the official publication of the st. scholastica`s alumnae foundation

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ST. SCHOLASTICA’S ALUMNAE FOUNDATION, INC.
FEBRUARY 2012
President Message
I
t’s getting increasingly
harder to write messages
like this these days because
the Facebook gets ahead of me.
But I guess, SSC, like everybody
else, has walked with the rest
of the world from snailmail to
Facebook.
And one accomplishment
we’re very proud to report to all of you is how our SSAFI
Facebook group and SSAFI Yahoo group grew by leaps and
bounds all within the year just passed.
Today, I am indulging in the luxury of getting in touch
with all of you from a beautifully designed new SSAFI Office
near St. Cecilia’s Hall. (If you haven’t seen it yet, take a peep
on your way to your car or on your way to St. Cecilia’s Hall to
watch a concert or fetch a daughter or granddaughter from
a rehearsal.
Yes, it really is a joy to come to SSC these days- in spite of
the traffic all around us.
Of course things have changed. The tarpaulin on our
walls tells us that loud and clear.
But entering Gate 1 sort of shuts out the din outside and
brings us into the sober, scholarly, monastic air that, in spite
of its innovativeness and its courageous participation in
present realities, still is the expected setting for a Benedictine
and Scholastican Education.
The pergola with its beautiful arches at once brings us
memories of bygone days, situating us both in the past and
the present with elegance and simplicity. Suddenly, stepping
in from the gate, one gets a sense of peace and quiet.
And as we walk through familiar, hallowed halls, the
new structures blending beautifully with the old ones, so
beautifully it seems that they had always been there before;
somewhere just a corridor or a garden away, our younger
Scholasticans are learning how to be true Scholasticans by
studying the 10 Hallmarks of a Benedictine and Scholastican
Education. Nobody talked of those hallmarks in our day. But
ED ITORIA L BOX
Dear Alumnae,
Welcome to Homecoming Day!
Our Copies boast of a new five
storey building, St. Cecilia’s Building. It is
home to the school of Music as well as
the College Library, AVC. Give us a call so
you can have a tour of this new building.
For this issue, we carry two mother
& daughter articles. We asked Marie Patuggalan, alumnae to
give us an update on her mother, Mrs. De Vera, well known
faculty in the high school soon after, the youngest daughter
of Mrs. De Vera, Fatima de Vera, was in the news as BPinoy
awardee. Read about them
We carry alumnae news and thru articles on the Grade
School and College to update you on what is happening at
St. Scholastica’s College.
Lastly, please read the provisions of our By-laws that
are due for change. Your vote is needed.
Welcome Home!
Maria Asuncion ‘Charlie’ AZCUNA
College ‘83
they must have been there somewhere, nestling beneath the
soft folds of black veils flying in the wind on hot summer
days, sounding along with the Angelus bells and the sounds
of Vespers at twilight and the patient voices of German
teachers giving Math drills or treating eager high school girls
to Shakespeare in heavy German accents.
Past and present, we walk the talk, each generation kindling in their hearts what makes them truly Scholastican.
But what does? What truly does?
Perhaps the answer is in what our Silver Jubilarians
want to tell the world and each other simply by saying WALANG KUPAS.
I'm sure the many answers to that question will be as
many as the stars above us.
But one thing I am sure of is that it takes more than one
person to make a Scholastican truly Scholastican. It takes
many people . It takes a community. It takes many years. All
of these, WALANG KUPAS.
I happened to ask a group of young alumnae what they
thought was WALANG KUPAS in St. Scholastica's College. And
they gave such a beautiful answer: “Miss Camu,” one of them
said, “because until now, we imitate the way she taught us
how to sing our First Communion songs.”
The making of a Scholastican takes many people like Miss
Camu. A Scholastican, giving back to St. Scholastica's what
nurtured her as a student. Maybe , that 's my message for
this issue. In the midst of old and new buildings, as we come
back home to this old-new SSC with Sr. Tammy's something
old, something new, something borrowed , something blue,
I hope we can find and celebrate what is WALANG KUPAS for
all of us. And like them, I hope we shall find it in our hearts to
give back what we have been so generously given.
And don't forget. SSAFI is always there waiting to be with
you in giving back.
Melba Aro-Santos
HS ‘72 – President
St. Scholastica’s Alumnae Foundation, Inc.
Board of Trustees
2011-2012
President:
Internal Vice-President:
External Vice-President:
Secretary:
Asst. Secretary:
Treasurer:
Assistant Treasurer:
Public Relations Officer:
Asst. PRO:
Members:
Moderator:
Melba Aro Santos, HS’72
Adelaida P. Villegas, HS’65/AB’69
Ma. Socorro Magpile Del Rosario, HS’69/AB’73
Sylvia A. Karaan, HS’79
Ma. Cristina G. Puno, HS86
Consuelo L. Tan, HS’38/BSE’41 Ma. Asuncion Aunario Azcuna, AB’83 Ma. April Lorelei Wycoco Pineda, HS’79
Michelle B. Lazaro, HS85
Florina Feliciano Castillo, HS’60/AB’65 Salud Donato De Castro, HS’48/AB’52
Patricia Viola De Veyra, HS’56
Virginia Domingo Gonzalez, HS’39
Amparo C. Lim, HS’70/AB’74
Ma. Lourdes Simon Lim, HS’71 Sigrid Reymundo Lizares, HS’76/AB’80
Ma. Magdalena del Rosario Lopez, HS’62/AB’66
Ma. Elsa Lava Mapua, HS’63/AB’67
Ma. Anicia Pacquia Mejia, AB/BSC’72
Ma. Rosario Hizon Nepomuceno, HS’71/AB’75
Ma. Angeles G. Prats, HS’70/ABBA’74
Ma. Lourdes Castro Roa, HS’59/AB’63
Michelle M. Rodriguez, HS’82
Rosemary Mallillin Rodriguez, HS’50/AB’54
Elenita San Agustin Sandejas, HS’56/AB’60
Sr. Mary Placid Abejo, OSB, BM’56
Presidential Installation
Installation of Sr. Mary Thomas Prado as 18th President
of St. Scholastica’s College, August 6, 2011.
PAX
3
The New building on the Block:
St. Cecilia’s Building
Maria Asuncion Azcuna, College 1983, MA Humanities 2000
Y
es, Scholastica, we have a new
building at St. Scholastica’s
College! It’s called the St.
Cecilia’s Building. Sr. Placid, Dean
of the School of Music, had long
dreamed of such a building. The
building has five floors and stretches
on the Estrada side.
The building consists of two
wings: the School of Music wing
and the College wing. The music
wing has the following facilities: St.
Cecilia’s Hall, 13 practice rooms,
13 studio rooms. The ground floor
Sister Placid among Pillar
4
PAX
has the Dean’s Office, faculty room,
a rehearsal hall and a Board Room
fitted with a piano donated by music
alumna,
Corky
Hernaez-Lopez,
HS48/BM52. There is a chamber
music room for each floor with two
functional keyboards. The compact
Corazon C. Aquino Hall at the 2nd
floor has 140 seats, an ideal venue
for small programs.
1st floor – piano rooms
2nd floor – piano room, audition room, computer music
Hallway Avenue
room, Battig room, seminar room,
music library, print & media room.
3rd floor – strings room,
liturgical music room, music
education room
4th floor – seminar room, Asian
Music Room, Percussion Room
The College Wing has the AVC
room on the 3rd floor; the college
library on the 4th floor and on the
5th floor: two function rooms that
have been put to good use since the
building’s inauguration.
Opera Hall
Asian Music Instruments Room
Battig Room
Recital Hall
Board Room
Music Library
Rehearsal Hall
Seminar Room
PAX
5
Back to the Future:
SSC Batch ’87 Redux
S
By Freida V. Dario HS’87
SC Batch 1987 owned the 80s, defined the 80s and
lived the 80s – from hairstyles to fashion, and down
to the attitude. Made up of a diverse set of individuals, as diverse as the genres of music of the decadent decade, certain common denominators gelled us together
throughout High School, and to this day, such as St. Benedict’s “Ora et Labora” or the Scholastican motto of Prayer
and Work, as each of us have dedicated ourselves to our
chosen fields, with a passion that has given our batch a
distinction and recognitions in various industries, namely media, travel, advertising, fashion, entrepreneurship,
politics and so on.
We also share the trait of “grace under pressure” –
perhaps we owe this to our dearly departed high school
Coordinator for Student Affairs Miss Salazar, and everyone’s most feared and loved Filipino teacher, the terrifying Mrs. De Vera both of whom we all love so dearly and
cherish so deeply! We were blessed with educators who
pushed us to our limits, equipped us with knowledge,
and the resilience to overcome adversities in life and the
toughest challenges at work and at home. In short, we
are not “quitters” – we were empowered to be leaders,
unfazed by the pressures of conformity.
