USTHighSchoolClass1980                                                

Welcome to the

UST High School Class 1980 Website

www.usths80.org

www.usths80us.org (U.S. website)

This website is dedicated to all the men and women of Class  1980 of the University of Santo Tomas High School. This site showcases the fun and nostalgia of the best batch USTHS has ever produced.

Virtual Veritas now active! 

Sign-up now for the Career Buddy System.     Click here.

PHOTO ALBUMS

New! Munting Handog 2006

Munting Hiling GIft-Giving

Christmas 2005 Jubilee Party

Career Talk at UST High

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USTHS80 US Site

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UST High School Batch 80

Alumni Association Inc.

Trustess and Officers 2005-06

Teng Aguilar - President

Leo Riingen - Chairman/Vice-President

Gina Bautista-Navarette - Secretary

Leah Militar-Castillo - Treasurer

Chie Meneses-Candelaria - Auditor

Ibe Arevalo - Chair/Special Projects

Rey Espino - Chair/Membership

Happy Esquivias-DosSantos - Chair/Socials

Benjie Mallari-Alvarez - Chair/Ways&Means

Bong Castaneda - Legal Counsel

Jo Manalad - Asst. Secretary

Yna Valenzuela-Torres - Vice-chair/SpProjects

Nina Rigor - Asst. Legal Counsel

Growing up in the sixties and early seventies, you drive downtown and you see painted on the walls the sign, "POST NO BILL." You don't see those signs anymore.  And so with this website, fellow batch members, we invite you to contribute your bills, your thoughts and your photographs. Let this be a chronicle of the best works and of the delicate artistic expressions of our members.  Let this photographed volume tell the stories of all those willing to work side by side seeking to inform and enlighten thru their lens.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Yna Valenzuela-Torres

Anthony Fallarme

Rey Espino

Chito Rabadam

 

INSIGHTS

We Happy Few

by:Yna Valenzuela-Torres 

The men and women of USTHS80 are never so happy as when  you tell them they have a party.

I

f being young is a state of mind, the question to ask is what we think to hold us in this perpetual blissful state.  And that after more than a year of strengthening bonds, this band of middle-age brother/sisterhood has continued to hold us in sway – even busier, more focused.  I started getting curios(er) when after upon a series, yes, a series of resolve, made in dead earnest or in a fit of pique, to ease off and refrain from further batch activities, I find myself hanging on, more involved than ever.  As with the many complex issues of life, the answer could be best expressed in one word but often it is not the answer we seek but why the answer.

 The busy month of March that brought some of us scurrying from one batch affair to another like headless chicks, pushed these questions to the surface: Why are we doing all this?  Why the E-group?  Why the USTHS80 website?  Why do we keep finding any silly excuse to come together?  The cute answer is – because we happen to enjoy each other and we happen to have a purpose.  Now, as to which cause spawned the other is a matter of collegial debate or conscience.  Both answers perfectly acceptable.

It was November of 2004   when avuncular Teng gathered us and shared with us the simple and lofty dreams of the fledgling class of USTHS80.  Everyone present agreed but the how’s and who will do it remained a puzzle then.  Under his steady and democratic leadership, people blossomed and did their share.  Rey Espino was given the first President’s Awards for effectively shrinking the globe for us members by establishing and maintaining the e-group.  Wendell and Leo (forgive me if I omitted anyone) were part of the founding fathers.  Gina Bautista-Navarrete and Ibe Arevalo, making use of their vast network of friends, scoured their social lists, directories and herded friends, classmates to mini-reunions and gatherings as prelude to the grand one.  This started as early as 2000.  It was Ibe who brought Happy and I to Informatics that fateful afternoon.  It was Happy who with brickbats and accolades megged that mega-show at the Manila Hotel.  Of course Leo was everywhere; taking photos, egging ideas and prodding people…including myself. 

 The grand reunion was replicated by batch mates abroad.  Ron Pasamba and a team of hardworking batch mates almost outdid the Manila performance.  That too is debatable and both answers perfectly acceptable.  Chito Rabadam, to preserve the moment, opened the USTHS80 US.  On that special occasion, who else but Josay would take center stage?

 The E-group has become a part of many members’ lives.  The regular ration of forwarded messages, announcements, greetings, banter & riposte have enlivened our internet time.  The E-group has become an avenue for the exchange of ideas, humuor, inspiration, generosity and kindness.  Information, invites, pleas and appeals have been sounded here and heard making possible the planning and implementation of various projects (Career-Talk, Special Projects Com undertakings, etc..) that led to the fruition of our vision and ideals as one body.

