
classmates.
Hindi po kumpleto ang lahat ng ito kung hindi ko babanggitin ang pangalan
ng mga taong nagsilbing inpirasyon upang lalo akong magsumikap sa
paglilingkod sa ating samahan. Sa ating overall coordinator Zeny Alarcon
Andres na kailanman ay hindi tumanggi basta’t ang nakataya ay kapakanan ng
samahan, kay Pareng Romy Villanueva na hindi nagsawang ipagamit ang kanyang
Pajero kasama na siya bilang driver, tulad din ni Igmidio dela Cruz sa
pagpapagamit ng kanyang bagong biling Ford, may masakyan lamang ang ating
mga coordinators, kay Baby Manzano Lunaria na laging nagpapaluwal kapag may
gastusin, sa magkapatid na Benny at Gemmo Mateo na laging nakaagapay sa
pagpapagamit ng kanilang lugar, kay Pareng Peping na laging naroroon upang
magbigay ng ayuda, kina Cris Bernardo, Hector Santiago at Lita Santiago sa
kanilang mga moral support. Ang mga taong aking binanggit ay yaong nagbigay
ng todo-todo ng kanilang paglilingkod simula pa noong matapos ang ating
reunion noong 2005, na kahit wala ako ay siyang kumikilos upang patuloy at
lalong tumibay at sumigla ang samahan.
Pasasalamat din ang aking pinaaabot
sa ating mga kaklaseng kahit paano’y nagbigay ng kanilang panahon sa ating
mga miting, sa ating medical mission kahapon at sa mga gumanap ng tungkulin
sa reunion ngayong gabi. Sa mga naghandog ng kanilang tulong pinansyal, kina
Chary Bautista, Jun Dulalia, kay Pareng Peping at sa ating mga ka-batchmates
sa abroad tulad nina Jack Bordador, Fidelino Barrientos, Fernamado Bordador,
Priscila Ramirez dela Cruz, Erlinda Bernardo Pascual, Sally Godoy Miranda
lalo’t higit kay Flora Mendoza Baetiong, na nakasolicit ng pinakamataas na
donasyon. Maraming-maraming salamat sa inyong lahat. Dahil sa inyo, naibsan
ang kakulangan ng ating mga gastusin at naidaos ng maayos ang ating mga
programa. Pasasalamat din ang aming pinaaabot sa mga taong nagbigay ng mga
suliranin sapagkat kayo ay naging bahagi ng isang pagsubok na nagawa naming
tanggapin ng maluwag sa aming kalooban. Kung wala ang mga balakid na ito,
marahil hindi namin mararamdaman ang tunay na kahulugan ng pagpapatawad.
Muli, sa inyong lahat na naging bahagi ng pagtitipon ngayong gabi, sa aming
mga guro, sa kanilang patuloy na pagbibigay ng moral support sa MI65 lalo't
higit kay Ma'am Chato na laging nakaagapay sa mga balakin ng aming samahan,
maraming-maraming salamat po.
“Karangalan ko pong itadhanang maglingkod sa inyo.”
Edgar
Gonzales, Honorary President and Class Adviser - (Former
Class President) .
Dear Santy, Leaders
and Classmates,
I have already been here in the States for 2 days but
my heart and thoughts are still in RP - with all of you,
leaders and classmates as well. My joy, happiness and
jubilation have not decreased but instead are getting
more intense as the hours pass by. I cannot help but cry
when I am alone. I thank Him for giving me this blessing
and gift to be there with everybody to enjoy what could
be " the first and maybe the best of its kind that
might not come again in our lifetime" - as commented
by our teachers. To me, it was indeed the best !
It is often said that a man's character is his destiny.
I believe it Santy and you are the living figure to prove
this. Your leadership by example is truly exemplary and
admirable and worthy of praise and thanks from all. You
have shown the whole class of '65 and maybe everybody
who is aware of our events that "all work and no
talk" has no greater substitute. You have sacrificed
your efforts, time and money for the class which should
have been otherwise spent for your business and family
and the greatest thing of all is that you did not expect
any return from all these. This makes you a living hero
to your family and to MI Class '65. I have no doubt that
you are really destined to lead our class to unprecedented
samaritan projects and heights that will be very hard
to surpass or even to equal by any other MC graduating
class.