6
PAX
We embrace challenge, and thanks in great part to
SSC Dean Sister Bellarmine Bernas, we continue to invoke
social change, when we can, for the greater good. Social
awareness runs in our veins, as children of the People
Power Revolution,…….
That said, the women of Batch ‘87 have and always
will be trendsetters, forever inspired by our pop and New
Wave idols (Madonna, Michael Jackson, Boy George, Cindy Lauper, Wham, The Gogo’s, B52’s, Tears for Fears, The
Cure, China Crisis, Flock of Seagulls, Hall and Oats, and so
on), who pushed the envelope and influenced our time, encouraging individuality and self-expression, with a whole
lot of aerosol-powered Aqua Net hair spray. And we will
all agree that we love to party and we know how to have a
hell of a good time! From soirees to mobile disco parties,
to excelling in sports and in the arts. So on February 12,
2012, join us at our Silver Jubilee on campus, and brace
yourselves for a crazy ride to the decadent past of the
80s and “Back to the Future”, with Batch ’87 on the dance
floor and at the captain’s seat! Carefree and peace-loving
as we are, we’ll give everyone something worthwhile to
take home and run with – and that’s our infectious joie de
vivre, the joy of living, as if it was our last day on earth!
Fifty Years Gone By
Carmen D. Pérez HS’62 / COLLEGE’66
Here’s trying to put into perspective one’s fifty years gone by
Past the several oceans, continents, cities, and streets I turned
Admitted family aside, realizing where my strengths had derived
From those twelve years in chrysalis, surely I can say and sigh.
The boundless lines to praise and to describe the passages learned
Despite diversions, albeit chances taken, I somehow survived.
For I had partaken and absorbed one richness of an education
Only one true Scholastican can match a level of comprehension.
A discipline inculcated, some propensity in expelling and dispelling
To anchoring kin, friendships were encouraged, such flourished,
Religious instructions, having faith, hope and charity, it is a telling
Oh! how to be unwavering, to be principled, an honour nourished
Without any doubt, based on Benedictine ethics of Prayer and Labour.
During all this time, cherishing the singleness I harbour and savour.
Within the radar of an era, working until a hand in marriage was offered
Motherhood likely followed, so thereby underscoring a need for deviation
Sensing an vivifying influence on venturing out to include globalization
This gypsy landed in Canada, appreciating the independence it proffered.
Like most work life abroad, alleviating daily grind, a trip or two, dosage
Forced hiatus, a oui to France’s heed to la vie en rose, revelling language
and wine. Toronto beckoned return, carved a career with mustered courage.
Called to spend time with Mother, it was no burden to put stuff in storage.
Back in Manila, enjoying the volunteering, reading to importuned children,
Teaching arts and crafts to youth, hungry for learning, so wanting for leisure
Also to retired nuns who radiate serenity and happiness, hardly a pressure,
A compressed version of my life’s span, sometimes overt, often hidden
In perhaps, fifty years more, one can surmise where our paths will be crossed
Forget not, though, nary a Scholastican’s stamp can be lost nor forever tossed.
First row (seated): Nanette Arellano, Pearl Li Yao, Purita Gamboa, Concepcion Tinio, Teresita Cruz, Sr. Ligouri del Rosario,
OSB+(Directress), Mother Godfrieda Baumeister, OSB+(Prioress) Sr. Lieou Sy, OSB+(High School Principal), Edna Gotia,
Cristina Raymundo+, Teresa Francisco+, Dolores Tirona, Rosario Tirona
Second row: Dulce Dee, Julieta Vasquez, Concepcion Crisologo+,Victorina Alzona, Blesila Hipolito, Corazon Buñag, Cleo Alday,
Sarah Caridad Salcedo, Corazon Sayoc, Norma Dizon, Antonia Paguia, Lourdes Laureano, Angelita Calado, Gloria Topacio
Third Row: Elizabeth Cervero+, Marovic Gomez, Victoria Pecson+, Sonia Ella, Josefina Calado, Imelda Gutierrez, Yolanda Martinez, Maria
Magdalena del Rosario, Linda Cabreza, Socorro Pantangco, Ester Quimbo, Sylvia Teehankee, Victoria Yu, Lourdes Uy, Sylvia Galvez
Fourth Row: Alexandra de Jesus, Josefina Laurel, Emma Quinio, Lucy Montinola, Lilia Sison, Ofelia Ramoso, Florina Aquino,
Margarita Ramos, Scarlett de Villa+, Nora de Guia+, Delise Garilao+, Florencita Arenas
Fifth Row: Dolores Borja, Remedios Tablante, Encarnita Laurel, Judy Calvo, Lillian Santiago, Victoria Ambe, Pacita Laperal, Cita Abad+,
Rebecca Villavicencio, Mercedes Muniosguren, Elizabeth Arrastia, Carmen Pérez, Evelyn Jimenez+, Celeste Villegas
PAX
7
PLATINUM
SCHOLASTICANS -
S
8
PAX
By ELSA LAVA - MAPUA GS‘59 HS‘63 COLL‘67
AND SYLVIA KARAAN GS‘72 HS’77
t. Scholastica’s Alumnae Foundation, Inc. (SSAFI), hosted a
gathering for Platinum Jubilarians last August 11,2011 at the
Social Hall in SSC Manila.
SSAFI wanted to honor the “Platinums” who are 85 years old
and above in a “Celebration of Life”, by having a smaller and more
intimate affair with music, food, dance, camaraderie, reminiscing and
thanksgiving.
We noticed that very few “older Scholasticans” attend our
Homecoming Day which is celebrated every year on the Sunday
in February nearest the Feast of St.Scholastica ( February 10 ). The
reasons they gave were: there are only a few classmates who are still
around; their class organizer passed away; it is difficult for them to
attend a big affair that extends up to the evening; mobility problems
because of age and ailments, etc.
And these reasons are what inspired us to have the First Reunion
of Platinum Jubilarians.
A little background on Jubilarians – these are usually the High
School and College Graduates — SILVER (25 years since their graduation); PEARL( 30 years); CORAL (35years); RUBY(40 years); SAPPHIRE
(45 years); GOLDEN (50 years); EMERALD (55 YEARS); DIAMOND(60
years). After the DIAMOND Jubilee 6oth year, alumnae are considered
as PLATINUM JUBILARIANS. If they want to attend the annual homecoming, just let SSAFI and the host HS Silver Jubilarians know that
they are attending, so their presence can be acknowledged during the
program.
For this 1st Platinum Celebration, we tried to contact first those
who were 85 and above because we realized that each Platinum might
need to bring one or 2 companions (usually a daughter or son and a
caregiver). The capacity of the Social Hall capacity is quite small. And
we figured that many Platinums between 76 and 84 years of age are
still strong enough to attend the annual homecoming.
SSAFI awarded all the “Platinums” with a token of Scholastican
kinship — a photo frame that had their “Before”and “Now” photos on
one side and a citation on the other side that said “In Celebration of
Many Happy Memories and Fruitful Years, and In Recognition of Living
Scholastican Ideals of Love and Service, St. Scholastica’s Alumnae
Foundation, Inc. (SSAFI), Gives This Token of Scholastican Kinship to
Platinum Jubilarian ____ (name of Jubilarian)”
The Special Awardees were the “Living” Platinum Scholasticans
– 95 years old and above. A short profile about each of the special
awardees preceded the awarding.
HS 1929 - GLORIA LUCERO-MONZON (100 YEARS)
HS 1930 - ANITA MAGSAYSAY-HO (97 YEARS)
HS 1931 - JULIA ORTIGAS-CAMPOS (98 YEARS) and SOLITA
CAMARA-BESA (96 YEARS)
HS 1932 - AMALITA ORTIGAS-OLBES (97 YEARS); ISABEL REYESKATIGBAK (97 YEARS) and FLORENCIA DEL PRADO (96 YEARS).
Of the 7 special awardees, only Amalita Ortigas-Olbes was
physically present to receive her recognition award. The others could
not attend due to their sickness and old age, but their awards were
received by either a relative or a representative.
