MY JOURNEY

SJS BATCH 88 GRAND REUNION

Reunion brings back the fire, it kindles memories & friendship. It's been 19 years since I graduated from high school. I couldn't wait to see everybody again. St. James High School Batch 88 will hold our 20th GRAND REUNION. High school years truly were the cliché of being among the best years of our life. This coming year 2008 some of our batch mates, now lives in different part of the globe, will come back to SUBIC for our 20th year high school reunion. This is the 2nd reunion for the batch 88-member class. This time of year often, Christmas season, begins the planning of class reunions. Graduates across the country are forced to reminisce about their high school years and make the decision on whether to go to their reunion.

A number of variables can play a part in people's decision to attend a reunion, such as if they had a small close-knit or large graduating class, the distance to travel to the reunion, the cost to attend, whether they had a good or bad high school experience, or just prior commitments.

Our graduating class, batch 88, were really a close class, why? Because lot of us have been together since Elementary, Maila Landicho, Franielyn De Guzman, Emily Velasco, Wilfredo Frejas, Cristina Bersal, Edwin Sagum, & many more.

Through a committee that set up by Alvin Sandoval, Mark Mendoza, & party, & the Sports festival, our classmates have been able to talk to each other and keep updated on reunion plans. Monthly batch 88 officers and batchmates held a monthly meeting at Sandoval’s place, which I did not attend since it’s first schedule. Sorry for that guys.

Planning for the class 88 reunion includes a social hour, drinking and drinking at the Sandoval’s place or other venue. I realize after me, Maila, Raquel from Australia, chat with each other that why don’t we “Batch 88 class” have a scheduled live group chat. So to our batch who are abroad can participate in our planning. I will tell it to Mark & Alvin in our next meeting “The SJS grand alumni homecoming on Dec. 29, 2007. There are usually three to six class members who chat online, & others have their friendster accounts. At least many of class members are TFC subscribers, or simply say “MAPERA”.

"Right now, they’re shooting for ½ of the batch to come" . I will come to the reunion with his my wife Dyan and my two children. "It will be neat to see our kids play together like we grew up in high school".

For William Wong whom I get chat during our 2007 x-mas party, at Mark Mendoza’s house, planning for and attending class reunions is an exciting time. It's fun trying to track down people. The class' first gathering was its 15-year reunion? I guess, in Beth Aquino’s place in Bo. Barretto. "This year, we got together on the phone more or less, thru Friendster and Yahoo Messengr, by attending the SJS Sports Festival" There are active members on the planning committee.

The class reunion committee saw about ½ or less classmates will attend. Some of our classmates who have never attended a reunion whom I talk with are planning to attend this year's BIG event of Batch 88.

We hope more people will attend because it is the 20th year reunion. Many of us had a great high school experience to reminisce. During high school, We socialize some, or We just have a real congenial group, but this coming reunion is a different story. The people are more matured, they way we mingle with our classmates previously is a past story. The way we are change, everything change, but the friendship we share during high school exist.

Another class to celebrate its 20-year reunion is Class of 1989, by 2009.

I hope & look forward to see everyone in our reunion. "It's fun to attend (the reunion) and talk with former classmates". There are only a handful of people I still know, yet it might be fun to see people. "It's quite unbelievable. Time has really flown".

(Christmas Party)

I had a blast. It was great seeing everyone in our batch 88 Christmas party at Mark Mendoza’s house. I was disappointed for those who didn't make it. Hopefully, they'll be there for the 20 year reunion in 2008.

Batch 88 GRAND REUNION

I want to take this time to thank all the reunion coordinators on all of the work you'll have done to make this coming 20th year reunion.

To our batchmates, try to load some recent photos, especially your high school photo’s that you are all look young. Batch 88 class should all go! I’m sure, Our 20th is was more fun than our 5th, 10th, 15th. People seemed less clique-ish and more real. I think at the 10th year, there was still a little high school elitism going on. At the 20th, many people have kids, have gained weight (Alvin, William, and me), lost hair and just generally are more humble. Welcome year 2008. Welcome Batch 88 class.

Welcome to our Batch 88 GRAND REUNION… SEE YOU ALL THERE…MERRY CHRISTMAS & A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO ALL.

GAWAD KALINGA, BOTOLAN, ZAMBALES

GOOD HEARTS may find in GAWAD KALINGA.
The VOLUNTEERS, the DONORS,all gifted
with a good HEARTS. They're all embrace
the work of GAWAD KALINGA. THEY HELP GK
BUILD. GAWAD KALINGA is spreading like
wildfire across the nation. GOD'S
MIRACLE can see in more than 600 GK
communities all over the country. THIS
DONATED HOUSES restored dignity of the
poorest of the poor. Our poor kababayan
get the chance to acquire a decent
housing thru GAWAD KALINGA. Many lives
in GK sites vastly improved, they
triumphed over poverty.

