The Battle of Manila, 70 years ago

 

 

 

The Battle of Manila, 70 years ago American soldiers taking cover behind tanks as the tanks proceed into the city down Dewey Blvd., (Roxas Blvd.), Manila, Philippines, Feb. 1945

US survivors mark 70 years since one of WWII's most hellish battles: Vets remember horrors of the Battle of Manila in which 100,000 civilians were killed by the Japanese Battle of Manila took place from February 3 to March 3, 1945, in the closing months of World War II American and Filipino forces joined together to fight the Japanese occupation of the Philippines Manila was the second-most devastated city in World War II after Warsaw The city was destroyed and 100,000 people killed The American survivors were children when it occurred but have vivid memories of the desperation and destruction Seventy years have not dulled the memories of survivors of the month-long Battle of Manila. The mass killings by Japanese forces, the loved ones lost and the desperation are etched in their minds, as is the elation when American forces finally rescued them in the closing months of World War II. The U.S. liberated the Philippine capital from the Japanese, but not before Manila was destroyed and more than 100,000 civilians killed. About 16,000 Japanese soldiers and 1,000 U.S. troops also died in the fighting from February 3 to March 3, 1945. Manila was the second-most devastated city in World War II after Warsaw, Poland, said historian Ricardo Jose of the University of the Philippines.   Cemmoration: The Battle of Manila was fought by American and Filipino joined forces against the Japanese from 3 February - 3 March 1945, and ended the three-year Japanese military occupation in the Philippines. Here US troops of the 1st Cavalry Division walking past the dead body of a Japanese soldier on the ground following a battle in the Paco section of Manila Cautiously proceeding down Dewy Boulevard (Roxas Blvd. In front of where the USA Embassy is today). The men have been receiving sniper and machine gun fire in sporadic burst. If you go to the original large size you can see Filipinos making their way past the Americans to safety. We commemorate The Battle of Manila, 68 years ago. It started, 3 February 1945 to 3 March 1945, was the only struggle by the United States to capture a defended major city in the Pacific War.  Manila was one of few major battles waged by the United States on urban terrain in World War II.  It is arguably one of the most recent major urban battles conducted by U.S. forces.  The case of Manila offers many lessons large and small that may be instructive for planning future urban operations.  Basically, Manila was an instance of modern combined arms warfare practiced in restrictive urban terrain in the presence of large numbers of civilian inhabitants.  Manila provides many lessons relevant both to the combined arms aspect of the struggle and to the civilian affairs aspect of the struggle. Bataan Death March 1942 Prisoners of war on the Bataan Death March. (U.S. Air Force photo). The Bataan Death March (also known as The Death March of Bataan) took place in the Philippines in 1942 and was later accounted as a Japanese war crime. The 60-mile (97 km) march occurred after the three-month Battle of Bataan, part of the Battle of the Philippines (1941–42), during World War II. In Japanese, it is known as Batān Shi no Kōshin (バターン死の行進?), with the same meaning. American soldiers making their way down Dewy Blvd. (Roxas Blvd.) towards the Manila Hotel, Manila, Philippines, Feb. 1945 After preliminary patrols had made their way down Dewy Blvd. The Infantrymen were taken in vehicles for the assault on the Manila Hotel and the southern wall of Intramuros. They proceeded cautiously because the road was heavily mined. Filipino citizens helped by pointing out where the mines were located. To avoid needless violence and civilian deaths,[citation needed] and to preserve as large a force as possible to continue defensive operations in rural Luzon, Imperial Japanese Army GeneralTomoyuki Yamashita had insisted on a complete withdrawal of Japanese troops from Manila. However, this was not realized because of objection in imperial headquarters.10,000 marines under Vice Admiral Iwabuchi Sanji remained in Manila along with some IJA stragglers Various credible Western and Eastern sources agree that the death toll was at least 100,000,[1]tallying to around 10% of the population of the city. The massacre was at its worst in the Battle of Manila, in which the Allies shelled the city of Manila to drive out the Japanese. In this shell, city of Manila was totally destroyed. By the time the Japanese were driven out, the city was in ruins, becoming the second most destroyed Allied capital city during the war, the first being Warsaw inPoland.[2] It is said that during lulls in the battle for control of the city, Japanese troops took out their anger and frustration on the civilians caught in the crossfire. It is said that Japanese troops looted and burned, and brutally executed, tortured, decapitated and sexually abused women, men and children alike, Red Cross personnel, prisoners of war and hospital patients.The total of 100,000 death was counted after the battle,but the acculate cause of their death is not known now.There must have been people getting mixed up in the battle and shells. The Manila massacre was said to be one of several major war crimes committed by the Imperial Japanese Army, as judged by the postwar military tribunal. Although General Yamashita didn't recognize any massacres,he was nonetheless judged to be responsible and executed. The Yamashita standard — regarding a commander's responsibility for action taken by anyone under his command — is based upon his trial. This decision is still controversial today.Some people think this was responsibility shifting to Imperial Japanese Army by the Allies of city destructions. American tanks fire on the Legislature Building from Manila City Hall, Manila, Philippines, Feb. 1945 American tanks firing a close range heavy barrage on the Legislature Building where stubbornly resisting Japanese were holding out. Japanese Marines that attempted to escape the Far Eastern University, Manila, Philippines, Feb. 1945 This truckload of Japanese soldiers met a grisly end from American rifles and BAR’s as they attempted to flee to newly formed Japanese lines on the other side of the Pasig River. On 9 January 1945, the Sixth U.S. Army under Lt. Gen. Walter Krueger waded ashore on Lingayen Gulf and began a rapid drive south. Three weeks later on 31 January, the Eighth United States Army of Lt. Gen. Robert L. Eichelberger, consisting of the 187th and 188th Glider Infantry Regiments of Col. Robert H. Soule, components of the U.S. 11th Airborne Divisionunder Maj. Gen. Joseph M. Swing landed unopposed at Nasugbu in southern Luzon and began moving north toward Manila. Meanwhile, the 11th A/B Division's 511th Regimental Combat Team of Col. Orin D. "Hard Rock" Haugenparachuted intoTagaytay Ridge on 4 February and spearheaded the southern advance.[1] [2] By 4 February, the rapid drive to Manila by U.S. forces began. Using intelligence provided by Filipino guerrillas, American units were able to find intact bridges and shallow rivers everywhere they went. [edit]Japanese defense As the Americans converged on Manila from different directions, the bulk of the defending Japanese troops had earlier engaged on a tactical move to the outskirts on orders of General Tomoyuki Yamashita, commander in chief of Japanese forces in the Philippines. Yamashita had withdrawn his main forces to Baguio City, where he planned to hold back the Filipino and U.S. forces in northern Luzon, poised for the invasion of Japan. In 1941, General Douglas MacArthur had declared Manila an open city before its capture.[3]Although Yamashita had not done so in 1945, he had not intended to defend Manila; he did not think that he could feed the one million city residents and defend a large area with vast tracts of flammable wooden buildings. Gen. Yamashita had originally ordered the commander of Shimbu Group, Gen. Yokoyama Shizuo, to evacuate the city and destroy all bridges and other vital installations as soon as any large American forces made their appearance. However, Rear Admiral Iwabuchi Sanji was entrusted with the holding of the city, and he was committed to defending it to the last man. Prior to being promoted to admiral, Sanji had commanded the battleship Kirishima in 1942 when it was sunk by a US Navy task force off Guadalcanal. Feeling shamed at having lost a warship, he felt the need to redeem himself and so he ordered his Manila Naval Defense Forces, a motley assembly of sailors, marines and Army troops, into the city. They discovered several good defensive positions, including Intramuros and other nearby buildings. After blowing up every outlying facility of even marginal value, like bridges and footpaths, Iwabuchi had set up minefields, barbed wire, interlocking trenches, and hulks of trucks and trolleys, to create bottlenecks and traps. He then ordered his ragtag troops into the defensive zone. Before the battle began, he issued an address to his men which went: "We are very glad and grateful for the opportunity of being able to serve our country in this epic battle. Now, with what strength remains, we will daringly engage the enemy. Banzai to the Emperor! We are determined to fight to the last man Santo Tomas internees liberated Map of the capture of Manila On 3 February, elements of the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division under Maj. Gen. Verne D. Mudge pushed into the northern outskirts of Manila and seized a vital bridge across the Tullahan River, which separated them from the city proper. A squadron of Brig. Gen. William C. Chase's 8th Cavalry, the first unit to arrive in the city, began a drive towards the sprawling campus of the University of Santo Tomaswhich had been turned into an internment camp for civilians and the US Army and Navy nurses sometimes known as the "Angels of Bataan". Letran College behind the Old Spanish Wall that was pulverized by American shelling during the Battle for Manila, Intramuros, Manila, Philippines, 1945 This is where the Americans shelled the wall to open a quicker way in to the walled city where the Japanese were making their last stand in the city. Since 4 January 1942, a total of thirty-seven months, the university’s main building had been used to hold civilians. Out of 4,255 prisoners, 466 died in captivity, three were killed while attempting to escape on 15 February 1942, and one made a successful breakout in early January 1945. At 21:00, a lead jeep crashed into the main gate, triggering a firefight, and its driver, Capt. Manuel Colayco, a USAFFE guerrilla officer, became the first known Allied casualty of the city's liberation. He and his companion Lt. Diosdado Guytingco guided the American First Cavalry. Both were unarmed. Colayco died seven days later in Legarda Elementary School, which became a field hospital. Simultaneously, a single tank of the 44th Tank Battalion, named "Battlin' Basic," rammed through the university walls, Sgt Austin E. Aulds from Texas, a combat medic was the second US Soldier to enter, while four others entered through the Calle España entrance. American troops and Filipino guerrillas immediately followed and, after a brief skirmish, freed many of the internees. The Japanese, commanded by Lt. Col. Toshio Hayashi, gathered the remaining internees together in the Education Building as hostages, and exchanged pot shots with the Americans and Filipinos. The next day, 4 February, they negotiated with the Americans to allow them to rejoin Japanese troops to the south of the city. The Filipinos and Americans agreed but only allowed them to carry their rifles, pistols and swords. That same day, a patrol from the 37th Infantry Division and 31st Infantry Division came upon more than 1,000 prisoners of war, mostly former defenders of Bataan andCorregidor held at Bilibid Prison, which had been abandoned by the Japanese. On the morning of 5 February, forty-seven Japanese were escorted out of the university to the spot they requested. Each group saluted each other and departed. The Japanese were unaware the area they requested was near the American-occupied Malacañan Palace and soon afterwards were fired upon and several were killed including Hayashi. Later in the afternoon, the survivors returned to the university and were captured. In total, 5,785 prisoners were freed: 3,000 Filipinos, 2,870 Americans, 745 British, 100 Australians, 61 Canadians, 50 Dutch, 25 Poles, 7 French, 2 Egyptians, 2 Spanish, one Swiss, one German, and one Slovak.[citation needed] [edit]Encirclement and massacres Earlier on 4 February, General MacArthur had announced the imminent recapture of the capital while his staff planned a victory parade. But the battle for Manila had barely begun. Almost at once the 1st Cavalry Division in the north and the 11th Airborne Division in the south reported stiffening Japanese resistance to further advances into the city. Following the initial American breakthrough on 4 February, fighting raged throughout the city for almost a month. The battle quickly came down to a series of bitter street-to-street and house-to-house struggles. In the north, General Griswold continued to push elements of the XIV Corps south from Santo Tomas University toward the Pasig River . Late on the afternoon of 4 February, he ordered the 2nd Squadron, 5th Cavalry, to seize Quezon Bridge, the only crossing over the Pasig that the Japanese had not destroyed. As the squadron approached the bridge, Japanese heavy machine guns opened fire from a formidable roadblock thrown up across Quezon Boulevard, forcing the cavalry to stop its advance and withdraw until nightfall. As the Americans and Filipinos pulled back, the Japanese blew up the bridge. On 5 February, the 37th Infantry Division began to move into Manila, and Griswold divided the northern section of the city into two sectors, with the 37th responsible for the western half and the 1st Cavalry Division responsible for the eastern sector. By the afternoon of 8 February, 37th Division units had cleared most of the Japanese from their sector, although the damage done to the residential districts was extensive. The Japanese added to the destruction by demolishing buildings and military installations as they withdrew. The bitterest fighting for Manila—which proved costliest to the 37th—occurred on Provisor Island, a small industrial center on the Pasig River. The Japanese garrison, probably less than a battalion, managed to hold off Beightler's infantrymen until 11 February. Mudge's 1st Cavalry Division had an easier time, encountering little opposition in the suburbs east of Manila. Although the division's 7th and 8th Cavalry Regiments fought pitched battles near two water supply installations north of the city, by 10 February, the cavalrymen had extended their control south of the river. That night, the XIV Corps established for the first time separate bridgeheads on both banks of the Pasig River. The final attack on the outer Japanese defenses came from the 11th Airborne Division, under XIV Corps control since 10 February. The division had been halted at Nichols Field on 4 February and since then had been battling firmly entrenched Japanese naval troops, backed up by heavy fire from concealed artillery. The airfield finally fell to the paratroopers the next day, and the acquisition allowed Maj. Gen. Swing's division to complete the U.S. encirclement of Manila on the night of 12 February. In an attempt to protect the city and its civilians, MacArthur had placed stringent restrictions on U.S. artillery and air support. But massive devastation to the urban area was not avoided. Iwabuchi's sailors, marines and Army reinforcements, having initially successfully resisted American infantrymen armed with flamethrowers, grenades and bazookas, faced direct fire from tanks, tank destroyers, and howitzers, who attacked one building after another and killed the Japanese—and often the trapped civilians—inside, without differentiation.[5] Subjected to incessant pounding and facing certain death or capture, the beleaguered Japanese troops took out their anger and frustration on the civilians caught in the crossfire, committing multiple acts of severe brutality, which later would be known as the Manila Massacre. Violent mutilations, rapes, and massacres on the populace accompanied the battle for control of the city, which lay practically in ruins. General Yamashita was subsequently blamed for the massacres and hanged for war crimes in 1946 even though he had no responsibility for the battle itself. Intramuros devastated M4 Sherman tank at the ruins of the Fort Santiago gate, Intramuros, February 28, 1945 The fighting for Intramuros, where Iwabuchi held around 4,000 civilian hostages, continued from 23 February to 28 February. Already having decimated the Japanese forces by bombing, American forces used artillery to try to root out the Japanese defenders. However, the centuries-old stone ramparts, underground edifices, the Sta. Lucia Barracks, Fort Santiago, and villages within the city walls all provided excellent cover. Less than 3,000 civilians escaped the assault, mostly women and children who were released on 23 February afternoon.[6] Colonel Noguchi's soldiers and sailors killed 1,000 men and women, while the other hostages died during the American shelling.[7] American soldiers of “C” company of the 148th Infantry cautiously move toward the Legislature Building, Manila, Philippines, Feb. 1945 After shelling the Legislature Building and Intramuros with a three day barrage of artillery fire “C” company of the 148th Infantry move toward the Legislature Building in the early morning. Tanks on the right have ceased firing on the build and have moved back. This is probably Taft Ave. but I am not sure. The last pocket of Japanese resistance at the Finance Building, which was already reduced to rubble, was flushed out by heavy artillery on 3 March. Iwabachi was said to have committed seppuku (ritual suicide) on February 25, but his body was never found. Army Historian Robert R. Smith wrote: "Griswold and Beightler were not willing to attempt the assault with infantry alone. Not expressly enjoined from employing artillery, they now planned a massive artillery preparation that would last from 17 to 23 February and would include indirect fire at ranges up to 8,000 yards as well as direct, point-blank fire from ranges as short as 250 yards. They would employ all available corps and division artillery, from 240mm howitzers down. (...) Just how civilian lives could be saved by this type of preparation, as opposed to aerial bombardment, is unknown. The net result would be the same : Intramuros would be practically razed." "That the artillery had almost razed the ancient Walled City could not be helped. To the XIV Corps and the 37th Division at this state of the battle for Manila, American lives were understandably far more valuable than historic landmarks. The destruction stemmed from the American decision to save lives in a battle against Japanese troops who had decided to sacrifice their lives as dearly as possible". Before the fighting ended, MacArthur summoned a provisional assembly of prominent Filipinos toMalacañan Palace and in their presence declared the Commonwealth of the Philippines to be permanently reestablished. "My country kept the faith," he told the gathered assembly. "Your capital city, cruelly punished though it be, has regained its rightful place—citadel of democracy in the East." Aftermath For the rest of the month the Americans and Filipino guerrillas mopped up resistance throughout the city. With Intramuros secured on 4 March, Manila was officially liberated, but large areas of the city had been leveled. The battle left 1,010 U.S. soldiers dead and 5,565 wounded. An estimated 100,000 Filipinos civilians were killed, both deliberately by the Japanese and from artillery and aerial bombardment by the U.S. military force. 16,665 Japanese dead were counted within Intramurosalone.[11] In the month-long battle, the Americans and Japanese inflicted worse destruction on Manila than the German Luftwaffe had exacted upon London,[12] which resulted in the destruction of the city and in a death toll comparable to that of the Tokyo firebombing or the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. [edit]Destruction of the city The battle for Manila was the first and fiercest urban fighting in the entire Pacific War, from the time MacArthur started his leapfrogging campaign from New Guinea in 1942, leading to the invasion of Japan in 1945. Few battles in the closing months of World War II exceeded the destruction and the brutality of the massacres and savagery of the fighting in Manila. A steel flagpole stands at the entrance to the old U.S. Embassy building in Intramuros, which was pockmarked by numerous bullet and shrapnel hits, and still stands today, a testament to the intense, bitter fighting for the walled city. In this category, Manila joined Stalingrad as being the host to some of the fiercest urban fighting during the war. Filipinos lost an irreplaceable cultural and historical treasure in the resulting carnage and devastation of Manila, remembered today as a national tragedy. Countless government buildings, universities and colleges, convents, monasteries and churches, and their accompanying treasures dating to the founding of the city, were ruined. The cultural patrimony (including art, literature, and especially architecture) of the Orient's first truly international melting pot - the confluence of Spanish, American and Asian cultures - was eviscerated. Manila, once touted as the "Pearl of the Orient" and famed as a living monument to the meeting of Asian and European cultures, was virtually wiped out. Most of the buildings damaged during the war were demolished in the name of "Progress" after the Liberation, as part of rebuilding Manila, replacing European style architecture during the Spanish and early American era with modern American style architecture. Only a few old buildings remain intact. American soldiers of “F” company, 145th Infantry in front of the Post office, Manila, Philippines, Feb. 1945 The final assault of Manila’s last Japanese stronghold of Intramuros was delivered from the steps of Manila’s Post Office building on the banks of the Pasig River. They proceeded through an opening that was blasted through the old 20-foot thick walls of Intramuros by repeated heavy gun shelling. American heavy guns and tanks inflicted the damage to the Post Office Building from the southern wall of Intramuros. Filipino citizens that were lined up against a wall and killed by the Japanese, Ermita, Manila, Philippines, Feb. 1945 Filipino civilians were hiding in the basement of a nearby building in Ermita. The Japanese found them and told them they should come with them for protection from the advancing Americans. Instead they were taken to this stone wall and shot by the Japanese. One lived to tell of what happened. Here a Filipino resident of the district tries to identify the bodies. After the Battle for Manila a dead Japanese officer was found to have written orders to eliminate all non-Japanese. Innocent Filipino civilian citizens running from the horrors of war, Manila, Philippines, Feb. 1945 During the battle for Manila innocent civilian citizens running from the horrors of war and hidden Japanese snipers that were shooting at anyone that wasn't Japanese that came into their gun sights. Those of us that have never gone through these horrors have no idea of what it could have been like. Seeing their friends and family members, their children and parents brutality murdered in horrific ways and numbers. I feel so sad and I have wonderment how so many were able to go on with any semblance of a happy life. The Battle for Manila from February 3 to March 3 1945, fought by U.S. and Japanese forces, was part of the Philippines' 1945 campaign. The one-month battle which culminated in a terrible bloodbath and total devastation of the city was the scene of the worst urban fighting in the Pacific theater, ended almost three years, 1942-1945 of Japanese military occupation in the Philippines. The city's capture was marked as General Douglas MacArthur's key to victory in the campaign of reconquest. The battle for Manila was the first and fiercest urban fighting in the entire Pacific War, from the time MacArthur started his leapfrogging campaign from New Guinea in 1942, leading to the invasion of Japan in 1945. Few battles in the closing months of World War II exceeded the destruction and the brutality of the massacres and savagery of the fighting in Manila. A steel flagpole at the entrance to the old U.S. Embassy building in Intramuros, which was pockmarked by numerous bullet and shrapnel hits, and still stands today, a testament to the intense, bitter fighting for the walled city. In this category, Manila joined the company of Warsaw as the most devastated cities of World War II, as well as being the host to some of the fiercest urban fighting since Stalingrad.... Filipinos lost an irreplaceable cultural and historical treasure in the resulting carnage and devastation of Manila, remembered today as a national tragedy. Countless government buildings, universities and colleges, convents, monasteries and churches, and their accompanying treasures dating to the founding of the city, were decimated. The cultural patrimony (including art, literature, and especially architecture) of the Orient's first truly international melting pot - the confluence of Spanish, American and Asian culture - was eviscerated. Manila, once touted as the "Pearl of the Orient" and famed as a living monument to the meeting of American,Asian and European cultures, was virtually wiped out....... The Worst Kind of Tragedy in The Philippines' History!!!!.... Liberated prisoners of Los Banos interment camp at Laguna de Bay, Feb. 1945 Here the liberated prisoners of Los Banos interment camp disembark from an American Amtrack after being taken to safety by way of the Amtrack across Laguna de Bay, Feb. 1945 Filipino Blue Eagle Guerrillas give directions to American servicemen, March 1945 .The groups of guerrillas in the Philippines have been contributing invaluable aid to our fighting forces, such a roaming the streets looking for snipers and for Japs who have switched into civilian clothes. One of their prime functions is to give directions and warn our men of mine fields that the Japs has sown over almost every major thoroughfare in Manila. Here, a group of the famed Blue Eagle Guerrillas is stopped by one of our tanks for spot of directions. Note the variance of armament and the contrast of their midget Jap-automobile to the huge Sherman tank. +13 1945: American troops carrying their dead and wounded during a battle to liberate the Philippines from the Japanese during World War II +13 Destruction: The U.S. liberated the Philippine capital from the Japanese, but not before Manila was destroyed and more than 100,000 civilians killed He called the city 'one of the worst battlefields in the world.' When the Japanese invaded the Philippines, then an American colony, in 1941, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, commander of the U.S. forces there, declared Manila an 'open city' to spare it from destruction. But when the Americans returned, the Japanese decided to fight to the last man, from building to building, and burned entire city blocks. Civilians died from malnutrition and American shelling, but mostly, historians agree, at the hands of Japanese troops. Four survivors shared their stories with The Associated Press. Roderick Hall was 9 when the Japanese occupied Manila. The British boy and his family lived in a home in the Malate district, though his father was interned with thousands of foreigners at the University of Santo Tomas. In late January 1945, before American forces closed in on the capital, the Japanese barged into the family home, searched every room and found what the raiders claimed was an illegal radio transmitter. Hall, now a business investor, said it was just a short-wave radio the family listened to for news outside Manila. +13 War: American artillery crews firing on Japanese positions from the grounds of the recently liberated Santo Tomas University during the Battle for Manila. ended the three-year Japanese military occupation in the Philippines +13 Fire: American artillery crews of 1st Cavalry Division firing on Japanese positions from the grounds of the recently liberated Santo Tomas University during the Battle for Manila +13 Winners: Soldiers takiw a breather after their victory of taking a building during the battle for Manila, liberation of the Philippines, during WWII +13 On guard: American troops during the battle of Manila. The fighting took place from February 3 to March 3, 1945 All members of the household - including Hall and his brother, his mother, his grandmother, an uncle, and aunt and the family's helpers - were brought to Manila's Masonic Temple. Hall, then 12, and his brother and the house helpers were later released. They were allowed to bring food to their mother and the others for several days. Then the Japanese stopped the visits. About 200 people were massacred at the temple, but Hall learned only recently from a war document that his mother was listed among dozens executed at Fort Santiago, a centuries-old Spanish garrison used by occupation troops to torture and kill suspected guerrillas. For a while, Hall had hoped that his mother somehow escaped and was safe with the guerrillas. 'About two years later, I was away in school. My father wrote and said, `I am going to marry again.' And that's when I started to cry and broke down and had to admit to myself that this hope that my mother was alive somewhere was no longer the case.' For someone who was 4 when the Japanese began bombing raids on Manila in December 1941, Juan 'Johnny' Rocha remembers a lot from the war. Perhaps because, when those first bombs were falling, he was being rushed for an appendectomy - not in the operating room, but to the hospital basement, where it was safer. +13 Looking back: Roderick Hall gestures during an interview as he attends a commemorative event for the 70th year of the Battle for Manila at the Ayala Museum in suburban Makati, south of Manila, Philippines. Hall was 9 when the Japanese occupied Manila +13 Remembering: In late January 1945, before American forces closed in on the capital, the Japanese barged into the family home of Rorderick Hall, searched every room and found what the raiders claimed was an illegal radio transmitter. Hall, now a business investor, said it was just a short-wave radio the family listened to for news outside Manila Rocha, who later would become the Philippine ambassador to Spain, once saw a man hanging dead from a telephone pole, with a sign that said he was a thief. He remembers his family using huge wads of devalued Japanese wartime currency to buy basic commodities, and privately singing 'God Bless America,' and 'I Love My Own, My Native Land' at home. 'The most remarkable thing was whenever we passed in front of a Japanese sentry we had to all bow, and if we didn't bow, he would slap us or kick us or whatever,' he said. As fighting in Manila intensified, his family decided to flee, but tragedy struck before they could. When a shell landed on a neighbor's house, shrapnel cut through an adobe wall and sliced off the top of his mother's head, killing her. Rocha's father lost 13 relatives when the Japanese herded them inside the German Club with hundreds of others, then torched them all alive, Rocha said. Rocha saw Japanese soldiers shoot a man because he didn't raise his hands, and a woman screaming as she was bayoneted against a tree. 'Christians are taught to forgive, but we are never taught to forget. We cannot forget,' he said. 'All we need is that they recognize what they did and apologize.' +13 Tribute: Joan Bennett Chapman, left, a Philippine-born American, sits beside her daughter Melanie as they attend a movie premier in Manila, Philippines. Chapman remembers being so deprived at the Santo Tomas prison camp that powdered milk was a special treat. When her mother was able to give her a spoonful, she would nibble on it on the steps of the large staircase in the main building +13 Museum: visitor looks at photos at a commemorative event for the 70th year of the Battle for Manila at the Ayala Museum in suburban Makati, south of Manila, Philippines. Seventy years have not dulled the memories of survivors of the month-long Battle of Manila +13 Looking back: A visitor looks at an exhibit at a commemorative event for the 70th year of the Battle for Manila at the Ayala Museum. The mass killings by Japanese forces, the loved ones lost and the desperation are etched in their minds Joan Bennett Chapman, a Philippine-born American, remembers being so deprived at the Santo Tomas prison camp that powdered milk was a special treat. When her mother was able to give her a spoonful, she would nibble on it on the steps of the large staircase in the main building. Chapman's father, Roy Bennett, was the first editor-in-chief of the pre-war Manila Daily Bulletin. He was tortured by the Japanese before he and his family were interned. Chapman, an 80-year-old former lawyer, said internees looked like 'walking skeletons' and starvation deaths were routine. When American tanks crashed through the university gates on Feb. 3, 1945, she heard 'people being hysterically happy.' 'The soldiers were out throwing candy bars down to the people, and the people who were starving were scrambling for them. It was the happiest kind of chaos you can imagine,' she said. The Japanese camp commandant refused to surrender and was shot as he tried to reach for what was believed to be a grenade in his backpack, she said. His body was dragged to the main building, where some internees spat and urinated on it, she said. Chapman wanted to spit on the body, too. Her father, who was abused by the occupiers for years and would be tormented by the war for the rest of his life, forbade it. James Litton, then 11, heard thunderous explosions the day after the Americans reached Manila. The Japanese were blowing up bridges to keep U.S. troops from advancing. +13 Survivor:James Litton gestures during an interview in Manila, Philippines. Litton, then 11, heard thunderous explosions the day after the Americans reached Manila. The Japanese were blowing up bridges to keep U.S. troops from advancing. Days later, the Japanese began burning houses in the Malate district, where his family lived. Littonís house was made of concrete, so it became an emergency shelter for about 120 homeless neighbors Days later, the Japanese began burning houses in the Malate district, where his family lived. Litton's four-story home was made of concrete, so it became an emergency shelter for about 120 homeless neighbors. Then the Japanese ordered everyone to leave. As civilians hurried toward the nearby Philippine General Hospital for shelter, a 15-year-old girl stepped on a Japanese land mine. 'After the dust had settled, all I could see was a torso, legless, without the left arm. She was moaning still but her blood was coagulating with dust,' he said. His mother lay unconscious nearby and his brother was wounded in the face. A cousin carried his mother and they ran toward the hospital. Japanese snipers were targeting people entering the main gate, so they climbed over a fence. Finally, on Feb. 17, Americans reached the area. 'I was just filled with happiness. My chest was bursting with joy realizing that we had survived. We're alive! We're alive!' said Litton, now 81. As they moved out of the hospital, he saw the body of a Japanese soldier lying on the street. 'What I can't forget is when we were walking, an elderly man got an adobe stone and with all his might threw it at this dead Japanese,' and cursed, he said. Later, as a textile businessman, Litton often visited Japan. 'I never met a more hospitable, a more cultured, a more accommodating people,' he said. 'How could a people like this have produced an army as barbaric as the one that came here and Nanking? ... Nobody has yet explained that to me.'

