History of PHS Class 55
HISTORY OF THE PHS CLASS'55 Write-up on the batch through the years by: Jake Espino (Published in the Golden Anniversary Yearbook)
50 YEARS LATER . . . . . .
AFTER GRADUATION IN 1955, members of the Pampanga High School Class 55 bade adieu to our Alma Mater and joined thousands in the country to pursue higher education in the country’s different colleges and universities. But some of our classmates who were not able to enroll in college due to some financial constraints and had no choice but to seek gainful employment to keep body and soul together in dignity.
In about four to five years later, many of our classmates who pursued higher education and obtained their diplomas joined the mainstream of various professions. While many gained employment in government agencies and private corporations, some chose to become entrepreneurs so as to manage their own business.
After 50 long years, perhaps it is time to pause awhile and take a stock on the individual performance of Fifty-fivers in the endeavors they chose to pursue.
An objective assessment of the Fifty-fivers collective performance will readily show that, on the whole, members of PHS Class 55 performed creditability in their chosen careers, thereby making Fifty-fivers proud of them.
Individually, majority have found success in various professions, in government, private business and industry, banking and finance, education, the military service, journalism, science and many others.
Following are some of the more notable performers among the Fifty-fivers:
In the field of job contracting, classmates Ernesto Tiongson, Sylvia Sarmiento-Aragon, Emilio Gozum, Antonio Pineda, Ben Mercado, and Oscar Nogoy have established their marks.
For instance, Emil Gozum, a general contractor, had won the confidence and recognition of foreign contractors. Hi contracts were in the Middle East, Guam, Japan, and Marianas Island and Singapore. Although he retired from active job contracting, he now manages his own hotel, Milestone Hotel and Apartelle on Banawe Street in Quezon City and one branch in Tagaytay City. He now enjoys the fruits of his toil by playing golf very often as he aspires to be the “Tiger Woods” of Class 55. In between his golf tournaments, he still finds to venture in another business with the formation of the G-Star Venture and Development Corporation, a service facility located at Km. 55 North Expressway, Apalit, Pampanga.
Wilfredo Baron has done his share in alleviating unemployment and generating foreign exchange through the export of manpower overseas, particularly in the Middle East.
In real estate development, financing and investment are Nic Gopiao and Sylvia Aragon. Sylvia is also involved din tourism.
Many of the Fifty-fivers have become successful in their respective business ventures.
Aida de la Cruz-Cayetano and husband Tony manage Anna Lynn’s Inc., a chain of department stores in Metro Manila; Onofre Sambrano, now (deceased) was a bigtime businessman in San Fernando Pampanga with diversified business interest; Quirino Sambrano runs a tire and battery business in Angeles City; Gabriel Jocson now (deceased) owned and managed a thriving poultry farm in Apalit but since his demise, the farm is now successfully managed by his children: Lazaro Cordero heads his own marketing company after leading Encyclopedia Britannica in the Philippines and the Pacific area for years; Rodolfo Deang is likewise a successful businessman in Angles City.
Lucito Mangio, a successful poultry raiser was once acknowledged as the “Balut King” of Central Luzon. Unfortunately, his business was hit by lahar.
Antolin Davind owns and operates a religious store in San Fernando and has now diversified into candle manufacturing; Cresencio Chamian and his wife own and manage their parlor and gift shop in San Fernando; Alfredo Dizon, a retired accounting staff of a multinational pharmaceutical corporation once managed his trading outfit in San Fernando. He is now an agribusinessman with his farm in Laguna; Antonio Ocampo and wife Susie own and manage Hillspa, a resort in Lost Banos, Laguna.
In Banking, at least four Fifty-fivers became ranking executives. David Jimenez was assistant vice president of the Bank of PI after serving as branch manager of Comtrust. He is now retired but he is still very much engaged in business. Virgilio Tuazon (deceased) was bank of PI manager in san Fernando and Guagua. Ernesto Pabustan was once as San Fernando branch manager of one of the country’s commercial banks. Also occupying responsible position in the banking sector is Felipe Miranda of Prudential Bank in Angeles City. Herman Pantig (deceased) was with the Bank of PI in San Fernando when the branch manager was a Fifty-fiver. Rolando Pineda, former assistant vice president of the Far East Bank now owns a farm in Laguna being a week-end farmer.
