JANUARY 2005 NEWSLETTER

Dear B79,

Congratulations!  The QCHSAAI Christmas Party hosted by B79 last December 11, 2004 at the newly landscaped Quezon Park of QCHS was a huge success. I’d like to share with you how this came about from an insider’s point of view.

B79 envisioned this party to be fun, fun, fun!  Learning from experience, the group chose to enjoy this party more than the successful reunion we hosted last April 3, 2004.  We also made sure that we will be able to showcase the landscaping project done for the school of Quezon Park and the flagpole area.

But we have to hurdle some hard problems and trials for this to happen.  These were:

1. The working committee has lessened.  Less B79 members were available to attend the regular meetings we held in planning this affair. 
2. We had a limited budget for this affair.  Since we received a few contributions after the April 3 reunion, our funds did not increase significantly.
3. B79 opted to put majority of the funds left after the April 3 reunion to the landscaping project.  The Christmas party was not a priority in our budget.
4. We can no longer form groups who can meet to practice regularly to come up with entertainment numbers.  And those who can perform solo can’t confirm if they will be able to attend the affair.
5. We had three options for the venue.  The open stage where we held April 3’s reunion, the covered court and the newly landscaped Quezon Park.

 So to answer these problems, we decided on the following:

1. Food – potluck.  Each batch will bring food to share.  A huge cost savings.
2. Dance band – For entertainment.  B79 planned to dance the night away!  We also chose to get a band so we need not spend time and hours practicing.  This solved our problems of who will entertain the guests.  And this also gave B79 the chance to enjoy with the rest of the guests.
3. Venue - A day before the event.  That was the only time we finally decided to really hold the event at the landscaped Quezon Park.  A great way to showcase the B79 project!

The party was supposed to be held last December 4.  But as nature would have it, Typhoon Yoyong arrived two days before.  The officers of the alumni association decided to postpone it a week later.

On December 10, I called a meeting at the venue so we can start putting up the Christmas lights around the trees of Quezon Park and see if it is okay to hold the party there with the place lighted.  A few reliable men and women arrived; Ramon, Nestor, Luz, Tetet, Jing and I were there.  We were delighted after the first tree was lighted up.  We knew at that moment that this is the best place to hold the party.

On December 11, Tetet was first in the venue at 9AM with her two hired helps already cleaning the pergola which will be our stage for the night.  Willy, my daughter Emem and I arrived a few minutes later.  We started sweeping the Quezon Park grounds.  Even my 10 year old daughter helped.  Soon, Nestor, Ramon and Bong arrived and started working on setting up the rest of the Christmas lights.  Good for us that Rey Marcelo of Batch 75, Nancy from Batch 75 and another officer of the association arrived and helped us set the tables around the area and decorate the stage. Jing, Millicent and Celing arrived before noontime. I was a bit disappointed that there were only a few from the batch who responded to my call for assistance that morning, but glad to see that we were making progress.  Ralph, who called overseas just to show his support truly helped lift up my spirits!  Willy cooked his famous laing for those of us who worked there.  By 1:30PM, we had our lunch, enjoying the outdoor picnic atmosphere and the quick rest we got.  When Amy and Edward arrived, Millicent and I left to take a quick shower at Tetet’s house.  By that time, the tables and chairs were all set, the Christmas lights were almost all done, the stage decorated, the registration tables in place. The lights and sounds men arrived to set up too.  The men are starting to set up the zulu torches. 

By 5:00pm, we went back to the venue.  The place looked enchanting with the garden setting and the Christmas lights all over the area.  People arrived as early as 6:00PM.  Vicky with husband Bernie were there early.  When two new faces from Batch 79 arrived, two ladies whose names I can’t recall right now (sorry! But they’re in the guest book under Millicent’s care), my night is made.  I was happy already knowing that other batch mates will be able to at least see what the working B79 members have done in behalf of the whole batch.  But I was in for more surprises.  Soon Roy and Carmelita Manio arrived. And then Rey Mariano and a familiar guy from the evening class whose name I didn’t get again also arrived.  (So sorry, I’ll fill you in on who these unnamed batch mates are as soon as I get their names.)  Victor Azurin also arrived.  And of course, I was only too happy to see active members but who were not able to attend the meetings regularly after April 3, like Manolito Cuya, Dindo Haluag, Roy Valenzuela.  Gerry Sta. Ana arrived too. It is just too great to see Boyet Icogo and Thess Principe-Bondoc too.  I missed Ray, who has been very active too with our batch project and organizing this party.  He has an urgent job assignment that night. Our batch has the most number of attendees that night. Just seeing all our batch mates to share our hard work with has really my night complete already.  And the party hasn’t really started yet!