Platinum Jubilarians below 95 who attended the affair were:
HS 1936 - Betty Castillo-Laurel; Virginia Rosales - Nanagas
HS 1939 - Naty Crame-Rogers; Ma. Luisa Del Prado; Pacita
LLamado – Salcedo; Felicisima Carreon-Ramirez; Ester Recto-Quinio;
Nita Umali- Berthelsen;
HS 1940 - Dolores Borja-Colayco; Emilia Go-Montejo; Rosalinda
Orosa; Josephine Rosales-Eleazar
HS 1941 - Lourdes Segundo-De Leon
HS 1942 - Teodora Badillo- Ledda; Amelia Bautista; Cecilia De
Veyra-Sta.Romana; Eva Gonzalez, Sofia Narciso-Suarez; Corazon
Vallarta-Lorenzo
HS 1944 - Teresita Araneta-Luistro; Gloria Connolly-Barredo;
Josephine Connolly-Arrastia; Fidela Unson-Ocampo
GS 1930 - Ester Umali-Salcedo
It was so touching to see some of the Platinums in their wheelchairs accompanied by their Scholastican daughters. Others were using walkers, canes, or wearing gauze masks and were being attended
to by their caregivers. But this did not prevent them from enjoying
themselves They were so happy to see their classmates and other
Scholasticnas who they had not seen in a long, long time. They loved
the cute song and dance number “I Enjoy Being A Girl” performed by
adorable little Scholasticans in their pretty ballet costumes. Some college students under Abigail Yee-Alvia HS9 Coll93, performed a ballet
number from “Don Quixote”. We also had a violin and a song number
performed by students from the Music Department, and accompanied
on the piano by Professor Greg Zuniega. Christine Balingcos of the
School of Music rendered a touching song “Anak ng Dalita”.
One of the highlights of the Platinum Celebration was a Dramatic
Reading by Naty Crame-Rogers (HS 1939). It was a short excerpt from
the play “My Son Jose” (a poignant dialogue between the mother of Jose
Rizal and her son, whose life was in danger because of his ideals). The
play was written by a Scholastican, the late Leonor Orosa-Goquingcor
(BSE 1939). Tita Naty acknowledged the presence of Leonor’s younger
sister, Rosalinda “Baby” Orosa (HS1940), Philippine Star columnist.
At 89 years, Tita Naty still appears in plays , and is very much
involved with “Sala Theater”.
We ended the affair with a Gallery of photos which we projected
on the big screen — their “Before” and “Now” photos and old class
pictures scanned from old yearbooks. We also included the photos of
those Platinums who sent their photos but could not attend. Looking
at the old photos and attending an affair at the old Social Hall brought
back many memories of their schooldays.
A few days after the Platinum Affair, SSAFI received a note of thanks
from Virginia ‘inny’ Rosales-Nanagas —“In the name of the Scholastican Senior Citizens 85 to 100 years old, we sincerely and gratefully say
thank you from the bottom of our hearts, to the Benedictine sisters, to
SSAFI, and specially to the organizers of the August 11 affair “A Celebration of Life”. It was truly an ‘ Affair To Remember’ for all of us !”
We at SSAFI, now have many new “Titas” — Tita Naty, Jinny, Chibbi,
Betty, Kate, Chuchi, Baby, Dolly, Eva, Mila, Amelia, Paquita, Ester, Gloria,
jo and many more. We are inspired by their eagerness to keep in touch
with their beloved Alma Mater—St.Scholastica’s College.
PAX
9
SSCHS’77 Swing for a Scholar Coral
Jubilee Golf Tournament
T
he St. Scholastica’s College Manila High School
Batch '77 sponsored the SSCHS '77 Swing for a
Scholar Coral Jubilee Golf Tournament at the Philippine Navy Golf Club last November 17 for the benefit
of Batch '77's various projects including key programs
of the St. Scholastica's Alumnae Foundation Inc. (SSAFI).
These projects are: the Child of A Scholastican for the
children of Scholasticans in need of financial support
and the Night Secondary Scholars for deserving students
from disadvantaged families in Singalong.
The registration started at 5:30 am and recorded
67 civic-minded golfers who enjoyed a day of golf and
who were also treated to a bag of giveaways, lunch, ice
cream,great raffle prizes and a lively awards program.The
Awarding Ceremony was hosted by Ms. Mimi FernandezNitura (HS77) and Mr. Nonong Rodriguez. Special guests
from the SSAFI Board
of Trustees were Ms.
Elsa Lava-Mapua,
Head of Membership
Committee,
who spoke on the
Night
Secondary
Scholars (NSS) and
Child of the Scholastican scholarship
programs, Ms. Baba
Aro-Santos (SSAFI
President) and Ms.
Cristina Puno (SSAFI
Assistant Secretary).
Ms. Mignon Wycoco-Ramos, SSCHS ‘77 President,
opened the ceremony with words of welcome and appreciation for all those who played, sponsored and organized
the event. Being a golf tournament, the following winners
were awarded trophies and prizes.
10
PAX
Winners were:
Men’s Division:
Mon Villareal – Overall Champion
Raffy Ante – Class A Champion
Keith Halford – Class A Runner-Up
Elmer Ngo – Class B Champion
Antonio Cruz – Class B Runner-Up
Gerry Romualdez – Class C Champion
Obi Villariba – Class C Runner-Up
Women’s Division:
Lee Heredia – Ladies Champion
Greely Remulla-Oposa(SSCHS’77) –
Ladies Runner-Up
Special Fun Games:
Jing Warren – 2 Yards Nearest To The Pin
Raffy Ante – 272 Yards Longest Drive
Al Cervero – 1 Inch C/B 150 yards
Most Accurate Drive
The SSCHS ‘77 Core Team (Mignon Wycoco-Ramos,
Pinky Cobangbang-Soberano, Eva Santiago-Perez, Bernadette San Jose-Garcia, Tani Sempio-Bautista, Jakes Jacobo-Pastrana, Maridol Carlos-Dannug,
Rose Santiago, Pat
Lim-Yu, Mabey Santos-Datu,
Jocelyn
Villa-Lacuna, Rona
Buencamino-Abundo, Mimi Fernandez-Nitura, Vicky
Baniqued-Alunan,
Gigi Reyes-Cancio,
Malou Valero, Greely Remulla-Oposa,
Baby
FerrarenAmpil, and Bang Karaan) together with their other classmates Riza Gervasio-Mantaring, Sandra Yu, Joan UmaliSoliman, Susan Ortega-Larrazabal, Gina Cruz-Go, Cecil
Escueta-Lazo, Evelyn del Rosario-Garcia, Rosanne GocoPena, Lily Ann Claudio-Favis, Marinette Berba-Mendoza
and our US based classmates led by Mary Ann Prospero
would like to extend its many thanks to our generous
sponsors and friends, to SSAFI and its scholars for giving
us purpose and inspiration. Most of all to our dear Lord,
for the wonderful gift of clear blue skies and the warm
soothing sun that shone on us all on that day.
My Tita Glo.
A Woman of Strength and Many Talents
By Neni Sta. Romana Cruz GS’59/HS’63/AB’67
O
n her 100th birthday on November 7, 2010, Gloria
Lucero Monzon was honored as the remaining living founder of UP’s Sigma Delta Phi Sorority and
its first Grand Archon. Her other co-founders were Alice
Palma Bautista, Lourdes Bautista San Diego and Catalina
S. Manguerra. Tita Glo’s appearance that night showed
her usual “grit and resilience” as she had just survived
a bout of pneumonia. The strong woman that she is, she
was whisked from the hospital where she had been confined for weeks, directly to the hotel venue.
My Tita Glo was an exemplary and outstanding
leader. She was the acknowledged head of HS 1929 of
which she graduated valedictorian. She wrote an essay
about her class “Growing Up With ‘Baday’ “ in Daughter’s
True. (2006)
“Baday” was their nickname for Sr. Willibalda, who
supervised them and made sure they were quiet and
studied before the start of class hours. She remembers
that even then, SSC was already known for music, “I
never studied, but I excelled in my stidies.” Sr. Eusebia,
whom the class called “Ebiang” was their teacher in second, third, fourth years..
Among her classmates in a class of 27 were Josephine Murphy, Amelia Romualdez whose father was
Manila mayor Miguel Romualdez, Milagros Romualdez,
daughter of Justice Norberto Romualdez, Remedios Goquiolay, Alice Adad, Carmen Crow, Belen Villasenor, and
Pilar Albert.
When they graduated, she remembered that they
wore uniform graduation dresses beautifully sewn by
the same dressmaker.
Tita Glo was my dear ninang who gave me my first
locked diary and set me off on my writing as a kid, and
is also ninang to Tina Monzon Palma, She was an ideal
homemaker and not only because home economics and
education were her majors in UP. She enjoyed creating
Ikebana arrangements, even training in Japan for this.
She joined and initiated yearly Ikebana exhibits in Manila and even taught it to other enthusiasts.