Due to my health situation already known to almost everybody,
I arrived a little late in our medical mission. But I
was pleasantly surprised on how this project was well-planned
and executed. I think well-orchestrated and inspiringly
motivated is another word to describe it All your top
leaders like Mike Alipio, Benny & Gemmo Mateo, Ipe
Mendoza, Zeny Alarcon and Baby Lunaria to name just a
few were giving instructions and leading respective groups
and acting as if this was just an ordinary, daily activity.
Our classmates all over the place were like armies of
ants carrying small loads leading to their respective
destinations. As I watched from a distance, I could see
smiles and faces of hope from those barangay members being
treated and served. They have found in MI Class '65 a
little sanctuary and salvation from their simple misery
and needy health situations. In my mind, I could imagine
children of other third world countries extending their
hands to get a piece of bread to satisfy their hunger
even for an hour or two. MI Class '65 has done this with
compassion, dedication and love. I was not at all surprised
seeing Isabelita Espiritu de Guzman in a corner crying
because of pity to these kababayans. Our medical mission
was a complete success - thanks to you Santy and all our
leaders.
Our reunion was extraordinary. As I watched the video,
I could see all smiles and jubilation from all our classmates.
Everybody was happy and excited and showing fulfillment
in attending the event. Our program was splendidly choreograped
from beginning to end - thanks to our various reunion
committees and to Max and Cora who emceed the program.
A lot of classmates participated in dances and numbers
that delighted the crowd. Bert Doma performed very well
and I was very pleasantly amused. The most exciting of
all was that even our teachers performed a beautiful number
and witnessed a big portion of the program. I could imagine
them rehearsing for that dance. Their closeness with each
other was very evident and you as well as our leaders
are responsible for this too.
Thanks to Efe Salvador for a great job chairing the Raffles
Committee - same with Isabelita, Flora, Rody dela Cruz
and Raffy for helping. Thanks also to Levy Sarno for chairing
the Awards Committee - I think everybody was properly
recognized. A million thanks to our classmates abroad
who contributed to our funds and to all our solicitors
- Flora, Isagani Lazaro, Linda Pascual (who donated $100
to the raffle and encyclopedia on behalf of our class)
Sally Godoy, Isabelita Espiritu, Evie, Sunny, Echie, Borjie,
Leny and to our California Fundraisers headed by Efe Salvador
and Raffy Contreras - Del Zafra, Del Barrientos, Eden
Jenkin, Cora Ira, Rolly Malinis, Eddie Barles, Jose Soriano
and Carmelita Rubio. Many thanks are also in order to
our foreign classmates who brought wrapped gifts for raffles
as well as Borjie Bordador and Ipe Mendoza for donating
cash and gift certificates which were raffled in the closing
minutes of the reunion.
A big highlight was the awarding of financial aid to ailing
classmates - thanks to Del Zafra, Benny Mateo and Ipe
Mendoza for their pains in selecting the awardees. I was
glad I launched this Operation Help-a-Classmate but this
was an original idea of our classmate Jun Dulalia who
additionally donated P28,000 that increased the aids substantially.
We have shown our teachers and all classmates that MI
Class '65 takes care of its own first and this is our
version of "Charity Begins at Home"
Lastly, our webmaster Rolly Malinis deserves a million
praise for our beautiful website without which all our
preparations and events will not be this successful. Through
him, all communications and activities were posted right
away for viewing of everybody around the world. For this,
we shall be forever grateful. Way to go Colonel Malinis
!!
On a personal note, I was deeply humbled by what you and
our RP leaders have done for the class. The things I have
done were so little as compared to what you guys have
gone through. As Pareng Ipe Mendoza told me " Edgar,
without your presence our medical mission and reunion
will not be complete". I said thanks, but honestly,
attending our reunion completes me, at least this particular
chapter in my life. That is why I say - A Million Thanks
to Everybody for a "June to Remember".
Let us all congratulate ourselves for a job well done.
I know this is just a good beginning and will have no
end. I am very happy I contributed our theme to Santy
- " MI Class '65 Family Lives Forever ! " I
will see everybody in our next reunion. I love you all
! And - You are All My Destiny !!