A REFLECTION OF MIT ChE Class 66

God bless our alumni association In this our chosen Nation, Let it blossom forth in harmony and peace; From east to west establish the brotherhood and friendship, That all strife and loneliness may cease. In the busy offices and streets of cities, In the mountains and quiet fields of farms, Raise each other's mind to greater vision, Shield my classmates' life from that which harms. We give thanks for precious friends and alliance; Help us cherish them as we should; May we give ourselves in service to each other for your praise and other's good..... ASC.... Posted by ASC at 6:37 PM 1 comments Links to this post ASC... Do not wait for tomorrow, pick today the flowers of life, because for everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to weep, a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance. Special Mention   Jose Catibog, ChE66 Roberto Castro, ChE64 Dr. Renato Dimayuga, ChE66 Resty Mandap, ChE65 Cesar Frias, ChE70 Florencio Guinhawa, ChE68 Elizabeth Guinhawa, ChE68 Evelina Adlawan, Chm67 Willie Dimalanta, ChE65 Mitz de Hitta, ChE65 Cesar Jaranilla, ChE55 Angel Nieva, ChE65 Reynaldo Sequera, ChE66

Warlito "Warlock" Boquiren, ChE66


Ildefonso Algara Yap

Irene Dacumos Meneses




Me Me Lim Wong

Erlinda Lat Ubeda

Sheila Tempongko Obedoza
mountain view of the tirad pass



Oscar Vallejo Santos



Filemon del Rosario Villena



























Rolando Munzon Yulo (deceased)

Alfredo Catapia Toreja (deceased)

Cecilia Ilagan Salazar



ALFONSO LUIS TIU

MARSHALL BONGHIONG TAN




Josefino Sayas Dakita (Deceased)


Ramon Jugado Valencia

Estrella Cruz Tuazon

Juliana Ching Tan Siu Eng




Nennet Mirasol Voloso

Eulogio Alvarez Topacio, Jr.


Roberto Enriquez Sta. Ines

Eugenio Valle Salacnib




Rene Zapanta Rivera

Reynaldo Yapchiongco Santos

Reynaldo Sy Timonera

Theodore Juan Marquez Unite




Soledad Legaspi Payuran

Nelia Fernandez Ocampo (deceased)

Linaflor Gigante Morales

Jesus Catubig Bustria




Romulo Samonte Reyes

Pedro Francisco Palermo

Romeo Espiritu Olalia

Oliver Viray Masil (deceased)
Cesario Cruz Ramos

Catalina Capistrano Pabello

Gregorio Verano Nidoy, Jr.

Romeo Tandico Maurera
 



Eduardo Serrano Reyes
Gregorio L. Manalo


Luis Cuna Mendoza
 



Carminia Ang Reyes Banares

Amelia Patricia Pareja

Solomon Mendoza Martinez

Malaya Esperanza Matic

 



Rodolfo Bautista Jose

Lorna Vergara Macabalitaw Jereza

Adelaida Mago Sanchez

Josefina Sagrit Gutierrez
 




Thelma Loreto Goetz

Oscar M. Holgado

Roasalina Derige Corbett

Emmanuel Morales Celis (deceased)
 



Alberto Toribio Francia

Pablo Lualhati Gravador

Evelyn Mendioro Gorospe

Teresita Ordonez Gardon
Hernando de Vera Cruz


Lourdes Nocon de los Reyes

Marcelino Figueroa Dijamco, Jr.

Alicia Villavicencio Carnero

Ricardo Muldong Dimalanta
 



Amor Maguyon Balbon

Rodrigo Dulog Cajulis (deceased)

Leticia Mejia Carriedo Mantell (deceased)

Celso Sarmiento Chua


Linda Lusing Bandong

Antonio Laygo Alialy

Clarita Aragones Albertson

Pablito Alcanar Apostol

Jeremias Cordero Ada

Miguel Lawas Bernardino

Minda Corpuz Vinluan




Vicente Bernales Abratigue

Jaime Macapagal Alcantara

Jesus Catubig Bustria

Leonila Pingol Matulac



Regina Bermudez Cruz


Lilia Antonio

Rodolfo Cruz Banares

Leopoldo D. Calimbas

Tagumpay Mendoza de Leon




Edgardo Zarris Antonio


Ofelia Pada




Orlando Ozayta Castillo

Benjamin Ruanto Asis
Cipriano Contreras Buendia
ASC





Around this world I have some friends,
In this great planet that has no end,
Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
And before I know it, a year is gone.
And never see some old friends' face,
For life is a swift and terrible race,
They know I care for them just as well,
As in the days when I rang their bells.
And they rang mine but we were younger then,
And now we are busy, tired old men.
Tired of playing a foolish game,
Tired of trying to make a name.
Tomorrow" I say! "I will call on them
Just to show that I'm thinking of them.
But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,
And distance between us grows and grows.
Around this world, miles and miles away,
"Here's a telegram sir, One of them died today."
And that's what we get and deserve in the end.
Around this world, a vanished friend.
Remember to always say what you mean.
If you care for everyone, tell it to them.
Don't be afraid to express yourself.
Reach out and tell what they mean to you
because when you decide that it is the time
it might be too late. Seize the day.
Never have regrets. And importantly,
stay close to your friends and family,
for they have helped make you the person that you are today.

When the society was discovered on Aug. 19, 1896, it had about 10,000 members. On August 23 Bonifacio and his followers assembled at Balintawak and agreed to begin the armed struggle. Two days later the first skirmish took place and a reign of terror by the Spaniards soon followed. Conflict split the rebels into the two groups of Magdiwang and Magdalo in Cavite, on Luzon. Bonifacio was invited to mediate, only to be rebuffed by the clannish middle class of Cavite. Judging Bonifacio's plans as divisive and harmful to unity, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, the elected president of the provisional revolutionary government, ordered the arrest, trial, and execution for "treason and sedition" of Bonifacio and his brothers. On May 10, 1897, Bonifacio was executed.

Peering eastward at the crack of dawn, to witness the precise moment when night turns to day, that's an experience few twilight photographers ever get enough of. Well it happened just like that, but wait, I am running ahead of my story.
My buddy Tim had suggested this gem of a place, just past Tagaytay City where the view is fantastic: an expansive landscape at sunrise with scenic Taal Lake in the foreground. Unfortunately for us, the cold October wind blew in an impenetrable wall of fog so thick we can't see 50 feet past our nose. Our plan was shot. We had our picture taken before we quit. It was pathetic.
On the road back to Tagaytay City, luck smiled on us as we drove above the fog line just in time to witness the sun's grand entrance. It was a magical moment.

A FINE FILIPINO TACTICIAN, WINNER OF BATTLES AGAINST SPANISH AND AMERICAN TROOPS, WHO DIED GALLANTLY IN THE BATTLE OF TIRAD PASS KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE THERMOPYLAE

Blog Archive May (3) April (4) March (4) February (4) January (5) December (5) November (5) October (4) September (4) August (5) July (4) June (4) May (5) April (4) March (4) February (5) January (4) December (4) November (5) October (4) September (1) May (5) April (4) March (5) February (5) January (5) December (7) November (2)

This was our very first sunrise on the shores of Baler, a town on the coast of Aurora province facing the Pacific Ocean. We expected a ruggedly wild coastline and were not disappointed: outcrops rising from the shallows amidst relentlessly pounding waves. We had been up since 4am and it was pitch dark when we got there. As the sky lightened up, there was too much cloud on the horizon to allow a dramatic entrance of the sun. I needed a way to multiply the light in the sky. And fast. Further down the beach I stumbled onto a shallow body of very still water, separated from the surf by a mound of sand. Still water reflects... now to find a spot to plant my tripod that would put this body of water between me and the rising sun... The sun rose slowly, even teasingly, as the dawn wore on. The thick clouds held back the dawn's fury but allowed its "fingers of light" to paint the morning sky. Coupled with the mirror-like foreground of the pond, it made waking up early that morning worthwhile.

 

We were on the way to Baler Aurora and taking the more difficult route through the Sierra Madre Mountains. The view along the way was worth the arduous drive. It was early morning still. Just as we headed east towards the mountains, a wall of fog descended from nowhere. Suddenly we were all alone, with nary a wind, in a landscape shrouded all in white, just as the morning sun had began to rise from somewhere behind it. Looking out onto the fields, we spotted several trees, isolated from its background by the thick fog. The moment was magical, and if there was ever a golden moment, I thought this was it.

18 AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 12: A surfer makes good use of the waves during the Day of Giants Surfboat race regatta at Piha beach on February 12, 2011 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images) #

20

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 12: Beau Foster of Australia competes in the Open Trials during the Boost Mobile Surfsho at Bondi Beach on March 12, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) #

21

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Owen Wright of Australia competes in the final of the Boost Mobile Surfsho at Bondi Beach on March 13, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) #

22

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Jack Freestone of Australia competes in the heats of the Boost Mobile Surfsho at Bondi Beach on March 13, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) #

23 This photo taken on February 7, 2011 shows surf boards piled up at the Ha'atafu Beach Resort on Tongatapu in Tonga. There are no signs pointing the way to Tonga's oldest surf resort, only a palm-fringed road riddled with potholes that presents many blind turns for the unwary traveller. (NEIL SANDS/AFP/Getty Images) #

24 SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 01: A bodyboarder rides a wave at Mackenzies Bay on May 1, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) #

25 SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 01: A surfer rides a wave at Mackenzies Bay on May 1, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) #

26 A surfer sits on a surfboard during the Malibu Longboard Invitational of the Ocean Festival Series in Malibu, California in July of 1997. Harry How/Allsport #

27 HOSSEGOR, FRANCE - OCTOBER 5: Kelly Slater of the USA in action during his victory over Paul Canning of South Africa at the Quiksilver Pro at Hossegor, France on October 5, 2002. Slater advances to the quater finals where he takes on Australian surfer Luke Hitchings. (Photo by Grant Ellis/Getty Images) #

28 A surfer carves the wave at the Jaws Tow-In World Cup in Pe'' Ahi, Maui, Hawaii in January of 2002. Donald Miralle/Getty Images #

Megan Abubo of the USA on her way to victory over Melanie Redman of Australia in the final during the Roxy Fiji Surf Jam at Cloudbreak, Tavarua, Fiji in May of 2001. Allsport Australia/ALLSPORT # We were in Busuanga, Palawan, on a banca speeding towards Cayangan Lake on the island of Coron. Half an hour later found us in a lagoon at the foot of an imposing wall of limestone. Up a steep flight of steps, we eventually huffed-and-puffed our way to a look-out point with an expansive view of the islands. Then it's down a jagged trail until we descend onto the shores of an emerald-colored sea. Nice, very nice. And the brackish seawater? It's less than salty because of an an active underwater freshwater spring. Cayangan is, after all, a sea lake completely enclosed by limestone cliffs. Along the water's edge, there's a faint echo that gently envelopes you, like whispering waves inside a seashell. And the water? The color is alive... my photographs fail... this place is enchanted... put it on your bucket list

#

62 HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA - JULY 26: Kelly Slater surfs during the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing on July 26, 2009 in Huntington Beach, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) #

 

63 WAIMEA, HAWAII - DECEMBER 8: Surfers paddle out during pre-contest surf before the 2009 Eddie Aikau Big-Wave Invitational on December 8, 2009 in Waimea, Hawaii. The rare contest, which attracts big wave surfers from around the world, is held in memory of Hawaiian surf and lifeguard legend Eddie Aikau only when the waves are over 40 feet. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) #

 

64 WAIMEA, HAWAII - DECEMBER 8: A large crowd lines up along Kamehameha Highway looking into Waimea Bay to watch the 2009 Eddie Aikau Big-Wave Invitational on December 8, 2009 in Waimea, Hawaii. The rare contest, which attracts big wave surfers from around the world, is held in memory of Hawaiian surf and lifeguard legend Eddie Aikau only when the waves are over 40 feet. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) #

65 Sunbathers enjoy the sunset from Camps Bay in Cape Town on December 3, 2009. (STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP/Getty Images) #

66 KAPALUA, HI - JANUARY 5: A Surfer duck dives under a wave above the reef at Windmills during large storm surf in Hawaii on January 5, 2005 in Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) #

67 A surfer watches the waves at Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach on April 9, 2010. The unusual roughness in Guanabara Bay and the high level of the water, was, according to experts, caused by the same climate phenomenon that originated the heaviest rains in half a century that unleashed the floods and mudslides which killed an estimate of 380 people in the state of Rio de Janeiro. (ANTONIO SCORZA/AFP/Getty Images) #

68 A water spout (tornado) hits the sea behind a surfer on Sydney's Bondi Beach on May 17, 2010. A rare sight in Australia, the water spout lasted around five minutes and expired before landfall. (James Alcock/AFP/Getty ) We were in Busuanga, Palawan, on a banca speeding towards Cayangan Lake on the island of Coron. Half an hour later found us in a lagoon at the foot of an imposing wall of limestone. Up a steep flight of steps, we eventually huffed-and-puffed our way to a look-out point with an expansive view of the islands. Then it's down a jagged trail until we descend onto the shores of an emerald-colored sea. Nice, very nice. And the brackish seawater? It's less than salty because of an an active underwater freshwater spring.

Cayangan is, after all, a sea lake completely enclosed by limestone cliffs. Along the water's edge, there's a faint echo that gently envelopes you, like whispering waves inside a seashell. And the water? The color is alive... my photographs fail... this place is enchanted... put it on your bucket list .

29

 

31 A surfer rides a wave in South Africa in April of 1997. Mike Hewitt /Allsport

32 SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 17: A surfer catches a wave under the Golden Gate Bridge in Fort Point, San Francisco on November 17, 2002. Surfers congregate daily to surf at Fort Point and battle the harsh and dangerous conditions. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images) #

33 HALEIWA BEACH, HAWAII - NOVEMBER 20: Ross Williams of Hawaii, USA, wipes out in his round of 64 heat during The Vans Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa Beach in Hawaii, USA on November 20, 2002. (Photo by Grant Ellis/Tostee/Getty Images) #

 

34 General view of the action during the 1999 Rip Curl Pro Surfing Championships from Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia. Jack Atley /Allsport #

35 SUNSET BEACH, HAWAII - NOVEMBER 25: Sunny Garcia of Hawaii, USA, in action, advanced to round three of the Rip Curl Cup at Sunset Beach, Oahu, Hawaii, USA on November 25, 2002. (Photo by Pierre Tostee/Getty Images) #

36

HONOLUA BAY, HAWAII - DECEMBER 15: 2002 World Qualifying Series champion Pauline Menczer of Australia in action, clinched her best World Championship Tour result this year when she finished runner up in the Billabong Pro at Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii on December 15, 2002. (Photo by Pierre Tostee/Getty Images) #

 

37 TAHITI, FRENCH POLYNESIA - APRIL 30: Bruce Irons of Hawaii, USA, rides the tube at the Air TahitiNui VZ Trials April 30, 2003 at Teahupoo, Tahiti, French Polynesia. (Photo by Steve Robertson/Getty Images) #

 

38 General view of surfers in action in Malibu, California, December 1993. Getty Images #

39 NEWQUAY, ENGLAND - AUGUST 08: New Zealander surfer Jay Quinn, runner-up of the Association of Surfing Professionals Relentless Boardmasters 5 Star Event competes in the final heaton Fistral beach on August 8, 2010 in Newquay, England. Said to be the UK home of surfing, Newquay in Cornwall was playing host to the annual 5-day surf and music festival which attracts some of the world's best surfers to the competition and the 120,000USD prize money. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) #

40

General view of a surfer looking out at the waves in Malibu, California in December 1993. Getty Images #

41

A surfer walks the shore with his surfboard at Bonzai Pipeline in North Shore, Hawaii in April of 1997. Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport #

42

General view of a surfer in action at Ho''Okipa Beach in Maui, Hawaii in November of 1998. Getty Images #

43

MANLY, AUSTRALIA: Surfers swim as big surf crashes in tubes onto Manly Beach on the northern beaches of Sydney 30 June 2002. The huge ocean swell had hardened Australian pro-surfers calling the waves "scary". Former professional surfer Glen Rawlings described the conditions as similar to Hawaii. "It's absolutely going off," he said. (JEAN-PIERRE MULLER/AFP/Getty Images) #

44

OAHU, UNITED STATES: Kelly Slater of the US competes at the Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, during the Xbox Pipeline Masters 17 December 2002. (PIERRE TOSTEE/AFP/Getty Images) #

45

PIPELINE, HI - DECEMBER 8: Derek Ho of Hawaii competes in the Rip Curl Pipe Masters as fans watch from the shore on December 8, 2004 at Pipeline of the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. (Photo by Pierre Tostee/APS via Getty Images) #

46

WAIMEA BAY, HI - DECEMBER 15: A surfer rides down the face of a wave at Waimea Bay December 15, 2004 in Oahu, Hawaii. (Photo by Marco Garcia/Getty Images) #

47

KAPALUA, HI - JANUARY 5: A surfer duck dives a wave at Windmills during large storm surf in Hawaii January 5, 2005 in Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) #

48

KAPALUA, HI - JANUARY 5: Surfers take off on a wave at Windmills during large storm surf in Hawaii on January 5, 2005 in Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) #

49

CARDIFF-BY-THE-SEA, CA - JUNE 23: A surfer enjoys the waves as the sun sets through low clouds on June 23, 2005 at Cardiff State Beach in Cardiff-By-The-Sea, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) #

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/117885510962336908702/MITCheChm66Homecoming?authkey=Gv1sRgCKXJ1NeOkcrI5AE#

Jan 2011: Reunion at Subic Bay. The winter gathering of class '66 throws shadows around us, it is the late afternoon For some of us. There is still enough light to see all the way back, but our eyesight that light is wasting away. Soon we will be nothing but silhouettes in the dark as harsh as our fathers'. Soon the engineers will take off their shingles as trees take off their leaves for winter…ASC Distinguished himself by intrepid and determined leadership against greatly superior enemy forces. At the repeated risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in his position, he frequented the firing line of his troops where his presence provided the example and incentive that helped make the gallant efforts of these men possible. The final stand on beleaguered Corregidor, for which he was in an important measure personally responsible, commanded the admiration of the Nation's allies. It reflected the high morale of American arms in the face of overwhelming odds. His courage and resolution were a vitally needed inspiration to the then sorely pressed freedom-loving peoples of the world.

