Eye Opener
59th year Alumni Homecoming of ICNHS Class 1950
High school students who have stayed in their Alma Mater from first year up to graduation day have closer relationship with one another. Take the case of ICNHS Class 1950 in Molo this city. On April 18, 2009, they will come together and celebrate their 59th year alumni homecoming at the Marina Restaurant, Diversion Road, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
It may be recalled that in the 1950, television, cellphone, computer game, drug addiction and other vices that lure young people to whole leisure instead of serious study were unheard or at least in Iloilo City. Passenger jeepneys were still few and students hiked their way to school in Molo and the Iloilo National High School in La Paz were the only two government high schools. U.P. High School came later and high schools in the districts of the city were unheard of. Back in the early 50s, high school graduates were already hired as teachers as there were few ETC (Elementary Teachers Course) gradudates then and the talented high school graduates were found by the American school administrators as capable and qualified.
Class 1959 graduates of the Iloilo City High School then in Molo, now Iloilo City National High School, have produced many outstanding graduates. For Manila ICNHS graduates, Gen. Federico Pasion, former Vice Air Force Commander at Villamor Air Base will head the delegation, and Gen. Mariano Ganzon, G-7, PA; former Montery Manager Raymundo Siguenza, UP Diliman retired teacher Marieta Sing Acu, Bureau of Land executive Roberto Gellegani. The Iloilo delegation will be headed by former City Mayor Mansueto Malabor, Col. Rodrigo Espinal, Commanding Officer of the 7th Infantry Batallion and Regional Home Defense Unit 3rd IB, UP Professor Ester Capanas Regoso, Bank CEO Napoleon Tiongco, active practitioner Dr. Ernesto Rivera, NFA CEO Cecil Mabilog, DPWH Accountant Emilio Antiqueña, ICNHS mentor Corazon Antiqueña, Insurance Manager Lolita Canto and Brgy. Capt. Ben Lorenzo, the Negros Occidental alumni will be headed by Cesar Villanueva, Bacolod City Realtor, Businesswoman Luz Era Demailig, Silay City Dentist Nenita Ynson, former GSIS Bacolod City Manager Clarito Alipio, former Paglaum School Supervisor Pablo Aguinaldo and Presentacion Fabila, business entrepreneur. The Guam island alumni will be headed by retired US Navy officer Andrea Zabala and Raymundo Niel. Nenita Garrido Betita, retired District School Supervisor of Batad, Iloilo.
Alumni Class 1950 are supporting 12 high school scholars every year at the Iloilo City National High School in Molo and a number of projects are up for completion. The alumni are also supporting sick fellow alumni in the amount of P5,000 for their hospitalization. Although no longer in their macho and “mahinhin na kutis” days, still many of them will troop to their homecoming on April 18 to renew bygone days. All alumni of Class 1950 ICHS are invited to attend their 59th year alumni homecoming. May God give you strength and good health to enable you to come to our reunion on April 18.
Fortunately, this columnist is also an alumnus of ICHS Class 1950. Welcome home fellow alumni on April 18. To God be the Glory.