Utzurrum: Reunions, the order of the day

FRIENDS from way back when have a style of reconnecting with classmates, buddies, colleagues or simply new friends who have lost touch with one another. Be it by phone, telefax, mobile phone, the Internet or e-mail (communication is so much easier now), our messages reach their destinations in seconds! So reunions have become the order of the day. For Dr. Jose “Bebe” Barba, whose address in now New Jersey (USA), but whose roots are in Toledo City, Cebu, he never fails to drop by here several times a year to touch base with relatives, classmates and friends.

GOLDEN REUNION. University of San Carlos (USC) girls high school class ’63 attended Mass at the USC-Main chapel on P. del Rosario St, with Fr. Louie Punzalan SVD. Also with the jubilarians were Ferdinand S. Boncayao (seated, left) and Beth Saldivar (seated, third from left) of the alumni office of USC.
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Bebe loses no time in contacting bosom pals Norma “Mingming” and Eddie Gullas, as well as media friends Flor Ynclino, Cookie Newman, Jimmy Picornell and this writer, for a tete-a-tete and updating of newsbits.

One evening, it was at the posh Beverly Hills residence of Quito and Lilia Obiso, proprietor of the biggest taxi fleet in these parts. The culinary spread was as sumptuous as it was eye-appealing! Hurry back, Bebe!

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Playing hostess to two longtime friends was Maribel Kokseng-Kratz, who chose Ding Qua Qua at JY Square, to hold the cozy dinner. Guess who they were? Fr. Allen O’Brien and Fr. Ricky Ordoñez. Fr. O’Brien is presently Dumaguete-based at the Redemptorist Church there, while Tucson, Arizona (USA) is now home to Fr. Ricky. But of course, he still calls Cebu his real home, as this is where he grew up with loving parents, Del and Marilou.

My first encounter with Fr. Ricky was during the canonization pilgrimage to Rome for San Pedro Calungsod. He was our xhaplain-cum-tour guide, and what a task that was!

Anyway, with two super knowledgeable men of the cloth with us, conversation inadvertently swerved to the hottest topic in town. Pope Benedict’s resignation. We will keep their comments secret for now. Ok readers?

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Blame it all on super-typhoon Ondoy that left thousands of families in our islands not only homeless but for some, also loss of one or more loved ones.

This was enough motivation for the Filipino cabin crew of Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) to mobilize its members to donate relief goods to the victims, some of whom were even relations. But they went one step further.

Thus was born the Philippine Cabin Crew Charities Inc. (PCCCI), which is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Since this was going to be a continuing project for future disasters, the group recently held a fund-raising event called “PCCCI Goes to Broadway,” which also coincided with their second anniversary. Venue was the Manila Polo Club.

Enter characters from best-loved Broadway musicals like: Annie, Cats, Miss Saigon, Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Lion King, Hairspray, and Sister Act. The costumes were fabulous and the successful affair netted quite a sum for the PCCCI.

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University of San Carlos Girls High School (USCGHS) class 1963 recently turned golden, and did they have a ball! But throughout all the lunches, dinners, beach outings, city tours, shopping and what-have-you, never did they forget to start the day with a mass.

The three-day “Reunion and Remember When” also featured their beloved teachers in attendance. Let these photos tell their story. Thank you, Becky Rallos for these memoirs!

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St. Theresa’s Alumnae Association (Staa) will have a Lenten recollection for alumnae, families and friends. It will be on March 2. Registration time at 1 p.m., then from 1:30-5:30 p.m. anticipated Sunday Holy Mass (confessions before the mass). The event will be held at the STC audio visual room with recollection master Fr. Ernesto Javier SJ. There is a small fee to cover a modest snack, etc.