"Corregidor Island, like Bataan, is a symbol of courage against overwhelming odds. The army of the USAFFE fought on. The messages recieved said there are miles and miles of ships coming with reinforcement.  When they found out no reinforcement is coming, they called themselves The Fighting Bastards of Bataan and Corregidor. No momma, no papa, no Uncle Sam. In the recollection of 19-year-old Pvt. Gaudencio Aronce, when food and ammunition became scarce, rations were down to a bowl of soupy rice each morning and five rounds of ammunition. My tour of Corregidor was a visit to the past. I felt I was with the soldiers in peace time before and during the dark days of WWII. I felt tears will roll down my cheeks." Corregidor Island, Philippines - Jan 22, 2011 by Rene Rivera View Album Play slideshow

http://picasaweb.google.com/117885510962336908702/MITCheChm66GloriaMaris?authkey=Gv1sRgCPqC39KQhJyrMQ&feat=directlink#

Reunion Observations: Life in the Philippines 2011 On my way to the hotel around midnight on Jan. 19, along the way I can tell in the dark the buildings look dingy. I asked myself why they look that way. In America buildings do not look dingy over time. The presence of cars and trucks can not be the sole cause I said. In Manhattan more cars ran on the streets from the 1950's until today. The next morning I looked out the window from the 26th floor at what I thought is fog. As it got thicker I realized it is smog, so thick I can not see the streets below. Going around the next few days, buildings look dirty and run-down. Not a pleasant sight. I can see hardship all around. I wondered how people make ends meet. Monday afternoon came, that is when Mapuans literally took over the Astoria Plaza Hotel. The din in the lobby and restaurant was an indicator attending the reunion was a good decision. On Tuesday the following week, Ismael, Arceli, her brother Ray, and I went on a walking tour of the Manila familiar to us  when we were in school. The area starting from FEU, UE, PSBA, Recto Ave., MIT Doroteo Jose, Rizal Ave. theater district, Raon St. record shops, Quezon Blvd, Carriedo St., Ongpin St., Quiapo and Santa Cruz churches where female classmates prayed for divine interventions in their love life. All of these places look dirty, run-down, and congested with people who appear to constantly move around even if they do not want to. That is my impression. Street vendors selling food from carts in front of restaurants give a picture life must be difficult. Raon, Rizal Ave., Carriedo are also congested with sidewalk and street vendors. On Recto Ave. the second-hand bookstores are still there, with competition from street vendors. Here there are services for diplomas, ID's, medals, etc., if you understand what I mean. Perhaps, including transcripts of record. Ongpin looks orderly compared to the other places. Having lunch at President Restaurant was a welcome respite from the sight I consider a human tragedy. That evening I went to my cousin Nenette's home for dinner with Pol, Bing Eugenio, Rudy Jose, Ismael, Arceli, Ray, Andy and Thelma Goetz. Finally, after nearly 41 years I got to see Erleen, Nenette's sister. Intramuros, restored, looks much better than in our time when a shanty town was behind our school. Back then leaving the campus in the evening means walking fast and looking over your shoulder often. It was nice to see San Agustin church. Casa Manila is an example of how the affluent lived during the Spanish colonial time. Luneta Park for sure can use a lot more trees. How in the world the architects designed a park with more concrete than trees in a tropical country? Moonbay Marina Resort in Subic Bay is nice. Located next to the bay, ocean breeze makes the day pleasant. Here I saw what I consider exploitation of workers. Students from a hospitality school work at the resort for a semester without compensation. They are provided with meals during their shifts. They are responsible for other expenses like lodging. They get a certificate from the resort saying they worked at the place. So the business makes money from free labor. Then on to Zamboanga, a city I knew only from pages of books and newspapers. In our group were Pol, Rudy Jose, Ismael, Arceli, and I. We went to see the family of our late classmate and brother Jose Lladones. Here we stuck to seafood. Hai Sin restaurant, nothing fancy, is worth the trip. We bought about 10 lbs. of fish, prawns, and squids and had them cooked. The bill for a group of nine including beer was about $80. A bargain for us from the States. That evening, Pol, Rudy, and I went back for dinner in an air-conditioned tricycle found only in Zamboanga City. All the while I was aware of the poverty around us. Back in Manila, at my brother-in-law's home in Malabon we watched the congressional investigation on the corruption in the Philippine army. What else is new? It only got worse. Before dawn the next day on the way to the airport we passed through Navotas and Tondo. This time in the dark I saw poverty and squalor for miles. Then like flipping a coin we were on Roxas Blvd. in the tourist district. Rene

You are invited to view Rudy's photo album: 2011_01_29 MIT Reunion Subic Bay   2011_01_29 MIT Reunion Subic Bay Jan 28, 2011 by Rudy View Album Play slideshow You are invited to view Rudy's photo album: 2011_01_28 Subic Bay Dinner Celebration 2011_01_28 Subic Bay Dinner Celebration Jan 28, 2011 by Rudy View Album Play slideshow   You are invited to view Rudy's photo album: 2011_01_26 Sonia Mendoza's Reception Dinner   2011_01_26 Sonia Mendoza's Reception Dinner Jan 26, 2011 by Rudy View Album Play slideshow You are invited to view Rudy's photo album: Dinner at Gloria Maris Dinner at Gloria Maris Jan 24, 2011 by Rudy View Album Play slideshow Jan 25, 2011 by Rudy View Album Play slideshow   You are invited to view Rudy's photo album: 2011_01_25 Manila and MIT Tour 2011_01_25 Manila and MIT Tour   You are invited to view Rudy's photo album: Palawan PICS Palawan PICS Jan 22, 2011 by Rudy View Album Play slideshow Contribute photos to this album Jan 23, 2011 by Rudy     Cherry Jose - a distant relative from Palawan View Album Play slideshow You are invited to view Rudy's photo album: Palawans Mayor Hagedorn's Dinner Palawans Mayor Hagedorn's Dinner The seafood in Hai San is one of the best meal I ever had- for both lunch and dinner! The food was very fresh rendering a slight sweetness to the meat. And the preparation is quite simple with any sauce on the side. Just to salivate the reader, let me enumerate what we ate in three occasions:      giant squid cooked calamari style      lapulapu head and tail sinigang and body deep fried      lapulapu twisted and deep fried      grilled tuna belly      dozen of huge prawns fried skins and tempura style      several chili crabs (we skipped the la cucuracha crabs e.g. looks like horseshoe crab)      cooked vegetables with bagoong in coconut milk      pansit      mangoes with salted eggs and with bagoong      uncountable bottles of San Miguel beer     And the price is cheap! A dinner for nine people cost about $80. ..Pol And we went back at 9:00PM that evening; Pol, Rudy, and I. It was still a bargain-basement price, with beer!…Rene ……………………………………. Welcome back, and enough time have lapsed to give you a rest. To the guys in the Midwest and the East coast, it is time to get the snow off the roof before it caves in,  and another storm blows in. To the rest of the Class of MIT ChE'm 1966, even though, I was not there, my spirit was with you.  I salute the 45th reunion in the memorable embrace of that special classmates during those celebrations. You had the time of your life!…. ASC    Early 1960: Intramuros to your left,  Post Office in distance, Manila City Hall on the right.  Remember this intersection where we catch our jeepney ride to our residences.  For some, it was a focal point for couples to meet after class on their way to somewhere…ASC Below with the family of Lladones in Zamboanga.

The morning after my arrival in Manila on Jan. 19, I looked out the window of Astoria Plaza from the 26th floor curious to see what the area looks like after 35 years. At 6AM I thought I was looking at fog, at 7AM it got thicker, then I realized it is smog, so thick I can not see the train on EDSA or the streets below. It was like that for the rest of the week. Saturday, I took the ferry to Corregidor. About a half-mile into the bay I took this picture around 8:30AM. Farther out, I looked to my left, Navotas and Malabon area, and turned to my right to Cavite, what I saw is the same as in this picture, metropolitan Manila in a blanket of smog...... What a good-looking guy! Rene   http://www.flickr.com/photos/iamagenious/sets/72157594578466165/show/

 

 


 


MIT ChE'm 66 Homecoming -

Special Mention

Lucena Maderazo Dimaano Clarita Ablaza Abordo Nelly Benavidez Aldea BEN ASIS Rolando Dionisio Balatbat Eufrosina Payawal Banut Julius Salaguban Belleza Rodrigo Tolentino Bonilla Warlito “Warlock” Boquiren. I shall not return. And night, mildly warm, serene and silent, will lull the world, under beams of its solitary moon. My body will not be there, and through the wide-open window, a refreshing breeze will come inquiring for my soul. I don't know if any await the end of my double absence, or who will kiss my memory amidst caresses and weeping. But, there will be stars and flowers, there will be sighs and hopes, and love in the avenues in the shadows of the trees. And that piano will be playing as in this untroubled night, and no one there to listen, pensive, by my window frame. Merlina Alcasid Briones Abelardo Mogote Buan Robles Santos Buan Cesario E. Buenaflor Pompeya Guerrero Cadacio Rolando De Guzman Buenaventura Romana Pineda Canlas Jose Catibog Zozima Hernandez Cavero (deceased) Goodbye, my friend, goodbye. The appointed parting Promises a meeting ahead. Goodbye, my friend, without hand, without word, Don't be sad and don't upset your brows, - In this life to die is not new, But to live, of course, is not newer. Goodbye, my friend, goodbye It was preordained we should part And be reunited by and by. Goodbye: no handshake to endure. Let's have no sadness - furrowed brow. There's nothing new in dying now Though living is no newer. Romeo Sto. Tomas Cardema Florentina Frienza Cariaga Murphy C. Chu Manuel Tang Chua Benjamin P. Clemente Celia Go Co Antonio Cheng Co Dante Gilo Ericta Ruben Maldo Cortez Rebecca Monroy Cruz Hernando de Vera Cruz Jovita B Dano Victor Lim Cue William Chua Cu Bernardo Manankil David Francisco de Leon de la Cruz Lucena Maderazo Dimaano Jimmy Dimacali Politics is part of my life. My full name is Jaime Macapagal Alcantara and somewhat related to GMA. My wife from Baler is related to Sen. Angara and the Senator sister in Chicago is our close friend. We are in both sides of the Philippine political party. We never discuss politics not even with my cousins in Pampangga everytime I visit. Pag talounan pikon ang politico sa atin. Next day after the election siraan na. After election they should work together for the good of the country. If any of you have been in Bangkok and South Korea, you will be envious of the progress. Our biggest problem is overpopulation. Any asian country who countrol the birthrate is progresive. But in our country masyadong maraming anak sa tunay na asawa at sa asawa on the side. The economic growth cannot catch up with the growth of population. Expressing their dissent and opinion is lawful in a democratic country but implementing your belief in a violent way like Honasan is still against the law. Here are the boys in Bagiuo circa 1966. Boy Dakita, Jimmy Alcantara, Jess Bustria, Rene Valera, Tony Alialy, Rudy Banares... see how these Baby Boomers looked 45 years ago during our Baguio Seminar............................ Jess Bustria...My latest pictures taken by Meny... http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=e86e79aa804dd988&sid=0AZOG7Zm4bN2TrQ Boy Dakita's picture was taken 20 years ago during our reunion in NJ. This is the last photo I have of him. I tried to do the best I can for Boy. I know he will be happy up there to know that he is thought of dearly...................Tony A Rudy Banares My wife and I are regular cruisers and we always talk to the Filipino crew. When we took the 12-day Mediterranean cruise I asked the Pinoy waiters (because we are in a big group, we usually request for Pinoy waiters to be assigned to us) why all their Asian cruises skip Manila when they go to all the neighboring countries of the Philippines . Tanong ko bakit ba wala sa itinerary ninyo ang Manila . Ang sagot sa akin. Noong una ho may cruises kami na humihinto sa Manila but masyadong hong matakaw ang mga taga Customs sa atin kaya ang management ho namin nag decide na skip na ang Manila . When inspection time comes upon our arrival and departure, yung mga Customs inspectors ho kasama ang mga pamilya nila para kumain ng libre sa ship namin. Tapos bago mag bigay ng clearance para maka depart ang ship namin maraming hinihingi na sigarilyo at mga alak.. http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=e86e79aa804dd988&sid=0AZOG7Zm4bN2TrQ L to R, 2nd row: Cesar, Me (hiding), Tony, Shirley De Ocampo Che '65, Gus De Ocampo Che '65 1st Row: Josie Asis, Elvie Ramos, Aurora Baby Lozada, Meny, Rudy, Harry Jacalan Chem '68, Cecille Jacalan............................Ben A. Tony Alialy Tony Alialy "The Young and the 'Careless' (Restless)." Taken somewhere in Upstate, NY more than 35 years ago. Standing L to R: Meny, Rudy, Ben, Nando & Cesar Sitting L to R: Tony, Romy Merhan (ChE'65) The passage of the Immigration Act of 1965 played a very important role in Filipino immigration. Due to the act, there was a dramatic increase in the United States Filipino population. The Immigration Act of 1965 made this change in demographics possible because it had abolished national-origin quotas that had previously hindered migration from foreign countries such as the Philippines. The act had enabled Filipinos to be an emerging Asian ethnic group in the United States, because Filipinos are now the second most populous Asian group in America next to the Chinese. Hernando De Vera Cruz. I still live in Southern California (Chino Hills). Worked for ARCO for about 18 years. Left in 2001 after the merger with BP and now working for my relative (sister-in-law).Regards,Nando Cruz Romy Merhan ChE '65 ....This photo is linked to another Album Remember our beautiful instructor, Rosie de Vega Cabrera? Well, they are now residing at East Lansing Michigan, about 100 miles away from where I stay in Monroe MI while I am on my field assignment. Rosie has not changed. She is still pretty as ever. Ben and Rosie both retired and have 3 children who are all on their own. 2 engineers and a nurse. They are both very friendly................. Standing from left to right: Ben, Angel Almazan (husband of Nita Butiu Almazan), Joe Morales (husband of Susie Mariano Morales ),Nita Almazan BA'66, Susie Morales CHM'65, Romy Merhan ChE '65, Larry Zanis (husband of Perlita Aves Zanis), Tony, Rudy and Meny. Sitting from left to right: Mitz de Hitta ChE'65, Sue (Baby) Sumallo, Perlita Aves Zanis Che '65, Ligaya Loyola Hartjen ChE'65 and her husband Harry Hartjen.......This photo is linked to another Album My understanding of the Pilipino psyche was probably no better than the average Filipino. My being away from home for almost 40 years, except for short vacations every two or three years, could but have further diminished that little understanding. It is however the love of our country and the desire to contribute to the common good that compels me to write. hopefully - together we can come up and start something. Many a times I hear from our kababayans, here in the Philippines and in America, that our native country is a "basket case". This harsh self criticism stems not from lack of love for our Philippines, but rather out of sheer frustration that our country, so endowed with abundant natural resources and with a citizenry of such education, know-how, and proud history, has lagged behind in development with our neighboring nations. There is despair that nothing can be done; that graft and corruption, now so pervasive and entrenched, will remain the way of life; that no change is ever possible..Ben A Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year From the Asis Family I think what we need is to start reforms. Start educating ourselves to not think of being more equal than others to jump and get ahead of the line; to value the dignity of labor (manual, menial or otherwise); to be the vanguard against corruption; to not blindly patronize imported goods; to demand the media unbiased reporting without merely advancing their own agenda; the movie industry to not merely make bakya theme movies. Let us build water treatment systems for small towns (slow sand filtration) for clean potable water. Let us build wastewater treatment plant in Manila and revive the sewer system. Let us… let us… Maybe we should all apply for dual citizenship and help reform our society. Maybe we should all retire to the Philippines and give more of ourselves towards reformation. I am not the brightest bulb in the block. Most of you are. Give it some thought, figure things out, formulate a program. Lead the way and I will follow. Ben's busy at work with his boob tube!!.. BENJAMIN R. ASIS B.S. ChE. 1966 Hometown: Infanta, Quezon, Philippines 690 West Side Avenue Jersey City, NJ 07304 USA Email: tu2bi@hotmail.com GREETINGS MORE POWER & BEST WISHES TO FELLOW MAPUANS To those who attended: Thank you for for the pleasure of your company one more time. To those who were not We missed you, but thank you for updating us about yourself. Till we meet again. THE ASIS FAMILY David, Marilyn Perez, Lt. Daniel Josefina Manglicmot, Benjamin & Michael David Perez Asis Career Description:  Worked as Chemist with Johnson&Johnson (Phil.), Inc., then as Project Engineer with Philand Industries, Inc.  Joined the brain drain. Worked as Chemist with Contract Packaging Corp.  Obtained NY State PE license by examination. Worked as I&C Engineer with: 1. Seroka Assoc, 2. Hazen & Sawyer 3. ADP Marshall / Flour Daniels, 4. Hamon Research-Cottrell 5. BBL/Arcadis,Inc. ASC Ceasar Ramos....... My latest photos by Meny http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=e86e79aa804dd988&sid=0AZOG7Zm4bN2TrQ Ceasar and the cha cha....ASC Congratulations Lt. Daniel Asis class 2008 Here's a picture of Cesar, Perlynn, Me, Rudy & Meny at Infanta......Ben Perlita Aves Zanis Che '65...past president of our sister sorrority Delta Sigma Sigma (APO)...We are voting for McCain not Obama or Hillary based on our own evaluations of what the candidates stand for. Not everyone is in the same situations. Obama may be an excellent speaker but I do not know him, he has no experience at all…I only know him based on what the slanted media reports. Marcos was very intelligent and a very good speaker…see what happened to the Philippines !!! Besides, I am pro-life and proud to be so. Perlita Zanis look at Our latest photos by Meny http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=e86e79aa804dd988&sid=0AZOG7Zm4bN2TrQ Meny Banares Regarding SS, social security carries over to other countries, but medicare does not. The petition is for medicare, which is for healthcare of those 65 and over, (also for some special situations.) Just a reminder, if you're not aware: Everyone should apply for medicare soon as age 65 is reached, even if you do not plan to get SS benefit at 65 because you're waiting until your full benefit age. (for most of us, full benefit age is 66 or 67). If you apply for medicare later than age 65, you are charged penalties. Same goes for the medicare drug plan. You have to choose a drug plan at 65, unless you never intend to apply for one for the rest of your life. Thanks. .........Meny If you can't see the pictures in this email, click here to see it in a web browser: http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=400904282506%3A1908417390 Dr. Renato Dimayuga ChE66 Renato Dimayuga's decision to return to Pinas and work as chief of a regional hospital that handles mainly charity cases is quite admirable, especially since the salary is peanuts compared to what he can make in the US . Renato Dimayuga's decision to return to Pinas and work as chief of a regional hospital that handles mainly charity cases is quite admirable, especially since the salary is peanuts compared to what he can make in the US . My latest photos by Meny http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=e86e79aa804dd988&sid=0AZOG7Zm4bN2TrQ A healthier Cesar, always with us in our escapades a worthy friend and a mentor for all of us. Here is another album for us to store in our happy memories about our escapades when we were younger then on our way to El Dorado Hills. Some pictures of Rosalina's devoted husband were included entertaining our group Circa 1992. Some taken in Vallejo at Lilia Antonio's residence around 1993, and the earliest were taken during our 1991 Reunion. Most of these pictures were given to me by various classmates over the years. In recompense here they are for you to enjoy...ASC Cesar, Mike B. Minnie B., Evelina Adlawan & Me tries to squeeze in a small frame...ASC Tim Villanueva Hello Alex, It's good to hear from you and thank you for including me to your googlegrouplist. I know I've been out of pocket for a while but it's no denying and I am proud to be in the MIT-ChE 1966 group. It might be ancient now but the wonderful reunion we had in 1991 is still quite fresh in my mind and of course all the gatherings & trips that followed. I still remember the visit and fun we had at your place. Oscar is correct. We live in Sugarland, Texas and been here since 1995. I still work for Fluor and taking advantage of the sudden surge in work demand. Hopefully I can stay employed for the next 2-3 years and then retire. Good thing you set up our communication class website, it's really a great idea. Now everyone can be informed of the latest happenings and undertakings the group is involved with. I would like to include both this address and my personal e-mail address in your list if it's OK. This will allow me to access and respond at either locations. Rosalina Derige Corbett Raymond & Rosalina Corbett Rosalina search for us came to fruition. Background from left D. Rodriguez, Resty Mandap, Josie V, Tim V. Maurera, Jaranilla, me..ASC Regina Bermudez Cruz in 1966 BE (before Elmer) The year 2030 is fast approaching, 20 years from now. Most of us will still be living by then. It will be very frightening, the way this planet earth is behaving..so much fires, earthquakes, tornadoes, flooding, icebergs melting..The climate is really changing but so many people hate to believe or think that it is happening and all what they do is argue about it. Even just to PLANT MORE TREES to replace the ones that are burned down seemed to be very impossible to do. You are correct Alex that people are just ignorant and stupid... People will REAP what they SOW..I feel so disgusted because we can not just convince everybody even 75 percent of the whole population, to do something better for this world we live in for our own SURVIVAL.. Regina Elmer & Regina a table behind me unoticed until the end of the cruise...ASC At Raymond & Rosalina's Place, Regina holding on to little Jim Corbett, her daughter at her side. Marissa my wife at the far right....ASC Tessie Gardon Graham Hello Everyone, I have an old picture taken 40 years ago. I want to bring it to date to show how we look at present. I have all faces from the old picture superimposed with the exception of Juanita Isidro. Unless I get in touch with her I will not be able to complete my project. Has anybody seen my old friend, Juanita? If you do, please send me her address so I can ask for her latest photo. I bet that you too are anxious to see how she looks this time. I can only imagine that she looks better now just like all the ladies in the picture. I tell you these girls really know how to reverse the aging process. They all age gracefully and get better over the years just like vintage wine. I am attaching the pictures THEN and NOW and you be the judge. Looking forward to hearing from you. ......................Tony A Malaya Matic Malaya Matic Late PM at Rosalina's, from left Malaya, Marissa, me, ___?, Leonila, Josie (wife of Tim)....ASC Merle Briones The Ladies 1991 Reunion. I'll never forget the first time we met in '91; We tried so hard to impress. We drove fancy cars, smocked big raybans, And wore our most elegant dress. It was quite an affair; majority of the class was there. It was held at a fancy hotel in Annaheim. We wined, and we dined, and we acted refined, And everyone thought it was swell....ASC Nenet Voloso The Ladies 1991 Reunion. I'll never forget the first time we met in '91; We tried so hard to impress. We drove fancy cars, smocked big raybans, And wore our most elegant dress. It was quite an affair; majority of the class was there. It was held at a fancy hotel in Annaheim. We wined, and we dined, and we acted refined, And everyone thought it was swell....ASC Leonila Coronel Matulac Mely Matic, Amy Chua, Leonila Matulac I'll never forget the first time we met in '91; We tried so hard to impress. We drove fancy cars, smocked big raybans, And wore our most elegant dress. It was quite an affair; majority of the class was there. It was held at a fancy hotel in Annaheim. We wined, and we dined, and we acted refined, And everyone thought it was swell....ASC Everybody tries to squeeze in a small frame...ASC Alicia Carnero At Long Beach in 1991 Pi de Leon..Tagumpay “Pi” M. De Leon - Double Bass Pi de Leon is in engineer by profession and a musician by avocation. His musical experience came at an early age, being the son of the late renowned nationalist composer and Philippine national artist Felipe Padilla de Leon and the late Iluminada Mendoza, an accomplished pianist. He plays all rondalla instruments, the piano, accordion and the violin. The “De Leon Rondalla” was already appearing in various Philippine functions in the early 60s. At Lilia's place in Vallejo At Long Beach 1991 Reunion Zeny and Pi de Leon....Pi De Leon has played in or directed rondallas for annual Philippine Cultural Nights in various universities and colleges. He has also participated in International Folk Dance Festivals held in Marseille, France and Sicily, Italy in the summer of 1990 and 1993 and also in the 1995 Northwest Folk Life Festival in Seattle, Washington. In between his playing schedules, he conducts rondalla classes and workshops, including his current tenure as a rondalla instructor at UC Riverside. In 1997, he was awarded a grant by the Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department to train future rondalla instructors through workshops designated as “Master Teacher Apprenticeship Class” Remember our beautiful instructor, Rosie de Vega Cabrera? Well, they are now residing at East Lansing Michigan, about 100 miles away from where I stay in Monroe MI while I am on my field assignment. Rosie has not changed. She is still pretty as ever. Ben and Rosie both retired and have 3 children who are all on their own. 2 engineers and a nurse. They are both very friendly................. Cesar Jaranilla ChE 55........ In 1991 when you had your first reunion here in the states, we were still full of youth, a lot of vigor, no serious health worries and every time I look at the pictures we had at the dinner dance and the picnic at the park, I wish we were back at those times again. But the years pass by inexorably and we have become grandfathers or even grand-grand. A healthier Cesar, always with us in our escapades a worthy friend and a mentor for all of us. .ASC When I am dead, my dearest, Sing no sad songs for me; Plant thou no roses at my head, Nor shady cypress tree: Be the green grass above me With showers and dewdrops wet; And if thou wilt, remember, And if thou wilt, forget. I shall not see the shadows, I shall not feel the rain; I shall not hear the nightingale Sing on, as if in pain: And dreaming through the twilight That doth not rise nor set, Haply I may remember, And haply may forget. ~Christina Rossetti Tim V. Maurera, Cesar Jaranilla, me..ASC A healthier Cesar, always with us in our escapades a worthy friend and a mentor for all of us. Here is another album for us to store in our happy memories about our escapades when we were younger then on our way to El Dorado Hills. Some pictures of Rosalina's devoted husband were included entertaining our group Circa 1992. Some taken in Vallejo at Lilia Antonio's residence around 1993, and the earliest were taken during our 1991 Reunion. Most of these pictures were given to me by various classmates over the years. In recompense here they are for you to enjoy...ASC This was taken at San Pablo Reservoir Memorial Weekend 1993 before the group proceeded to El Dorado Hills about 95 miles away. The Adlawans This was taken at San Pablo Reservoir Memorial Weekend 1993 before the group proceeded to El Dorado Hills about 95 miles away. Juliana Tan Siu Eng 1991 Reunion picture taking before Dessert Almost time to say Goodbye 1991 Reunion see the Rome Reunion  ............ASC Lilia Antonio Taken at Rancho Cordova Park September 1992 Taken at Rancho Cordova Park September 1992 Taken at Rancho Cordova Park September 1992 Fil Villena......Hi Alex, (Aug 28 2006,) Last Saturday I attended a party and was able to meet people from MIT. I informed them about this google group. Eldy Yap was there. Precy Tagala and Mr.& Mrs Tony Flora were also there. You probably read about the Nov. 26 (?) reunion of the CheChem group in Manila Hotel. Hope, some of you there can come over since this is also nearing the Christmas season. Will continue to be in touch. Regards to the family. Fil Villena Photo taken March 2005, amongst our MIT friends, Fil Villena (stayed in the Phil, but comes to the US twice a year A recent meeting at Vivere Suites in Filinvest, Philippines, Jan. 2007 from Far left, Fil Villena, Jun Dijamco, Luis Mendoza and Art Villasol. Photo taken March 2005, amongst our MIT friends, from left to right - Fil Villena (stayed in the Phil, but comes to the US twice a year), 1966 Art (family in Phoenix, AZ and lives alone in Akron, Ohio, binata tayo dito), 1966, Efren Afuang (stayed in the Phil), 1965, Ernie Ganuelas (stayed in the Phil, but comes to the US twice a year), 1965 ,Jun Dijamco (back-and-forth Phil & US, lost count on how many times), 1966,Lucy Dijamco, our lovely classmate-in-law. 1966.........Art V I spent for all my kids who had their college education in the Philippines,. but for those who had theirs here, Uncle Sam advanced the payments via educational loan with my promise to my children to pay their loan after they finish; but none of them, luckily, wanted me to pay their loan after they get employed.; they insist they pay the loan themselves. I always advise other parents to do the same, so they won't sacrifice a lot; and what if the child did not finish, the saving goes down the drain; but in this manner, Uncle Sam may be the loser, if the child didn't finish and the child can't pay back the loan. I provided all my children with functional second hand cars that were estimated to last till they finish their course.or for those who had their college in PI till they were able to estabblish themselves.here. Car is not a luxury in the LA area; it is a necessity. Our youngest son who is now graduating, is the only one who got a brand new car.....Jun Dijamco Dearest Friends, Please pardon my less than prompt response to your emails, but given the situation and circumstance at hand, I'm sure that you all understand. I am extremely thankful and grateful for all of your support and prayers during these trying times; all your love and compassion inspires everyone in the family to remain vigilant and strong when it is most necessary. As of the moment, Jun is steadily recovering from the aneurysm. Although he temporarily needs the aid of a trache and a gastro-intestinal tube for now, all the signs of his health hopefully is an indication that he will eventually recover from his condition. Soon, he will be transferred to Rancho Los Amigos rehab center, which is known to have a 95% success rate. When he is transferred there, it will be okay to finally visit him if you wish to do so. I will inform everyone when this time comes. They stir in the depths of my heart and are felt by Jun and the rest my family. Again, thank you very much. Lucy Dijamco "Try to Remember That Time in December" By the Classmates Three I love to have our reunion in PI, and I believe the agreed time is Jan 2008, 2nd week. But with the Mexican Riviera and the Med Cruise, eastern side, I am not sure if there will be a good attendance or it will even push through. Oscar and I and Lucy and Angie had a grand time in PI. There was no boriing moment during those 41 days we were vaioning/touring together. 41 days just passed without us even noticing it. Ben Asis and his small group also went to PI just this month. It seems, from the email of Ben, the group also enjoyed their stay. The four of us is looking forward to have another vacation/tour in the future. We will be glad if other classmates will join us in this kind fun. Jun Danny, I am one of the MITChe66's. I still remember you and I hope you, also, still remember me. If you don't, please review our Cardinal And Gold Annual 1966 and look for Marcelino F. Dijamco, Jr. I'm based here in the USA but I spend ample of time in PI regularly because of my little business there. Where are you based? retired? Oscar Holgado, Sheila Tempoko, Nanding Salvador, Boy Mendoza, Fil Villena, Ed Serra, and others most likely will see each other in Manila in December this year. Jun Jun, Boy & Art.....Dear Friends, After 40 years with the company, it is inevitable that we have to move on to the next phase of life, which is retirement. That official date for me is December 1, 2008, where I will be leaving Akron, Ohio enroute to the sunny valley of Phoenix, Arizona, our home state since 1985. I will be dividing my time between family (wife, a daughter, 2 sons & 3 grand kids) in the US, and attending to our 20-acre farm in the Philippines we started 3 years ago – 225 Manila mango trees, 1,500 citrus trees, ¼ acre of tilapia fish farm, and a herd of goats. Let us maintain that good camaraderie by continuing to exchange emails and that little chat on the phone. Art Villasol Danny, I am one of the MITChe66's. I still remember you and I hope you, also, still remember me. If you don't, please review our Cardinal And Gold Annual 1966 and look for Marcelino F. Dijamco, Jr. I'm based here in the USA but I spend ample of time in PI regularly because of my little business there. Where are you based? retired? Oscar Holgado, Sheila Tempoko, Nanding Salvador, Boy Mendoza, Fil Villena, Ed Serra, and others most likely will see each other in Manila in December this year. Jun Sonia Sales Mendoza Thank you very much for your concern for our country. We always emphasize forest denudation in all our seminar/workshops in ecological waste management and its adverse effects to our environment like global warming, desertification, floods, siltation of water bodies, water supply,etc. We outline the denudation since 1900 (forest cover then was 70% but Rizal already had misgivings). According to Fr. Walpole of the Ateneo and the Manila Observatory, the Philippines will have only 8% of its forest cover in 2010. The present forest cover is 12%. Sonia & Luis in 2007 On May 6,2007 Sunday, our anniversary, we were lucky to be docked in Venice for 2 days. My grandson, Jose,15, arranged through the internet with the monsignor at the Basilica di San Marco to have our mass there. The monsignor was very accommodating and we were reserved a special place in the church. I heard our names mentioned three times (the mass was in Italian) and after the mass people greeted Boy and me congratulating us. During the dinner that night, the Filipino chef prepared lechon for our table and the Filipino chefs and waiters came out to greet us (special treatment talaga from our kababayans). We had 2 delicious cakes!..Sonia Mendoza The Mendozas at St Marks Venice....ASC Photo taken March 2005, amongst our MIT friends, Art (family in Phoenix, AZ and lives alone in Akron, Ohio, binata tayo dito), 1966,.........Art V Art Villasol. Jun, Boy & Art.....Dear Friends, After 40 years with the company, it is inevitable that we have to move on to the next phase of life, which is retirement. That official date for me is December 1, 2008, where I will be leaving Akron, Ohio enroute to the sunny valley of Phoenix, Arizona, our home state since 1985. I will be dividing my time between family (wife, a daughter, 2 sons & 3 grand kids) in the US, and attending to our 20-acre farm in the Philippines we started 3 years ago – 225 Manila mango trees, 1,500 citrus trees, ¼ acre of tilapia fish farm, and a herd of goats. Let us maintain that good camaraderie by continuing to exchange emails and that little chat on the phone. Art Villasol A recent meeting at Vivere Suites in Filinvest, Philippines, Jan. 2007 from Far left, Fil Villena, Jun Dijamco, Luis Mendoza and Art Villasol. Dear Friends, After 40 years with the company, it is inevitable that we have to move on to the next phase of life, which is retirement. That official date for me is December 1, 2008, where I will be leaving Akron, Ohio enroute to the sunny valley of Phoenix, Arizona, our home state since 1985. I will be dividing my time between family (wife, a daughter, 2 sons & 3 grand kids) in the US, and attending to our 20-acre farm in the Philippines we started 3 years ago – 225 Manila mango trees, 1,500 citrus trees, ¼ acre of tilapia fish farm, and a herd of goats. Let us maintain that good camaraderie by continuing to exchange emails and that little chat on the phone. Art Villasol 1991 Reunion picture taking before Dessert Teddy Unite A reunion somewhere in the East Coast in the '80s At Long Beach in 1991 Yea, I'm still alive and barely kicking! My oldest boy just got married last 4/29/2010. He met an Irish girl and the wedding was held in Ireland- about 45 minute drive south of Dublin. A golf resort called Heritage! The wedding day was during E-16 (16 letter name) volcano was spewing all kind of shit into European atmosphere. It did halted for awhile to get the wedding consummated! One down, one more to go- A 32 years old youngest son who hates women after his break-up with his high-school sweetheart! I was officially retired Dec.1,2008 but was recalled Dec. 8,2008 to train my replacement. I worked till 6/1/2009. I handled all kind of wastes (except radioactive) generated at Merck Rahway Site, NJ. I been married for 42 years with the same women who was my neighbor back in the old country. She's been very good to me and I think I will keep her until I stop breathing! if I remember right Alex, you drove a BLACK caddy to school from time to time! Or was it a Chevy? Greggie A reunion somewhere in the East Coast in the '80s 1991 Reunion the second day at Buena Park, a whole day affair, inside the Pavilon on the stage a vantage point, eyeing what's going on Rey Sequerra Leo and Zeny Sibal 1991 Reunion picture taking before Dessert Regina Cruz, Willie Arenas, Florencio Guinhawa Elizabeth Guinhawa 1991 Reunion picture taking before Dessert Lourdes Averia..... My latest photos by Meny http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=e86e79aa804dd988&sid=0AZOG7Zm4bN2TrQ Lourdes and Nestor Averia ......believe these guys, they are pretty well tanked up from the looks of it.....ASC Manny Oconer in the Las Vegas Reunion Sheila Tempongko Obedoza.........May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy. For Thine is the Kingdom For Thine is Life is For Thine is the....... Am still living in the Philippines, married to Romeo B. Obedoza but with no kids. Am connected with Boysen Paints and teach at MIT part time. My husband is with UPLB so he stays there most of the week and comes to Manila (in Kamuning) on weekends. We do have grandchildren from our nephews who are now married. Three nephews (those I share with Mely Matic) are now in the States. But the others are also here. I have been retired and rehired by my company (they have to retire people who reach 60 - dual citizens na kasi - senior and Philippine citizenships). So I am now a consultant for the firm but on a full time basis.