In other professions particularly in law and in the field of medicine, many have made good arks in their respective field of specialization.
Among the doctors in the Class 55 are Africano Aquino and Pilar Pineda-Cabrera who run their own hospital in Minalin and apalit, respectively; Paz Lalic Yap, a general practitioner and retired municipal health officer of Lubao, Pampanga; Bienvenido Henson and Rene Layug, hospital directors; Catalino Guevarra, a retired genral and former head of the V. Luna Medical Center of the AFP. Fernando Rivera, Rosie Macapinlac-Lumaque, Merle David-Inventor, Efren baltazar, Arturo Basa, Yolando “Fungus” Hernandez are successful practitioners in the United States; Candido Canda (deceased), Carlos Santos and Romeo Sambrano are also practitioners.
In Dentistry, the most prominent practitioner was Rodolfo Canlas (deceased).
In the legal profession, many Fifty-fivers have distinguished themselves and made their classmates proud of them. One of them, Ernesto L. Pineda became the first governor of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines for the Central Luzon chapter. Orlando Santiago, a former fiscal was the “Little Governor” of Pampanga in his capacity as Provincial Administrator during the time of Governor Estelito Mendoza. Prior to that he was the provincial board secretary. He is now a senior partner of the Mendoza Law Offices. Another lawyer of San Fernando, Herminio Miranda (deceased) was a solicitor in the Solicitor General’s Office. Retituto Campulong was once elected board member of Pampanga.
Another lawyer, former mayor of San Fernando is Paterno Geuvarra. Also a lawyer who became No. 1 councilor of San Fernando is Pablo Simeon who now resides in the United States. Lorenzo Manalastas was legal counsel in the Philippine National Bank.
One of the non-layers who became politician at a youthful age is Marciano “Mars” Pineda. He was elected number one Councilor of San Simon in 1963 and later became Vice-Mayor in 1967. President Corazon Aquino appointed him as board member of Pampanga in 1986, under her revolutionary government. During the 1987 elections, Mars was elected Congressman representing the 4 th District of Pampanga and served in the House of Representatives until 1992.
After serving in the Legislative Department, he was appointed General Manager of the National Housing Authority under the Ramos administration. He helped in providing solutions to the problems of homelessness among the less fortunate families in the country.
Before he became a public servant, Mars was a businessman engaged in travel and tourism, real estate, financing, trading and construction.
Ben Mercado was elected Vice-Mayor of Sto. Tomas but lost in the mayoralty elections.
Art Sampang (deceased) who was the Executive Director of Mt. Pinatubo Commission at time of his death, made an unsuccessful bid to become Vice-Governor of Pampanga and mayor of Mexico.
Among the executives in our class are Alfredo del Rosario, an electrical engineer who was Sr. Assistant Vice-President of Meralco and Cavite district head and Gregorio Quiroz, Assistant Vice-President of Amon Trading Corporation.
In science, a Fifty fiver who has distinguished himself abroad is Pericles Meneses, the class mathematician who became nuclear scientist physicist and metallurgical engineer. He was connected with the Philippine Atomic energy Commission when he was sent abroad as a scholar of the government. He is now a French citizen working as an engineer in a nuclear plant in France.
Two classmates have chosen to serve God as their lifetime career. They are Pablo Diaz and Artemio Ferrer ( S.J). who is also a lawyer by profession.
In the field of journalism, the class contributions are Joaquin Espino, retired as Managing Editor of the Philippines News Agency under the office of Press Secretary, now media consultant and writes in column in the Agriculture Magazine of the Manila Bulletin; Olivia Perez who is also a lawyer, and Art Sampang, (deceased) was the Tourism and Shipping Editor of the Pre-martial law Manila Chronicle.
In Architecture, Marciano David (deceased) was a standout. His designs of the BLISS housing units, the residential houses he constructed were marks of his excellence in his chosen profession.