This poor kababayan's of us most
particularly in Botolan, Zambales were
very thankful to the generosity of
landowners, Couples for christs'
Brothers and sisters, Balikbayan, and
LGUs alike who donated hectares of
land, money, time and effort, enough to
build homes for approximately 70
homeless families. Presently 20 houses
are already build in the area and some
of this are already occupied. GK
BOTOLAN officially ground break the
class rooms which Federal Express
donated and the 30 houses from
Massachusetts. This projects promise
education and good home. GK BOTOLAN is
still looking for potential donor and
still needs help or donation to finish
the project.

We from COUPLES FOR CHRIST STMA,
Olongapo City, Zambales, are calling
the attention of all our friends in
FRIENDSTER especially our KABABAYAN
ABROAD to participate in the GAWAD
KALINGA BAYANIHAN BUILD in BOTOLAN,
ZAMBALES. Lets give back the blessings
you have received. You will all be
delighted with the experience in
helping our poor kababayan in building
their houses. You will not just build
houses for the poor, but you will
rebuild our country with a renewed
faith in GOD and a renewed sense of
pride of being a PINOY.

Last month it's a wonderful exprerience
to see youth from Olongapo City and
Zambales share their time and effort in
the work by cementing hollow blocks,
tilling the soil, pass filled cement
buckets and hollow blocks along the
line. Everybody are happy doing their
share with a smile despite the heat and
stress they feel along the event.

Today, GK BOTOLAN, ZAMBALES stands
proud, it symbolize a true partnership
between GOD and his creation. It serves
as a living testimony of how a group of
people serving GOD can get out of their
comfort zones and show real concern and
compassion for the less priveleged.

LET'S ALL BE A FILIPINO TO OUR FELLOW
FILIPINO, Support our less priveleged
FELLOW FILIPINO. HELP GAWAD KALINGA.
HELP GAWAD KALINGA, BOTOLAN......

JULY 26, 1998, RIOT POLICE STORMED SBMA, MY MAMA'S BIRTHDAY

On July 26, 1998, Riot Police have stormed Bldg. 229, the administration Bldg. of the Subic free port Zone, Subic Bay. Supporters of the SBMA administrator, Chairman Richard J. Gordon had barricaded ourselves in defiance of President Joseph Estrada.
Many people were injured in the attack.

My mother is one of those people barricading the front door of bldg. 229. I cannot forget or I will not forget that day in our life of July 26, 1998. The day of bldg. 229 siege is my mothers' birthday, my mama's 49 birthday. She was in front of the Bldg. along with the other BALIKATAN ladies, the first VOLUNTEER of SBMA, offered their lives in maintaining and protecting the former US NAVAL BASE despite their old age.

The newly elected President, Former/ Ousted President Joseph Ejercito Estrada wants a new man in control of the port or simply say to oust administrator, Richard Gordon, his political rival/ enemy.The ousted president executive order no. 1.

The Volunteers had fortified the administration building to protest against attempts by President Estrada to dismiss Richard J. Gordon and replaced by former Cong. Felicito "TONG" Payumo. The former congressman that never been a volunteer, the politician that do not want to be a volunteer, but a person that want to be a chairman of the former US NAVAL BASE and now SBMA.

Policemen armed with automatic rifles and grenade launchers tried to break into the Subic Bay headquarters at dawn of July 2006.

Initially the Gordon supporters and us the SBMA employee, armed with braved heart and spirit of volunteerism, succeeded in driving back the police.

The police shots fired.

The police eventually prevailed. They fired shots in the air and used tear gas on us inside and outside the bldg. The BALIKATAN VOLUNTEERS, a group of old woman was attack and whip by rattan sticks out of the bldg. 229 and its vicinity by anti riot police. I am at this scenario when i saw my mother, who supposed to be enjoying and celebrating her 49 birthday with her co-volunteers and friends. Her cake is the whip of a rattan sticks, and her candle is the tear gas that used by the anti riot police. My mother cried not because she was happy in her birthday it's because politics dishonor the volunteers, the volunteers that maintain, protect, and transform the former US NAVAL BASE into a industrial zone.The volunteers are all angry because the person who will be installed as the new chairman is the person who back out not to preserve the former based. They called him the effortless chairman.            

Many journalists, critics, politicians, correspondents, says that the outbreak of violence is likely to damage the reputation of Subic Bay. My mom and i say no, temporarily yes, the legacy of chairman DICK GORDON and the volunteers still remain. Yes the aggressors prevails to lead SBMA, but the success of SBMA will not count on their leadership. SBMA will boost because of its strategic locations and the distinct business advantages it already had.    