Hers has been a long, blessed and productive
life — saddened only by the premature death
of her husband, Brig. Gen. Patricio R. Monzon, commanding general of the Philippine
Army, who headed Sangley Point in Cavite, her son Rene, a daughter Patsy, her
eldest grandson Bobby who was a
summa cum laude graduate of
the UP Medical School and just
beginning a promising career.
She was always bubbly and full of stories and spent
many years teaching at the Far Eastern University. I have
always known her to be strong-willed and energetic and
always busy with her hands that it is hard to accept that in
January 11, 2011, shortly after she celebrated her 100th
birthday, Tita Glo began to sleep more and talk less. She
did not lose her memory, but in a sense, decided to withdraw from it all. Perhaps it is her way of preparing us all
for a final goodbye.
Tita Glo HS 1929, belongs to a family of Scholasticans. Her two daughters Concepcion and + Patricia studied in SSC for Grade School. She was one of the Special
Awardees last August 11, 2011 when SSAFI honored the
Living Platinum Jubilarians. In fact, she is the oldest living SSC alumna. She was 100 years old then. Her daughter Concepcion attended the Platinum affair and received
the award for her. Tita Glo turned 101 years old on November 7, 2011.
She is the only living Lucero sister. Her sisters
were:
+ Alicia Lucero Gamboa. HS1925 (mother of + Doreen Gamboa Fernandez, HS50/AB54 and Della
Gamboa Besa, HS51/AB55)
+ Loreto Lucero Teopaco, HS 1926 (mother of Albina Teopaco Jahn, HS53 and + Elnora Teopaco
Figueroa, HS56)
+ Selina Lucero Sta. Romana, HS1934 (mother of Flor
Marie Sta. Romana, GS59/HS63/AB67 and Ma.
Corazon Sta. Romana GS65/HS69/AB73)
+ Simona Lucero Mayuga, HS 1937 (mother of Sylvia
Mayuga, HS59
PAX
11
RETURN of
the BOYS of
Sister Gratia
By ELSA LAVA-MAPUA KINDER52/
GS59/HS63/COLL67
for the school. Outgoing SSC President,
Sr. Angelica Leviste shared with us
heart warming stories about Sr. Gratia
and her timeless legacy.
Elsa Mapua reminded the BSGs
about the quote in the bible “Unless
you become like one of these, you can
not enter the kingdom of heaven”. This
was her introduction to a group singing activity. She asked everyone to
become like little children again, just
like they were in Kindergarten. All the
BSGs, nuns and SSAFI Board members
joined her in singing “We Are Boys of
Sr. Gratia” (a round song to the tune of
“Are You Sleeping”).
S
12
SAFI hosted a get together last
October 4, 2011- “A Timeless
Legacy: Return of the Boys of
Sr. Gratia. We wanted to rekindle the
memories of the timeless legacy of
Sister Gratia Aigner, OSB – the lovable,
gentle but energetic nun who for 41
years, taught little Scholastican girls
and boys in kindergarten.
The first time the Boys of Sr Gratia
(BSGs) joined us in SSC alumnae affairs
was in September 2005 at the Manila
Polo Club — it was the kick-off activity
in preparation for the Centennial
Jubile. There were only 5 BSGs present
— Juanito Munoz, Ramon “Jun”
Magsaysay, Pocholo Borromeo, Lito
Bunag and Marc Prats. After tireless
“sleuthing” and searching for more
BSGs, we held the first official reunion
of the Boys of Sr. Gratia at the Manila
Golf Club on June 23, 2006. This time
16 boys attended. Miss Astrid Perez,
who also taught in Kinder with Sr.
Gratia was a surprise guest. The boys
were thrilled to see their former
Kinder teacher. They shared the songs
they were taught in kinder, as well
as their scrapes and embarrassing
moments, and how Sr. Gratia with her
PAX
kind and gentle ways helped them. We
included these memories in the SSAFI
coffeetable book “A Common Thread”.
BSGs who lived abroad also sent in
their stories. Through email.
For the Grand Centennial Celebration at St. Cecilia’s Hall on December 6, 2006, SSAFI awarded 95 plaques
to the BSGs. Sr. Gratia must have been
smiling from above saying “Those are
my adorable little boys!”
The list of BSGs is getting longer. By word of mouth and through
email blasts, and facebook posts, we
now have 150 BSGs in our list. (check
website www.ssc.edu.ph then click on
Alumnae and friends)
Last October 4, nineteen (19) BSGs
attended the get together. Ernie Martinez (Kinder 1933) delivered a touching invocation prayer. SSAFI President
Baba Aro Santos welcomed the BSGs
and called them — our fellow alumnae
and gave an overview of the vision and
mission of SSAFI, and the description
of the different committees. Our new
SSC President, Sr. Mary Thomas Prado
was happy to meet the BSGs and took
this opportunity to give a brief powerpoint presentaton of her 10 year plan
“We are boys of Sister Gratia
She also gave updates on some
SSAFI projects—Peace Clock project;
The Swing for A Scholar Golf Tournament; SSAFI Card Membership. We
now have 5 BSGs who have Lifetime
SSAFI cards and 13BSGs who have Regular SSAFI Cards (valid for 5 years).
Bro. Bernie Oca of DE La Salle
University volunteered to give the response on behalf of the BSGs. We all
enjoyed his witty and humorous response.
Nic.ole Severino HS97, accompanied by guitar students from the SSC
music department, sang some old time
jazz favorites.
It was a lovely evening of good
food, music, reminiscing, sharing and
thanksgiving. Thank you Sr. Gratia for
sharing your “little boys” with us!
I
t has been quite some time since
Mrs. Teresita de Vera has retired
from teaching at St. Scholastica’s
College Manila. Almost everyone
who studied in St. Scho knew her
from 1958-1993. She has five children, the three girls went to SSC from
pre-school to high school, while the
two boys were students of Sister Gracia in kindergarten. The 3 girls now
reside in North America, while the 2
boys reside in the Philippines. Mrs.
De Vera migrated to Canada in 2008.
The eldest child, Maria Teresa
“Marie” is married to Raymond Pattugalan. Both are architects who
knew each other in UST. Marie was
formerly a faculty of SSC Int. Design
Dept., PSID and UST College of Architecture. Both Marie and Raymond
were responsible for some renovation projects in SSC from 1997-2007.
They now reside in Toronto with their
2 children. Bernie (SSC HS 2006) is
finishing her degree in Child Education while Ramon recently graduated
Arch’ral Tech.
Having learning areas related
to education and teaching, a passion
they share with their mom and grandmom Beatriz, a principal of CEU, the
2nd and 3rd child, Ricky & Raymund
both graduates of DLSU, reside with
their family in Manila. Both are into
training, consultancy and research.
Her 4th child, Maria Carmela
‘Carla’ de Vera-Santiago is currently
residing in Toronto, Canada with her
family. She works as a Senior Portfolio Analyst at the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), a financial institution wholly owned by the
Government of Canada that provides
financial and consulting services to
Canadian businesses. Carla’s husband Floro is a Corporate Controller
of Airboss of America, one of North
America’s largest manufacturers of
rubber products. She has 2 sons who
are both studying at University of Toronto. Raphael her eldest son is in 3rd
year taking up a double major in Economics and English and her second
son Juan Carlo is a 1st year student
taking up Business Management.
The youngest, Fama de Vera
Francisco is currently residing in
Cincinnati, Ohio with her family. She
is married to Noel and has 4 children.
Miguel is 17, Marky is 15, Marga is 12
and Max is 8. Both Noel and Fama
work at Procter and Gamble head office in Cincinnati. Fama is the General Manager for North America Baby
A hero for bats
Care, while Noel is the Senior Manager for Corporate Function Marketing HR.
Norma Monfort, AM Piano 1961
N
orma Monfort a dynamic BCI partner in the Philippines for five
years, is being honored as a 2011 Disney Worldwide conservation Fund Conservation Hero. The award recognizes “extraordinary individuals who are passionate about protecting animals and
habitats in areas of critical concern.
Monfort originally sought BCI’s help in protecting her familyowned Monfort Bat Cave, home to the world’s largest-known colony
of Geoffroy’s rousette fruit bats (Rousettus amplexidaudatus). The
cave on Samal Island is a sanctuary for about 1.8 million of the bats,
which had all but disappeared from other caves in the region. Monfort not only protected the cave, but turned it into a vital venue for
teaching visitors about the benefits of bats in the Philippines. She has
hosted many bat-education events at the site and helped with others
around the area. She launched the nonprofit Philippine Bat Conservation group and works tirelessly to change public attitudes. Bats of the
Philippines have a true champion in Norma Monfort.