Among the accountants in the class are Amelia Sitson, Greg Quiroz, Herman Pantig and Lilia Flor Juat, an auditor in the Commission of Audit. Ernesto P. Pineda (Professor of Accounting & Finance, College of Business Administration, UP) is presently a Vice-Chancellor of U.P. Diliman and Director of the UP Institute for Small um Scale Industries.
In the engineering field, the class has three geodetic engineers – Alfeo Galang, Flor Lampa and Diosdado Dizon who also became a lawyer. Antonio Pineda and Ernesto Tiongson are civil engineers while Cesar Bondoc is a chemical engineer and retired operatins shift superintendent, Petron Corp., refinery division, Limay, Bataan.
In the Military Service, three classmates finished their cadetship in the Philippines Military Academy in Baguio City and served in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. They are Col. Arquilao Cortez (retired), Col. Rolando de Guzman (deceased) and Gen. Rafael Maniago (deceased). Gen. Catalino Guevarra (retired, a doctor-integree) was a former head of the V. Luna Medical Center of the AFP.
In the field of education, Class 55 contributed many educators. They are mostly school teachers. Amongh them are Dorotea Magtoto, Marcelina Isip Mallari, Lolita Twano, Normalita David, Victor Moran, Adelina Carreon, Ofelia Pelayo, Florentina Elogada, Felicisima Galang, Priscilla Galang and Marion Aday-Meneses whoi is now a directress in a school she set up.
In the agrarian reform movement, Vic Jimenez has taken over from where Hoover Canlas left off who retired few years ago. In agriculture, our contribution is Jose de Jesus, ranking agricultural technocrat in the International Rice Research Institute. At the Bureau of Plant Industry, Alfredo Tuazon is now one of the senior executives.
In the aviation technology, we have Felipe Tuazon, and old hand (retired) in the Civil Aeronautics Administration.
At least four Fifty-fivers have been sent abroad as government scholars to foreign universities. They are Pericles Meneses, then with the Philippine Atomic energy Commission, to the US; Diosdado Dion, then with the Bureau of Land to the Netherlands and Art Sampang (deceased), then consultant to the Minister of Trade, to England.
In addition to doctors, engineers, some Fifty-fivers have found working abroad a very lucrative calling. Some of them are: Pedro Estacio, long time resident of Canda; Lamberto Gomez (retired) Nigeria; Ador Ronquillo, Guam; Armando Parungao and Adorable Gomez, Middle East; Anita Capati, Amelia Bautista, Amelia Supan, Jose Castro and wife Pauline Aquino, Francisco Dakis, Francisco Tungol, US. Joining them is lawyer-journalist Olivia Perez who now shuttles between the Philippines and US.
While we pay tribute and take off our hats to the more fortunate among our classmates on the occasion of our Golden Jubilee Celebration let us pause for a moment and pray for our classmates who have joined our “Creator”.
HAPPY GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE CLASS 55 AND THEIR FAMILIES ! ! !
The Pampanga High School Class 1955 started to take shape in 1951 when elementary graduates from the different schools in 22 towns of Pampanga set their sights on enrolling at the PHS.
At that time, the PHS was the only public high school in the whole province of Pampanga. But far more important than this was the fact that the Pampanga high school was known in Pampanga and perhaps beyond its territorial boundary for its high standard system of education. As such PHS students took great pride in telling their friends and neighbors they were enrolled at the PHS. They even, rightly or wrongly looked down at students in some private schools as not at par with them as far as quality of education was concerned, as evidenced by the fact that many of the school’s alumni became successful in their respective careers like the late President Diosdado Macapagal who graduated as salutatorian in the Pampanga High School.
The setting in the school campus where the new elementary school graduates wanted to earn their secondary education, was the old, venerable U-shaped PHS main building, the most prominent landmark of the time. On each side of the building were quonset huts which were then reminder of the post World War II reconstruction era.
These barracks-type structures served as classrooms for vocational courses – poultry and swine, agriculture, merchandizing and music. On the eastern side of the PHS building along the high school boulevard was the hulk of World War II American airplane that lay under the elements, its aluminum and remaining parts were cannibalized.
Some students used this wreckage as some kind of resting place. But when some students started to use the place to answer the call of nature, the place was abandoned because of the stench.
