Martians Assembled

Our high school batch is supposed to sponsor the 2011 grand alumni homecoming of my high school alma mater. As early as now, a small group of batchmates have started to lay the groundwork for this event. Phase 1 was designed to gather contact information of batch mates starting with our section, Mars. Phase 2 was to assemble those we manage to contact. Last December 29, 2008, was the implementation of Phase 2: The Martians have assembled.

It happened in Barbeque Boss in Torres St., Davao City. Radley "Bong" Barrientos owns the place so it was very convenient for us. Those who went aside from Bong and myself were: Joseph Tagalog, Edmund Mayormita, Joel Aguilon, Alex Mandin, Robert Floyd Salise, Nilo Luciano, and Ronnel Saligumba. We also had an "honorary member" in the person of Hector Barnes. He actually belongs to a different class, Pluto, but we don't mind.

There were those who confirmed or promised to come but failed to do so for one reason or another: Rey Aba-a, Carlito Siy, Roland Magayano, Ronald Pizarro, and Ronald Amorado. Some had to decline because they were out of town: Dennis Habana, Benjun Crave, Fred Aguila, and Fred Nasiad (and those out of the country, of course!)

There were a lot of exchange of information on the whereabouts of the rest of the batch mates. One resolution we had is to expand the invitation to the yahoo group to include people outside Mars. "Big Nilo" suggested setting up a new website for HCDC using NING.COM. It looks like my hands will be full this coming days.

We also noted, with sadness, the news of the deaths of some batch mates: Neil Sison, "Borj" Borja, and Alan (or Alain?) Santos. There was also the news of the death of Mr. Rey Puno and Mr. Misola.

Looking ahead, Joel said that the activities for the grand alumni homecoming on 2011 will depend on what we want to do. There are no fixed prescriptions (although I need to confer with HCDC about this). In any case, there was a general agreement to hold a "bikini open"! (gulp!). Blame Joel for the suggestion, and Bong for seconding.

In the near future, however, there are events to be planned. One is an invitation from Joel Aguilon for an overnight stay in their place in Tubalan, a great diving site. The other is my invitation for an overnight stay in our rest house in mountains of Buda.

Phase 3 is to assemble all the batch mates in 2009 so we can discuss in detail the plans for the grand alumni homecoming.

So guys, let us move our asses. Send me contact information so I can invite and gather the rest. Let us not procrastinate, for as the late Mr. Misola would say:

"It is the thing you leave undone that gives you a bit of heartache at the setting of the sun."