Erlinda Lao Dizon Antonio Chua Di Ching Bing Ismael Ifurung Pacita Lacayanga Galeon..( Deceased Jan. 2007).........“The leaves are falling, falling as if from far up, as if orchards were dying high in space. Each leaf falls as if it were motioning "no." And tonight the heavy earth is falling away from all other stars in the loneliness. We're all falling. This hand here is falling. And look at the other one. It's in them all. And yet there is Someone, whose hands infinitely calm, holding up all this falling. Like the falling leaves of Autumn, I leave you all To see my Maker, and everlasting Life.”. Emmanuel G. Genato Manuel Miguel Francisco Benjamin Sy Gan Juanita de Leon Isidro Liberato Ipapo Ipapo Oscar Tugade Janeo (deceased) Whoever now weeps somewhere in the world, weeps without reason in the world, weeps over me. Whoever now laughs somewhere in the night, laughs without reason in the night, laughs at me. Whoever now wanders somewhere in the world, wanders without reason out in the world, wanders toward me. Whoever now dies somewhere in the world, dies without reason in the world, looks at me. Carmen Panlaque Jayme Tessie Pablo Jovero Se Kai Raymundo Ko Carlita Alo Jumangit Romeo Cordero Landig Resty Mandap, ChE 65 Angel O. Nieva, ChE65 And now the end is near And so I face the final curtain, My friends, I'll say it clear, I'll state my case of which I'm certain. I've lived a life that's full, I've travelled each and evr'y highway And more, much more than this, I did it my way. Yu Tong Chiang Kwong Kim Ton O. Lim Jayme Gazmen Oliver FLORENCIO I. ROXAS Nicasio Alvarez Salazar Esmelina Decano Santos Hernando Alfonso Salvador Reynaldo B. Sequerra Rita Uy Siy MARSHALL BONGHIONG TAN ALFONSO LUIS TIU Trinidad Lobenaria Sumbilla Herminia Joson Umagat Audie Vergara Timothy Villanueva Hospicio Nasol Vibar, Jr. FIL VILLENA Dr. Renato Dimayuga, M.D. There's a place for us, somewhere a place for us. Peace and quiet, and open air. Wait for us, somewhere. There's a time for us, someday a time for us. Time together with time to spare, Time to learn, time to care. Someday, somewhere, we'll find a new way of living. We'll find a way of forgiving. Somewhere. There's a place for us, a time and a place for us. Hold my hand and we're halfway there. Hold my hand and I'll take you there. Somehow. Someday. Somewhere. Rene's beautiful family...Two boys are grown up...hindi na baby pero cute pa rin...boys na sila!.... My latest photos by Meny http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=e86e79aa804dd988&sid=0AZOG7Zm4bN2TrQ These are my official entries to our Before And After contest. One taken around mid 1946 on a U.S. Army cot bed, another taken in February 1974, then the last one taken early 1971(it was really taken last year).....Rene The toddler Rene; The young man Rene! The middle age Rene?? Holy smokes the man of all seasons will never age... ie. Dorian Grey revisited......Alexander The mindset of the Filipino is to pray when faced with a problem. And so they pray when floods come instead of correcting the destruction to the rainforest. The church did an excellent job in brainwashing the Filipino from colonial time. Then again after generations of education the Filipino still has not improved. I do agree soon the Philippines will compare with Bangladesh. Rene Rivera There were 1.6 million foreign born from the Philippines residing in the United States in 2006. Filipino immigrants made up 4 percent of all immigrants in 2006. The Immigration Act of 1965 enabled millions of Filipinos to make the United States their new home. In the height of the Civil Rights Movement, President Lyndon B. Johnson had signed a bill that drastically changed the admittance laws for immigrants. Priority was now given to family members to U.S. citizens, and permanent residents so they could sponsor the following types of immigrants in this order of these preferences: Unmarried children under 21 years of age of U.S. citizens Spouses and unmarried children of permanent residents Professionals, scientists, and artists "of exceptional ability" Married children over 21 years of age and their spouses and children of U.S. citizens I retired at 55 in Yr 2000 after 34 years with The Energizer Battery Co. here in Cleveland Ohio. Heavily involved in Quality Controls and Quality Assurances. Thelma. Your trip to Rome in 2007 will be a blast, I will guarantee you. ITS THE BEST PLACE I have ever been, I think. God willing, this coming October, I will be 62 and have no plans of retiring any sooner. I have 4 married sons and have 9 grandchildren. Three are engineers and one is in Marketing. AM very busy serving the Lord in Couples For Christ, evangelizing and helping build homes for the poor in the Philippines. Our target is to build 700,000 homes in 7000 communities within 7 years in the Philippines and make our country free from slums. I am interested in attending the MIT Reunions if time will permit me to. And I hope to see you there too. Am particularly pleased that you found the Post-retirement job that you enjoy the most. Praise God. ..Ric Dimalanta Everybody, Some group pictures from college with our classmate Jose Lladones, who died on June 3, 2010 in suburban Zamboanga City, due to a health condition called neuritis. Rene Rey Cadiz, wife and Bing Eugenio I received your communication through my daughter's email. 40 yrs. ago, I did not like the war policies of America against the Vietnamese. Why? The Vietcom never offended Uncle Sam. That's why I never proceeded to migrate to U.S. And you know very well Rene Rivera wanted me to apply together with Mr. "Magoo". I have three children, 2 are nurses. I have four door apartment and my wife worked in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and the fruits of the labor we were able to place another house. I still drink and I have neuritis. In case you have not heard of the disease I must have to tell you. It is the inflammation of nerve due to inadequate absorption of Vit. b complexes. Ismael, you were not big before, I feel very happy and with gratitude you were able to contact me. You still remember I borrowed your Engineering textbook in which you have written "Friends are rarely true"... but to me once he is a friend is always a friend. These words I will never forget Engineering mechanics by Ferndinad L. Singer.Joe Everybody, Some group pictures from college with our classmate Jose Lladones, who died on June 3, 2010 in suburban Zamboanga City, due to a health condition called neuritis. Rene It really has been a long time. My parents are both dead (Father died at age 67 and my mother at age 81). My father worked with Pan American Airlines as a Reservations Manager. So sorry to hear of your seriously ill father. I will remember him in my prayers. I worked in New Jersey from 1968 to 1983 for Conoco Chemicals. I transferred to Houston, Texas in 1983. I worked for Dupont, Oxy Chemicals, and Lyondell Petrochemicals where I retired in February of 2000. I stayed retired to date. My wife, Naty, died in March 2006 of lung cancer. She never smoked. Luckily, my son and his family who were living in San Diego came to live with us before my wife's death. Them living with me helped me cope with the loss of my love one. We have only 1 child. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University. His wife had a baby girl in June 2007. We named the baby "Naty" which is my wifes name. She gets me occupied for most of the time....Rudy Jose Seated: 1-Alex C, 2- Tony Diza, 3(back) Oliver Masil, 4-Alwayne Carino, 5-Jess Bustria, 7(back) Rudy Jose, 8-Oscar Santos, 9(back) Romy Reyes ;Standing: 1-Rick, 2-Beda Bera, 3(back) Rene Rivera, 4-Greg Alcaraz, 5-Leon Delos Santos, 7-Ismael, 8-Rudy Banares, 9-Eddie Antonio,10-Mike Bernardino. This was taken at the Balara Water Treatment works. This photo is also linked with http://picasaweb.google.com/ismael.ifurung/MITGroup Most have been posted before in MyFamily.com ; some are from Jerry Ada and from Rene Rivera..............................Ismael Edgardo Antonio The Quiet Caviteno Romulo Reyes Orlando Castillo Here's another photo I found from our Baguio field trip - circa 1966. My guess is from L to R, top to bottom: Ben Asis, Lando Castillo, Nato Dimayuga, Merle Briones, Sheila Tempongko, Meny Reyes Banares, Lilia Antonio, Tony Alialy, Me, Pedro Palermo, Rosalina Dirige Corbett, Leonila Coronel, Fe Gana & Rhodora Sarmiento.......................Oscar H We live in Sugar Land, Texas with my wife Nicki. We have two boys, both are on their own but still singles. My oldest is working in Saipan. He like exotic places since he lived 2 years in Juneau, Alaska. He is lawyering and working in a non-for-profit company. The youngest is a sound engineer living in San Jose. I am working for Fluor Engineering. Its kind of close from where I live. Pol Calimbas Bing Eugenio and Pol K James Bond 00?...aka Jack Bowwow....ASC Rene Rivera and Ismael "Try to Remember That Time in December" By the Classmates Three Audie Vergara, ChE66.. Rina and Audie Vergara Mexicans referred to in the article are fair game because they are "illegals" and are costing the US taxpayers billions of dollars. On the other side, I have also heard arguments from sympathizers that these people are not really costing the taxpayers anything but rather contributing benefits to the US economy that outweigh any claims to the contrary. It does not matter which arguments are correct. Many people come to America mainly for economic reasons, Filipinos included. Everyone has his beliefs, when we discuss topics such as this, it just never fails that I look at my own skin, and that of my children and other kin, and I see a glaring "non-white".I just hope that we do not sound the horn too loudly that contributes to the death knell of these poor peoples who are mainly here to better the future for themselves and their children. Many of us are "legals". When America has ridden itself of all these unwanted undesirables, I pray to God that the white man does not train his eyes on other colored people. Ismael, Audie Vergara, Jon Mazo all ChE66...ASC Rina and Audie Vergara hi, i am jimmy dimacali member mit che 66..hope you still remember me.i still rember as the guy with thick eye glasses and with crew cut. i am listed on the mit che 66 google group and i enjoy reading your e mail to rene and our other classmates.. i had a dinner with art villasanta and fil vilena last may 2009. iam looking forward to see you on our grand reunion on 2011.....mayap ala kong balita kang erlnda juat. i fil vilena ampo i francis acda ilang kakontact ko kareng kaklase tamo. di jun dijamco ampoy salvador ating kang contact. masanting ka pa mu rin regards kareng kaklase tam Hernando Salvador I'm happy to hear from you. It's been so many years since we've been together. Hoping to meet you one of these days. By the way, Ed Serra and I have been neighbors more than ten years. We're just six houses away. You can contact him at.......... We are now both retired from our employment. Now, we're both enjoying the company of our grandchildren. I'm sure Ed will be happy to know your whereabouts. By the way, this is my new e-mail address:..........Regards & God bless,.......Nanding I guess the courage to go to USA after graduation was not as strong for me, as it was to a lot of our fellow graduates who got applications at the US Embasssy in 1967. More so did the desire disappear in the horizon when I did not make it in my first board exam. I got the frustration of the profession, and devoted my time in marketing products related to chemistry and chemical engineering. But, I guess all of us has each own story to tell, sucess and not failures, or failure may it have begun with inspiration to succeed at the end of our walk thru life. I am restarting from ground zero, and hope that somehow I could still find my nitch in the Sun or rather in the industry within the Philippines. I am following the advice which I gave to my 5 children who have finished their college degrees: "if you fall down, no matter how many times, stand up and try again because the challenge will always be there." Eldy Yap Celso Chua Celso Chua.. based south of Fresno California. The last time we talked, he was working as a chief engineer in a cement factory....ASC Reynaldo Yapchionco Santos This photo by courtesy of Rosalina D. Corbett many years ago, showing the oath taking of newly registered Chemical Engineers. Taken on June 24, 1967 in Makati, Sarmiento bldg. From far left is Jose Catibog, me, Reynaldo Santos, Maximillan Ui, Audie Vergara, Florencio Roxas, Lorna M. Jereza, Rosalina Derige Corbett, Oscar Santos, Rey Sequerra, Celso Chua, Romeo Olalia........................Alexander Romeo Olalia Roger Chu ChE 1969 graduation photo, now retired at 66. I am Roger Chu. An Alumni MIT-CHE. I am based in Woburn, Massachusetts about 7 miles from Boston Marshall Bong Hiong Tan Alfonso Luis Tiu Jerry Ada Marlo Mascarna .....I took a bus from Cab city to Mla right after Pepeng was out of Phil. But the sad observation I noticed was the amount of garbage all over the sides of the roads and waterways carried over by the floodings. So even if sewer pipe lines that you're suggesting are built, garbage will clog those pipe lines. Even the media were announcing that rubber boat propellers were affected by the amount of garbage in the flooded areas, suggesting to use the James Bond type boats with air blower/propeller. My simple suggestion: create a Garbage Barangay Police force on every municipalities. But first the country should do a major clean-up and dredging of all waterways leading to the ocean. Also Dept of of Ed should have environment subject course to educate our students. Marlo Marlo Mascarna..WAKE UP Everyone!! We're now back to the grind! For those who are working, drink real strong coffee. For the senior retirees, let's get the laundry in gear. And for all, check the damages ($$). Just want to let everyone knows that me and Marietta had such a wonderful time. Thanks to you all, especially to Clarita for the job well done in organizing the reunion, and to Citas & Cip of the NJ/Chicago group. And thanks for those who reminded us when to go when & where (toilettes). It was a priceless memories of a lifetime, seeing each other again and having the fun and laughter of our life. In a few days, we may be ready for the next one, mentally (but not financially yet). Hasta la vista! God bless you all. Marlo Marlo and Marieta 2007 Rome Reunion...We're still here, at Cabanatuan City, NE. We'll go back "AlisBayan" on March 28, then be back here maybe by June. I have a good caregiver (lived-in) caring for Marietta costing me $200/month plus allowance -also doing cooking and laundry. We're staying/rooming at Marietta's sister for now. Might hire another helper when we come back. Few times we've been to Pagcor Casinos in MM; -ahead so far..... Marlo Marlo and Jun.....I took a bus from Cab city to Mla right after Pepeng was out of Phil. But the sad observation I noticed was the amount of garbage all over the sides of the roads and waterways carried over by the floodings. So even if sewer pipe lines that you're suggesting are built, garbage will clog those pipe lines. Even the media were announcing that rubber boat propellers were affected by the amount of garbage in the flooded areas, suggesting to use the James Bond type boats with air blower/propeller. My simple suggestion: create a Garbage Barangay Police force on every municipalities. But first the country should do a major clean-up and dredging of all waterways leading to the ocean. Also Dept of of Ed should have environment subject course to educate our students. Marlo "There is a crisis approaching the United States. This crisis is looming on the horizon and much like a train in the distance, soon it will be upon us. The video link below is a "60 Minutes" interview with David M. Walker, the former U.S. Comptroller General with the Government Accounting Office (GAO). The piece is about twelve minutes in length. I hope that you'll take the time to view it, then pass this on to others. Next take a little more time to write your Congressman and Senators and in your own words express your concern about our nation's deficit spending and the dire need to return to a balanced budget. If something isn't done about this problem then by 2040 the country that you love, the country that you have served will be financially bankrupt. The United States of America will be in deep trouble in the next five to ten years unless something is done now. Thank you..Oscar Holgado" Oscar and Angie Holgado Marlo, Oscar & Jun The foresome...Oscar, Angie,Lucy & Jun With Renato Dimayuga......Alex....Would you mind including Dr. Renato Dimayuga as member of our group. BSChE '66 MIT - his eMail is on cc. Jun & I, together with our spouses met with him in Bauan, Batangas last December 30, 2007. He treated us to a wonderful lunch at Harbor View Restaurant which overlooks Batangas Bay and part of Mindoro. Thanks...Oscar Danny Odulio ChE66 PICTURES OF DANNY ODULIO with OSCAR AND JUN and respective wives in Davao Here's another photo I found from our Baguio field trip - circa 1966. My guess is from L to R, top to bottom: Ben Asis, Lando Castillo, Nato Dimayuga, Merle Briones, Sheila Tempongko, Meny Reyes Banares, Lilia Antonio, Tony Alialy, Me, Pedro Palermo, Rosalina Dirige Corbett, Leonila Coronel, Fe Gana & Rhodora Sarmiento.......................Oscar H Pedro Palermo My original nickname is Pano since I was born. At Mapua, my classmates and friends at Eta Sigma Mu did not like Pano and changed my nickname to Cip. In fact, except for Mapuans, I have always been addressed as Pano. I spent all my working career in the energy business, half of which was in the oil and gas industry, including oil and gas marketing, refining, trading and logistics, so I can say with confidence, without sounding cocky, that I know better than this Coke executive. In short, the price of oil is determined by how much the market values the last barrel sold in the market place. It is not the average price and definitely not cost related. It is priced on what the market could bear. Any market with marginal pricing can also be very volatile, particularly when there is a perception of supply tightness and risk of supply disruption (due to extraneous factors such as geopolitical) adds a price premium. Cip a.k.a. Pano Here's my two cents: From a practical point of view, diesel may be a more favored fuel in the Philippines than gasoline for the following reasons:1. Diesel has a higher BTU content per gallon than gasoline because it is a heavier petroleum product relative to gasoline. Being heavier, i.e more carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon compounds that consist diesel, you get more energy from its combustion. This explains why vehicles with diesel engines get a higher miles per gallon than their comparable vehicles with gasoline engines. 2. As Mael pointed out, the price of diesel in the Philippines is less than that of gasoline. As you know, both gasoline and diesel are produced from refining of crude oil, but their pricing of petroleum products does not have anything to do with the production cost. The prices are whatever you wanted them to be, similar to the pricing of prime steak and lower quality meat from a cow.The prices at the pump are also laden with taxes, not the same for competing products. Rose Ann and Pano Digital StillCamera A better picture of the Gents. THE CLASS ChE 66 GRAND REUNIONS . . . Every year, as summertime nears it seems, An announcement arrives in the mail, A reunion is planned; it'll be really grand; Make plans to attend without fail....ASC Considering our hazardous chemical exposures (like sucking benzene in a pipet for use as a reagent) when we were students, we should consider ourselves lucky to be exchanging email today. God bless and take care. Reggie Timonera A better picture of the Gents. THE CLASS ChE 66 GRAND REUNIONS . . . Every year, as summertime nears it seems, An announcement arrives in the mail, A reunion is planned; it'll be really grand; Make plans to attend without fail....ASC Manny Genato Maurit Pugeda, Resty, Greg Nidoy at the back. Almost time to say Goodbye 1991 Reunion see the Rome Reunion  ............ASC Again Lorna, I think it is mostly the Carpenters Las Vegas Reunion see the Rome Reunion of 2007 http://picasaweb.google.com/samsondelpilar/Rome2007ReunionPhotos ............ASC There are times when God uses storms in our lives that He may draw us closer to Him. Our God does not sit still when the storm is too strong. Yes, our God lets us get frightened enough to need Him and then come close enough to see Him and experience His wonderful love. We are confident that your faith in Him will hasten your recovery. He is a Master Surgeon, a Great Physician and above all our Creator. He will surely touch and heal you according to His blessed will. Listen to what David said on Psalm 139: “ For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother’s womb, I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well. How precious are Thy thoughts to me, Oh God! How vast is the sum of them.” My husband had been there….went through a triple by-pass last May 10, 2002. The good Lord had restored his health and we are praying He will restore yours. .. Lorna Folsom Lake Reservoir around September 1993...ASC My only consolation was reminiscing the sexy Vegas-style chorus girls dancing around me at the stage (and behind the stage...heh..heh, I'm one ahead of you, Manny G.) But my jealous Minnie insisted that I looked like an Elvis midget surrounded by long-legged creatures. Oo na.... Later that night (or early morning) at Lido Deck snack time get together, Celia Cruz made a comment to me: Hey Mike, your pants were too big! I thought, "If you only knew what I went through" Well now you know. There WAS stress, but it was all a lot of fun! When I get to be 92 years old, I will watch my free DVD disc of the show (my reward gift from the Carnival Legends performance) and cherish the thought of what I was able to do when I was 62. I might still be able to do it at 92 on a cruise, if you guys promise not only to cheer up for me, but also help me up the stage.....Mike B Clarita Aragones Albertson Thanks to Jun Dijamco, he has really gone out of his way to search for our classmates, gone visiting most of them in their homes in every State whenever he can (Thank God he & Lucy has the time and they do make time to visit us and get reacquainted) and once he made contact with you, you are in the loop and he keeps you updated. Reminds me of the Godfather, if you are in his family, he is there for you and supports you all the way. Pol, Ismael & Marlo are getting to be the same like Jun. They have been to all the MIT Reunions we had been having and encourage their friends 'Family' to join, etc, etc. I had been cool to Jun's plan for a Philippine Reunion but because of his loyalty to our MIT Class, I promise to help him all the way I can and will encourage Meny and the Calif Core Group to help in his plans. Now we have Alex's website/blogsite for the Group. Keep updated with the group's news and happenings by joining this. So stay in touch. Until we meet again! That is the meaning Of the familiar words, that men repeat At parting. Ah yes, till then! but when death intervening Rends us asunder, with what ceaseless pain We wait for the Again! The friends who leave us do not feel the sorrow Of parting, as we feel it, who must stay Lamenting day by day, And knowing, when we wake upon the morrow, We shall not find in its accustomed place The one beloved face....HWL Resty Mandap Oh, One last Dance, 1991 Reunion Minda Vinluan Relan and Minda Vinluan Carmen Buerano Carmen Buerano Carmen Buerano The middle class is disappearing but if you look around you, the middle class is there. It started to disappear in the last 25 years are the old-fashioned 'middle class' values and work ethic that I am sure your parents and my parents instilled in us. Our parents taught us to put in 120% effort for a 95% reward. They taught us to save first before buying anything and they taught us it is shameful to go in debt. Millions of Americans in the so-called middle class in the last decade lived beyond their means to pursue the "American Dream" which now is not a small cottage with a picket fence, but a McMansion with BMWs and Mercedeses in the three car garage. As one of the TV commentators said a while ago, "Nothing is left in America except our sense of entitlement and that is too bad we cannot outsource that". Maybe we need to redefine middle class and go back to the middle class of long ago when we were happy and made do on a small paycheck. Regards, Thelma For years, I had been trying to persuade Andy to go on a cruise but he wouldn't do it. His reasoning was, "There are no tennis courts on the ship". He now looks at cruises differently and now agrees with me that "we don't need no stinking tennis courts" to have fun on a cruise. I had to remind him that the reason why this cruise was so much fun was because of my wonderful MIT friends and their spouses. He agrees with me on this one too (he agrees with me most of the time, doesn't he?). Anyway, it was a thrill to see everybody again. Unlike the two other MIT reunions I attended in the past, I felt a difference in the bonding that went on in this cruise. In this cruise, the ribbing and kidding and teasing that went on felt more like family; did we not act like proud family members when we rooted for Mike Bernardino at the talent competition? This to me was truly a HOMEcoming. Thelma The Winter Gathering of Class '66 The winter gathering of class '66 throws shadows around us, it is the late afternoon For some of us. There is still enough light to see all the way back, but our eyesight that light is wasting away. Soon we will be nothing but silhouettes in the dark as harsh as our fathers'. Soon the engineers will take off their shingles as trees take off their leaves for winter. Let us meet quickly-- let us aquaint ourselves again. the covers of the album are closing behind us...ASC Adelaida Sanchez Rey Cadiz, ChE66 Rey Cadiz, Rey Cadiz, & better half, wife Melba Nano Chm 69....I will never forget Florence and Livorno and the unforgettable experience about catching the last train for Livorno and the breath taking marathon to catch the train and missing the last shuttle to the ship. I thought we will be flying to Rome then to Civitavecchia to catch the ship. Thanks for answered prayers. We made it even to the dinner. I had a good time during the cruise and I thought I accomplished what I had planned for this trip. Rose Silang......Dear Everyone, It is so hard to go back to work after a grand vacation. It was such a great experience for a first timer like me. It was so nice to see all of you and your spouses. Especial thanks to Clarita who did such a fantastic job organizing the trip. Of course the leaders for both the NJ/CHI and LA groups are to be thanked also for diligently waiting, counting, grouping and doing the painful collection for the groups. Thanks again everybody and hope to see you all soon. Rose (far right)Rose Silang Clinical Pharmacology Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Rose Silang Chm 69 Rose Silang Edna Uybarretta Mitz de Hitta ChE'65, Sue (Baby) Sumallo, Soledad Payuran Marquez Cely Salazar Herman Eulogio Topacio Jr. Nely Aldea Linda Bandong Rubia Alberto Francia Abelardo Buan........ My latest photos by Meny http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=e86e79aa804dd988&sid=0AZOG7Zm4bN2TrQ Robles Santos Buan Las Vegas Reunion see the Rome Reunion of 2007 http://picasaweb.google.com/samsondelpilar/Rome2007ReunionPhotos ............ASC Almost time to say Goodbye 1991 Reunion Cesario E. Buenaflor Oh, One last Dance, 1991 Reunion Cesario Buenaflor Oh, One last Dance, 1991 Reunion Ruben Cortez Pompeya Cadacio Dante Gilo Ericta Lina Pabello Jovita B. Dano Se Kai Raymundo Ko Kim Ton O. Lim Victor Lim Cue Murphy C. Chu William Chua Cu Manuel Tang Chua Antonio Chua Dy Ching Bing......I met Tony Dy Ching Bing during the LAL Foundation where I got invited. He can locate some Chinese schoolmates of ChE'66. Maybe some of our American based batchmate still remember Tony. Tony was PP of NAMA.......Eldy Yu Tong Chiang Kwong Antonio Cheng Co Rolando de Guzman Jimmy Gasmen Oliver Please add Jimmy Oliver to the Google Groups. He was an "H Square Country Club" regular. Thanks. Rene Romana Pineda Canlas Romeo Sto. Tomas Cardema Florentina Frianeza Cariaga