Another important landmark at the time was the narra tree in front of the high school building. To many graduates and students the narra tree was a mute witness and reminder of the unforgettable sad and joyful memories. Under this tree, friendships and romances blossomed to a much more serious relationship. The narra tree also served as a refuge from those suffering from broken heart and failing grades.
Against this backdrop, it came to pass in June 1951, more than 1,000 elementary school graduates, brimming with hope and optimism and in short pants and wooden shoes trooped to the library inside the PHS building to take the entrance examinations. This batch of examinees whose schooling was delayed caused by the Japanese occupation, constituted the biggest group in the history of PHS.
The first recorded history of the Class 55 was the announcement of the results of the examinations. The news was published in the Pampangan, the Official sheet organ of the Pampanga High School.
The news item said Orlando Santiago, a graduate of the San Juan Elementary School topped the classification tests given to the first year students on July 3, with a score of 158, Rafael Maniago, 93, Mexico Elementary School, Leandro Gomez, 92, Mexico Elementary School; Bienvenido Alarcon 89, San Fernando Elementary School; Merle David, 85, San Juan Elementary School; and Luisa Capati 80, San Fernando Elementary School.
The inclusion of the new batch of first year high school students in the rolls of the PHS swelled the school population to anew high of 2,100 of whom class 55 composed more than one half or 1,120. Thus, our number was more than all the second, third and fourth year students combined.
It was perhaps the bigness of our class that merited a good coverage in the Pampangan during our first year.
Ruben Lacandula, who was then the editor of the Pampangan wrote the following news item in the PHS’s official organ:
“Why are the freshman so hopeful. Confident that they will make accomplishments that would surpass in volume and quality of their predecessors. Of course they have reason. Their big hopes like in the size of their class and in the number of their talented companions whose dreams are greater than we can think of.”
In the first honor roll which was posted on the bulletin board, it was another valedictorian, Rose Macapinlas of Minalin, Pampanga who topped the list. Joining the honor list were Rafael Maniago, Florencia Dizon and Marina Macabali. In the succeeding grading periods some new names were added while others were dislodged. Among new names that jointed the honor list were Artemio Ferrer, Leandro Gomez, Erlinda Cunan, Hermino Miranda, Dorotea Magtoto, Diosdado Dizon, Amando Mendoza and Artaxerxes Sampang.
At about this time, 22 new faculty members also bolstered the ranks of PHS faculty members. Some of them were Iluminada Asban, Angelita lacson, Dionisia Patawaran, Mr. Rafael Aguilar, Ireneo Magtoto, Gonzalo Ocampo and Priscillano Quizon.
Having hurdled the first trying years, we found ourselves in the sophomore year.
CLASS ASSETS ITSELF
As we started our sophomore year, the competition for academic excellence became intense. Classmates set aside their friendship during the examination and strictly no copying of answers in the quest for high grade was followed. So did in the contest in extra curricular activities. In campus politics, there was mad scramble for positions, particularly in class and school organizations.
In our sophomore year, the following won in the hotly contested elections: Artaxerxes Sampang, President; Fernando Rivera, Vice-President; Almario Laus, Secretary; Lolita Twano, Treasurer. Advisers were Angelina Lacson and Miss Rosa Custodio.
Under the leadership of this group, the class emerged winner in most major prizes during interclass competitions like in sports, extracurricular activities and community service.
In athletics, our class was a force to reckon with. In basketball with Sunga, Abelardo Soriano, Leonardo del Pilar, among our players bagged the intramural championship. In volleyball towering Purificacion Gozun was mainstay during the interschool and interprovincial competitions as was Laureano Santos in baseball, Segundino Siccion in Soccer; and Nile Gallardo and Restituto Yap in Track and Field events.
It was also during this year that the incumbent high school principal Mr. Bienvenido Licup joined the PHS as commandant of the cadet corp. when the commandant was present during military drills in the high school playground, some naughty students would shout “Jack Palance” because Mr. Licup resembled somewhat the American actor Jack Palance who was very popular at that time.
It was also during this time that new teachers were appointed. Among them were Justa Venzon, Miss Mercedes Bondoc, Iluminada Cuyugan, Miss Carmelita Santiago, Mr. Jose Amurao, Mr. Domingo Cadiang and Mr. Jose Simbulan.