Ivan and Tetet again acted as our emcees for the night.  Nobody else could have done the job better than these two.  Tina started the affair with the opening prayer.  I gave a short talk saying that this was a night to celebrate God’s goodness especially to our batch.  Pete Murao, Batch 75, QCHSAAI Alumni President, also made his remarks.  Then dinner started while the Time Machine Band played jazz music while everyone was eating.  Soon after, they played retro music.  They started with love songs like “The Way You Look Tonight!” and  “Betcha By Golly Wow”.  Guess who was first on the dance floor to dance the slow dance?  Ivan and his wife Cathy, and then Willy and I.  Then the band started playing 70’s and 80’s dance music.  Everyone was having a great time already dancing.  The B79 men were enjoying each other’s company with the bellys full of beer.  The QCHS Alumni Association held their raffle in between the sets of the band.  MariaFe of  Batch 78 did a special dance number.  While Marlyn of Batch 74 gave two song numbers.

B79 officially presented our batch project to the school by lighting the zulu torches around the venue and at the flagpole area. 

By the time the 2^nd set of the band started, everyone was so much ready to dance!  The whole B79 went to the dance floor and danced the night away!  Noticeable were Jing’s and Willy’s dance moves.  The B79 men were urging Abet Domondon to jam with the band but he shied away. Ivan jammed with the band with his version of “Masquerade”.

While everyone’s enjoying, in one B79 table.  Nol Cuya asked me when the B79 exclusive party will be.  I told him that those who worked for this party were really expecting to have one but we do not have enough funds already.  And then Dindo and Nol started putting out money and egging other B79 members to contribute for the party.  Imagine that night, we collected PHP 9500 in cash and PHP10500 in pledges for the exclusive B79 party.  (We have scheduled it for January 15 at the Tivoli Country Club.)

At the table of the of the QCHSAAI directors, I was called by Pete Murao and asked B79 to contribute additional P1000 for a surprise finale for the night.  Pete approved P4000 from their funds.  I agreed after consulting with the B79 directors who were present. 

Back to the stage, after the second set of the band, Mrs. Josefina Perlado, school principal gave her inspirational talk to the alumni.  The major prizes were also raffled off.

Tetet and Ivan then called the whole B79 to the stage and the all the Batch 80 members who were present.  I asked the whole B79 to take a bow for a job well done and then officially turned over the hosting duties to Batch 80.

Ivan then announced that everyone look to the flagpole area for the surprise finale.  Everyone turned and waited.  In a few minutes, a fireworks display was seen over the venue.  It was a great presentation!

The soundmen then played the VSP’s “Awitin mo at Isasayaw ko”.  With the stage free, we called all B79 on the stage for picture taking.  But as soon as we’re there and with the microphones and band equipment free, the whole B79 sang and danced on stage performing like real pros with Jing, Edward, Willy hugging the center mike.  While Vicky with her husband Bernie acted as back-up singers at the other mike. Roy was seen playing the drums.  While the rest enjoyed singing and dancing with the whole group on stage.  It was truly the night for Batch 79!

But even if B79 enjoyed that night, the other batches and guests did too.  We received a lot of congratulations from those who attended.  One person said that our project is the best and salutes our group for coming up with it.  Others commended us for the great venue.  We received comments like, “Basta batch ninyo ang host, enjoy na enjoy kami!”

The following Friday, I went back to QCHS to oversee the gift-giving to selected QCHS students.  I forgot to mention earlier.  As part of the Christmas party celebration, we invited other batches to donate goods which will be given to selected QCHS students.  That day, the chosen recipients were the students who are part of the feeding program of the Alumni and the school.  These selected students are undernourished so as part of the feeding program, they get free lunch or merienda from the school.  The different groceries and gift items we have collected were distributed to about 60 students part of the feeding program.  Even on that day, I continued to receive kudos from teachers and alumni for the landscaping project and the parties we have organized.

To all of us B79!  Congratulations again! We are a great team.  We wanted to make a difference and I believed that we were successful in this.  Take a bow!

Thank you for all the support.

Rebbie Mendez