GRADUATES OF CLASS 1966 OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMISTRY Lolita Tierra Amandy Amparo Ramirez Bautista Maribeth Isturis Abitang Gloria Ylaya Amper (deceased) For those of you who worry ,or my soul,Be it known that it has found it's place; The soul is made of God,and God is everywhere: And in the passing I can finally find,the answers to the many questions why; My life and other lives before the last,I view them as a movie or a dream: I see the things I should have done and didn't do, Reflect on things done well and love i've shared; For all of those who loved me,love me still,and love each other even when it's hard to do; And you will feel my love come shinning through, For God is in the soul of me and you, and God is everywhere: So am I gone? Your eyes ,they may not see, The physical reflection,known as me: A fleeting thought of me may cross your mind And if you reach beyond the boundary line ,that holds your conscious thought,there I will be:For only in the passing do we grow to know,the meaning of the life that let us go; Love is the only thing that matters there or here. http://thelittlelogcabin.homestead.com/YouAreAMiracle.html Idabel Dinguinbayan Bernabe Alicia Crecencia Cruzado Evelyn Trajano Bustamante Evangelina Ybanez Caracena Vilma Mendoza de Villa DOLORES PAGKALINAWAN CARLOS CARMELITA JUCO DIMABUYU TERESITA BILAN BINLAYO JULIETA TIONCO CASTILLO ALICIA RAYMUNDO DINGAL EVANGELINE VALERIO DIOKNO MEDINA ORTEGA ESPIRITU CRISTINA TOH ENRIQUEZ TERESA QUIBUS FAJARDO JOVENCIO BALBUENA FAJARITO PERLA TAMPOYA RABONZA ELNA SANTONIL GAUDIER AURORA A. KAW EDITHA RELUCIO ILUSTRISIMO ROWENA JAVIER LANDAS CARMENCITA TUAZON MARTIN SALVADOR DAMASO LIM ANASTACIA LEE ONG NEMECIO USMAN PAYAWAL, JR. ZENAIDA CORTEZ PALAYPAY FAISOUX WARLINA C. LIMUANGCO VICTORY QUIBAEL PRUDENTINO ROSALIE SIBAL SUMILANG Remember Rosalie Sumilang (BSCHEM). She is a constant companion of Dionisia Rodriguez. She used to resides at San Francisco but went home for good. Her married name is Rosalie "Leah" Carbuso and her phone no. in the Philippines is ....... Those were the only information I have. She is also in our annual book. NILDA DESIDERIO FULGENCIO DIONISIA SAN JOSE RODRIGUEZ SONIA SALES SALES MENDOZA LEONIDA BULAONG PEREZ MAGDALENA CRUZ ROQUE ERLINDA MARBELLA SERRANO JOVITA SY DALLA TAGALA TUMANG PATROCINIO CRUZ TRINIDAD CONCORDIA LUCIA VALLADOLID JULITA DE JESUS YU Ofelia Pada Nicasio Alvarez Salazar Herminia Joson Umagat Hospicio Vibar Jr. Josie Gutierrez...... Go to a new link entitled "Time Goes By So Swiftly" to see the story of Class 66 today http://docs.google.com/View?docID=0AbSKFJbhkdbKZGM3ODU4OW5fMTc5Z3czYnQ2ajk&revision=_latest Contains enlarged pictures and will take a bit to load.....ASC Gregorio L. Manalo Amy Pareja Eduardo Serrano Reyes Romeo Cordero Landig Roberto Sta. Ines Go to a new link entitled "Time Goes By So Swiftly" to see the story of Class 66 today http://docs.google.com/View?docID=0AbSKFJbhkdbKZGM3ODU4OW5fMTc5Z3czYnQ2ajk&revision=_latest Contains enlarged pictures and will take a bit to load.....ASC Erlinda Ubeda Carmen Panlaqui Jayme Carlita Alo Jumangit Tessie Pablo Jovero Ramon Jugado Valencia Go to a new link entitled "Time Goes By So Swiftly" to see the story of Class 66 today http://docs.google.com/View?docID=0AbSKFJbhkdbKZGM3ODU4OW5fMTc5Z3czYnQ2ajk&revision=_latest Contains enlarged pictures and will take a bit to load.....ASC Me Me Lim Wong Esmylina Decano Santos Julius Belleza Trinidad Lobenaria Sumbila Francisco de Leon de la Cruz Celia Go Co Bernardo Manankil David Romeo Tandico Maurera.....Lives in Vallejo Calif. Picture of Romeo Maurera Circa 1993 Rebecca Monroy Cruz Erlinda Lao Dizon Liberato Ipapo Ipapo Estrella Tuazon Benjamin Sy Gan Lucena Maderazo Dimaano Juanita de Leon Isidro Rita Uy Siy Aurora A. Kaw Sue (Baby) Sumallo, This was taken at San Pablo Reservoir Memorial Weekend 1993 before the group proceeded to El Dorado Hills about 95 miles away. Pi de Leon, Amelita Chua, Ismael I., ? Liz Guinhawa, Vinluan Las Vegas Reunion see the Rome Reunion of 2007 http://picasaweb.google.com/samsondelpilar/Rome2007ReunionPhotos ............ASC FRANCISCO MANALO....CLASS ChE 66 . . . Every year, as summertime nears it seems, An announcement arrives in the mail, A reunion is planned; it'll be really grand; Make plans to attend without fail....ASC Manny Genato, Francisco Manalo, Alexander C. THE CLASS ChE 66 GRAND REUNIONS . . . Every year, as summertime nears it seems, An announcement arrives in the mail, A reunion is planned; it'll be really grand; Make plans to attend without fail....ASC Pablo L. Gravador Picture of the whole group with Gravador's family entourage on his right side, our left side. Never saw him again. The same with Maurera Vicente Reyes.....The latest and the greatest? Pictures of Enteng in his place at Phoenix, Arizona....Jimmy A Rome Reunion Photo by Ismael Almost time to say Goodbye 1991 Reunion see the Rome Reunion http://picasaweb.google.com/samsondelpilar/Rome2007ReunionPhotos ............ASC     Check marks,... those who took and passed the board exams in Jan. 1967 It is very sad to know that many Pilipinos are not over the prejudice against blacks and the stereo-type of blacks are still very well in the minds of many. I know many Pilipinos who readily embraced Hillary as their candidate, but find all kinds of excuses why they can not switch allegiance to Obama. and I personally think the excuses were lame and most of them were just embarrased to admit that the color of Obama's skin is stopping them from casting their votes for him. This is a very historic election and all I ask of everybody is to weigh the issues and study the candidates and what they stand for. Please do not let the gender or color of their skin sway you. Do not decide this election on a single issue. The quality of life is important to all of us and it is guaranteed in the Constitution. But no matter what you believe in, please do not forget to cast your vote. Remember, many have sacrificed plenty so we can have this priviledge. Nini Rodriguez Dionisia Rodriguez Chow Finally!!!!!!!Slowly....chew.... more than swallow. Mely Calueng, Clarita, Dionisia, ?, back me, Fely Chow Finally!!!!!!!Slowly....chew.... more than swallow. This was taken at San Pablo Reservoir Memorial Weekend 1993 before the group proceeded to El Dorado Hills about 95 miles away. Irene Meneses, Ermelinda Apolinar, Edna Uybarretta, Dida Sanchez Irene Dacumos Meneses Hey Oldtimer..... Good to hear from you again. Sorry am not in the tard or tired zone yet....perhaps next year. We hope to see you in Rome next year. I will probably be flying out of Chicago with Clarita and from the looks of it, we shall be spending a couple of days in Rome prior to the cruise. I was in Rome again a couple of years ago and visited with my cousin priest who was rector at one of the colegios (dorm for priests that go to school in Rome). We stayed at the guest quarters and had our meals with all the priests in that residence. What a great experience.....our tour guides were priests, took public transportation and so we blended quite well with the Romans. Indeed, it was a vacation of a lifetime!... Irene Picture of the whole group with Gravador's family entourage on his right side, our left side. Never saw him again. The same with Maurera Amparo Aurallo Idabel Bernabe Pagulayan Alicia Cruzado Evangeline Diokno Nilda Fulgencio My High School classmate at the University of the Philippines Preparatory High School class of 1961....ASC My High School classmate at the University of the Philippines Preparatory High School class of 1961....ASC My High School classmate at the University of the Philippines Preparatory High School class of 1961....ASC Jovencio Fajarito Dahlia Tumang Carmencita Tuazon Martin Nemesio Usman Payawal Jr. Editha Relucio Ilustrisimo Rowena Javier Landas Zenaida Palaypay Faissoux Salvador Damaso Lim Severino Sabiniano Parinas Jr. Leonida Bulaong Perez Warlina Limguangco Rosalie Sibal Sumilang....ROSALIE SIBAL SUMILANG Remember Rosalie Sumilang (BSCHEM). She is a constant companion of Dionisia Rodriguez. She used to resides at San Francisco but went home for good. Her married name is Rosalie "Leah" Carbuso and her phone no. in the Philippines is ....... Those were the only information I have. She is also in our annual book...J Alcantara Anastacia Lee Ong Magdalena Cruz Roque Erlinda Marbella Serrano Jovita Sy Patricinio Trinidad Lolita Amandy Concordia Valladolid Julita de Jesus YU Vilma Mendoza de Villa Dolores Pagkalinawan Carlos Carmelita Juco Dimabuyu Teresita Bilan Binlayo Julieta Tionco Castillo Alicia Raymundo Dingal Medina Ortega Espiritu Cristina Toh Enriquez Teresa Quibus Fajardo Perla Tampoya Rabonza Elna Santonil Gaudier Las Vegas Reunion see the Rome Reunion of 2007 http://picasaweb.google.com/samsondelpilar/Rome2007ReunionPhotos ............ASC What instinct forces man to journey on, Urged by a longing blind but dominant! One ship sails East, And another West, By the self-same winds that blow, Tis the set of the sails And not the gales, That tells the way we go. Can it be that it was all so simple then Or has time rewritten every line If we had the chance to do it all again, tell me, would we, could we To The Class of '66, We are on to the last chapter of our life. As we age and on to the golden years it is best to embolden our ties that was put on hold because of our priorities to our families. My retirement since 2005 has been wonderful, and hopefully, you are successful in yours. We thank God, that we aquired the education and training in our special profession; The chance to prosper in a land of peace and plenty. Now with the economy on the rocks, it is far arduous and difficult to get to where we are. We prevailed the struggles, temptations, and retreats. To whom much is given, much is expected - Luke 12:48. It is therefore fitting for us blessed, to keep faith with our beloved country. Hopefully, you are all enjoying every moment in this road of life. It was preordained that we should part and be reunited. Death is just a transition and not the end, no regrets. To departed friends, Joe Lladones, Manuel Francisco and others, we will meet again, somehow, someday, somewhere. ASC The summer sun is sinking low; Only the tree-tops redden and glow: Only the weathercock on the spire Of the neighboring church is a flame of fire; All is in shadow below. When you are old and gray and full of sleep, And nodding by the fire, take down this book, And slowly read, and dream of the soft look Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep; How many loved your moments of glad grace, And loved your beauty with love false or true; But one, loved the pilgrim soul in you, And loved the sorrows of your changing face.

Plaza Cervantes entering Binondo from Jones Bridge

Iconic Uy-chaco bldg now the Philtrust bldg. at the corner)

Chinatown, Manila

ENLARGED PHOTOS

A reflection of Class 66 in the Milestones of Life as time marches on..... ASC

A Psalm of Life

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
  Life is but an empty dream! ?
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
  And things are not what they seem.
Life is real!  Life is earnest!
  And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
  Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
  Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
  Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
  And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
  Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world's broad field of battle,
  In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
  Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!
  Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,--act in the living Present!
  Heart within, and God o'erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
  We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
  Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
  Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
  Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
  With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
  Learn to labor and to wait.....HWL

I have collected tidbits and stats from  our college years from colleagues, mostly  pictures  depicting our field trips from Balara to Bagiuo, to our oath taking as newly registered chemical engineers, and finally to our latest pictures of today in our 60's. It did not seem much before, as I mused over the letters and e-mails, but collectively the combination of the pictures and the words became alive. Now, in my mature years, I  look back to the days gone by. I relish the memories, and then marvel at how far we have gone forward the milestones and challenges. These we should be proud off to share with every classmate .......... The year 2008 makes the 42nd anniversary of our class. From this inauspicious beginnings we rose as one group of individuals  in our chosen profession within the mother country and our beloved USA. We became a part of a huge extended family, no matter the miles that separate us, yet find unity in a common experience and purpose.. Forever classmates....ASC

It is autumn; not without, but within me is the cold.
Youth and spring are all about; It is I that have grown old.
Birds are darting through the air, singing, building without rest;
Life is stirring everywhere, save within my lonely breast...HWL

Boy Dakita's picture was taken 15 years ago during our reunion in NJ. This is the last photo I have of him. I tried to do the best I can for Boy. I know he will be happy up there to know that he is thought of dearly..............­.....Tony A

Here's another photo I found from our Baguio field trip - circa 1966. My guess is from L to R, top to bottom: Ben Asis, Lando Castillo, Nato Dimayuga, Merle Briones, Sheila Tempongko, Meny Reyes Banares, Lilia Antonio, Tony Alialy, Me, Pedro Palermo, Rosalina Dirige Corbett, Leonila Coronel, Fe Gana & Rhodora Sarmiento..OscarHThanks for then picture. This was taken in 1966. The reason I remember is because, in the picture I was in black because my grandmother died in 1966. Thanks for identifying ulit. The lady next to Fe Gana is Clarita Sarmiento. Regards, Sheila

Firstwe were young; then we were middle age; then we are old; then we will be wonderfullSeated: 1-ASC C, 2- Tony Diza, 3(back) Oliver Masil, 4-Alwayne Carino, 5-Jess Bustria, 7(back) Rudy Jose, 8-Oscar Santos, 9(back) Romy Reyes ;Standing: 1-Rick, 2-Beda Bera, 3(back) Rene Rivera, 4-Greg Alcaraz, 5-Leon Delos Santos, 7-Ismael, 8-Rudy Banares, 9-Eddie Antonio,10-Mike Bernardino. This was taken at the Balara Water Treatment works. This photo is also linked with http://picasaweb.­google.com/ismael.­ifurung/MITGroup Most have been posted before in MyFamily.com ; some are from Jerry Ada and from Rene Rivera............

This photo was given to me by Rosalina D. Corbett many years ago, showing the oath taking of newly registered Chemical Engineers. This was taken sometime June 24, 1967 in Makati, Sarmiento bldg. From far left is Jose Catibog, me, Reynaldo Santos, Maximillan Ui, Audie Vergara, Florencio Roxas, Lorna M. Jereza, Rosalina Derige Corbett, Oscar Santos, Rey Sequerra, Celso Chua, Romeo Olalia..............­..........ASC

The Brothers Alpha Phi Omega (APO) Fraternity of the Delta Chapter Philippines circa 1966, from L # 3 - kneeling, me, my back Cesar Frias ChE68, 4-kneeling, Warlito Boquiren ChE66, his back, Jose Catibog ChE66, Advisor Prof. Sevilla and daughter. Standing on the far left the brother of Rosalina Corbett. More than 350,000 members have joined Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity since it's founding, at 366 college campuses here in the US alone, not counting other countries. Our mission is to prepare campus and community leaders through service. Our purpose is to develop leadership, to promote friendship and to provide service to humanity............­....ASC

1964 Recuerdo of old Manila, the path to Doroteo Jose campus & Intramuros

1966 Graduation from College  and time to reflect the next path of life Top Hits of 1966 The Hippie Generation Vietnam War Protest Quest for Advanced Studies in the US

THE YEAR WAS 1966

This was taken in 1963 on top of the FEU bldg. to commemorate the new Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineering Students (PICHES) then, I was a junior and the seniors like Mely Calueng and Bobby Casrto are sitted at the middle. Alwayne Carino is far left, then me, the rest like Alcaraz, Mitz are the only ones I recognized from this badly focused monochrome..........­...ASC

Hello Everyone, I have an old picture taken 40 years ago. I want to bring it to date to show how we look at present. I have all faces from the old picture superimposed with the exception of Juanita Isidro. Unless I get in touch with her I will not be able to complete my project. Has anybody seen my old friend, Juanita? If you do, please send me her address so I can ask for her latest photo. I bet that you too are anxious to see how she looks this time. I can only imagine that she looks better now just like all the ladies in the picture. I tell you these girls really know how to reverse the aging process. They all age gracefully and get better over the years just like vintage wine. I am attaching the pictures THEN and NOW and you be the judge. Looking forward to hearing from you. ..............Tony A ...........................The list shows the graduates of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. The exuberance of my youth showed in the check marks after the names of candidates who took the ChE Board exams on Jan 9, 1967 and passed. It does not reflect the ability of others who took the same examination later. As engineers, we will later find out, that street smarts will be the better gauge on how we reached our individual goals in life................­.............­Alexander The exciting 60's brought the most change and maybe the last innocent decade of our generation

Seated: 1-Bing Eugenio, 2-Eddie Antonio, 3-?, 4-?, 5-Rene Rivera, 6-Maurit Pugeda, 7-?, 8-Ismael Ifurung Kneeling: 1-Manny Francisco, 2-?, 3-Alvin Carino, 4-Pol Calimbas, 5-Oliver Masil ; Standing: 1-Ben Chan,2-?, 3-?, 4-Romy Reyes,Leon DelosSantos, 6-Joe Lladones, 7-Rick Dimalanta, 8-Walter Cajipe, 9-Quintan Tan, 10-Mike Bernardino, 11-Greg Alcaraz, 12-Greg Nidoy

1992-New Jersey: Meny & Rudy, Boy Nidoy, Lulu delos Reyes, Dida Mago, Rene Rivera, ?, Rey Gaspar, Rick Dimalanta, ?, ? below Manuel

Francisco, Francisco de la Cruz, Rebecca Monroy Cruz

AUGUST 1969 Woodstock Remembered

http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourworld/articles/remembering_woodstock.html

It’s hard to believe that 40 years ago, our generation made a profound statement against the

establishment. I was new in this country, and was not able to grasp the significance of that

exciting time.