PAX
13
P&G’s Filipina Baby Care GM
couldn’t take no for an answer
By: Doris C. Dumlao
H
Reprinted from Philippine Daily Inquirer
12:00 am | Sunday, October 9th, 2011
ers is an inspiring story of hope
shared by people
who had given it to her
ONLY female Asian GM in P&G, world’s
largest consumer products company
at the time she needed it
most.
Thus says Ma. Fatima “Fama” De Vera-Francisco, one of the three BPInoy 2011
awardees for outstanding international achievement.
Fama is the highest ranking and only Asian female
general manager in the world’s largest consumer products
company, Procter & Gamble, in its global headquarters located in Cincinnati, Ohio in the United States.
As head of the Baby Care and Global Innovation, she is
responsible for about $2.5 billion worth of sales and 2,000
employees.
She was chosen as a BPInoy honoree for setting a
world-class standard for child’s personal care and by climbing the global corporate ladder of P&G – against all odds that
is. Her fellow BPInoy awardees this year are global boxing
champion Manny Pacquiao, now the House Representative
of Sarangani Province and Black
Eyed Peas founding member Allan
Pineda Lindo Jr. a.k.a. “Apl
As a leader, she believes that
people are the most important assets. “The most important role of a
leader is handpicking the right talent, giving them challenging roles,
and continually investing in their
development so they can become
future leaders of the company,” she
says.
The BPInoy award is another
feather to Fama’s cap. In 2005, she
was recognized by one of the big four international accounting firms, Deloitte and Touche, in its “Wise Women” program.
She was also named by the Cincinnati Business Courier as
an emerging leader in its “Forty under 40” program.
In 2009, Fama was an Agora Awardee for Excellence in
International Marketing, Philippine Marketing Association.
Her alma mater, St. Scholastica’s College, had also cited her
as an outstanding alumna, citing her mentoring of young
Asians in P&G and Xavier University, as well as volunteering for Religious Education in Good Shepherd Parish, Cincinnati.
As cited by BPI, Fama is indeed viewed as a “woman
who has, and is continuing to, blaze trails for other women.”
To top it all, she has progressed in her career, while raising
a family. She is a mother of four young children and leads a
fast-paced, diverse organization and business.
Not bad for someone who once upon a time never
thought she could finish schooling for lack of resources.
Lifeliners
14
PAX
Fama came from a family of limited means. Her mother
was a teacher who supported five children while her father
was sick for a very long time.
During the awarding ceremonies of BPInoy 2011, Fama
recalled that the first lifeline to her family came from the
nuns of St. Scholastica’s College, where her mother taught.
The nuns allowed her and her siblings to study for free and
even eat lunch for free.
When her father passed away in 1985, Fama says she
wasn’t sure whether she could afford to go to college. After her dad’s funeral, an uncle gave her an ATM (automated
teller machine) card – which incidentally was BPI-issued –
saying that if she continued to study hard, he would deposit
money to that account regularly. ATMs were only being popularized in the local market then and Fama says she didn’t
even know how to use it.
“That blue ATM card was my lifeline,” Fama says, noting that she thus went to the University of the Philippines
College of Business Administration.
P&G has always been her dream job and this she pursued after college. She applied for a slot at the marketing
department. She passed the first
three interviews but didn’t make
the cut at the fourth.
“It was almost the end of my
dreams but I couldn’t take no for
an answer,” she says. She looked
up a P&G executive who had given
a career talk at her college and told
him she would really love to be
employed by P&G.
That exec agreed to give her a
second chance. In its half a century
of operation in the Philippines,
P&G had never hired women and
was then reconsidering that strategy.
In that crucial interview, Fama was asked only one
question: “Do you know how to drive?” She didn’t know
to drive at that time but knowing that she could otherwise
lose the opportunity, told the interviewer she did. Thus she
was able to join P&G sales team. “One of the side benefit
was that I found my husband Noel,” she says.
“When I joined P&G, I never thought I would be the GM,
the chances were zero percent,” she says. She was proven
wrong 22 years later.
“I am where I am today because of the people who gave
me hope,” she says.
Fama is thus a success story of how a Filipino stood
out in a highly competitive field in a global economy and
doing this by being a mom.
“As a wife and mother, family comes first. I’m fortunate
to be working for a company that shares those values, and
enables it’s employees to achieve work and life balance,”
she says.
W
hat is Singapore Math? Singapore Math
refers to the curriculum/program created
by and for Singapore in their school systems.
It is an approach that summarizes the development
of mathematical abilities with emphasis on problem
solving and model drawing, and a focus on in-depth
understanding of the essential math skills using the
five inter-related components such as Concepts, Skills,
Processes, Attitudes and Metacognition
With that overview we combined the objectives
of the Singapore Math with that of the existing GS
Math curriculum of SSC Manila. We envisioned to see
Scholasticans who would demonstrate competence
in computational skills, mastery of the mathematical
concepts and reason out logically, analytically and
critically in daily life situations. Therefore, the acquisition
and application of mathematical concepts and skills in
a wider perspective including routine and non-routine,
open-ended and real-word problems are basic and
necessary. This we do now through the model method.
The Model approach requires students to draw
rectangular boxes to represent part-whole relationships
and math values (both known and unknown values) in
the math problems. The word problems are typically
designed to depict real-life situations such as grocery
shopping and division of money. By drawing such boxes/
blocks, the students can visualize the math problems
more clearly and are able to make implied knowledge
explicit. This technique of model building is a visual way
of picturing a situation. Instead of forming simultaneous
equations and solving for the variables, model building
involves using blocks or boxes to solved the problem.
The power of using models can be best illustrated by
problems, often involving fractions, ratios or percentages,
which appear difficult but if models are drawn to show
the situation, the solution becomes clearer, sometimes
even obvious.
We also adapted the use of the Concrete-PictorialAbstract (CPA) approach and made use of the seris of My
Pals Are Here. This means students are provided with
the necessary learning experiences beginning with the
concrete and pictorial stages, followed by the abstract
stage to enable them to learn mathematics meaningfully.
This approach encourages active thinking process,
communication of mathematical ideas and problem
solving which will help develop the foundation students
will need for more advanced mathematics. Because
this approach have demonstrated positive responses
in students’ academic performance as evidenced in the
significant marked increase in students’ failure there
was more enthusiasm and understanding of problem
solving in Math. Students in grades one to four find the
lessons enjoyable through the manipulation of the blocks
which made the problems clearer. The model drawing
has aided students in grade six to visualize quantities
(known and unknown) and their relationships given
in the problem. The Model method is a pre-algebraic
method. Their experience in using bars enabled them to
appreciate better the use of letter symbols to represent
quantities when they later learn the algebraic method.
The books and workbooks allowed students and parents
to further understand concepts and processes taken up
in Math classes and to work together and solve problem
exercises.
The implementation of the Singapore Math has
bought many gains in the Grade School. Through the
kindness of EdCrish International, the publisher of “May
Pals are Here,” teachers in the grade school were given
seminars and workshop on the model approach. Two of
our teachers were sent to visit three of the top primary
schools in Singapore. The other teachers wered provided
with the opportunity to observe classes here, learn and
interact with the teachers from Singapore and students/
delegates from other countries. We are duplicating this
activity by April 2012 by sending again two more Math
Teachers to Singapore and observe classes there. With
this development, the Math area has invited Mrs. Queena
Le Chua and her son, Scott, to present to the Grade School
Parents and neighboring schools of ABS Math teachers
this approach which we hope will continue to gather
more enthusiastic minds to love and enjoy mathematics.
By the end of March, 2012 we shall also send out
evaluation sheets to students and their parents of our
Grade School with the end in mind to improve the teaching
and learning of students and teachers and discover new
and more ways of making Mathematics more meaningful
in our daily life. That in all things God may be glorified!
Sr. Edna, OSB, is the grade school Principal
at St. Scholastica’s College.
PAX
15
Pancit canton enriched with
“alugbati puree” for good health
T
he popularity and affordability of
pancit canton noodles was the primary consideration in developing
pancit canton noodles supplemented
with alugbati puree as a possible solution to the micronutrient deficiency of
the country.
Thus, in the undergraduate thesis
of Ms. Marianne Cantuba, a 2011 BSND
graduate of St. Scholastica’s College Manila, entitled”Development of Canton
Noodles with Alugbati Puree”, she determined the optimum formulation of
alugbati canton noodle, the acceptability of the formulated noodles in terms
of sensory qualities, the microbiological safety of the noodles produced from
the formulation and the nutritive value
of this product in terms of energy, protein, fath and vitamin A.