As we moved on and engaged in more group activities, it was inevitable that we should become sociable too. We experienced during our third year the mergence of full-grown beauties. Among the most admired beauties then were Aida dela Cruz, Sylvia Sarmiento, Linda Santos, who was our Miss Sophomore, sisters Susan and Marietta del Rosario, Edwina Jimenez, Zenaida borja, Filomena Flores, Lolita Twano, Rosario Twano, Gloria Calalang, Flora Angeles, Marcelina Isip, Amelia Supan.
In our third year, we shed off our short pnats and were now in stiff khaki uniform as we started our pre-military training (MT). It was at this stage when the boy-meet-girl situation started as cadet officers looked around for sponsors in the pass-in-reviewes and cadets’ ball which were the most awaited events by the PMTI officers and their sponsors.
When it came to socials, nothing could beat the pomp and grandeur of the Junior-Senior Prom which we, the Juniors sponsored to honor the Seniors. In the words of our adviser, Leoncio Lising, it was the most successful Junior-Senior Prom ever held at the PHS. This was so because for the first time in the history of PHS, a well known Manila Orchestra Fred Nepomuceno and his band performed in a school event. The junior and senior students and their partners went dancing with gusto up to the wee hours of the night.
The success of the “Night to Remember” was attributed to the following officers of the Junior Class Organization: Artaxerxes Sampang, president; Herminio Miranda vice president; Almario Laus, secretary; Lolita Twano, treasurer; Yolanda Mandap and Leandro Gomez, auditors.
In dramatics, some classmates distinguished themselves in portraying their respective roles in the three-act operetta “Daughters of Mohammed” based on Washington Irving’s Alhambra. The Pampangan in 1954 reported that the presentation drew a vast crowd of appreciative patrons, town folk and students. The members of our class that gave outstanding performance were Rosie Macapinlac, Susan del Rosario, Dorotea Magtoto, Lenito Duenas, Benjamin Bascara, Ricardo de la Resma, Bienvenido Alarcon and Aida de la Cruz, Incidentally, Rosie Macapinlac was chosen as “Miss Play Day of 1954”, although we were still in our junior year.
As the time moved on, we found ourselves in our fourth and last year at the PHS.
The top news items in the maiden issue of the Pampangan under the stewardship of our class were the election of officers of the student government and senior class organization and the composition of the new editorial staff of the Pampangan. Elected officers of the student government were: Rogelio Garcia, president; Art Sampang, vice-president; Reynaldo de Jesus, secretary; Merle David, treasurer, and Rafael Maniago and Bienvenido Alarcon, auditors.
In the Senior Class orgnization, the following officers were elected: Fernando Rivera, president; Artaxerces Sampang, vice-president, Nile Gallardo, secretary; Amelia sitson, treasurer and Antolin David, auditor.
In campus journalism, a series of lectures, tests and extensive training in newspaper work were given as bases for the selection of the Pampanga staffers. After determining the capabilities of the aspiring campus journalists. The following were designated: Rogelio Garcia and Artaxerxes Sampang, Editors-in-Chief; Fernando Rivera, associate and news editor; Amelia Sitson, literary; Lorenzo Manalastas, Wikang Pilipino with Lazaro Cordero, assistant; Diomedes Reyes, Spanish; Herminio Miranda, features; Pericles Meneses, PMT; Rafael Maniago, sports; Merle David, society; Rosie Macapinlac, Faculty and Alumni; Bienvenido Alarcon, Almario Laus, columnists; Jesus Canlas, Vocational; Susan del Rosario, PE; Antolin David, Circulation; Diosdado Dizon and Pedro Estacio, Reporters; and Marciano David and Ernesto Tiongson, staff artists.
In the cadet corps, the following were selected to compose the regimental lineup: Cdt. Col. Fernando Rivera, regimental commander; Cdt. Lt. Col. Rogelio Garcia, executive officer; Cdt. Lt. Col. Eleuterio Alejandro, training officer; Cdt. Lt. Col. Remy Aquino, Adjutant; Cdt. Lt. Col. Marciano David, Rodolfo Canlas and Amado Mangulabnan, battalion commanders. The following were commissioned cadet majors: Roberto Alcantara, Benjamin Bascara, Jose Carreon and Artaxerxes Sampang.
