THE Baguio City National High School of 1992 has been a very busy bumble bee for the past few weeks. Officers and members of the distinguished group led by the incumbent president of the BCNHS Alumni Alumni Assocation and chairman of the Grand Alumni Homecoming Rites, businessman-sportsman Danila "Danny" Quinto at the helm of the two-day special event.
I met with my good friend Danny in front of 888 Home Furnishing over a month ago. After an exchange of pleasantry, he asked me to give him my biodata as an individual alumnus service award nominee for the forthcoming BCNHS episode. With my deepest gratitude, I did what was requested by Danny. A week ago, we met for the second time in front of their furniture shop along busy Abanao Street. I was a bit excited when he reminded me to join and attend the various homecoming activities which will kick off on May 4 with the registration of members of the BCNHS Alumni Association and guests. The activity will be held in the morning before the opening program billed at the BCNHS Auditorium at 9 o'clock in the morning.
The day's highlight will be the Gala Night fellowship dinner and the recognition and awards ceremony scheduled at Camp John Hay, at 7PM. Danny told me to get ready for the evening affair as one of the coveted awardees. Of course, I am greatfully grateful for the once in lifetime experience shared by my loving betterhalf Consuelo Sol, our children, our grandchildren, and loved ones.
A grand parade along Session Road and Harrison Road will be on the program lanes of the BCNHS homecoming sched set at 9 in the morning from the school grounds. A closing program to be held at the BCNHS Auditorium after the parade will follow to signal the end of the bonanza.
Happily, I belong to Baguio City High Class of 1949 led by our Valedictorian, the late Dr. and former Benguet Province Governor Andres Bugnosen, the older brother of the late Baguio City Mayor Jaime Bugnosen. The '49-ers include the late City Councilor Andy Cariño, lawyer-journalist Juan Valdez, former City Councilor Condrado Bueno who also served as City Administrator, the Leonora Cenzon Cabot, Dr. Rodolfo Reyes, Mrs. Erlinda Espino, U.S. Navy retirees Jose Tenerife and Henry Nievera, the late CPA and businessman Bernardo Dicang, and Dominga Batcagan. Happily too, I was a regular member of the school's junior basketball team and an active BCHS Boy Scout of Troop 66. These two activities paved the way for me to get presidential scholarship grants for my college education at the Baguio Technical and Commercial Institute (Baguio Tech), which is now the University of Baguio. I remember vividly, that during the 30th Foundation Anniversary of UB in 1983, yours truly received the prestigious "Distinguished Alumni Award" in recognition of my distinguished services and meritious achievement in the field of community service. At that time, Dr. Reinaldo C. Bautista was the president of the University. The chairperson of the Awards Committee was Apolonia Academia while the overall chairman ofteh Foundation Day Celebration was Engr. Salvador Navaratte.
With God's grace and blessing, through the years, I have in my treasure chest a collection of over 100 distinguished awards, plaques of recognition, sports trophies and medals, certificates of appreciation, and other citations from government agencies such as the Department of Tourism, Department of Education and Culture, Department of Local Government including the City of Baguio, Benguet Province, the Boy Scouts of the Philippines National Council, Order of the Arrow, Michigamea Lodge 110, Boy Scouts of America, International Scouts Training Camp, Gilwelll Park, England; Children's International Summer Village - Philippine Chapter; Knights of Columbus Fr. Carlu Council, Association for Philippines-China Understanding (UPCU); The Philippine Military Academy AFP; the United States Naval Training Center in San Diego, California; the Girl Scouts of the Philippines National Council; Project Gintong Alay, City Social Welfare and Development Office, YMCA National Board Manila; Baguio Press Club, as a journalist; Philippine Cycling Association, Karatedo Federation of the Philippines, Tour of Luzon; Philippine Daily Inquirer; Business Today; Manila Bulletin; Balita; Philippine Star; The Manila Chronicle; Manila Times; Baguio Midland Courier; Body Building Federation of the Philippines; Baguio Elderly Assembly; BARP Foundation, CSWDO-OSCA-BEA Octoberbest Celebration; ASEAN Body Building Championship 1986, BSP National Training School for Scout Executives; and the Baguio Centennial Year Celebration Committee. The 11th Far East Training. The team course held in Thailand IN 1965. And I say this with pardonable pride and modesty: Practically, the awards were in recognition of my humble volunteer services and achievements in youth and senior citizens' welfare and sports programs, civic and social work, involvement in the conservation of our historical resources, national and international tourism activities and religious-spiritual undertakings and finally, as a former City Government official.