This research study won against
three other competing nutrition schools
in Metro Manila, at Food and Nutrition
Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology’s ((FNRI-DOST)
undergraduate student thesis competition that was held in conjuction with
the 37th FNRI Seminar Series in July
2011.
The Results of the study showed
that the optimum formulation of an acceptable alugbati canton noodle was
20% alugbati puree incorporated into a
flour mixture, the other levels being 0,
10% and 30%. It revealed also that the
determining factor in the acceptability
of the formulated noodles in terms of
sensory qualities was the salt flavor.
In the country’s current
state of nutrition where undernutrition, anemia and vitamin A deficiency are still public
health problems as revealed by
the 7th National Nutrition Survey, growing alugbati in backyards and then processing them
into a noodle will help promote
local utilization of the vegetable
which is an excellent source of
vitamins and minerals. Mass
production of the product on the
other hand, will not only improve
the nutrition of the population,
but also generate jobs and income
for the people.
For more information about the
research, you may contact Ms. Cynthia Gayya at the Nutrition Department
of St. Scholastica’s College, Manila.
College Marihatag Outreach Project
L
16
Rebecca Padilla-Marquez, GS’75 / HS’79
ast November 10-13, 2011, a
group of twenty-six sisters, faculty members of the College Faculty Outreach Committee (FOC) along
with two students went to Marihatag
in Surigao del Sur for their outreach/
exposure activity. Led by no less than
the President of the school, Sr. Mary
Thomas Prado, OSB, the group went up
the mountains of Han-ayan to strengthen and deepen the links with the Lumad/Manobo public high school under
the Alternative Center for Agricultural
Development (ALCADEV) through a
Memorandum of Agreement between
the two institutions, SSC and ALCADEV.
The MOA defined the relationship of
the two schools, whereby assistance to
the Manobo schools through resource
sharing and teacher training will be extended by SSC. For the past two years,
SSC has been sending school supplies
such as boxes of chalk, notebooks, pad
papers, pens, pencils and crayons; umbrellas and slippers to the Marihatag
PAX
schools. SSC’s commitment will continue for the next year. On ALCADEV’s
part, it will also share its knowledge on
indigenous technology and culture to
SSC. Exchange of students and faculty
will also be explored.
During the outrach/exposure, assistance in the area of faculty development was conducted with three modules of:
• Teaching Methodologies and Strategies
• Wood Cut Workshop
• Dance Workshop
The modules on Wood Cut and
Dance were opened to high school
studetns. Exposure of the faculty to
the sorry state of the public schools of
Marihatag intensified their commitment to help the schools. The teacher
trainings will be a regular program
whenever there are visits to Marihatag.
Aside from these, storybooks, reference
books and textbooks will be solicited
for the schools visited.
The trip was also cultural enrichment activity on the part of SSC faculty.
Visits to the National Museum, the excavation sites in Libertad and the site of
the first mass in Butuan were also done.
The beautiful natural scenery, the lush
greenery, the clean rivers and waterfalls juxtaposed with logs by the roadside, military checkpoints and poverty
of the people showed both the richness
of the Philippine culture and resources,
as well as conflicts in access and interest to these sources of wealth. Unfortunately, caught in between these are the
impoverished ordinary Filipinos, rural
and lumad.
The exposure/outreach trip was
an opportunity to share resources and
talents, but also as an opportunity to
touch base with the lives of people in
Surigao del Sur and personal encounter
with the social realities. It was also an
occasion to strengthen the Scholastican
commitment to being advocates for the
agents social change.
AMALIA ORTIGAS OLBES:
Remembering the
German Discipline
By: Paulynn Paredes-Sicam and
Elsa Lava-Mapua HS ‘63 College ‘67
A
t 97, Amalia Ortigas-Olbes, GS1928
HS 1932 is one of the oldest living
alumnae of St. Scholastica’s College.
At a Saturday morning interview in the
condo she shares with her husband Joe
Olbes, she drew a picture of an idyllic if
discipline-bound girlhood in the bosom of
the Benedictine sisters.
Although they lived in Legarda St
near Holy Ghost College. Amalia and her
four sisters-Rosario, Asuncion, Carmen
and Julia, were sent by their parents to
St. Scholastica’s College, and her brothers
to La Salle. Although it was a longer drive
away. she says, “Mama wanted to put us in
the best schools for boys and girls.”
True enough, St. Scholastica’s College stood among the best, most exclusive
schools for girls in those days. Sr. Willibalda Schrader was school directress and
the famous Sr. Baptista Battig was making
a name in music education.
Every morning, they packed into their
family car, a Hudson, then later a Packard,
milk bottles in tow. “We brought milk
made from Horlicks powder to school. I
hated it, but I never thought of just throwing it away.”
She and her sisters were half- boarders, meaning they ate lunch at the school
refectory. She recalls, “I didn’t like the food
but I couldn’t do anything about it. A sister
sat in front of me and stayed there until I
finished eating. The food of the sisters was
special. We liked their food better.”
Discipline marked each school day at
SSC. “We sat with our hands clasped on top
of the table. For talking in class, we were
sent at the back of the room. There was to
be no talking during meals. And we spoke
only in English. Spanish and Tagalog were
not allowed.” Other forms of discipline
were belated resolutions.
When we asked “What was the naughtiest thing you did in school?”, she remembered being punished for eating peanuts
that her classmates bought at the Japanese
store outside the school. With a twinkle in
her eye she said “Charing Macapagal and
Carmen Barredo were the naughty girls
of the class—they would escape from the
campus to buy the peanuts. But I never
escaped from school. The nuns punished
us—those who bought the peanuts, as well
as those who ate the peanuts.”
The students took the punishment
as part of the German discipline. The most
valuable lesson instilled in her, Amalia said
today, is “to be honest”.
Beyond the school fence, the boys
from La Salle stood waiting to catch a
glimpse of the girls. A discreet wave was
all that was possible then when the sexes
didn’t mix, at least not in the SSC campus.
Socialization happened at chaperoned parties and during group strolls
on Dewey Boulevard. Amalia observes:
“Wherever we were, La Salle followed.
When SSC was in San Marcelino, La Salle
was in San Marcelino. La Salle also followed St. Scholastica’s to Singalong.”
Amalia was in the grades for eight
years, from kindergarten to seventh
grade, after which she took one year of
high school before going to commercial
high school for three years. She graduated in 1932 at the age of 19. Among other
things, she learned typing and steno per-
fectly under the tutelage of Sister Benita de
los Reyes, a daughter of the founder of the
Aglipayan church, Isabelo de los Reyes.
“I was happy there,” she says with
a sigh, reciting the names of her grade
school teachers in rapid-fire succession:
“Grade one, Sr. Redimbalda; Grade three,
Sr. Rita; Grade four, Sr. Eutropia; Grade
five, Sr. Herminia….”. She couldn’t recall
her teacher in Grade two, but she suddenly remembered the names of two of her
classmates in grade school, Emilia German
and Carolina Chicote. She also mentioned
she had two nicknames: in school. it was
Amalita, and at home, it was Chibi.
The names of her classmates started
spilling out as we jogged her mind and
heart for more memories of her Scholastican days: Florencia Feliciano who was
the class valedictorian, Rosario Calero-Lozano, Amelia Castillo-Velasquez, Carmen
Barredo-Borromeo, Charing MacapagalFilamor, Elena Onrubia-Ferraren, Chary
Crow Igoa, Susie Galle-Rieth, Marina Morales, Rosario Llamas-Razon, and Angeles
Urrutia-Ynchausti.
Amalita used to go to homecomings
with her sisters, wearing their high school
uniforms, But her classmates are mostly
gone now.”If they tell me there will be
classmates of mine there, I’ll come,” she
says. She was also dedicated to the nuns,
visiting them in Baguio during the summer holidays. But she laments, when the
German nuns she knew were no longer
around, she stopped visiting.
Amalia was detained briefly during
the war, after she was caught by a Japanese soldier giving cigarettes to American prisoners on Dewy Boulevard. “I was
taken to Fort Santiago where I was made
to stay overnight writing over and over, ‘I
am sorry for what I have done. I’ll never
do it again’,”
Amalia Ortigas married Jose Olbes
in 1944, at the height of the Japanese occupation, Their two-day honeymoon in
the Japanese-occupied Manila Hotel was
only short of disastrous – with Japanese
officers in their underwear at the lobby,
cockroaches in the food and filthy sheets
on the beds. But they have lived to be 97
and 99, respectively, and their marriage
has lasted 67 years. They have three sons,
Jose Mari, Antonio and Eduardo,
Note: We interviewed Tita Chibi in
July 2011, two weeks before our get together for the Platinum Jubilarians on August 11, 2012, She was one of the special
awardees. In fact, the short profile we said
about her before we awarded her with the
“Token of Scholastican Kinship”, was based
on this interview. (see page__Platinum Jubilarians….)
