Moroccan Dinner, December 28, 2011.

Dec. 28- 6pm- Moroccan and Bohemian Dinner Party

Everybody was so excited! The venue was well decorated from the curtains, to the cake, to the tables, chairs, pillows, stage, etc. Thanks to the efforts and ingenuity of Roy, Dianne, Anne and their group. Some were dressed with the theme, others chose to wear any casual dress that suits their comfort. Syempre boys are boys. Naka jeans, shorts and shirts lang sila. But whatever outfit we wore, lahat nag- eenjoy. While waiting for the program to start, picture dito, picture doon ang pinagkakaabalahan ng lahat. Hehe. Lahat na yata ng corners napag posingan na. May sa cake, stage, etc. Di pa nagsstart ang program mukhang maglolowbat na ang mga cams. Haha! While waiting for the others, there was also an ongoing audio visual presentation of old and new pics of Batch’96 prepared by Dianne. Thank D!

The party started around 7pm with Marian Cathedral and Roy Sollesta as the hosts. Talbog ang lahat ng beauties sa ganda ni Roy at Marian. Ang tawag kay Roy…The Official Mascot. Hehe. Celebrity talaga ang dating.

Nino Selibio led the opening prayer with a song. Walang kupas parin ang galing ng boses. Thanks Nin. Everyone was acknowledged and introduced during the program. Mr. Emmanuel was also acknowledged. Roy and Ralyn May performed (Waka Waka) dance number during the program which was also joined by the group. Then we had dinner and kwentuhan…

After the dinner, an audio visual presentation was played again, prepared by Dianne. Thanks D! Everybody was applauding, cheering and teasing each other during the play. One of the bloopers was Ralyn’s pic. In the pic, kasama nya ang anak nya but the man beside them wasn’t her husband but Pastor ng El Shadai. She suddenly stood up and shouted that it’s not her husband. Hahaha. Tawanan ang lahat pati narin sya. Hehe. Ralyn understood it, wala kasi syang nailagay na family pic sa fb nya at buti nalang daw wala Mr. nya that night….Peace Ralyn. hihi. love ka namin.

We had also the releasing of the lantern with wishes at the shoreline but bcoz of the strong wind, only few lanterns were released. We also elected officers for the Batch who will be responsible for the different activities of Batch 96. Impeachable po lahat ng positions...hehehe. 

Sako Batch 1996 Officers since 2011

President:                            Mary Grace Paguntalan- Araneta
Vice:                                    Diana Rose Evano and Marian Becodo- Catedral
Secretary:                            Janice Mondragon-Mingels
Asst. Sec.                             Angie Fe Paciosani
Treasurer:                            Anne Marie Benedicto
Asst. Treasurer:                    Roy Sollesta
Auditor:                               Jeffrey Novilla
Asst. Auditor:                       Juniver Solis- Okko
Miagao Coordiantors:            Ralyn May  Gerale- Valdez and Lilibeth Movillon- Nunal
San Joaquin Coordinator:      Mary Jane Pingoy-Diez
Guimbal Coordiantor:           Ruby Ann Gayatgay-Tamonan
Manila Coordinator:             Hazel Mae Nequinto
Singapore Coordinator:        Joyluluvelle Niog
Canada Coordinator:            Nadelene Grace Nagamos- Almonte
Europe Coordinator:            Hazel Tanatan- Pedersen

Nagpicture taking ang officers after the election. Daw nag presscon. Grabe ang camlights. Hehe. May picture taking din per section, Charity, Humility and Simplicity. The simplicity has the most numbered attendance kasi parang 20 plus yata. Kaya mga charity and humility go go next time ha. Hatakin lahat ng classmates. Then we had the Batch 96 picture taking. Buti nalang dala dala nila mga asawa at anak…hayun naging photographers namin. ..Thank u po!

The most dressed award for female goes to Marian Cathedral and for male dressed female (hehe) is no other than the Official Mascot Gandang Roy. Congrats!hehe. A price gift was handed to Marian courtesy of Arle Q. The party ended with announcements and acknowledgements. Thank you to everyone for all the donations, pledges, presence and for all the efforts contributed by each and everyone of us malayo man o malapit. Thank u gid!

The pillow used during the party served as the souvenir items. Naku tahimik lang ang mga boys but nauna pa pala silang nakapagtago ng mga souvenir items. Muntik na kaming magworry dahil akala naming baka wala silang pillows. Hehe.

Ay, hindi pa po tapos….hehe. Syempre after the program comes the real party para sa mga boys. Inuman to the max...While the program was going on, nagsimula na silang mag inuman sa likod. But after the program, tinodo na! Tuloy parin kwentuhan , kulitan at asaran ng lahat after the program. Ang mga girls napagod narin sa kakaposing para mgpa picture kaya ngchikahan nalang. The girls also joined the drinking group ng mga guys. Si Marge ang incharge to throw questions sa lahat (ex. who was your crush before and now in our Batch?) Bukingan and revelations…hehe. Hayan marami tuloy akong nalaman pero hindi ko sasabihin dito..hehe. Most of us went home after midnight. Yung iba 5am at 7am na dahil nagligpit pa. It was a very memorable celebration! Congrats to everyone and THANK YOU for all your support and cooperation. It wouldn’t be successful without you and hopefully next reunion you will be there to join us. See you then. God Bless Batch 96!