The free port is a former American naval base which in many years has been transformed by volunteers into a thriving industrial and commercial zone, and which is often touted as the showcase of the Philippines' efforts to become an Asian tiger economy.

Salamat at nai preserved ang SBMA sa initiative ng dating chairman nito na si RICHARD GORDON na sinundan ng mga volunteers, professionals, skilled workers, ordinaryong tao- bata, matanda.
Dahil sa kanilang ginawa, maraming investors ang naglagak ng puhunan di dahil lang sa business advantages ng SBMA kungdi dahil na rin sila ay naniniwala na kung may worst na mangyayari sa bansa at SBMA sila ay secured dahil nan diyan ang VOLUNTEERS magbabalik upang protektahan sila at ang SBMA ULIT. Salamat sa mga VOLUNTEERS lalo na ang matatanda at tinuruan kaming mga bata na tumulong at magpahalaga sa aming BAYAN...SALAMAT MAMA at HAPPY BIRTHDAY...sia ang aking MAMA NA VOLUNTEER NG SBMA...MGA MATATANDANG BAYANI...
 

Tsk, tsk, tsk, Pera, Money, Salapi, na lang ba?

When we were a little children growing
up in Sto. Tomas, Subic, Zambales,
there was this mani- manian tree ( i
dont know the real name, we called in
mani manian coz bat's eat this at
night, and if we break the fruit of
this tree, we could see a shelled seed
of it that looks a like peanut) at the
back of our school. It stood by the
fence along the road unnoticed all
through the year, but in summer, it
became the center of attraction because
of it's beautiful bright red orange
flowers in full bloom. What a sight!
beu equally, it was also the center of
distraction because of its foul
odor...mabaho talaga...what a smell!
elders often took the occasion to
remind us that more than external
beauty, it is the inner character and
beauty that matters in a person.

GOD reminds us not to worry or be too
concerned about material treasures
which thieves can steal and moths can
destroy. The lord knows that material
possessions can imprison a person, for
indeed, where your treasures is, there
your heart will be also.

Consider a simple laborer who sleeps
soundly at night, grateful that he made
it just for the day. On the other hand,
consider a billionare, who cannot sleep
coz he is worried that he might lose
his billions if he is kidnapped, or if
there is a bank run, etc. Double his
worry if the money involved is dirty
money and, he may be prosecuted. Triple
his worry if in the end, he will face
his creator and realizaes that he has
wasted his whole life, has sold his
very soul to the devil and he has lost
his GOD because of money, pera, salapi.

And for what? for 60, 70, 80 years of a
good and comfortable life? it is really
worth it all to live and die for money
and for the things that money can buy?
I believe that every person is
basically good. For that matter, money,
as such, is basically good. But we do
know that a good person can be
corrupted by greed for money. Money can
indeed grip our life, our lifestyle,
our personality, our relationships and
our very souls. Greed is the most
effective and most handly tool of the
evil one to destroy a person, a family,
a nation.

I wish we will hear more of simple and
good people and be inspired by their
life story and example.

Many of our kababayan, especially girls
(pls. dont be hurt) aspire to be
rich...To materialized this desire,
they will find a foreigner that will
make her dream a reality...They will
marry this lucrative guy from u.s.or
europe, korea, japan, and other part of
the globe just to be someone with
money, money that will make them
famous. Why do you think many business
and big houses here in the Phils. are
owned by Foreigner? Why many Filipino
women had a foreigner husband? are they
married because of love, security,
fame, or what? Why many Filipino's are
rich despite being an ordinary
politician, police, lawyer, government
employee, customs employee, driver, and
others? What is the cause why we have a
leftist group? What is the reason why
lawless group kidnapped, killed, their
victims? Why do we so many poor
countrymen live in riverbanks,
squatters area, under the bridge? We
have many filipino countrymen that
belongs to the group of rich and famous
but still statistics show that Poor
families is increasing every year? What
is the reason of this? is it greediness
or Filipino's are tamad just what
other's thinks? Thinks about this and
realize? Do you take part to solve this
misery?

Think about it: How much money do you
need in life to be happy? Money is like
seawater: the more you drink it, the
thirstier you become. Ad even if you
had all the money and all the thing
that money can buy, how much time do
you have?

Poor indeed in the eyes of the world,
but rich in the eyes of GOD.

LORD, REMIND ME TO LIVE AND DIE FOR YOU
AND NOT JUST FOR THE MONEY AND THE
THINGS THAT MONEY CAN BUY...AMEN....