In sports, our class again proved its supremacy when Pampanga retained the CLAA basketball title with the following composing the champion team: Angelo Manarang, Oscar Virgenes, Angel Tulod, Rodolfo Miranda, Ventura Sunga, Abelardo Soriano, Ricardo del Pilar, Elton de Jesus, David Jimenez and Censon Remy.
In oratory, Rogelio Garcia bested the contestants from Assumption Academy and St. Anthony’s Institute of Mabalacat in an oratorical contest held at the Chinese National School in San Jose, san Fernando, Pampanga.
In January, 1955, our school sent the Pampangan editors to Bacolod City to attend the National Secondary Schools Press Conference. The five-man delegation was composed of Mss Gervscia Guarin, adviser; Rogelio Garcia and Art Sampang, editors; Fernando Rivera, associate editor; and Reynaldo de Jesus, junior associate.
Not long after the arrival of the five-man delegation from Bacolod City, narra tree infront of the school building started to bloom and some of its yellow flowers started to fall. This was then an indication that graduation was not far behind. The focus of attention was shifted to the keen fight for the honor positions. Finally, the honor list was released: Rogelio Garcia, valedictorian, Fernando Rivera, salutatorian, Herminio Miranda, first honorable mention; Antolin David, second honorable mention; Artaxerxes Sampang, third honorable mention; Rosie Macapinlac, fourth honorable mention; Pedro Estacio, Orlando Santiago, Amelia Sitson, Leandro Gomez, Pericles Meneses, Conrado Dizon, Diosdado Dizon and Erlinda Curnan, 6 th to 12 th honorable mention, respectively.
And so with the theme of “Onward Ever, Backward Never”, our class bade a solemn adieu to our Alma Mater. Of the original 1,120 that initially composed our class, only a total of 695 made it to graduation day on March 31, 1955. Thus, the PHS Class 55 was born on that date.
IT is worth mentioning that the PHS Class 55 has two organizations. The Alumni Association and the (dormant) Educational Foundation. The articles of incorporation of the Alumni Association was drafted by the late Art Sampang who was the founding father of the association.
The main objective of the Association was to foster friendship and camaraderie among the members of PHS Class 55.
On the other hand, the Articles of Incorporation of the Educational Foundation was drafted by Jake Espino the primary objective is to extend financial assistance in the form of scholarship grants to the children o the less fortunate members of the class. Both of these organizations were registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) during the term of Jake Espino as second elected president in 1978 after Antolin David’s term as the first elected head of the Alumni Association.
But for some reasons known only to the new breed of class officers, the Educational Foundation was downsized.
It may be recalled, however, that a series of events had transpired that led to the formation of these two organizations.
Any Class 55 member can say without fear of contradiction that all throughout our four years in the high school, members of PHS Class 55 were looked upon with envy by other classes for their unity and closeness. They carried this feeling of oneness even they parted ways after graduation to either pursue higher education or seek their respective places in the sun.
To exemplify this oneness, even while studying in the different colleges in Manila, some still had time to see each other on weekends because they could not get over the old habit of togetherness. This went on and on even after graduation.
The core of this group came from the higher sections because the leaders of the class felt that it was their responsibility to keep the spirit of unity among the Fifty-fivers.
But later on, the core ground went out of their way to convince other classmates regardless of their sections to join the group to maintain class unity and oneness.
1962 PHS REUNION
Therefore, when the first opportunity to demonstrate this unity came, the class, through its officers in the senior year, was well organized to prove it. This was in 1962 when there was a general call for all classes to join and participate in the General Homecoming marking the Golden Jubilee of the Pampanga High School.
PHS Class 1955 was there and easily had the most well-organized and successful participation. It was the only class that was able to come out with newsletters in connection with the PHS Golden Jubilee Year. These newsletters are reprinted somewhere in this Yearbook.
Almost yearly thereafter, the members would meet in mini reunions. But, as before, these get-togethers were attended mainly by members from the upper-sections.