Edgar July 11, 2005 - 3:00 AM
Rolly
Malinis, webmaster, www.mi65.org:
The reunion goal
of having an enjoyable and memorable Ruby (40th) Anniversary
Reunion with at least 50% (about 125) of the living classmates
found in attendance was very satisfactorily attained.
In fact, more than 200 of us came during the reunion.
Please view our pictorial to see the details of our reunion
in pictures. Sometimes, pictures speak louder than words.
We would like
to give kudos to our class president Edgar Gonzales and
our executive vice-president Santy Morante for the well
executed reunion program. Through them and the active
participation of the Class, we have achieved multiple
objectives.
First, we have
touched the hearts of the people of Meycauayan. The free
medical/dental mission given during day two benefitted
more than 1200 patients coming from the 12 barangays of
Meycauayan. The west wing of the first floor of Meycauayan
College campus was filled with people who took advantage
of free treatment. One could just glean the happiness
and appreciation to the class for such a noble deed. "Maraming
salamat po sa inyong lahat" - said one as she, carrying
her son, left the campus with medicines on her hand.
Second, we have
touched the hearts of the Meycauayan College Administrators.
To our alma mater we dedicated the free medical/dental
mission as it celebrates its 80th year foundation. This
dedication is now forever enshrined in the entrance gate
marker at MC Annex. On the occasion of our 40th year anniversary,
we also offered them two free full scholarships for two
first year high school students for academic year 2005-2006
(P42,000.00). To them, we also donated a complete set
of Encyclopedia Britannica for the MC library. As our
teachers were telling us, we gave honors to our school
since anything we would do reflect on the kind of education
they gave to us.
Third, we have
touched the hearts of our classmates. We gave thanks to
those who painstakingly brought our classmates together
on this very important ruby or forty year anniversary
of our graduation from high school. We felt the joy, excitement,
and concern from the laughters reverberating for three
days from June 24-26. The performers coming from our class
simply put up shows to entertain us all. They did this
with gusto and emotion.
Lastly, we have
touched the hearts of our unfortunate classmates. Our
Operation Help-A-Classmate touched the hearts of 7 recipients
all inflicted with some physical sickness (one with terminal
cancer). The class was astonishingly silent and tearful
as the monetary benefits were awarded to them on stage
during our anniversary reunion on June 26, 2005.
We know we have
touched the heart of our Lord too for the kind things
we had done in our anniversary celebration. To God, we
are grateful for the success of our reunion! We give Him
thanks and praise.
Edgar
Gonzales, Class President. Dear
Santy & Leaders,
Thru you, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all
our teachers who were able to attend our reunion. They
have provided extra excitement to the affair and surprised
our classmates with their lively participation. As I have
said earlier, you have brought them closer to each other,
had their own reunion and strengthened their bond which
started when we were in MI.
Because of time constraint, I was not able to pay a little
tribute to teachers and lady classmates as well who looked
all so beautiful to me. There was a good story behind
this introduction of mine in my English class in college
but it is a secret and known only to very close friends.
" In Philippne mythology - tinuka ng isang ibon and
isang kawayan at lumabas na si Maganda at Malakas"
- as simple as that. Another mythology provided a different
version.
" In Hindu Mythology, a god once described how he
created a woman. He took the lightness of a leaf, the
glance of a fawn, the timidity of a hare, the inconstancy
of the wind (like a lot of women), the gaiety of the sun,
the cruelty of a tiger (perhaps like Mrs. Bernardo?),
the hardness of a diamond (like Miss Roberto?), the sweetness
of honey (maybe like Mrs. Zeny Sumulong who resembles
Imelda M. only she has more charisma), the heat of fire
and the chill of ice (like a classmate I know?). He melted
all these 10 qualities and mixed them and out of the mixture
- he created a woman."
It is interesting to note and I am proud to tell you that
I got this idea from an MI teacher - no other than Dorina
Guevarra Pineda. She was not my teacher but a very good
friend who taught me some introductory hints and lessons
in public speaking when I was in college while working
in MI. It was my fault for forgetting to invite her to
our reunion.
My classmates, this is a simple tribute to our teachers
who all looked so young and lovely during our celebration.
They served as the icing in our cake as we savored the
delight of a wonderful and blissful reunion.
To all our teachers, thank you. I salute you on behalf
of MI Class '65. As you will not forget this meaningful
"June to Remember", I say the feeling is mutual.