ANG FILIPINO BA AY MADAMOT, GANID, O ISANG GOOD SAMARITAN? KUNG PAGPIPILIIN KA, SAN KA BA DUN?

There is a saying that good  samaritans
only came from the church...the
missionaries, nuns, the priest. Sa
ganang akin, ito ay mali...false
estatement...ano sa palagay mo? Anyone
of us and all of us can and should be
good samaritans anywhere, in whatever
situation.

There,s really no way of telling where
or when GOD will call us to be a good
samaritans. Maraming pagkakataon that
called you to be a good samaritan,
pinagbigyan mo ba sia? Sa paglalakad
mo, may nangalabit sa iyo, isang
pulubi, anong ginawa mo? binigyan mo ba
ito o nilagpasan lang, o baka naman,
pinintasan mo pa ito na "sindikato lang
ang mga ito", tamad kasi ang mga
magulang at tarantado, ipang rurugby mo
lang at ipang kakarakrus mo lang ang
mapapalimusan mo, magtrabaho ka nga, o
dili kaya ay nasabihan mo pa
ng "wala" , "buwisit ka", "ang damit ko
madudumihan", o "nabigyan na kita
kahapon".Are your concience told you to
get involved with this kind of person
who needed your concrete love.

Hindi lang pulubi that needs your
concrete love, you office mate that
needs money coz his/ her family member
is been hospitalized, nakita mo ang
isang accident ng hit and run,
ninakawan ang katabi mo sa jeep, nakita
mo ang kasama mo na nanghingi ng lagay,
marami pang pagkakataon na hiningi ni
lord ang tulong mo, nagbigay ka ba.

Natatandaan ko ang sabi ng isang pari
na "WALANG MAHIRAP KUNG MAY MAYAMAN NA
MAGBIBIGAY, MARAMI SA ATING MGA
MAYAYAMANG KABABAYAN NG BARYA LANG ANG
NAIBIBIGAY MASABIHAN LANG NA NAGBIGAY
LANG".

Right in this moment, try to get back
to the many situations that time calls
you to be a good samaritan but you
neglect it, did you have a tinge of
regret or wala lang.

No, love and involvement are never
enough. No wonder many just elude or
drop them all together. Demanding, e,
that's why deadma na lang, di ba? Pero
kung panay ang deadma mo, ikaw rin,
baka ma dead ka inside you.

The next time you encounter a
possible "good samaritan
situation, "like when a beggar comes
knocking at your gate , car window,
don't just dismiss it with your fixed
rationalizations and reasons. That's
easy. likewise, it is easy to just give
right away and feel good about it in a
condescending kind of way. Whatever you
do, however your respond to a good
samaritan situation, do't forget
compassion, understanding and mercy.
There's no ready made response bec.
every situation is different. Every
person who comes along is different.
But, it's the same god who is asking
you to be compassionate, understanding
and merciful in every situation and in
very concrete situations.

LORD, LET MY LOVE BE CONCRETE, NOT JUST
PAPER LOVE OR PLASTIC LOVE, ONE DAY AT
A TIME. AMEN.

FRIENDSHIP

FRIENDSHIP is a priceless gift

that cannot be bought or sold;

for its value is far greater

than a mountain made of gold;

for gold is cold & lifeless

it can neither see nor hear;

and in times of trouble

it is powerless to cheer,

it has no ears to listen,

no heart to understand;

it cannot bring you comfort

or reach out a helping hand;

so when u ask

god for a gift

be thankful if he sends

not diamonds, pearls or riches

but the LOVE OF REAL TRUE FRIENDS!

I'M YOUR FRIEND

YOU lean on me, & YOU will be okay

Friendship is one mind in two bodies

-IF all my friend were to jump off a building,

I wouldn't jump with them,

I'd be at the bottom to catch them.

-I hold a true friend with my both hands.

-Everyone hears, what you say

some listen to what you say,

-Me as your BESTFRIEND listen to what you don't say.

-Me as your dear friend knows the song in your heart,

& can sing it back to you when you forgotten the words.

-ME, your real FRIEND is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out to you.

-My FATHER always used to say when i die,

if i've got real five real friends,

then i've had a great life.

-Don't walk in front of me,

I may not follow,

Don't walk behind me,

I may not lead,walk BESIDE ME & BE MY FRIEND.

-WE all take different paths in life,

but no matter where we go,

we take a little of each other everywhere.

-I'M a FRIEND like GOD'S way taking care of you.

-I'M a STRANGER,

stranger are just friends waiting to happen,

I'M a FRIEND,

FRIENDS are the bacon bits in the salad bowl of life.

-I could be your FRIEND

A REAL GOOD FRIEND...