BY: JANICE MONDRAGON-MINGELS

Thank God It's Fifteen, Part 1

To all those who were not present during the reunion and mind boggling what happened and how we celebrated it…., thus I share this to you.



Dec. 27, 10am – More or less 15 of us went to St. Anne Home for the Aged for the SYB gift giving activity. We distributed gifts mostly food, milk, vitamins, toiletries, etc. There are 7 lolas who lives at St. Anne, 5 sisters and 4 student borders. We had snacks together with them and performed an unrehearsed Christmas song led by Ralyn May. After conversing with the lolas and everyone there, the sisters expressed their gratitude to Batch 96 and to everyone who has contributed to this great SYB cause. Their hearts were really filled with joy. Thank you gid sa tanan.
After which we headed to Doming and had lunch together. Ang haba ng table namin...hehe. After lunch, the decoration committee started their assignment with the help of some volunteers. 



Dec. 28, 9:30am – The mass started with Father Rodel Nacional as the main celebrant. Ms. Felicidad Erasmo was also there and some families of our batchmates. Meron ding nalate at humabol sa mass like Marge who was straight from her trip. High entrance kasi sinundo pa ni Nino S. and carried her travelling bag. Mary Jane was the reader during the mass. The Choir was great. After the mass, we had picture taking with Father Rodel and all the batchmates together with their partners and kids.



11:00 am- We assemble for the caravan in front of the church. The route was only within the town proper. We requested for the Police patrol car to lead the caravan and some drummers from SIPC…..Bongga! hehe. Around 10 cars/vehicles joined the parade. Sadya man galling dasig ang patrol car amo na nagtalang ang iban but before the end point, nagmeet man tanan nga participating vehicles.

11:30am – The end point of the caravan was at the Marillac Academy. We went to see the new buildings, took pictures and invited the sisters, faculty and staff to join our lunch but unfortunately there were only 2 staffs who were there and Ms. Erasmo. Then off to Noble Beach for the Family Day.



12:00 noon- Family Day at Noble Beach Resort. Ms. Erasmo, Marillac Staffs, Mrs. Fandida Naciongayo and Mr. Ramon Emmanuel were there to celebrate with us. The program was hosted by Grace and yours truly. We had lunch and the food was great. Ms. Erasmo, Mrs. Naciongayo and Mr. Emmanuel gave inspiring messages during the program. They mentioned that our Batch is one of those that they cannot forget and they mean it in a good way. There were games and trivia questions about our high school days and everybody actively participated. ( ex. What were our team names from 1st to 4th yr during intrams). We also played Pinoy Henyo, Balloon bursting and String game. Lahat ay game na game kahit sino ipair sa kanila. Ronald and Marge tandem had the shortest time in guessing the word in the Pinoy Henyo. They made a record of 5 sec. Pati si Maam Marlyn and Sir Ramon also joined sa Pinoy Henyo. Lovie and his son won in the balloon bursting. They were teasing Lovie na nanalo daw because she used her long nail or she had a pin with her. Hehe. Donnie’s group won in the String game against Narcel’s group. Mas maluwag kasi mga pants nila making it easier for the string to go through. After the program we had picture taking and more chika chika with the batchmates. Then at 3pm, we bid goodbyes to prepare for the evening party at 6pm.

Thank you everyone. It was very memorable and fun and even others were not around…we share all these joys with you. We wish that next time you will be with us because nothing makes this reunion, more fun, memorable, better and happier without your presence. Each and everyone of you counts…


Evening Party- To be continued….

BY: JANICE MINGELS

A Day Full of Blessings

...it`s been a week since jim & i exchanged our wedding vows. it was a beautiful & very special day. we were so blessed to say our "i do`s" in the church, in the eyes of God & our loved ones… 

...the day was amazing too! it has different seasons in a day...rainy & sunny in an autumn season & almost winter in the night ( it was below 0 deg! ). everything went on smoothly, both in the church & in the reception. yes, i was a stressful-bride ( typical me! ), i had my sleepless nights ( thank God, i already recovered from it! i slept like a baby for a week now! ) and worst, i had a dry cough which burdened me a lot ( again, thank God, for i didn`t cough at all in our wedding ceremony! i can`t imagine if i was coughing when we were exhanging vows! hehe! ). though my family was not around, i`m still thankful to all the beautiful people who gave their support & efforts to help us. they`re our angels! God do really works in mysterious ways! He`s so good all the time! =) 

...jim is really worth the wait ( thank God, for the gift of patience! ). i'm so thankful that i found my other half in him! he's a big man with an extra big heart & i love him even more! he's my everything & i'm looking forward for an amazing life together with him! i'm so proud to be his wife...to be mrs. berg!




By Mabeth Napalinga-Berg 

Little Things

It's just the little homely things,

The unobtrusive, friendly thing,

The "won't-you-let-me-help-you" things

That make our pathway light -

And it's just the jolly, joking things,

The "never-mind-the-trouble" things,

That makes the world seem bright.

For all the countless famous things,

The wondrous, record-breaking things,

Those "never-can-be-equalled" things

That all the papers cite,

Aren't all the little human things,

The everyday-encountered things

The "just-because-I-like-you" things

That make us happy quite.

So here's to all the simple things,

The dear "all-in-a-day's-work" things,

The "smile-in-the-face-your-troubles" things,

Trust God to put them right!

The "done-and-then-forgotten" things,

The "can't-you-see-I-love-you" things,

The hearty "I-am-with-you" things

That make the life worth the fight.

From the Notes of Diana Rose Evano