Thursday, April 26, 2007 Utzurrum: Reunions are for remembering By Chinggay V. Utzurrum The scene
HERE’S a bulletin from Marget F. Villarica, reminding us that the Personal Awareness and Leadership Seminar (P.A.L.S.) will take place this month from April 27 (Friday) to April 29 (Sunday) at the Marcelo B. Fernan Press Center at the DepEd Compound, Sudlon, Lahug. Time is 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Attention kids from ages 12 to 20, this is especially designed for you. PALS is a seminar you must attend to discover the potential greatness and power within you.
This is presented by Powerspeak Inc., and will have dynamic facilitator Severino “Joey” Reyes at the helm.
Seminar fee is P9,000 but if paid between April 22 and 26, pay only P8,000.
For more info, please call Leny at tel. no. 231-2461.
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Has it been 48 years since high school graduation? Where are we now? These were some of the questions we asked ourselves and a group of classmates who gathered at the residence-cum-atelier of multi-awarded artist Pacita Singson-Abad Santos, one lunch hour last month.
Occasion? A joint birthday bash of the first quarter celebrators, Assumption Convent “Old Girls.” Who have been meeting regularly to map out their Golden Jubilee in 2009. What will the theme be? Will it be Broadway, Disneyland, a night at the Philarmonic, a beach adventure, or a plain formal dinner at some fancy restaurant?
The gatherings, organized some 18 months ago, have been increasing in attendance as D-Day grows near. This particular lunch had two out-of-towners: Leny Montilla-Askew from Los Angeles (Calif) and yours truly from Cebu. Manila and Luzon-based girls flashed questions like how have you been? Are you still married? To the same guy? (joke!). We touched base with our partners at recess, at the biology and history classes. Remember our world history teacher whom we nicknamed the “Reign of Terror” from the French Revolution?
Questions were endless, answers were varied, but the overall mood was simply addictive and nostalgic.
Chatter was continued next morning for breakfast at Mandarin Oriental where I was billeted. Since we were only four, hosts Cheli Banta and Estela Lopez, and honorees Leny Askew and myself, the anecdotes and vignettes touched more on the private and personal…and juicy of course!
Next gathering will be in July, so I’m announcing this to Cebu-based “Old Girls” Marilu Briones-Chiongbian, Cor Marie Lacson-Jakosalem and Terry Escaño-Manguerra. So please be available. Deal?
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Another classmate, Tereret Justiniani-Romero asked me to feature the Paco Park concert of German-trained internationally-acclaimed pianist Leonor Kilayko. The well-attended affair, with some members of the diplomatic corps was to mark the 26th anniversary of German-Philippine friendship.