With sadness in our hearts, we regret
to inform you that Amalia Ortigas-Olbes
passed away on December 29, 2011. However, we feel blessed that we had the opportunity to meet this gracious and gregarious
Scholastican who shared with us her school
day memories in SSC. May her soul rest in
peace.
PAX
17
Milagros Garcia Hugo, HS1960
April 12 - January 20, 2011
Of Love & Laughter
A Eulogy Written by Victor Hugo, Jr.
O
n the 20th of January 2011 at
8:15pm, Milagros Garcia Hugo
took her final breath of life right
before her heart stopped beating. Her
20-year battle against cancer was over.
Amidst this battle, she lived her name
– Milagros; a miracle, a miraculous triumph; That is, she lived her final days,
shocking even the doctors because she
felt no pain… No pain and No fear, no
worry nor regret, no hurt nor sorrow;
and simply, with peace. How does one
face death with such peace?
Tita Myles did it because hers was
a life filled with love and laughter.
Most people think that our Tita
Myles, had no children, when in fact,
she actually raised 11! She was a 2nd
mother to 11 of her nephews and
nieces; and she turned us cousins into
brothers and sisters; she taught us
many things.
18
… that family is sacred;
… that life needs laughter;
… that spontaneity is a treasurer;
… that caring for your parents is divine;
… that live is quality time;
At 25 while the rest of her amigas
were going on dates, she started a daily
devotion of dates to her nephews and
nieces… She Started with the eldest of
her pamangkins – Rosanne. Then with
Conrad, and Cess, and Paolo… Maru &
Rhea, Nikka, myself, Vivienne, Valerie,
and Carla followed and her dates began to increase exponentially – She
took all of us to many of our firsts – Our
first baby steps &pseudo sprints at the
American Cemetary @ Fort Bonifacio,
our first trip to the Zoo; our first San
Lorenzo punk parties with rivets &
dippity do; our first movies in the cinema and our first visits to sea front; our
first driving encounters in her car, our
first cash & carry runs & tretorn shoes;
PAX
our first Tagaytay/Villa Escudero/Pagsanjan Falls trips graced with bringing
baon of our favorite chorizos & daings;
our first green jokes and all the other
firsts inb between… She had a family of
11 children all doing firsts at the same
time in the company of each other.
She taught us the values of togetherness, of being moral, of taking care of
one another; of always checking up on
each other & of casual kamusta calls;
of remembering birthdays; of being
simple & modest; of being honest &
just; She lived an example of life with
adventure and she reminded us not
to take life too seriously – i.e. stop &
smell the roses; to discern & decipher
roses from daffodils >> the roses were
real life partners; the daffodils were
temporal traps of distraction – fanciful, fleeting, superficial, & not worth
having; to enjoy simple pleasures; she
taught us majong - siete pareses and
todo pongs; she spurred laughter with
either green, witty, (and her favorite)
brutally blunt humor; she taught us all
this and more…
Love was also evident in her professional life; As a kagawad, she loved
her community by committing herself
to diligence in her duty. She chose to
take care of the barangay’s HEALTH,
SANITATION, & BEAUTY. As most of
you know, she had a deep appreciation
for aesthetics – always with lipstick,
lips never chapped even while on her
deathbed, always in good fashion. She
wanted to share aesthetic appreciation by beautifying the world of
her constituents. For her, the people
who lived by the rails of the trains deserved a beautiful environment too;
she initiated lush pot gardens & even
color-coordinated trash bins in fancy
shapes; when it came to sanitary spot
checks of the numerous restaurants in
the barangay, she had a devotion to detail, never leaving a pan un-turned or
an oven uninspected; just as lola was
in her church, Tita Myles did even the
littlest of things with the grandest of
efforts & the “wholest’ of heart.
Love ran strong in ALL her relationships – with her parents, she
loved them both with a devotion that
died only when they did. She nursed
them till their elderly years; revered
them and respected them through &
through; with her siblings when was
the glue; she kept everyone closely
knitted together and ensured that marriages were in tact; with her cousins,
she was the perennial host – always
extending invitations to this family &
that; because the more the merrier she
always says and that was that; with
her household helpers she was the
charmer; ever so gracious, hilarious,
and always inducing laughter; with her
truest of friends, she loved them more
than herself;
Love & laughter were evident in
each & every facet of Tita Myles’ life.
Because she loved a lot & because
she laughed a lot, she died in peace.
And if you look at her now, her little
smile says it all.. Scorates once said,
Death may be the greatest of all human
blessings. And I guess that is, because
“the day which we fear as our last, is
but the birthday of eternity” with our
Lord – where laughter is never ending
and love abound.
Ata, we love you… It was privilege
& luxury to grow up with you in our
lives. Thank you for your time, thank
you for all your treats, thank you for
your advice, thank you for your love,
thank you for your laughter.. Say hi to
Lolo & Lola, to my, Vic. We will continue
to love and to laugh just as you taught
us; to stay together and to look out for
each other; to hold family sacred and
to simply, LIVE deeply. Rest well now
and be at peace for all eternity.
Relief Operation
Christmas Party 2011
Christmas Gift Giving
PAX
19
Ground Breaking
of the Peace
Tower/Dome
Clock
Dr. REMEDIOS Ching
(Dean of College)
T
20
PAX
he idea of a universal clock started as a practical solution to a problem in
the College Unit. As far back as 2005, we have noted there is no common
reference clock in campus that sometimes created little problems among
students and faculty members. Later , in 2006, during the centennial celebration,
an aerial shot of the SSC campus was taken. When the video was shown, we again
noted that, because of the many high rise buildings that surrounded SSC, our campus cannot be seen easily. In fact, it has no distinguishing mark high enough for it
to be identified from afar. Then truth of the matter is, when people ask directions
to come to SSC, the references are the College of St. Benilde and De La Salle University. Thus, we thought, wouldn’t it be great if there is a high tower that people can
see from afar, and when people ask, “where is St. Scholastica’s College?” We can
point to it and say, “Oh, you see that clock tower over there, that’s SSC.”
Sadly, the idea went to the back burner as other concerns became more immediate and pressing. For the next 5 years, we talked about the clock but we
didn’t do anything about it.
Happily, great ideas do not stay at the back burner for long. Late last year,
the Economics Society, under the mentorship of Mr. Ariel Geronimo, Chair of the
International Business and Economic Diplomacy Department, picked up the idea
and transformed a mere practical clock into a symbolic statement of Peace. We
realize that everything the SSC stands and strives for: justice, equality, conservation of environment, ultimately boil down to one thing, and that is PEACE – for
there can be no justice, equality and development without PEACE…. And pursuit
of PEACE never ends.
The students gave the clock tower a very appropriate tag line: “PEACE IS
TIMELESS”.
Thus, the Peace Clock Tower project is born. Peace is the centerpiece of the
Scholastican community. It is a Scholastican trademark.
Today, all our activities affirm our commitment to Peace as a community.
We started our day with the opening of the HIROSHIMA ATOMIC-BOMB EXHIBIT
at the Amrhein Gallery, followed by the live PEACE VIDEO CONFERENCE with a
atomic bomb survivor, and finally, to this ground breaking ceremony, a fitting culmination to a day of PEACE.
We dedicate the Peace Clock Tower to Sr. Angelica, who herself is a very
strong advocate of peace, who is instrument in cultivating a culture of peace in
school, and whose calmness and serenity is our model of a Person of PEACE
When the Peace Clock Project was presented to Sr. Angelica Leviste, OSB,
President, during her feast day on October 2 last year she said: “Anybody who
comes and anybody who leaves, will ever forget St. Scho because of the tower…
they will know that this is the way of life at St. Scho… Peace”
In Memoriam
Alumnae
Amalia Ortigas-Olbes HS ‘32
Francisca Vallarta-Chikiamco, HS ’35
Isabel Reyes Katigbak, HS ’32/College ’36
Rosario Santaromana-De Leon, HS ’39
Virginia Marundan-Serrano HS ’40
Estrella Perez, HS ’42
Maripaz Pimentel, HS ‘48/AB52
Milagros Hugo, HS ‘60
Rebecca San San Agustin, HS 1960/College ‘64
Cynthia Fermin Yabot, HS ‘65
Evelyn Locsin-Sebastian, College ‘66
Family and Friends
Ruperto Clemente, Husband of Silvina Sevilla - Clemente HS ‘47/AB 51
Aida Trinidad, mother of +Ma. Cristina T. Chua, HS ‘68, Ma. Luisa T. Garcia, HS ‘66 & Emma T. Asperin, HS ‘73
Arturo Baniqued, brother of Vicky Baniqued, HS ‘77
Rodel Beltran, husband of Mariefe Mojica, College90 & father of Ma. Stephanie, GS 2010
Manuel Reyes, husband of Maricar Garcia Reyes, HS ‘59
Arturo Cruz Domingo, father of Cookie Domingo, HS ‘86
Paolo Berenguer Gutierrez, son of of Dr. Cecile Berenguer-Gutierrez, HS 1967, brother of Patricia Louise B.
