UNANG ANNI

September 8, 2012 is an important date in the Santa High School Batch 1977 Alumni Association (SHS’77AA) Inc. calendar as the organization marks its first anniversary. Dubbed as Unang Anni, the organization gathered its members from Metro Manila and those from Santa, Ilocos Sur to participate in a day of activities and socialization.

Foremost in the morning celebration activities are the blessing of the Kalapaw77 and the socio-civic project Give Blood, Give Life, a blood-donation campaign to create wider awareness of the need for safe blood transfusion and the importance of blood donation conducted in partnership with the Philippine National Red Cross Ilocos Sur Chapter.

The association members partake in a lunch consisting of a sumptuous spread of homemade specialties together with guests, Mrs. Marilou Bello-De Castro and Mr. Roland De Castro, former teachers at the Santa High School. A short thanksgiving prayer was given by the Reverend Fr. Arthur Amian, Parish Priest of St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish Church in Santa, Ilocos Sur.  

A general membership meeting was conducted in the afternoon. This was presided by Mon Balallo, the association president and Cres Velasco, the association secretary. Vangie Burgos-Corpuz, the association treasurer presented the association’s financial status as of 31 August 2012. Mon Balallo made a recap of the past association activities and projects. He then solicited suggestions for the association’s December activities which included fund-raising projects and the Batch ’77 Christmas celebration. Projects directed for the Santa High School were also discussed. The general membership meeting ended with, among others, the Christmas caroling activity to help raise funds to further the association’s socio-civic projects for 2013. The association members voted unanimously.

 

During the rest of the day, the association members partook with more food. Some enjoyed playing card games. Others enjoyed themselves taking part in the traditional exercise of vocal histrionics glued to Jessie Bello’s videoke and sound system. These were punctuated with the never-to-be-missed picture-taking, the chit-chat, the jokes and laughter, the reminiscing of past experiences, and The Bottle.

 

The banter and the celebration proceeded until before midnight where members went home eager to partake in the next association activity particularly the December reunion events.

Images: Joseph Crisanto Martinez

Text: Joseph Crisanto Martinez