15 th YEAR HOMCOMING
It was not until 1970 when the class leaders decided to call for a general reunion to mark the 15 th anniversary of the class. Artaxerxes Sampang, president of the class during the second and third years, and vice president of the Senior Class and of the Student Government during the fourth year, assumed the presidency and thus became the Founding father of the alumni association.
The Senior Class President, Fernando Rivera, had by that time, already migrated to the United States as a doctor, and the Student Government President Rogelio Garcia, had been incapacitated.
The group encountered some initial difficulties in its efforts to involve the general membership in the class activities. The main resistance, although being voiced only by a few, came from lower sections who claimed that the proposed reunion was intended only for the upper sections.
CLOSENESS, UNITY INTACT
The core group was mobilized to seek out and personally talk to as many individual members of the class as possible. Teams were organized to cover each town in the province and down to Manila and the towns and cities of Rizal. Through letters, effort was also exerted to contact classmates now residing in other provinces and abroad.
The concerted effort paid off. By the time the 1 st grand reunion in 1970 came, whatever misgivings there were, were completely dissipated. The closeness and unity of the class was as intact as it had never been.
After the reunion, a cash balance was realized. The Class Alumni President proposed, and the
core group agreed, that the amount be used to benefit the less fortunate members of the class through scholarship grants to be extended to their children.
In answer to a request for donation to the PHS, however, the whole amount was expended. However, since the scholarship program was already a commitment, the core group, numbering 17, agreed to start the bal rolling by making personal contributions each.
FOUNDATION BORN
Thus, in 1971, the PHS Class “55 Educational Foundation was born with Artaxerxes Sampang being elected president; Rodolfo Canlas, vice president; Antolin David, secretary; and Lilia Flor Juat as secretary.
The Foundation was to function solely as an educational arm of the PHS Class 55 Alumni Association, which was the main alumni body to handle any and all class activities other than educational.
In the next few years, the group effort was centered on the Foundation in order to give it the momentum it needed. The target objective being to accumulate cash collections to support its growing list of scholars. The scholarship program began in 1971 with two scholars and gradually increase to twelve in 1980.
The presidency of the Foundation passed from Art Sampang in 1971 to Franscisco Tongol in 1971-73; Alfredo del Rosario in 1974-75; Dorotea Magtoto-Lagman, 1976-77; Paz Lalic-Yap, 1978-79; and the incumbent, Herman Pantig, 1980.
THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
With the Foundation more or less financially established, attention was again focused to the alumni association. Formal elections were held during the annual reunion held on December 19, 1976, at the Federosa Island in Sto. Tomas. Antolin David was the first elected president for the 1977 term. He was succeeded in 1978 by Joaquin Espino, Eleuterio Alejandro in 1979 and Remy Aquino in 1980, David L. Jimenez in 1981, Virgilio Tuazon (deceased) in 1982, Marciano M. Pineda in 1983, Ely Bondoc in 1984 & 89, Marcelina Isip Mallari in 1985, Dr. Africano Aquino in 1986, Antolin Liwanag in 1987, Gabrial Jocson (deceased) in 1988, Fernando Ocampo (deceased) in 1990, Dr. Justicia Punsalan Magat in 1991, Jesus Canlas in 1992, Teodoro Gomez in 1993 & 96, Ruben Aquino in 1994, Juanito Mallari in 1995, Erlinda C. Duval in 1997, Col Nile Gallardo in 1998, Jesus Policarpio in 1999, Cesar S. Bondoc in 2001, Matilde Yusi in 2002, Emerenciana J. Roque in 2003 & Atty Orlando A. Santiago in 2000, 2004 to present.
Although talks of incorporating the two organizations and registering them with the Securities and Exchange Commission were already being held from way way back, it was only in November, 1978 that these were finally accomplished by Jake Espino.
The two class organizations were run and managed then by separate boards of directors elected annually by the general membership. Each board then elects its own officers from among the elected directors.
The positions available for each board are: President, Executive Vice President; Vice President for Metro Manila, Vice President for Pampanga, Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor and four directors.
The Alumni Association is very much alive and kicking, so to speak. The revival of the foundation is possible in some future time.