We shall not forget you also as with your attendance and
participation, you have given us a glimpse of the past,
our classroom days with you - happy, memorable, challenging,
hard to forget but easy to remember experiences of our
high school life - even just for a few hours.
Thank you Santy for bringing them closer to each other.
You are godsend in your relentless pursuit of classmates
and teachers around the world. !
Edgar July 11, 2005
Evelyn
Gregorio, in a letter to a friend.
I was actually
in RP June 22 to July 9. And yes we the balikbayans, shouldered
the majority of the expenses but mind you, our well to
do classmates in RP helped tremendously in shouldering
the expenses too. And yes one more time; Delfin is our
classmate and he is coming back to the US Monday (??)
and will carry the souvenir programs for all classmates
here and for our advertisers. We solicited a lot of ads
(from classmates, friends, relatives and business associates)
for our souvenir program and that helped a lot, aside
from individual reunion contributions from classmates
outside RP to the amount of $100 minimum from almost everyone.
A lot of our classmates (both RP and outside RP) were
able to donate/solicit donations (money and in kind-services
and medicine etc.) to support our "Operation Help
a Classmate" Project and our Medical/Dental/Optical
Mission held at MC the whole day of June 25.
I am giving you
an idea why it appears that the classmates from abroad
were able to shoulder all expenses. The classmates in
RP did a fantastic job in doing all the "dirty work"
so to speak, in a big venture like ours; even if the money
is there and nobody will do the "leg work" it
will not succeed. We (classmates abroad and classmates
in RP) worked in sync with each other in making our reunion
a huge successs, as your sister had commented.
The RP classmates
with the dynamic leadership of Santy Morante (from Bocaue)
and of the different committees formed were the real backbones
and served as the " very structure " that held
everything together. I, for one is awestruck and can not
express completely how delighted and honored I am for
the congeniality and seemingly never ending hospitality
from everyone. Kung ililista ko lahat ng "awesome"
classmates who really worked so hard, baka di magkasiya
ang tatlong pages. Kaya iyon na lang Presidents (RP and
Outside RP) ang binanggit ko. Isang araw maisusulat ko
rin nang buo ang nakalulugod at nakakat! abang pu song
happening naming lahat sa reunion from my viewpoint. May
mga " side happenings" pa after the reunion
on june 26. Lalong masaya ang mga ito.
Altogether, I
had a grand time visiting with my Inang, my relatives,
classmates and friends.
Nonetheless, we the "stateside, aussieside, canadianside
classmates" had the strong leadership and guidance
of Speedy Gonzales and all the gang here. And the most
cohesive force is our class website, the brainchild( formed
and maintained ) by Retired Colonel Rolando Malinis.
In brief, it all started when my Kumareng Echie from Australia
wanted to visit with me in US sometime in December 2003.
The rest as they say is history. All of what transpired;
in pictures and in text , you can see at our class website
< www.mi65.org > Go browse and you will have an
idea of how a reunion of a lifetime which started as a
"tiny seed" of meeting with friends and old
pals bloomed into the greatest that could happen among
former classmates and friends.
Leny
Mananquil Banago,
Anyway,
I just want to congratulate everybody. We had a good time.
We did enjoy the conveniece of the tricycle rides to all
the places and MI'65 functions we have to go to. Although,
we have to leave earlier from the reunion because of the
rain threat , I sure had the time of my life to remember
there. Shopping at SM Marilao with Connie, Raquel, Estrellita,
and Cora is something to treasure. I would like to go
back soon and see again all friends and classmates there.
Thank you MI ' 65.
Sunny
Prodon Graham,
To all our dear
MI65 classmates,
Although slow in
sending my words of appreciation and gratitude, please
accept my heartfelt thanks for all the wonderful “gifts”
given to us through the generous efforts and hard work
of our class leaders in the Philippines and abroad. May
we all find in our hearts the desire to continue what
we had started. Mabuhay tayong
lahat! God Bless Us All!
Connie
Donato,
The reunion was
a big success. Thanks to you, to Edgar, Santy, and everybody--whether
foreign or local based--who did a wonderful job. It was
wonderful meeting all of you after 40 long years.
Tess
Parian,
The reunion was
extremely successful in all angles.