The political upheavel and dramatic changes in the country was so well documented in the music of that period. The youth knew so well, that our country was going in the wrong path...against the grains of their elders, and then produced the most iconic countercultural event of the mid-20th century.

"The Boomers turn 60." The material I borrowed from the cover of the November 14, 2005 issue of the "New Week" Magazine. I thought this would be a great theme for our CHE Class '66. After all we are the Baby Boomers. I also thought it would be a good idea to have us, Classmates, most if not all, grouped in one picture. I replaced the pictures of the celebrities (http://mywebpages.­comcast.net/­iifurung/mit2003.­htm) taken during the Grand Reunion in 2003. Some came from Clarita taken during the cruise and some from my archive. If your picture is small and not clear and you are not pleased with it, just send me an electronic copy of your favorite recent photo and I will replace it. For our classmates if you are interested in being added, please send me electronic copy of your picture. I will revise this cover or I can start a new cover page depending on the number of pictures I receive. Please let me know if I missed anyone from the Class of '66 group pictures. I hope you like this cover. Regards, Tony........1st Row, L to R: ______; ______; Hernando Cruz; Rudy Banares; Cip Buendia; _______2nd Row, L to R: Meny Reyes Banares; Clarita Aragones Albertson; Tony Alialy; Jess Bustria; Lorna Jereza; Tessie Gardon Graham.3rd Row: Manny Genato; Pol Calimbas; Frame; Alexander Custodio; Minda Corpuz Vinluan; Marlo Mascarina.
6th Row & Bottom Rows (Mixed): Dionisia Rodriguez; __; ; _; Tessie Amigo Uniza; ; Irene Dacumos Meneses; Alice delos Angeles Carnero; ; ; Pi de Leon: ; ; Pi de Leon; Regina Bermudez Cruz; ; ;  ..........This is my ongoing project.  It is not quite complete yet and I do not know if I will ever complete it.  I tried to lift pictures mostly from what Ismael sent during the reunion of 2003, some from the Cruise picture that Clarita sent, some from Jimmy and some from my archive.  I am still lacking a lot more.  I would like to fill it up with our classmates' pictures as much as I can but this is all that is available.  There are some more of our classmates from the pictures that Ismael sent but I cannot use them.  The faces are too small especially from the group picture of class'66 that when I increase the size the resolution suffers.  Does of any of you still have some more of our classmates' pictures that are not yet included here.  If so, please send me electronic copies.  I can squeeze in at least a dozen or more.  If it turned out to be more, then I can start a new cover and spread them out in to two covers.  Ismael, please tell me if I missed anybody (from Class '66) from the pictures you sent (not counting the group picture of Class'66).  Rudy and Meny, you must  have some pictures during the Reunion of 2003.  If you find pictures of those who are not yet in the cover, please send them to me.  Ismael, Clarita, Jimmy and Alex do you have some more individual or small group pictures?   I want very much to include Sheila so we have reps from the Phil aside from Fil and Jun.  What is her email address?  I do not want to send this yet to the MIT Class'66 email.  I do not want some of our classmates to feel that they are left out....Tony A

1991 Reunion the second day at Buena Park, a whole day affair, inside the Pavilon on the stage a vantage point, eyeing what's going on, below Timothy Villanueva resides in Sugarland, Texas works with Flour Engineers

Above standing Cesar Jaranilla, Tim Villanueva, Mike B., Resty Mandap, Pugeda, Guinhawa hidden, Nidoy, Narcy Encarnacion, Pol Calimbas, seated Pi de Leon, Jess Bustria and Unite rising

Jess Bustria, Ted Unite and Mike Bernardino. Below Raymond Corbet husband of Fely Derige, ASC and Pi de Leon at Lilia's place in 1993

Dark is the morning with mist; in the narrow mouth of the harbor
  Motionless lies the sea, under its curtain of cloud;
Dreamily glimmer the sails of ships on the distant horizon,
  Like to the towers of a town, built on the verge of the sea.

Ah! what pleasant visions haunt me as I gaze upon the sea!
All the old romantic legends, all my dreams, come back to me.

Sails of silk and ropes of sandal, such as gleam in ancient lore;
And the singing of the sailors, and the answer from the shore!

On the dim and misty lakes gloriously the morning breaks,
   And the eagle's on his cloud: -whilst the wind, with sighing, wooes
To its arms the chaste cold ooze, and the rustling reeds pipe loud.

Kind messages, that pass from land to land;
  Kind letters, that betray the heart's deep history,
In which we feel the pressure of a hand,--
  One touch of fire,--and all the rest is mystery! ...Malaya your letters are welcomed!!

Anaheim Reunion in 1991 above.....San Pablo Reservoir Mini Reunion below 1993 .....Florencio Guinhawa standing far right.....

To the Alumni: In response to the question of Regina regarding the squatters and the gangsters,.....let me assure her that there is still a lot of squatters hovering around Metro Manila,...... under the bridges, along the highways and whereever there is free space to build their shacks.  Didn't notice much though along Roxas Blvd, but there are some before you reach the Mall of Asia last January, 2006 when I was there.  From 1996 - 2000, I was in Manila every 2 months. I had been a die hard "balikbayan" every year for the last 10 years.  Some things have changed in the Philippines for the better, but not everything can be changed or can maintain / sustain the change.  So far, I have not been  a victim of any crimes (knock on wood).  I think one of the reasons is my ability to blend well with the local scenery or I am just plain very lucky.  December 2006, I am again on my way for a 4-week vacation to Manila.

Rest assure also that the squatters and the gangsters are not the sole "trademark" of the poverty of the Philippines.  Lest you travelled a very sheltered life in your later years, the homeless and the gangsters are a common denominator where poverty still exists around the world.  I had seen homeless people by the Bridge of Sigh in Venice, along the rue of  Paris, and along the canals of Amsterdam. India, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and even in the thriving metropolis of the America, you can find the homeless living in squalor and there is always the perpetuity of criminal acts.  Even in cosmopolitan cities, pickpocketing is a way of life by some ethnic groups in Paris, or Rome and maybe from some Parisiennes or Italians.  Poverty forces people to commit petty crimes.

To make known the fear of being held up while you are in Manila during the reunion makes you a victim of paranoia.  Every evening,  in the cities of the USA, crimes are the newsworthy broadcasts on television.  And if you haven't heard, pickpockets also exists inside the more prosperous malls of the US.  I hope that by the time you embark on the reunion, you will have the feeling of security with your surroundings in Manila.

Based on your recollection of 1960 and 1970 impressions, I beg you not to sterotype those who commit mindless crimes today in Manila because they form the smallest minority of the 80 million hardworking Filipinos.  Come to Manila and enjoy the company of your classmates and rest assure that you will be very, very safe.  Just remember.... don't venture into a place where you are not supposed to be. ...Florencio Guinhawa

Our  love for the outdoors always reflect in the venues for our mini reunions. Above was in San Pablo Reservoir located in El Sobrante California in May of 1993.  Maurera left most above, Pi de Leon, Leony Matulac and Gravador, were present at this reunion, and the first time we saw the latter two in 28 years. Maurera lived in Vallejo and Gravador in San Francisco, where he owned an auto shop.                                                  

Here is another album for us to store in our happy memories about our escapades when we were younger then on our way to El Dorado Hills. Some pictures of Rosalina's devoted husband were included entertaining our group Circa 1992. Some taken in Vallejo at Lilia Antonio's residence around 1993, and the earliest were taken during our 1991 Reunion. Most of these pictures were given to me by various classmates over the years. In recompense here they are for you to enjoy......Rolando Balatbat below...whereabouts unknown.

Lilia Antonio..... right at Rancho Cordova Park in a mini reunion in 1992...Warlito Boquiren APO brother (deceased)..........

Thanks for the sympathies that ye have shown!
  Thanks for each kindly word, each silent token,
That teaches me, when seeming most alone,
  Friends are around us, though no word be spoken.

I shall not return. And night, mildly warm, serene and silent, will lull the world, under beams of its solitary moon. My body will not be there, and through the wide-open window, a refreshing breeze will come inquiring for my soul. I don't know if any await the end of my double absence, or who will kiss my memory amidst caresses and weeping. But, there will be stars and flowers, there will be sighs and hopes, and love in the avenues in the shadows of the trees. And that piano will be playing as in this untroubled night, and no one there to listen, pensive, by my window frame. Warlito "Warlock" Boquiren,

Oscar, thank you for the wake up call. All along I thought I am the only sole whistler among classmates. I will republish it to my global community....ASC

"There is a crisis approaching the United States. This crisis is looming on the horizon and much like a train in the distance, soon it will be upon us. The video link below is a "60 Minutes" interview with David M. Walker, the former U.S. Comptroller General with the Government Accounting Office (GAO). The piece is about twelve minutes in length. I hope that you'll take the time to view it, then pass this on to others. Next take a little more time to write your Congressman and Senators and in your own words express your concern about our nation's deficit spending and
the dire need to return to a balanced budget. If something isn't done about this problem then by 2040 the country that you love, the country that you have served will be financially bankrupt.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7461407498377956300&q=David+...

The United States of America will be in deep trouble in the next five to ten years unless something is done now. Most U.S. citizens either don't realize or don't care about the financial health of our nation. The  Roman Empire made the same mistakes that our government is making right now. The Roman Empire failed because of her decadence, fiscal irresponsibility and overstretched sphere of military conquest. They say that those who are ignorant of history are
doomed to repeat it. I hope that our democracy doesn't fail. Thank you.  ....Oscar  Holgado"

There are times when God uses storms in our lives that He may draw us closer to Him. Our God does not sit still when the storm is too strong. Yes, our God lets us get frightened enough to need Him and then come close enough to see Him and experience His wonderful love. We are confident that your faith in Him will hasten your recovery. He is a Master Surgeon, a Great Physician and above all our Creator. He will surely touch and heal you according to His blessed will. Listen to what David said on Psalm 139: “ For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother’s womb, I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well. How precious are Thy thoughts to me, Oh God! How vast is the sum of them.” My husband had been there….went through a triple by-pass last May 10, 2002. The good Lord had restored his health and we are praying He will restore yours. “Casting all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you.” I Peter 5:7. Take care and sweet regards to you and your family, Lorna

around September 1993 with Lorna Jereza and Marissa. Ladies never grow old, nor change, nor pass away!
   Your gentle voices will flow on forever, when life grows bare and tarnished with decay,
  As through a leafless landscape flows a tribulet.

above Taken May 2005 Portugal Cruise..................... ....Sweet the memory is to me........ Of a land beyond the sea, Where the waves and mountains meet, Where the merchants with their wares, And their gallant brigantines .......Sailing safely into port .....below Leonila, Clarita, Rosalina, our Cesar Jaranilla, me and Timothy in Vallejo (11/92) at Lilia Antonio's house.

Dearest Friends, Please pardon my less than prompt response to your emails, but given the situation and circumstance at hand, I'm sure that you all understand. I am extremely thankful and grateful for all of your support and prayers during these trying times; all your love and compassion inspires everyone in the family to remain vigilant and strong when it is most necessary. As of the moment, Jun is steadily recovering from the aneurysm. Although he temporarily needs the aid of a trache and a gastro-intestinal tube for now, all the signs of his health hopefully is an indication that he will eventually recover from his condition. Soon, he will be transferred to Rancho Los Amigos rehab center, which is known to have a 95% success rate. When he is transferred there, it will be okay to finally visit him if you wish to do so. I will inform everyone when this time comes. On another note, I have learned of Mike Bernandino's health condition, and I offer my prayers and support for him. He will remain in my thoughts as a dear friend to my husband and myself . Once again, I want to express my love and gratitude to everyone who has offered their support and prayers to Jun, myself, and my family. They stir in the depths of my heart and are felt by Jun and the rest my family. Again,  thank you very much. Lucy Dijamco

With Jun and Lucy Dijamco in Messina (06/07).....picture below.....The Temple of Saturn (Latin: Templum Saturni or Aedes Saturnus) is a monument to the agricultural deity Saturn, that stands at the western end of the Forum Romanum in Rome. It represents the oldest-surviving foundation in that area, having been established between 501 and 498 BC. Some sources attributes it to the King Tarquinius Superbus, others to Lucius Furius, although the latter dedication could belong to a reconstruction after the fire set by the Gauls (early 4th century BC). It was also called 'Aerarium', because the Roman national treasure was kept there. The temple marks the beginning of the Clivus Capitolinus, the old road that takes you up the hill of the Capitol.   http://picasaweb.google.com/samsondelpilar/Rome2007ReunionPhotos  ............ASC

With Regina and Elmer Cruz....... next picture above...The white marble Arch of Septimius Severus at the northeast end of the Roman Forum is a triumphal arch erected in AD 205 to commemorate the Parthian victories of Emperor Septimius Severus and his two sons, Caracalla and Geta, in the two campaigns against the Parthians of 195 and 203. After the death of Septimius Severus, his sons Caracalla and Geta were initially joint emperors. Caracalla had Geta assassinated in 212; Geta's memorials were destroyed and all images or mentions of him were removed from public buildings and monuments. Accordingly Geta's image and inscriptions referring to him were removed from the arch.........We should learn to conserve and save more energy and do more effort to do so. Americans are spoiled of all the abundance of food and energy here as compared to some other nations. Other countries are already experiencing this high cost of food and energy for a long time. Are we
luckier or better of than the rest of the world? We have more freedom and security here in America as compared to somewhere else, and this is what we should teach to our counterparts in the Philippines. Best regards to all...More inputs... Rock your vote in November.. We need more security...Regina........

We should rally against the president to abort the war and not condone the attack. Israel is looking for trouble. They should make friends
with their neighboring countries, instead of making war/enemies to their neighbors and the world. Millions were killed, expelled, from Germany and Europe during world war two and this should not happen again. NO MORE WARS. Let there be PEACE on EARTH. The innocent people and the soldiers are the ones who suffer the most, not the crazy president or leaders who are just pursuing their evil agenda and egos. The truth is Israel has nuclear weapons according to ex-president Jimmy Carter when he was interviewed by the press last month, that's why Israel is very vulnerable to launch an attack to Iran. We should be producing more food
to eat and not nuclear weapons to kill us all. We should produce more staple foods (rice, corn, beans, fruits,vegetables, etc.)to feed all the hungry people in the world and reduce the price of food everywhere. Here in Sacramento, California (CALROSE rice) the farmers are producing good volume of rice and that is great for us here in the US. According to your email below "global rice panic", the rice eating people in Asia and north/south America are experiencing rice problem or shortage and the prices went higher or doubled. We need some inputs to all or some of the crisis in the world. We must become the change to change the world like Gandhdi said below in his proverb. We need good leaders who can lead our nation USA and also the Philippines who can lead the 80+ million people and dedicated enough
to stop corruption, abuse of power, equal justice for everyone, and promote peace and order. ......Regina

On May 6,2007  Sunday, our anniversary, we were lucky to be docked in Venice for 2 days. My grandson, Jose,15, arranged through the internet with the monsignor at the Basilica di San Marco to have our mass there. The monsignor was very accommodating and we were reserved a special place in the church. I heard our names mentioned three times (the mass was in Italian) and after the mass people greeted Boy and me congratulating us. During the dinner that night, the Filipino chef prepared lechon for our table and the Filipino chefs and waiters came out to greet us (special treatment talaga from our kababayans). We had 2 delicious cakes!..Sonia Mendoza

Thank you very much for your concern for our country. We always emphasize forest denudation in all our seminar/workshops in ecological waste management and its adverse effects to our environment like global warming, desertification, floods, siltation of water bodies, water supply,etc.  We outline the denudation since 1900 (forest cover then was 70% but Rizal already had misgivings). According to Fr. Walpole of the Ateneo and the Manila Observatory, the Philippines will have only 8% of its forest cover in 2010. The present forest cover is 12%.

The DENR suspended the logging permits in the Aurora/Quezon area when the devastating flood happened in December 2004. But these permits have been given back. The loggers are back to their merry making. Enrile has been given back his permit by senatoriable Mike Defensor when he was DENR secretary, to log in the protected area of Samar . Only the loud protests of the church and community is preventing Enrile to resume logging there. The economics of our government officials is very lopsided and twisted. The communities working in the logging areas should be given incentives to work in agriculture. We cannot even have a sufficient supply of rice but communities are lured to work for logging and mining companies!

Mother Earth Foundation (MEF) and other NGOs like Haribon, Miriam Peace and many others have advocated a log ban for at least 25 years and at most 50 years to give time for our forests to recover. Logging whether legal and illegal has no place in our country which has been ravaged by greedy loggers (legal and illegal). When you cut a full grown tree in the forest, you cannot replace this by 100 trees because of the diversity lost and the water-holding capacity of the full grown tree. This tree will also release all the toxic elements it has absorbed in its system.

The wood and furniture industry can wait until our country has recovered its forest cover. The furniture industry can use materials other than wood in their manufacturing process. We have to “bite the bullet” if we want to survive. We can still export furniture made of other materials. If the buyer wants wood, then they can buy from other countries that can still use wood in their furniture industry. Ciao and all the best, Sonia

"The Young and the 'Careless' (Restless)." Taken somewhere in Upstate, NY more than 35 years ago. Standing L to R: Meny, Rudy, Ben, Nando & Cesar Sitting L to R: Tony, Romy Merhan (ChE'65), Hernando de Vera Cruz left photo (ChE'66) I still live in Southern California (Chino Hills). Worked for ARCO for about 18 years. Left in 2001 after the merger with BP and now working for my relative (sister-in-law).Regards,Nando Cruz

ON EDUCATION OF  CHILDREN BY J. DIJAMCO.....I spent for all my kids who had their college education in the Philippines,. but for those who had theirs here, Uncle Sam  advanced the payments via educational loan with my promise to my children to pay their loan after they finish; but none of them, luckily, wanted me to pay their loan after they get employed.; they insist they pay the loan themselves. I always advise other parents to do the same, so they won't sacrifice a lot; and what if the child did not finish, the saving goes down the drain; but in this manner, Uncle Sam may be the loser, if the child didn't finish and the child can't pay back the loan.

I provided all my children with functional second hand cars that were estimated to last till they finish their course.or for those who had their college in PI till they were able to estabblish themselves.here. Car is not
a luxury in the LA area; it is a necessity. Our youngest son who is now graduating, is the only one who got a brand new car, not after high school, but after our old car he was using had gone beyond its economic use. Her mom insisted on a brand new car, a scion..As always, I say, "Amen."

Jun ........BELOW PICTURES OF DANNY ODULIO with OSCAR AND JUN and respective wives in Davao

The Library of Celsus, whose façade has been carefully reconstructed from all original pieces, was built ca. 125 B.C.E. by Gaius Julius Aquila in memory of his father, and once held nearly 12,000 scrolls. Designed with an exaggerated entrance -- so as to enhance its perceived size, speculate many historians -- the building faces east so that the reading rooms could make best use of the morning light. An underground tunnel, marked by the simple figures of a woman, a heart, and a price, leads from the library to a nearby building believed to have been a drinking establishment or brothel............

Samson del Pilar, A gallant lad, In sunshine and in shadow, Had journeyed long, Singing a song, In search of Eldorado. But he grew old- That lad so bold- And o'er his heart a shadow Fell as he found No spot of ground That looked like Eldorado. And, as his strength Failed him at length, He met a pilgrim shadow- "Shadow," said he, "Where can it be- This land of Eldorado?" "Over the Mountains Of the Moon, Down the Valley of Sacramento, Ride, boldly ride," The shade replied- "If you seek for Eldorado!".............BELOW PICTURE OF ISMAEL IFURUNG,   AUDIE, RENA VERGARA AND ...MAZO

Lucy and I are very glad to learn that you are interested to visit the neigbouring countries aside from PI come January. Neither Lucy nor I have visited Thailand, China, nor Vietnam; it will be a lot of fun if we can plan a joint tour in Thailand, China, and Vietnam when Angie and you will visit PI. Perhaps we can ask some of our mutual friends/classmates based in PI, like Nanding Salvador, Ed Serra, Boy and Sonia, and Sheila and Fil Villena to join us. and also, some of our classmates, based here in US. Ismael Ifurong, I know, would love to travel to PI. Alex Custodio has never been home since he came to US. Probably we can drag him and wife, Melissa, along. Yes, Marulo, he is retired too. It will add a lot of fun, if he will join.  

After the cruise in May, I can definitely say the exact date of our the class reunion; and if, it will push throughn or not come January. It will be worth your time and Angie's visiting PI come January, whether or not, the class reunion will push through. Make your vacation 8 weeks, then we can go on tour together, and perhaps with some classmates, most of PI, and visit Thailand, Hongkong, China and Vietnam. Lucy and I have been planning for decades, yes decades, to go around PI and see its beautiful palces and tour our neigbouring countries, but to this time has never materialized. I hope with you and Angie around, it will. I will keep uou posted. Jun
P.S. For those who have the time and especially the retired ones, come and join the fun in PI. ........BELOW PICTURE EVELINA ADLAWAN (CHM67) AND ART ADLAWAN (CE66)............ ABOVE PICTURE OF MARLO, OSCAR AND JUN...NEXT ABOVE.. ARE  POL, ISMAEL, CIP, OSCAR AND MARLO ALL IN LAS VEGAS '03 REUNION,...NEXT BELOW ARE NARCI ENCARNARCION AND WIFE.....NEXT NEXT PICTURE BELOW CIP, POL, LOURDES, ISMAEL

O'er the fair woods the sun looks down upon the many-twinkling leaves,
And twilight's mellow shades are brown, where darkly the green turf upheaves.
The river glides in silence there, and hardly waves the sapling tree:
Sweet flowers are springing, and the air is full of balm, - but where is she!