Gutierrez, HS 1994 and grandson of Conchita Fernandez-Berenguer, MTD 1940
Rosario Paraiso Fule, mother of Isabelita Fule, HS ‘69
Estella Reyes, mother of Elsa Reyes-Guevarra HS ‘56 & Dr Milagros Reyes HS58
Gregorio C. Gervasio, father of Rizalina Gervasio, HS ‘77, and Clarissa Gervasio, HS ‘79, uncle of Rosemary Jota HS ‘79
Salvador R. Merino Sr, father of Rory ‘81, Diana’83, Sandy ‘77, Nena ‘79, Ella ‘75
Victor Salinas, husband of Natividad Madrinan-Salinas, HS ‘53, and father of Annabelle Salinas-Veloso, HS ‘79
Lydia Gaston, mother of Lydia Gaston-Greenberg HS ‘77
Fr. Bernardo Perez, OSB
Nellie Sayoc, mother of Ma. Rosario Sayoc-Montalban, HS 1964
Corazon G. Luat, Mother of Susan Luat-Baladad, HS ‘72, Socorro Luat-Holt, HS ‘74 and Ma. Georgeanna, HS ‘82
Norma Atacador Dimaculangan, mother of Celeste COL ‘86 and Carmela
Sr. Stella Pua, OSB
Antonia P. Tomas, Mother of Teresa Tomas-Torres, HS ‘75
Ramon Aranzaso, Thelma A. Soriano of HS70 and Ma. Teresa A. Gulay, HS72 and Ma. Victoria A. Marabut, HS ‘75
Illuminada C. Evangelista, mother of Cristina Armi C. Evangelista, HS77
Carmelo Prats, brother of Rocio P. Baltao, HS65/College70, Ma.Teresa P. Lindesay-Bethune, HS68, Ma. Angeles
G. Prats, HS ‘70/College ‘74, father of Margarita, GS82, Ma. Carmela Ysabelle, GS 2006/HS 2010,
Ma. Luisa Angeles, GS 2009, grandfather of Mariana Luisa Prats, HS 2007/College 2011
Desiderio De los Reyes, Husband of Angelita Manzano-Delos Reyes, HS ‘41
PAX
21
DO YOU APPROVE THE AMENDMENTS TO THE
FOLLOWING PROVISIONS OF THE BY LAWS OF THE
ST. SCHOLASTICA’S ALUMNAE FOUNDATION, INC.?
ORIGINAL PROVISION
PROPOSED AMENDMENT
ARTICLE I – MEMBERS
Section 1(c). Honorary Members. The Board of Trustees may under such terms
and conditions as it may determine, grant
any individual honorary membership in the
Foundation. (as amended)
Section 4. Members in Good Standing.
- A member whose payment of membership
dues is current or updated on the date of the
annual meeting of members and who is not
otherwise disqualified by these By-Laws shall
be considered a member in good standing.
Section 1(c). Honorary Members. (i)
Gentlemen who attended pre-school at the St.
Scholastica’s College or known as the “Boys of
Sr. Gratia”; (ii) The Board of Trustees may, upon
nomination by at least two (2) members in good
standing and under such terms and conditions as
the Board may determine from time to time, grant
individual honorary membership in the Foundation.
Honorary members shall not have voting rights.
Section 4. Members in Good Standing. A
member whose payment of membership dues
is current or updated on the date of the annual
meeting of members and who is not otherwise
disqualified by these By-Laws shall be considered
a member in good standing.
The Board of Trustees may, from time to
time, promulgate rules and regulations on the
determination of members considered to be in
good standing.
ARTICLE II – MEETINGS OF MEMBERS
Section 3. Notices. – Notices of the
date, time and place of the Annual or Special
meetings of members shall be given either
personally or by special delivery mail or
by publication in a newspaper of general
circulation, at least one (1) week before the
date set for such meeting.
The notice of every special meeting
shall state briefly the purpose or purposes
of the meeting. No other business shall be
considered at such meeting, except with the
consent of all the members present.
22
Section 5. Quorum. - The presence of
a majority of the members in good standing
shall be necessary to constitute a quorum
and a majority vote of all those present and
entitled to vote is necessary to constitute a
valid act of the Foundation.
PAX
Section 3. Notices. – Notices of the date,
time and place of the Annual or Special meetings
of members shall be given either personally or
by special delivery mail or by publication in a
newspaper of general circulation, at least one (1)
week before the date set for such meeting.
The notice of every special meeting shall state
briefly the purpose or purposes of the meeting. No
other business shall be considered at such meeting,
except with the consent of all the members
present.
Failure to give notice or any defect or irregularity
in giving notice for the annual membership or
special meeting shall not affect or invalidate the
actions or proceedings at such meetings.
Section 5. Quorum. - Quorum shall consist of
majority of the members duly registered as present
in the annual meeting of the members. A majority
vote of all present and entitled to vote is necessary
to constitute a valid act of the Foundation.
YES NO
ARTICLE III – BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Section 3. Qualifications. – Only
members in good standing may be elected
to the Board of Trustees.
Section 4. Disqualification. – No
member who has been convicted by final
judgment of any offense punishable by
imprisonment for a period exceeding six (6)
years, or for a violation of the Corporation
Code of the Philippines committed within
five (5) years prior to the date of her
election, shall be qualified as a trustee of
the Foundation
Section 9. Resignation, Removal and
Vacancy. – A vacancy in the Board of Trustees
other than by removal by the members or
by expiration of term, may be filled by the
majority vote of the remaining members of
the Board of Trustees, if still constituting a
quorum, otherwise, the vacancy must be
filled by the members at a meeting called
for that purpose. A trustee so elected shall
serve only for the unexpired term of his
predecessor.
Section 3. Qualifications. – Only members of
legal age, in good standing and who submit a letter of
acceptance of her nomination and willingness to serve
as a Trustee, if elected, may be elected to the Board of
Trustees.
Section 4. Disqualification. – No member who
has been convicted by final judgment of any offense
punishable by imprisonment for a period exceeding
six (6) years, or for a violation of the Corporation Code
of the Philippines committed within five (5) years
prior to the date of her election, shall be qualified as a
trustee of the Foundation.
In addition, nominees who fail to submit the
required letter of acceptance and willingness to serve
as a Trustee within the period prescribed by the Board,
shall be disqualified.
Section 9. Resignation, Removal and Vacancy. Any member of the Board of Trustees may resign by
giving notice to the President at least 30 days prior to
date of effectivity.
A member of the Board may be removed, by a
majority vote of the Board of Trustees in a meeting
duly called for that purpose, for unexplained absences
in Board meetings for 3 three (3) consecutive times
and for such other grounds as the Board of Trustees
may determine, from time to time.
Vacancy in the Board, other than by removal or
expiration of term, may be filled by the majority vote
of the remaining members of the Board of Trustees, if
still constituting a quorum, from among the nominees
in the last preceding election, in the order of votes
obtained. Should there be no such nominees, or should
such nominee be unable or unwilling to serve the
unexpired term, the remaining Trustees constituting
a quorum may, by majority vote, elect any regular
member in good standing to serve the unexpired term.
Vacancy occurring within sixty (60) days prior to the
annual meeting shall be filled by election at the annual
meeting.
ARTICLE XI – AMENDMENTS OF THE BY-LAWS
Section 1. Amendments - These
By-Laws, or any provision hereof, may be
amended or repealed by a majority vote
of the members in good standing and
by a majority vote of the trustees at any
regular or special meeting duly held for the
purpose.
Section 1. Amendments - These by-laws, or
any provision thereof, may be amended or repealed
by a majority vote of the members present and duly
registered during the annual meeting or alumnae
homecoming day and by a majority vote of the trustees
at any regular or special meeting duly called for such
purpose. The power to amend or repeal the By-Laws
may be vested upon the Board of Trustees by two
thirds vote of members in good standing who cast their
vote at any regular or special meeting called for that
purpose. After the power to amend has been delegated
to the Board, any amendments to be approved shall
require a unanimous vote of the Board.
PAX
23