 USTHS Grand Alumni Homecoming 2010: Biggest USTHS Alumni Homecoming Ever
Feb. 28, 2010 - One thousand
attendees. Over one million pesos as batch donation to the scholarship fund. One
fun-filled night. All in honor of one Alma Mater.
These and more can be said about the just-concluded UST High School Grand Alumni
Homecoming (USTHS GAH) held on February 20, 2010, at Plaza Mayor of the
University of Santo Tomas.
Not only was this the first USTHS GAH of the new decade or the first
full-fledged USTHS GAH to be held at the Plaza Mayor—the panoramic, wide-open
space in front of the iconic Main Building. It was also one of many celebratory
events coinciding with the ongoing, yearlong countdown to UST’s grand
Quadricentennial celebration.
Over a thousand UST High alumni were in attendance that moonlit night, the
biggest USTHS GAH attendance yet. Those present spanned over 60 years’ worth of
UST High alumni, from way back 1948 all the way to 2009. Plus, this Homecoming
reaffirmed the USTHS’ and USTHSAAI’s reputation as having one of the biggest—if
not the biggest—homecoming attendance in UST every year.
Attendees began flocking to Plaza Mayor as early as one hour before the 4 p.m.
registration—many bearing pre-bought tickets, a few others buying on the spot
after having learned of the event from the press releases published in national
media. While most hailed from Metro Manila, a good number of those present
trekked from out of town or flew in from abroad.
The nightlong affair actually began in the afternoon with the 5 p.m.
Thanksgiving Mass near another UST icon across Plaza Mayor, the Benavides
monument (made in honor of UST founder, Fray Miguel de Benavides, O.P.)
Celebrating the Mass—which doubled as an anticipated Sunday Mass—was no less
than the UST Rector, Rev. Fr. Rolando V. De La Rosa, O.P.; the USTHS Regent,
Rev. Fr. Rodel E. Aligan, O.P., and Rev. Fr. Alex Bautista, O.P of Batch ’85
were the concelebrants.
One year in the making before its eventful unfolding, the USTHS GAH 2010 was a
production of the UST High School Alumni Association Inc. and the 2010
Organizing Committee (OrgCom)—the latter featuring USTHS alumni across batches
but primarily the 2010 jubilarians, namely Batches 1950 (the Diamond Jubilarians),
1955 (Emerald), 1960 (Gold), 1965 (Sapphire), 1970 (Ruby), 1975 (Coral), 1980
(Pearl) and 1985 (Silver).
Batch 1960’s Girme Gutierrez dutifully served as the Chairman of the GAH 2010
OrgCom—Girme’s generosity extending to hosting the committee’s monthly meetings
(venue, meals and all). Girme also donated the 32” plasma TV that was the
night’s grand raffle prize. A specially made alumni ring from Suarez & Sons was
the 2nd prize. A high-end cell phone, courtesy of Noel Dinio of Batch ’60, was
the 3rd raffle prize. Overnight accommodations for two at Astoria Plaza Hotel
and Tagaytay Highlands , respectively, rounded up the raffle as the 4th and 5th
prizes.
On an even bigger scale, the entire
Batch ’60, whose President is US-based balikbayan Brad Victoriano, made the
unprecedented donation of P1,100,000 to the USTHS-USTHSAAI joint scholarship
program, thus upping the current fund to P4.5 million, or roughly just P500,000
short of its targeted P5.0M total consolidated endowment fund. Initially
established in 2000 and institutionalized in 2008 to cover at least one scholar
per year level in the high school, the scholarship fund is generally derived
from the accumulated donations of the jubilarian batches of the yearly GAHs, as
well as from each GAH’s general revenue.
Part of the GAH 2010 show was devoted to the ceremonial turnover of a check for
P1.1 million by Chairman Girme to USTHS Alumni Association Inc. President Leebai
Esquivias-Gamboa of Batch ’78. The 2010 homecoming itself earned a total of
P500,000 which, as with all revenues from previous USTHS GAHs, will go to the
USTHS-USTHSAAI joint scholarship program.
The jubilarian batches of 2010 were likewise responsible for most of the
production numbers or presentations that evening, which ranged from the dancing
to medleys of their era’s hits by Batches ’60, ’70 and ’80, to the montage of
nostalgic photos by Batch ’75 and the “Bagets Forever” music video by members of
Batch ’85.
Batch ’85 had two celebrity-reps that night as well: foxy actress Eula Valdez,
who co-hosted the program with Rene Molano (himself a Pearl Jubilarian as a
Batch ’80 graduate); and sultry chanteuse Jenine Desiderio, an alumna of the
global musical Miss Saigon, who rendered two numbers, including her leading the
singing of the UST High School Graduation Song.
Special awards, in the form of certificates of recognition, were handed out as
well at the Homecoming. The Oldest Alumnus in attendance was awarded to two
Batch ’48 alumni, Johnny Rodriguez and Jess Tanchanco Sr., while the Youngest
Alumnus present was Keisha Mae Manalad of Batch ’09. In terms of presence, Batch
’85, this year’s Silver Jubilarians, was recognized with the Biggest Jubilarian
Batch Attendance, while the Biggest Non-Jubilarian Batch Attendance was awarded
to Batch ’81, a.k.a. the Pearl Jubilarians of 2011.
Not to be forgotten
is the Batch Roll Call, led by the USTHS Pep Squad on vocals and drums—an
attendance-checking call-out of the batches represented, and a chance for every
batch’s reps to noisily make their presence felt. To underscore their jubilarian
status, the 2010 jubilarian batches got the privilege of a longer “shout time,”
replete with further sonic accompaniment from a children’s lyre-and-drum band.
Visually punctuating the batch roll call were the popping of confetti cannons
and the releasing of white balloons, among other eye-catching batch gimmicks.
The program proper concluded with the symbolic candle rite, whereby USTHSAAI
President Leebai and the rest of the attendees, with lit candles in hand,
renewed their Thomasian pledge.
Teeming with fun, festivity, fireworks (emanating from the nearby football
field), drinks and merriment, the USTHS GAH 2010 was consequently one for the
books and, moreover, a memorable evening for everyone present. And as a
postscript, as seen on the back of the souvenir program distributed that night,
the next USTHS GAH is already in the pipeline, with “JUST can’t get enough of
HIGH SCHOOL” as theme.
The band Men in Gold, whose members include USTHS Batch ’67 alumni, capped the
entire evening with an hour of great live music of yesteryears to the present as
many alumni, still high from the euphoria of the preceding program and getting
together, kept the party going by shaking their booty on the lengthy dance floor
right across the stage. Others continued catching up with each other, seeking
juicy bits about each others’ personal and professional lives. In between the
various highlights, innumerable hugs, kisses and handshakes were exchanged, and
snapshots or videos of old friends, old teachers and the old school alike were
taken ’til batteries ran out.
All told, smiles were all around that glorious, resoundingly successful
homecoming. After all, even if for just one night a year, USTHS alumni get to
ride the time machine that is the Grand Alumni Homecoming and bask in that
distinct, youthful high school glow all over again. - Leebai Esquivias-Gamboa,
President ,UST HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, INC.
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