You have done our class a great service. The blogspot and this email group you put up together will foster greater unity, bonding, and friendship among the
members of our class. I guess, when we were in college, we had our respective groups and did not become close to the others; like for example, Pol and
Clarita, they were very familiar to me then; but we never became close until we met again in the past two class reunions. Many Genato is another example; I
never had any memory of this guy; but like Pol, Clarita, and many others, they are like precious gems I failed to see and recognize during our college days.
I must also confess, you are also one of the familiar face and name, I only knew then. However, this adage say, "late is better than never." I am very glad and
thankful for all the occassions, events, and instruments (like this email group) that make the members of our class become closer and most especially
to the members who spent a lot time and energy in causing those events, occassions, and instruments to happen. .......Jun

Above .....Photo taken March 2005, amongst our MIT friends, from left to right - Fil Villena (stayed in the Phil, but comes to the US twice a year), 1966 Art (family in Phoenix, AZ and lives alone in Akron, Ohio, binata tayo dito), 1966, Efren Afuang (stayed in the Phil), 1965, Ernie Ganuelas (stayed in the Phil, but comes to the US twice a year), 1965 ,Jun Dijamco (back-and-forth Phil & US, lost count on how many times), 1966,Lucy Dijamco, our lovely classmate-in-law. 1966.......I must admit, that I have not been very active putting my little cent here and there, but I do enjoy reading the updates & responses that Carmina and Clarita untiringly email to us, pls keep 'em coming.  I am one of the remaining few, still pounding the pavement everyday for financial reasons.  However, that retirement "carrot" is getting so close that I could almost taste it - perhaps in 2 years or less. ..............Art V.............We are  on to the next chapter of our life. My retirement since last year is so wonderful, and I hope you are successful in getting yours also. I thank God for the bounty we have before us, and the training for our special profession. It is not so easy now to get to this station. As the time pass us by, on to the golden years, it is best to share our friendship that was put on hold because of our immediate priorities to our respective families. It is for this reason, that we need to communicate more, even with just letters and pictures. What you did, sending that photo, rekindles memories, it is a very nice gesture. Keep them coming. I will be on the cruise next May, hopefully, I will see you and your family, like old times again in the Intramuros Quadrangle. Take care and Best Regards,  Alexander

Below......Here's a picture of Cesar, Perlynn, Me, Rudy & Meny at Infanta and Caesar's Palace. And correction, Ismael - it's not just maids - it's two french maids.
ben...........
Ben successfully pulled our balikbayan 08 together even with no detailed plan - making reservations as we went along. Well, with the help of the Lonely Planet travel guide. At one point, we thought we'd be sleeping in the Cebu airport because our hotel reservation had not been confirmed before our flight. Ben, his wife Josie, Meny and I, and Perlynn survived the trip . Ben himself was surprised we were able to do what we originally wanted. Note however that last minute means not the best deal,but amazingly good enough in this instance.
I took Pol Calimbas's advice regarding use of theUS cell phone in the Philippines. Before leaving the US, I requested an unlock code from my cell phone service provider .Pol neglected tosay that this takes a couple of days before you get it.I took the instructions and the code to a cell phone provider in Manila, and the sales girl was able tofollow the instructions (even though she had never done that before), bought and installed a sim card ( all for the equivalent of $1.35), and a load card. The 3 girls shared a room; the 2 guys (the snorers) got another. The housekeeping staff wondered what 2 guys were doing in a room with 1 king-sized bed.When the 3 girls got off the elevator to go to their room which was on a different floor, Ben pointed to me and said to the staff that I was his boyfriend. While shopping for banana, Ben educated me on the difference between latundan and lakatan. I said mine must be tundan; he says, his is saba.You all have to visit Ceasar's Palace in Cabanatuan."Tabo" is obsolete; hose next to the toilet has finally arrived in Pinas. The first fime I encountered the hose was in Rio de Janeiro in 1996. Cesar no longer has to wash dishes nor clean. They have 2 hired help to do that. For their party,several girls in native attire did the serving; I thought they were going to perform too . He will be learning to play on the golf course of their gated community; so, all you golfers, watch out. Last minute reservation in the palace accepted.
Puerto Princesa is surprisingly clean, and residents treat tourists well; not one to try squeeze every cent out of you.The mayor and governor want everyone to understand that tourism is their livelihood. The underground river/cave was incredible and the boat ride to it very scenic - worth the 3+ hour van ride on a bad road. Well, not entirely bad; good portions alternated with bad. Bad sections are where local officials pocketed the money meant for the road. We did get stuck at one point, and the van had to be pulled out of the mud. Since Perlynn and Josie refused to hike, the Tabon Caves were out of the question. So, off to Dos Palmas resort for the day. The resort's employees were great. 3 of us can't snorkel,can't even swim, but they made the visit enjoyable, helped us see beautiful corals and fish. All we had to do was lie face down and they pulled us around. The buffet lunch was good too. definitely worth the 1800 pesos per person day charge. Susie Morales's sister's 50th wedding anniversary celebrationwas a grand affair, but we had to leave before it ended to catch the flight to Cebu. We were impressed by the Sinulog; we watched part of the parade the greater part of the day. Perlynn got bored but stayed anyway. It was hot and humid. Fortunately, we were able to get seats in one of the viewing stands.While waiting for our flight back to Manila, we had a 1-hourmassage by the blind/handicapped for 100 pesos. It was so cheap, I gave a 50% tip. We slept soundly on the flight back; Ben did not need a massage to fall asleep. In Bohol, all 5 of us shared a room. Needless to say, Perlynn was not able to sleep because of Ben's snoring.Bohol's Chocolate Hills are worth a trip. We got a day tour that took us there, with stops to visit caves, and to see tarsiers (5-inch marsupial in the endangered species list).

The drive to Infanta was very scenic. Ben ordered enough food for 2 to 3 babang-luksa. plus we had lots of buko.The Asis family is a celebrity in the town because of all the help they have given the school and the community. At the last minute, Ben, Josie, Perlynn, Susie and her company decided to go to Singapore. By that time there were no more $120 round trip fare, but they were able to get a package deal for $500+.They flew in the morning; our flight was in the afternoon. We were not able to meet up with them. They still have to tell us about theshopping they did. They also managed to go to Kuala Lumpur.Ben, tell us about this part. Also, how did you bring back all the stuff Josie bought ?We went to Cambodia for 8 days while they were in Singapore.The Chinese New Year celebration was in full swing.

Lots of free shows, dragon parade, and a midnight event to ring in the year of the rat. In addition to Singapore's Chinatown (weird for a country that is 75% Chinese), we also went to Little India, the Arab district, and to the Asian Civilizations Museum. The museum is impresive. Unfortunately, the only thing about
the Philippines is a picture of the rice terraces and 2 Moro kris, while there were details on the Malays, the Chinese, and other southeast Asian islands which I had never heard of previously. We got around on bus and subway, and when we got lost, a Pinoy always came to our rescue. One was a 2001 CE Mapua graduate. Pinoys fly to Singapore, and have 1 month to look for a job; then they can stay there permanently.
We had a very hectic schedule, hardly had time to do laundry. But we managed to visit Sheila, as well as Renato. Renato's decision to return to Pinas and work as chief of a regional hospital that handles mainly charity cases is quite admirable, especially since the salary is peanuts compared to what he can make in the US . Now that Ben has experience, perhaps he can quit his day job and plan/manage the next reunion. ...Rudy

In Venice, many of us went to Plaza San Marco by taking the water taxis as soon as our Ship docked.  Did a lot of sightseeing, was able to get inside St. Marks Cathedral and of course some shopping.  But then the rain came pouring down on us and we got wet and by the next day, I lost my voice.  I was hoarse but no pain or sore throat.  It stayed that way until we were back in Rome, then the coughing came, sore throat and all. The tour of Venice with Giorgio started smoothly with only a few late, but everybody showed up with even two extras (I only found out because Giorgio had to rush out and buy two extra tickets).  We had an extra side treat, Giorgio was able to arrange a gondola ride for 20 euros, and 36 pax bought into these, the others were free for shopping.  So after the tour of the magnificent Doge Palace, a W/C stop, we proceeded to the canal site for the gondola ride.  It was then that we found out we were missing Taili and Diana who had paid for the gondola ride.  Ria and I had to take their seats on the last boat and Giorgio went in search for them.  The place was so crowded and packed with people, there is no way one can find them if they are not in the meeting place (unfortunately not established at this point).  The gondola ride was fun, felt and saw all the sites shown in the movies but our gondolier did not serenade us, in fact he was not even Italian, he was Spanish, which was just as well because we were able to communicate a little bit in Spanish.  From there we proceeded to a Murano Glass Factory nearby, saw a demonstration of glass blowing / making and then we were set free in their store of all beautiful glass designs and of course jewelries.  You bet we all had fun shopping.  The girls were into all corners, all the good buys & tips were passed around and the guys just stood patiently watching us.  Some of my classmates were proud that their wives were not into the buying frenzy so I started teasing them, heckling some maybe, but of course it was not their call, since it was their wife’s choice not to buy as they handle the purse, he, he, he. We had to rush back to the boats (bus per Giorgio) as we were running out of time.  Shopping by 74 pax just takes some time.  There was no time to go to the Cathedral or be shown other sights.  I’m glad most of us were there the previous day. After waiting a bit for a missing couple, we finally boarded the water taxis to the Ship but still no Taili & Diana.  They thankfully made it back to the Ship in time as Taili is a seasoned traveler (pro) and knows exactly what to do.....Clarita................................................

White swan of cities, slumbering in thy nest, So wonderfully built among the reeds
Of the lagoon, that fences thee and feeds, As sayeth thy old historian and thy guest!
White water-lily, cradled and caressed By ocean streams, and from the silt and weeds
Lifting thy golden filaments and seeds, Thy sun-illumined spires, thy crown and crest!
White phantom city, whose untrodden street,Are rivers, and whose pavements are the shifting
Shadows of palaces and strips of sky;I wait to see thee vanish like the fleets
Seen in mirage, or towers of cloud uplifting, In air their unsubstantial masonry...HWL

First of all, I would like to thank you both for the unselfish support that you have shared with me on the last day of our cruise. I will never forget Florence and Livorno and the unforgettable experience about catching the last train for Livorno and the breath taking marathon to catch the train and missing the last shuttle to the ship.  Alex, I hope you told Marissa the whole story of our nerve wreching trip to Florence. I thought we will be flying to Rome then to Civitavecchia to catch the ship. Thanks for answered prayers.  We made it even to the dinner. Alex,   you are such a kind, and patient friend. I wish I had more chance to be around you both during the cruise. Whateve time we spent together especially during Livorno breakfast  was already engrave in my mind as a beautiful memory of our friendship. I had a good time during the cruise and I thought I accomplished what I had planned for this trip. I go with your idea Alex...cruise, cruise cruise. As I was looking at your pictures in Buenos Aires, I could not stop saying Wow! This is the kind of vacation I really want to have. Affordable, relaxed and can do anything at your own pace and inexpensive. I love to travel and enjoy sight seeing like you. Hope someday we can join you again. My only problem is how can I convice my husband to take the cruise again.Please keep in touch. Warm regards and God Bless, Melba and Art

Thank you Melba for those kind words. That day, was planned impromptu for both of us. The day started with just Livorno in mind and a trip to the downtown area for some look and see old buildings/forts, and not a train ride across Tuscany. We were not looking for out of the way adventure that last day of the cruise but we certainly got it indeed. On the shuttle, when I found out, that it was your first visit to Italy, we decided to visit Florence. Somehow, in retrospect, we have  missions to perform that particular day. At the end of the shuttle ride, nobody on that ride knew, where to take the trains, until I ask an older gentlemen, where to take  bus #1 across town and where to buy the tickets from the Tabac store across the street, whereupon, the whole shuttle people followed us into the store. They followed us, the pathfinders until their travel to Pisa, some thought that Florence was too far a ride to make the return trip to the ship on time.

Did we not saved six people from our ship, from being marooned in the first Firenze train station, when they got out early, off the train, until I opened our window and exclaimed "wrong station". The next train is due 2:00PM, or walk across town. Oh, how we got some expressions of beatitudes from that group until we saw them back aboard ship later in the PM. We made,  quick friends, from that group and also the Italian teenagers, mostly students with their books, sitting beside us. After having our memorable fill of photos taken in Florence, missing our train schedule, and taking the last train to Livorno at 4:27 PM ( a train ride of almost 2 hours ). That is really cutting close to the ships' departure of 7:00. Plus the bus ride across town on heavy traffic, then we are counting seconds to catch the ship. We again, met those people, that we saved a couple of hours ago, on train stop in Pisa. We know, that we missed the shuttle, and had to share a taxi ride with them back to the port. To sum it all, we made an ordinary day extraordinary for the positive missions performed. These are the kind of experience, I look forward too, when I travel abroad independently, without the environment of fellow Americans. I like the local colors and mostly travel on public transport savoring the local culture, smell, sounds, language, etc. I am looking forward to traveling with you in the next reunion, wherever it may be. Godspeed and Best Regards

Marissa & Alexander

I am a part of all that I have met....Lord Alfred Tennyson

With all the excitements, positive and negative feelings about the med. Cruise and land tours, it turned out to be a great experience seeing all
these places and to some very remarkable/holy sites. With the exemption of the euros versus the US dollars it could have been much better with
regards to shopping/buying material things for "pasalubong" for love ones. We have to save some money for the Philippine reunion and I agree
with Jun Dijamco and the rest of the group to postpone the reunion until February 2009 maybe Valentines day. The balikbayan fare will be cheaper
by that time. What about celebrating valentines day in the Phil.? Best regards to all....  Regina 

---

Regarding SS, social security carries over to other countries, but medicare does not. The petition is for medicare, which is for healthcare
  of those 65 and over, (also for some special situations.) Just a reminder, if you're not aware: Everyone should apply for medicare soon as age 65 is reached, even if you do not plan to get SS benefit at 65 because you're waiting until your full benefit age. (for most of us, full benefit age is 66 or 67). If you apply for medicare later than age 65, you are charged penalties. Same goes for the medicare drug plan. You have to choose a drug plan at 65, unless you never intend to apply for one for the rest of your life.  Thanks. .........Meny

We have here two speeches: one made available by Alex; the other forwarded by Marlo. Thanks to both of you. This is how I see them. The first see our poverty of spirit; the second, the Filipino spirit rising. One pictures the formidable challenges confronting us; the other depicts a future seen through rose colored glasses. One forces us to a deep and hard examination of our ills; the other makes us feel good. One seeks to get to the crux of the problem; the other offers a palliative, non-sustainable by itself. One claims thousand of youths can not get jobs because they dropped out in the 5th grade; the other states college graduates are the elite few. (Lots of college graduates are either unemployed or underemployed because there are too few jobs. They have to apply for employment overseas).
One concedes that to a large extend our culture is damaged, that we have lost our ethical moorings, and that our people are lazy; the other says that our mendicant culture is man-made and that in the right setting (like here in America) Filipinos are law-abiding, hardworking and even makes more than the average in the master’s country. (I agree, there are things wrong with our culture like cronyism, our tolerating corruption and beng show-offs. But our redeeming virtues more than compensate: we have strong family ties and sense of loyalty (although sometime misdirected). We are hardworking. OFWs endure the hardships of being separated from their spouses and children. And America is NOT the master’s country; it is ours as much as anybody’).
Both speeches agree: we do not need a revolution. Also, that the enemy is within us; that we are now our own enemy. That we need to change. (This is in line with tutubi’s musings (as Meny puts it) and with the observations of our own Rolando Licardo). I think there is now a growing feeling for reform. I feel that after some trepidations, and enjoying a vacation of 3 or 4 years, the baby boomers will start to come to the plate and take up the yolk. Mabuhay!Ben

PI based CHE66 are all eager and will love to have the reunion in PI. Meny is right in noting that the PI reunion is being push to a later and a later date. If this will keep on happening, the PI reunion will just remain a WISH! Propposed solution: A strong Executive Committee has be organized to take charge of the PI reunion since this is not an easy task. Calling CHE66 leaders: VOLUNTEER.PI based members will give their 100% support and cooperation.The Mexican Riviera Cruise is the best time to put up the Executive Committee. ...Jun

The Annunziata dei Catalani (late 12th-13th century). Dating from the late Norman period...above picture in.....

Messina and Taormina – more beautiful places to see but what stands out is the visit to a jewelry factory of amber, corals and other stones.  We were first treated to wine and juices, coffee, tea, you name it, delicious native pastries and cheeses and nuts then on to jewelry shopping.  I was amazed, I thought that by now the ladies will be out of money with all the shopping in the past and also at the Ship’s stores.  But nobody can resist the fine workmanship and Giorgio’s claims that their prices are cheaper than the stores in town (??) and we still get 10% discount on top of that. Anyway, buying we did and I too spent for some jewelry I really don’t need but couldn’t resist (who knows when I’ll be there again-what an excuse) and as usual had to be last to board the bus.  Giorgio has this rule of me being the last on line, last in the stores and last in the WC (quite a problem in this trip, too few and have to pay at times), takes out all the fun of sharing experiences with the group, I feel left out with all the happenings.  We went to the museum and stadium (?), past several more souvenir shops, ate gelato and saw another town devastated by another volcano but this time, nobody died because we were told the lava did not have sulfides in it (H₂S, SO₂, SO₃,...Clarita......... PICTURE LEFT WAS TAKEN 40 YEARS AGO IN OAKLAND ON MY FIRST DAY IN THE USA, NEXT LEFT IS  THE SINGLE MARISSA AT HOME IN QC BEFORE HER GRADUATION BALL STC 1967....BELOW WITH JUN, MARLO AND ROLLIE  AT A PLAZA IN MESSINA, NEXT PICTURES DEPICTS 38 YEARS INTERVAL AND THEN THE PORT OF DUBROVNICK........06/07.............ASC

Let me thank you for having found me and putting me into your loop.

I have been quite active with the Alumni group in ChE-Chem at Mapua after graduation, and subsequently with NAMA after a few years. Every year, I have this habit of joining the homecoming of MITChEChem and the NAMA.  I see a lot of successful alumni who inspire me and allow me to develop better technical knowledge even at the present age of 64.

I am happy and overjoyed if you can allow me to join your group ( or rather, can I say my real group?), because I felt lost when I did not join our group during graduation in 1966. I am proud though to have been selected to work as the Editor-in-chief of the 1966 C&G. Everyone in our staff gave their best to come out with the blue colored Yearbook inspired by the theme of a poem by Robert Frost, and the man rowing with so many promises to keep.

I actually graduated Octoberian in 1967. In every occasion, I always identify myself as a graduate of 1967, but in reality, I could not locate who are my co-graduates in 1967 except Sheila Tempongko as we see each other often in alumni affairs.

I guess the courage to go to USA after graduation was not as strong for me, as it was to a lot of our fellow graduates who got applications at the US Embasssy in 1967. More so did the desire disappear in the horizon when I did not make it in my first board exam. I got the frustration of the profession, and devoted my time in marketing products related to chemistry and chemical engineering. But, I guess all of us has each own story to tell, sucess and not failures, or failure may it have begun with inspiration to succeed at the end of our walk thru life.

I have retired as an employee way back in 1998 after 32 years marketing and selling products ranging from essential oils, compounds, perfumes, plating chemicals, metal preparation chemicals before painting and some equipment.

Now, I am a minority partner in a corporation with 2 architects, whose main business is outsourcing production/ detailing drawings on architectural/engineering projects using licensed autocad 2000 softwares; our client for 3 years is coming from Hawaii because my partner ( an MIT Mechanical Engineer has his company in Hawaii).

Aside from drawings, I sell thru indent, equipment specialized in Wastewwater and Water Treatment (USA) which my partner ( Freddie Leonor) represents under Promark Corp ( Hawaii ).

I wish that I will have time to join you and the rest of our school mates in your future plans. Just fill me on some of your plans, and I will do may best to find time; if not, I will inform you my situation. I am restarting from ground zero, and hope that somehow I could still find my nitch in the Sun or rather in the industry within the  Philippines. I am following the advice which I gave to my 5 children who have finished their college degrees: "if you fall down, no matter how many times, stand up and try again because the challenge will always be there."

Just a thought occurred to me. I counted the number of years after 1966 and came up with a total number of 40 years. Is this supposed to be a number described as a Ruby Anniversary for alumni? Am I to understand from you that there is an affair in the Alumni Homecoming to celebrate this Ruby Anniversary for graduates of 1966?

I know the present president of MIT CHE CHEM ALUMNI by the name of Miss Precy Tagala, as well as the president of NAMA who is from ChE Chem. I have not been informed of the upcoming events, but if you and some of our classmates have the interest to make this as an affair to remember, please give me your plans so I can help. [ I have registered my name with goggle under our company's email box of aeirc...@info.com.ph as per your advice. Thank you.]

My apologies for the long reply, but I wanted to make sure that you know about me. Please tell me how I can get into your/our loop, even if I am in the Philippines. [Last week, I just got news from my partner that there is a Hawaiian company looking for CAD applicants to be stationed in Philippines or South Korea for a project in a military installation. Maybe I can inform Mapuans who are CAD operators.]

Regards to everyone, especially to my classmates. .........Eldy Yap

yes i used to teach in mapua after my graduation for two years and i came  to United States as a teaching assistant and stay at the same time with scholarship from the school glad to hear from my fellow classmate ....marshall.........
Alfonso Luis Tiu..left most  Marshall Bonghiong Tan middle; Bernardo M. David right

From Marulo Mascarina

Hello All,

WAKE UP Everyone!!

We're now back to the grind!

For those who are working, drink real strong coffee.

For the senior retirees, let's get the laundry in gear.

And for all, check the damages ($$).

Just want to let everyone knows that me and Marietta had such a

wonderful time.

Thanks to you all, especially to Clarita for the job well done in organizing

the reunion, and to Citas & Cip of the NJ/Chicago group.

And thanks for those who reminded us when to go when & where (toilettes).

It was a priceless memories of a lifetime, seeing each other again and having

the fun and laughter of our life.

First I want to extend my deepest condolences for the passing of your beloved wife. I heard the news from Pano sometime last year and I've been trying my best of how I could convey my sympathy to you and your family. Since we've seen each other was when we drove you to Monreal with our first child Michael. I remembered we exchanged letters after that, then somehow we stopped communicating due probably of me being busy raising the family. So now it must have been 35 years since then. Throughout those years I have gone home for at least 5 times and I felt guilty for not contacting you for even once. I remembered you knocked on our door that day in early '70 and I was pleasantly surprised of you to see us.  Me and my wife will be coming home this Jan. 20 to Feb. 22 and I will try my best to surprise you this time.  Oscar e-mailed me telling-"just go to Bauan and Dr. Nato will be there for you." First week will be spent with Marietta's family in Cabanatuan City, then drive around possibly northern Luzon, spend time in Metro Manila, fly maybe to Cebu, Palawan, Bohol.
We are doing all these now before the arthritis kicks in. Personally among other things, we have a lot to talk about. Please e-mail me if and when I can possibly drop by and see you. Hopefully I can grab you from your very busy schedule. Take care my friend and hope to see you soon. ....Marulo

My only consolation was reminiscing the sexy Vegas-style chorus girls dancing around me at the stage (and behind the stage...heh..heh, I'm one ahead of you, Manny G.) But my jealous Minnie insisted that I looked like an Elvis midget surrounded by long-legged creatures. Oo na....
   Later that night (or early morning) at Lido Deck snack time get together, Celia Cruz made a comment to me:  Hey Mike, your pants were too big! I thought, "If you only knew what I went through" Well now you know. There WAS stress, but it was all a lot of fun!
When I get to be 92 years old, I will watch my free DVD disc of the show (my reward gift from the Carnival Legends performance) and cherish the thought of what I was able to do when I was 62.  I might still be able to do it at 92 on a cruise, if you guys promise not only to cheer up for me, but also help me up the stage.....Mike B

The Med cruise exceeded our expectations! So glad we came! We had an exceptionally wonderful time. Those much needed endorphins were released from laughter-filled moments with old (literally??) friends and colleagues. Of course, pagod and weary, but those precious memories will be treasured hanggang uugod ugod na kami!  Hopefully our minds will still be sharp to remember the events. Your cruise diary and all the nice photos from everyone will truly be a major help. Thanks, you all, for making this event a milestone in our lives. We enjoyed meeting new friends as well. Best of all, thanks again to you all for your team support and loud applause during Mike's Elvis' moments!  Regards, .....................Mike and Minnie

Let me add that it was wonderful to see classmates never seen since college – Alex, Pol, Ismael, Jun Dijamco, Irene, Minda, Clarita, Thelma, Regina, Alice, etc.  and  Marlo & Mayette since their wedding reception at Casino in the Park (across where I now live).  It was nice to finally meet Manny, Rolly, Mike, Resty, Jeff, Tony, Rose, Melba, etc.  It was even nicer to meet the better halves.

I was surprised to see our classmates looking younger than the Alaska cruise pictures.  Most probably some worked out for this Med cruise, had a face lift, nose jobs, liposuction, breast augmentation, nip tuck, or all of the above. Allow me to thank among others Cip, Pol, Citas, Dida, Celia, Alice, etc. for all their contributions to make the cruise memorable. Let me mention that Mike Bernardino was the King of the Cruise (Elvis), that Alex’ wife Marissa had a wonderful piano performance, and that Regina hit a 90,000 pennies jackpot in the slot machine and she savored the ding, ding, ding of the counting.  (Regina I think also missed one land tour and was late on one occasion).There was some rough sailing, but then when life hands you a lemon you make le…whoopee. My only disappointment was we were supposed to go to Florence but we ended up in Firenze....Ben

We live in Sugar Land, Texas with my wife Nicki. We have two boys, both are on their own but still singles. My oldest is working in Saipan. He like exotic places since he lived 2 years in Juneau, Alaska. He is lawyering and working in a non-for-profit company. The youngest is a sound engineer living in San Jose.

I am working for Fluor Engineering. Its kind of close from where I live. Pol Calimbas

Lilia Antonio has retired to the Phil. At least that was the plan the last time I talked to her years ago.  I'll ask Meny to look her up when she goes to the Phil this month.  Art Villasol has responded to my email and he said that he can not join the Cruise but will attend the Reunion
at Leonila's house on the 26th. Jun Dijamco also responded and he said he can not join the cruise and did not say if he will attend the party at Leony's house. Alex or Oscar or Timothy did not respond to my emails. Lorna will not be able to attend any of them as she is going to her hi-school reunion.  Thelma will be on another trip and so with Dida Mago Sanchez.  Fely Dirige, Tony Alialy and Ben Asis will join the reunion at Leony's house.  Regina will be at the Cruise but can not attend the mini-reunion party.  .Clarita

Hey Oldtimer..... Good to hear from you again.  Sorry am not in the tard or tired zone yet....perhaps next year.  We hope to see you in Rome next year.  I will probably be flying out of Chicago with Clarita and from the looks of it, we shall be spending a couple of days in Rome prior to the cruise. I was in Rome again a couple of years ago and visited with my cousin priest who was rector at one of the colegios (dorm for priests that go to school in Rome).  We stayed at the guest quarters and had our meals with all the priests in that residence.  What a great experience.....our tour guides were priests, took public transportation and so we blended quite well with the Romans.   Indeed, it was a vacation of a lifetime! Irene

Am still living in the Philippines, married to Romeo B. Obedoza but with no kids.  Am connected with Boysen Paints and teach at MIT part time.  My husband is with UPLB so he stays there most of the week and comes to Manila (in Kamuning) on weekends.   We do have grandchildren from our nephews who are now married.  Three nephews (those I share with Mely Matic) are now in the States.  But the others are also here. I have been retired and rehired by my company (they have to retire people who reach 60 - dual citizens na kasi - senior and Philippine citizenships).  So I am now a consultant for the firm but on a full time basis. Am not joining the cruise but according to Clarita, you are to come home by 2008.  So maybe we can all see each other here unless of course, some of you opt to retire here or come earlier.  By the way, Alex, Mommy has passed away last 2004, 10 years almost to the date that Daddy did.  How about your parents?  Are they still around? Regards to all,............. Sheila ..........BELOW PICTURE

I am sorry to hear about your mom. I know it is our turn to be the seniors now. Papa is still alive at 86, remarried in 2003, which is good for him since he is very sickly now. Mom died in 1994, and the whole family that I transported from  PI is thriving very well in many ways. Take care and Best Regards,......... Alexander

We just came back from Infanta (Cesar/Elvie, his brother Luther & wife Ligaya, Perlynn, Rudy & Meny Banares).  We wemt tp Palawan & caught the Sinulog in Cebu (thanks to Thelma), saw Bohol and leaving for Singapore with Susie & Joe Morales & Perlyn.  We did see Dr RenatoDimayuga (Chief of the Hospital) in Batangas & just had Merienda with Shiela (and Rudy & Meny) at her home.  I was waiting to hear from you before we left for Infanta, Take care.  See Cesar in Cabanatuan in his Palace....ben

The staff of Meralco Call Center have been very
helpful in my tracking you down; they acted on my
email-inquiry very promptly. A big number of our class have been exchanging emails since the time they started organizing the 2003 grand reunion in Las Vegas; then, followed the 2006 reunion via an Alaskan cruise. Next year,the reunion will be a-16-day Mediterranean cruise. There are about 200 who attended the Las Vegas reunion; 51 joined the Alaska cruise; and 81 have already signed up for the Mediterranean cruise. Lucy, you talked to her over the phone in Manila, and I attended the Las Vegas and the Alsakan reunions and we have made our reservation for the Medditerrenean cruise. The Med cruise will be in the last week of May 2007. Clarita Aragones Parson is the organizer; she also organized the Las Vegas reunion 2003 and the 2006 Alaskan cruise. It is a must that you and your wife join the Mediterrenian cruise. I'm sure Clarita will send you an email as soon as she reads this email.

Our class has now an email group and a blogsite; these were both created by Alex Custodio, just recently. There are now 66 in the email group; you will be probably be the 67th. Nini Juat is now residing  in Tarlac and is working for DTI; she has filed for retirement recently.
Do you know where Ed Serra is? I met him in the Big Mall accross Central Bank more than 20 years ago; he was then working for a cement company in Norsagaray in Bulacan while his wife, then, was working at the Central Bank. As soon as we  get back to PI, I will give you a call and let us get together. Jun Dijamco ................................................

I'm happy to hear from you.  It's been so many years since we've been together.  Hoping to meet you one of these days.  By the way, Ed Serra and I have been neighbors more than ten years.  We're just six houses away.  You can contact him at..........  We are now both retired from our employment.  Now, we're both enjoying the company of our grandchildren.  I'm sure Ed will be happy to know your whereabouts.  By the way, this is my new e-mail address:..........Regards & God bless,.......Nanding

For years, I had been trying to persuade Andy to go on a cruise but he wouldn't do it.  His reasoning was, "There are no tennis courts on the ship".  He now looks at cruises differently and now agrees with me that  "we don't need no stinking tennis courts" to have fun on a cruise.  I had to remind him that the reason why this cruise was so much fun was because of my wonderful MIT friends and their spouses.  He agrees with me on this one too (he agrees with me most of the time, doesn't he?).  Anyway, it was a thrill to see everybody again.   Unlike the two other MIT reunions I attended in the past, I felt a difference in the bonding that went on in this cruise.  In this cruise, the ribbing and kidding and teasing that went on felt more like family; did we not act like proud family members when we rooted for Mike Bernardino at the talent competition?  This to me was truly a  HOMEcoming.  And all these happened because of your hard work and patience,   I cannot thank you enough. Regards and till we meet again,......Thelma

Dear Everyone, It is so hard to go back to work after a grand vacation.  It was such a great experience for a first timer like me.  It was so nice to see all of you and your spouses.  Especial thanks to Clarita who did such a fantastic job organizing the trip.  Of course the leaders for both the NJ/CHI and LA groups are to be thanked also for diligently waiting, counting, grouping and doing the painful collection for the groups. Thanks again everybody and hope to see you all soon. Rose (far right)Rose Silang
Clinical Pharmacology
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals .........Below Dida Mago Sanchez, next Manny Genato

Where, twisted round the barren oak, the summer vine in beauty clung,
And summer winds the stillness broke, the crystal icicle is hung.
Where, from their frozen urns, mute springs pour out the river's gradual tide,
Shrilly the skater's iron rings, and voices fill the woodland side.
Alas! how changed from the fair scene, when birds sang out their mellow lay,
And winds were soft, and woods were green, and the song ceased not with the day!
But still wild music is abroad, pale, desert woods! within your crowd;
And gathering winds, in hoarse accord, amid the vocal reeds pipe loud.
Chill airs and wintry winds! my ear has grown familiar with your song;
I hear it in the opening year, I listen, and it cheers me long.
When winter winds are piercing chill, and through the hawthorn blows the gale,
With solemn feet I tread the hill, that overbrows the lonely vale. ...HWL

Felow Mapuans

I had seen this idea before and was surprised that as
stupid as it was, it was still going around the
Internet.

This Coke executive should stick with the business he
knows, selling sugared water, because his idea is
ludicrous and obviously from somebody who does not
know the oil and energy business.  If the American
driver follows this idea, it would only hurt your
neighborhood gas station owner/operator and would
probably cause a short term disruption that would
result in all of us paying more for gas.  With this
potential disruption, the companies your would like to
hurt (majors like Exxon/Mobil and Shell) would
probably end up as the beneficiaries from this
misconceived idea.

I spent all my working career in the energy business, half of which was in the oil and gas industry, including oil and gas marketing, refining, trading and logistics, so I can say with confidence, without sounding cocky, that I know better than this Coke executive. Oil is a commodity and if you have any knowledge of how commodity markets work, you should know that marginal pricing dictates how much the consumer pays for this commodity. In short, the price of oil is determined by how much the market values the last barrel sold in the market place. It is not the average price and definitely not cost related. It is priced on what the market could bear. Any market with
marginal pricing can also be very volatile, particularly when there is a perception of supply tightness and risk of supply disruption (due to extraneous factors such as geopolitical) adds a price premium. .....Cip Buendia

The college books, that silently among
  Our knowledge treasures take familiar places,
And are to us as if a living tongue
  Specs from the printed leaves or pictured faces!

Soledad Payuran

Stayed in the Philippines and was an instructor at MIT for a while. Last known residence was in Cavite province............

Right picture is Lourdes Averia and Husband Nestor....

below picture is Cipriano Buendia and wife Rose Ann....

Deceased ChE Class'66 Mapuans

Rest, comrades, rest and sleep! the thoughts of men shall be
As sentinels to keep, your rest from danger free......

So walking here in twilight, O my friends! I hear your voices, softened by the distance,
And pause, and turn to listen, as each sends his words of friendship, comfort, and assistance.

Goodbye, my friends, goodbye. The appointed parting Promises a meeting ahead. Goodbye, my friends, without hand, without word, Don't be sad and don't upset your brows, - In this life to die is not new, But to live, of course, is not newer. Goodbye, my friends, goodbye It was preordained we should part And be reunited by and by. Goodbye: no handshake to endure. Let's have no sadness - furrowed brow. There's nothing new in dying now Though living is no newer.

These are some list of our Classmates who are deceased

1. Josefino  Dakita Josefino Sayas Dakita
2. Rodrigo Cajulis
3. Rolando Yulo Rolando Munzon Yulo
4. Fred Toreja Alfredo Catapia Toreja
5. Emanuel Celis
6. Oliver Masil................

Please be informed that Oscar Janeo has passed away about nine or so years ago.  He was with Pacific Products and transferred to Cord Chemicals, both members of the Philippine Association of Paint Manufacturers.  If I am not mistaken, he even served as one of its directors sometime in the '90"s.

Regards to all,
Sheila Tempongko-Obedoza

Renato Dimayuga's decision to return to Pinas and work as chief of a regional hospital
that handles mainly charity cases is quite admirable, especially since the salary is peanuts compared to what he can make in the US . Now that Ben has experience, perhaps he can quit his day job and plan/manage the next reunion. ...Rudy

When I compare
What I have lost with what I have gained,
What I have missed with what attained,
  Little room do I find for pride.
     I am aware
How many days have been idly spent;
How like an arrow the good intent
  Has fallen short or been turned aside.
     But who shall dare
To measure loss and gain in this wise?
Defeat may be victory in disguise;
  The lowest ebb is the turn of the tide.

---

Please include Letty Carriedo to the list of our
beloved classmates who passed away. Let's include them in our prayers.

Considering our hazardous chemical exposures (like sucking benzene in a pipet for use as a reagent) when we were students, we should consider ourselves lucky to be exchanging email today. God bless and take care.
                                    Reggie Timonera

On the road of life one mile-stone more!
In the book of life one leaf turned o'er!
Like a red seal is the setting sun
On the good and the evil men have done,--
      Naught can to-day restore!....HWL

Reflections

Never grow old, nor change, nor pass away!
   Your gentle voices will flow on forever,
When life grows bare and tarnished with decay,
  As through a leafless landscape flows a river.

Celso Chua on the far left. Resides somewhere south of Fresno California and was working in a cement factory as the chief Engineer. Below is Lorna Jereza works with US EPA as a Region Chief.

---

ALBUMS LIST

1966 C&G Classmates

Special MentionIsmael's 2003 Reunion Pictures

Ismael's 2003 Reunion Pictures
Ismael's Old Classmates Pictures

Classmates 1991 to 1993

Western Med Tour Reunion MIT Classmates 2007

The brooklet came from the mountain, as sang the bard of old,
Running with feet of silver over the sands of gold!
Far away in the briny ocean there rolled a turbulent wave,
Now singing along the sea-beach, now howling along the cave. And the brooklet has found the billow, though they flowed so far apart,
And has filled with its freshness and sweetness that turbulent, bitter heart!

And when the eve is born, in the blue lake the sky, o'er-reaching far,
Is hollowed out, and the moon dips her horn, and twinkles many a star.
Inverted in the tide stand the gray rocks, and trembling shadows throw,
And the fair trees look over, side by side, and see themselves below.

Sweet April! many a thought is wedded unto thee, as hearts are wed;
Nor shall they fail, till, to its autumn brought, life's golden fruit is shed. ...HWL

Ah me! the forty years since last we met
Seem to me forty folios bound and set
By Time, the great transcriber, on his shelves,
Wherein are written the histories of ourselves.
What tragedies, what comedies, are there;
What joy and grief, what rapture and despair!
What chronicles of triumph and defeat,
Of struggle, and temptation, and retreat!
What records of regrets, and doubts, and fears
What pages blotted, blistered by our tears!
What lovely landscapes on the margin shine,
What sweet, angelic faces, what divine
And holy images of love and trust,
Undimmed by age, unsoiled by damp or dust!

To The Class of '66,

We are  on to the next or maybe the last chapter of our life. As we age and the time passes us by, on to the golden years, it is best to embolden our friendship that was put on hold because of our immediate priorities to our  families. It is for this reason, that we need to reminisce the old days  even more,  first with  letters and pictures then join together like the classmates of old, with a common goal.

My retirement since 2005 has been wonderful, and hopefully, you are successful in getting yours. I thank God for this gift, that we were given the chance, for the education and training for our special profession; The chance to prosper in a land of peace and plenty. While maybe, the forty two years since graduation,  was challenging  in a new strange land,  we prevailed  the struggles,  temptations,  and retreats. As the poem said above, it was not so easy. Now with the economy on the rocks,  it is far arduous and difficult to get to where we are.

In retrospect, I find it compelling or my duty to give, contribute for the next generation and the global community that made my life worthwhile. To whom much is given, much is expected. - Luke 12:48. It is therefore fitting for us blessed, to organize, protect, nurture, keep faith with our beloved country,  appreciate  nature and the environment in whatever we can.

Bringing in the enviroment into light, we also can only hope that the alarming climate change and the ecological responses are 50 to 100 years away. But it's not 50 to 100 years away -- it's happening now in forest ecosystems through fire. The facts are unequivocal, and point to a troubling future ahead. Over 2100 fires, scorching some 900,000 acres, have set a new 2008 record for early-season wildfires in California.We are certainly in the midst of Global Warming;crisis of floods and droughts through out the planet. Skeptics, the debate is over, join our goal to STOP using fossil fuels as quickly as possible, to PLANT trees and end all destruction of natural habitat and PREPARE for what cannot now be stopped. Even small things make a difference spread over a large population. There are three levels of action: Personal, Political and to Prepare. They all require enormous personal and governmental commitment. The third, to Prepare for the impact of what cannot be stopped........

It is a premiere topic of our generation, about saving our wonderful planet earth, and also ourselves too. In my efforts to emphasize my solutions and prevention of the catastrophe ahead, I recall the quotation. "Tell people something they know already and they will thank you for it. Tell them something new and they will hate you for it." With that, I hope not to fall in the latter category. My goal is to keep everybody abreast and involved to prevent the future dim scenario in the mother country. If we do not implement the gentle methods to placate our environment, the Philippines and all areas in "the tropics with its few resources and growing population will resort to war and violence to satisfy the hunger of the populace in this climate catastrophe." What we have sown in this planet will bring forth a harsh aftermath and gone will be the pleasant existence of our past. This topic has become a moral issue. The havoc and destruction will be more than the combined effects of WWI, WWII and the 1929 depression. It is about, how the recent generations could destroy all what man has created in the past 10,000 years............ASC

Illusion!  Underneath there lies
  The common life of every day; Only the spirit glorifies
  With its own tints the sober gray. In vain we look, in vain uplift
  Our eyes to heaven, if we are blind, we see but what we have the gift
  Of seeing; what we bring we find. Illusion!  Underneath there lies.
 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Meny Banares BELOW

                    We believe we can make a difference in strengthening our friendships among us, not only in our reunions but also with a common goal and purpose. This "Gawad Kalinga" is worth investing our time, effort, and money for our country (Filipino people) for the common good. The" Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation" was indeed awarded to Mr. Antonio Meloto last Aug. 31 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Manila for his work in community development, working-with-the-poor ministry in Bagong Silang to start with, a squatter relocation site in Caloocan city, and Ms. Eugenia Duran Apostol for journalism, literature and creative communication. According to some sources, "Gawad Kalinga" envisions to build 7,000 new communities by 2010 as it implements strategies to transform slums to effective communities with dependable water system and electricity for homes. I was involved since 2004 with our Filipino Federation of the Rosary group in Orange county and for me it is a great feeling to get involved with the foundation, and I know our fellow Mapuans will do it also. Looking back, while we were in Manila in the early 1960's I remembered seeing several people (homeless) squatting along Dewey Boulevard (now Roxas Blvd.) as their regular place, living there day and night. Question? Are they still there? There are several more squatter areas around metro Manila and some gangsters. I hope that when we go to the Philippines for our reunion we will not be held up by a bandit or just plain pick pocketter. Regards to all, ....Regina Bermudez Cruz- Class CHE 1966                                                                                                                                      ROSALINA DERIGE CORBETT

CLARITA ALBERTSON           Thanks to Jun Dijamco, he has really gone out of his way to search for our classmates, gone visiting most of them in their homes in every State whenever he can (Thank God he & Lucy has the time and they do make time to visit us and get reacquainted) and once he made contact with you, you are in the loop and he keeps you updated. Reminds me of the Godfather, if you are in his family, he is there for you and supports you all the
way.  Pol, Ismael & Marlo are getting to be the same like Jun.  They have been to all the MIT Reunions we had been having and encourage their friends 'Family' to join, etc, etc.  I had been cool to Jun's plan for a Philippine Reunion but because of his loyalty to our MIT Class, I promise to help him all the way I can and will encourage Meny and the Calif Core Group to help in his plans. Now we have Alex's website/blogsite for the Group. Keep updated with the group's news and happenings by joining this.  So stay in touch.

Dear Friends,
After 40 years with the company, it is inevitable that we have to move on to the next phase of life, which is retirement.  That official date for me is December 1, 2008, where I will be leaving Akron, Ohio enroute to the sunny valley of Phoenix, Arizona, our home state since 1985.  I will be dividing my time between family (wife, a daughter, 2 sons & 3 grand kids) in the US, and attending to our 20-acre farm in the Philippines we started 3 years ago – 225 Manila mango trees, 1,500 citrus trees, ¼ acre of tilapia fish farm, and a herd of goats.
Let us maintain that good camaraderie by continuing to exchange emails and that little chat on the phone.
Art Villasol

ASC

The summer sun is sinking low;
Only the tree-tops redden and glow:
Only the weathercock on the spire
Of the neighboring church is a flame of fire;
     All is in shadow below.
O beautiful, awful summer day,
What hast thou given, what taken away?
Life and death, and love and hate,
Homes made happy or desolate,
     Hearts made sad or gay!
On the road of life one mile-stone more!
In the book of life one leaf turned o'er!
Like a red seal is the setting sun
On the good and the evil men have done,--
     Naught can to-day restore!..HWL

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

MIT ChE'm 66 Homecoming -

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Jan 2011: Reunion at Subic Bay.
The winter gathering of class '66
throws shadows around us,
it is the late afternoon
For some of us.
There is still enough light
to see all the way back,
but our eyesight
that light is wasting away.
Soon we will be nothing
but silhouettes in the dark
as harsh
as our fathers'.
Soon the engineers
will take off their shingles
as trees take off their leaves
for winter…ASC

Distinguished himself by intrepid and determined leadership against greatly superior enemy forces. At the repeated risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in his position, he frequented the firing line of his troops where his presence provided the example and incentive that helped make the gallant efforts of these men possible. The final stand on beleaguered Corregidor, for which he was in an important measure personally responsible, commanded the admiration of the Nation's allies. It reflected the high morale of American arms in the face of overwhelming odds. His courage and resolution were a vitally needed inspiration to the then sorely pressed freedom-loving peoples of the world.

"Corregidor Island, like Bataan, is a symbol of courage against overwhelming odds.

The army of the USAFFE fought on. The messages recieved said there are miles and miles of ships coming with reinforcement.  When they found out no reinforcement is coming, they called themselves The Fighting Bastards of Bataan and Corregidor. No momma, no papa, no Uncle Sam.

In the recollection of 19-year-old Pvt. Gaudencio Aronce, when food and ammunition became scarce, rations were down to a bowl of soupy rice each morning and five rounds of ammunition.

My tour of Corregidor was a visit to the past. I felt I was with the soldiers in peace time before and during the dark days of WWII. I felt tears will roll down my cheeks."

Corregidor Island, Philippines - Jan 22, 2011
by Rene Rivera

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Reunion Observations: Life in the Philippines 2011

On my way to the hotel around midnight on Jan. 19, along the way I can tell in the dark the buildings look dingy. I asked myself why they look that way. In America buildings do not look dingy over time. The presence of cars and trucks can not be the sole cause I said. In Manhattan more cars ran on the streets from the 1950's until today. The next morning I looked out the window from the 26th floor at what I thought is fog. As it got thicker I realized it is smog, so thick I can not see the streets below. Going around the next few days, buildings look dirty and run-down. Not a pleasant sight. I can see hardship all around. I wondered how people make ends meet.

Monday afternoon came, that is when Mapuans literally took over the Astoria Plaza Hotel. The din in the lobby and restaurant was an indicator attending the reunion was a good decision.

On Tuesday the following week, Ismael, Arceli, her brother Ray, and I went on a walking tour of the Manila familiar to us  when we were in school. The area starting from FEU, UE, PSBA, Recto Ave., MIT Doroteo Jose, Rizal Ave. theater district, Raon St. record shops, Quezon Blvd, Carriedo St., Ongpin St., Quiapo and Santa Cruz churches where female classmates prayed for divine interventions in their love life. All of these places look dirty, run-down, and congested with people who appear to constantly move around even if they do not want to. That is my impression. Street vendors selling food from carts in front of restaurants give a picture life must be difficult. Raon, Rizal Ave., Carriedo are also congested with sidewalk and street vendors.

On Recto Ave. the second-hand bookstores are still there, with competition from street vendors. Here there are services for diplomas, ID's, medals, etc., if you understand what I mean. Perhaps, including transcripts of record.

Ongpin looks orderly compared to the other places. Having lunch at President Restaurant was a welcome respite from the sight I consider a human tragedy.

That evening I went to my cousin Nenette's home for dinner with Pol, Bing Eugenio, Rudy Jose, Ismael, Arceli, Ray, Andy and Thelma Goetz. Finally, after nearly 41 years I got to see Erleen, Nenette's sister.

Intramuros, restored, looks much better than in our time when a shanty town was behind our school. Back then leaving the campus in the evening means walking fast and looking over your shoulder often. It was nice to see San Agustin church. Casa Manila is an example of how the affluent lived during the Spanish colonial time.

Luneta Park for sure can use a lot more trees. How in the world the architects designed a park with more concrete than trees in a tropical country?

Moonbay Marina Resort in Subic Bay is nice. Located next to the bay, ocean breeze makes the day pleasant. Here I saw what I consider exploitation of workers. Students from a hospitality school work at the resort for a semester without compensation. They are provided with meals during their shifts. They are responsible for other expenses like lodging. They get a certificate from the resort saying they worked at the place. So the business makes money from free labor.

Then on to Zamboanga, a city I knew only from pages of books and newspapers. In our group were Pol, Rudy Jose, Ismael, Arceli, and I. We went to see the family of our late classmate and brother Jose Lladones. Here we stuck to seafood. Hai Sin restaurant, nothing fancy, is worth the trip. We bought about 10 lbs. of fish, prawns, and squids and had them cooked. The bill for a group of nine including beer was about $80. A bargain for us from the States. That evening, Pol, Rudy, and I went back for dinner in an air-conditioned tricycle found only in Zamboanga City. All the while I was aware of the poverty around us.

Back in Manila, at my brother-in-law's home in Malabon we watched the congressional investigation on the corruption in the Philippine army. What else is new? It only got worse.

Before dawn the next day on the way to the airport we passed through Navotas and Tondo. This time in the dark I saw poverty and squalor for miles. Then like flipping a coin we were on Roxas Blvd. in the tourist district.

Rene

You are invited to view Rudy's photo album: 2011_01_29 MIT Reunion Subic Bay

2011_01_29 MIT Reunion Subic Bay

Jan 28, 2011
by Rudy

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You are invited to view Rudy's photo album: 2011_01_28 Subic Bay Dinner Celebration

2011_01_28 Subic Bay Dinner Celebration

Jan 28, 2011
by Rudy

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You are invited to view Rudy's photo album: 2011_01_26 Sonia Mendoza's Reception Dinner

2011_01_26 Sonia Mendoza's Reception Dinner

Jan 26, 2011
by Rudy

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You are invited to view Rudy's photo album:

Dinner at Gloria Maris

Dinner at Gloria Maris

Jan 24, 2011
by Rudy

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Jan 25, 2011
by Rudy

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You are invited to view Rudy's photo album: 2011_01_25 Manila and MIT Tour

2011_01_25 Manila and MIT Tour

You are invited to view Rudy's photo album: Palawan PICS

Palawan PICS

Jan 22, 2011
by Rudy

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Jan 23, 2011
by Rudy

Cherry Jose - a distant relative from Palawan

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You are invited to view Rudy's photo album: Palawans Mayor Hagedorn's Dinner

Palawans Mayor Hagedorn's Dinner

The seafood in Hai San is one of the best meal I ever had- for both lunch and dinner! The food was very fresh rendering a slight sweetness to the meat. And the preparation is quite simple with any sauce on the side. Just to salivate the reader, let me enumerate what we ate in three occasions:
     giant squid cooked calamari style
     lapulapu head and tail sinigang and body deep fried
     lapulapu twisted and deep fried
     grilled tuna belly
     dozen of huge prawns fried skins and tempura style
     several chili crabs (we skipped the la cucuracha crabs e.g. looks like horseshoe crab)
     cooked vegetables with bagoong in coconut milk
     pansit
     mangoes with salted eggs and with bagoong
     uncountable bottles of San Miguel beer    

And the price is cheap! A dinner for nine people cost about $80. ..Pol

And we went back at 9:00PM that evening; Pol, Rudy, and I. It was still a bargain-basement price, with beer!…Rene

…………………………………….

Welcome back, and enough time have lapsed to give you a rest. To the guys in the Midwest and the East coast, it is time to get the snow off the roof before it caves in,  and another storm blows in.

To the rest of the Class of MIT ChE'm 1966, even though, I was not there, my spirit was with you.  I salute the 45th reunion in the memorable embrace of that special classmates during those celebrations. You had the time of your life!…. ASC

Early 1960: Intramuros to your left,  Post Office in distance, Manila City Hall on the right. Remember this intersection where we catch our jeepney ride to our residences.  For some, it was a focal point for couples to meet after class on their way to somewhere…ASC

Below with the family of Lladones in Zamboanga.

The morning after my arrival in Manila on Jan. 19, I looked out the window of Astoria Plaza from the 26th floor curious to see what the area looks like after 35 years. At 6AM I thought I was looking at fog, at 7AM it got thicker, then I realized it is smog, so thick I can not see the train on EDSA or the streets below. It was like that for the rest of the week. Saturday, I took the ferry to Corregidor. About a half-mile into the bay I took this picture around 8:30AM. Farther out, I looked to my left, Navotas and Malabon area, and turned to my right to Cavite, what I saw is the same as in this picture, metropolitan Manila in a blanket of smog......

1. What a good-looking guy!

Rene

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