 We, as an association, have found purpose – a good reason for being.  Capturing that spirit so succinctly is the USTHS80 website!  Browse through its pages and you see life teeming; camaraderie and creativity in progress.  Indeed, it has become a showcase, as it has so declared in its inception, of ordinary men and women made extra-ordinary in their pursuit of a common objective.   To be productive members of society, responsive to its needs while fostering harmony within its members and enjoying each other’s individuality.

 We as a group have the miraculous power of turning water to wine.  This is no unashamed propaganda but a sober assessment of one healthy organization (body) with healthy members.  Yes, we are having a long, protracted party and though things have slowly but surely come to good, do keep in mind, all things including good do come to an end.  Let us then take this privilege and greet it with vim and commitment, no diffidence at all.    Give voice to those opinions, varying, contrary or otherwise.  Share!  Let us not scoff at the seeming insignificance of this group compared to our work and other more pressing responsibilities we have in life.   

 Making time for each other, we find time to reach out to more out there.  Making time for people, we make time picking up life’s priceless pleasures.

 

-oOo-

The Batch's Munting Handog in 2006

by Yna Valenzuela-Torres

 

We put up an impromptu show;

they presented their lives.

We gave from the excess of our hearts;

they, from their widow’s mite.

 

The sight that greeted us that afternoon affirmed we were in the right place. Wanting to be of true help, we found this place really needing of one. We come to this place chugging along the excess from the last gift-giving exercise, which was the Munting Hiling; our first try in this kind of undertaking. We hardly have settled down when we found ourselves consulting with each other in hushed tones, each realizing the gravity of the need-this, is genuine stuff. With lumps in our throats we looked around some more and felt both satisfaction and regret. Satisfaction that finally, we found a place that could truly benefit from the collective charity of our batch mates and regret for not having brought more to give. Oh, but in the end, it was more than enough and more than appreciated.

 

This time, forming the lucky seven were, Lou Torres, Benjie Mallari, Vita Paras, Mackoy Villaroman, Leo Riingen, Jojo Sayson, Mariebeth Arevalo and myself. The excess fund from Munitng Hiling gave Ibe the option to do a sequel to it, and timed it with Jojo’s visit. With the Munting Hiling, the children’s innocence, Leo’s stirring photographs and the sincerity of the batch to help, made the occasion a success. This time no skillful photography is necessary to validate the choice of beneficiary, the actual images were gripping. It knocked off the cynicism from our otherwise tenderhearted ad-man, Mackoy. Lou, Vita, Leo, Ibe and I were moved beyond expected, each vowing to come back. Dra. Benjie, cutting short her afternoon clinic, came, saw and was touched to have drinks and snack bought. Only Jojo, who is not new to cancer-ward visit had an inkling of the emotional tug this kind of visitation brings.

 

 

The Childhouse is a place of refuge- a sanctuary- for children with cancer or children of cancer patients. It is largely dependent on Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s annual donation of 1.2million that barely cover utilities and administrative expenses, let alone the medical needs of the patients and their huge transport expense. Poverty, sickness and pain are evident from every quarter and every patient, yet they make do; and endearing were the faces of gladness, gratitude and optimism they carry. There is an unmistakable sense of peace (that we would like to share with you) that resides in the Childhouse.

 

Let Leo’s photographs relay the story of Munting Handog.  Click for more pictures.

 

 

A Call to Help Rescue Leyte

UST Batch80 starts Sagip L80 fund drive.

St. Bernard, Southern Leyte.  Landslide from surrounding mountain slopes triggered by heavy rains buried hundreds of houses, a school, 90% of the village, leaving hundreds dead, thousands missing - almost in a blink of an eye.  This is the place, the tragedy, the casualty.

Let us learn by paradox.  Rising form this valley of despair; let it be a valley of vision.  Let hope rise knowing that though dashed to the ground, we can push and strive for the heights. 

Nothing can prepare us from this misery and trauma of people who have lost everything in an instant, but we can dig deep into our Christian faith:  our bedrock as a class, as a people, as a nation.  We will not grouse and add to the despair.  Instead, we will be as light shining brightest in total darkness.  Let us help rescue Leyte.

We call on all our batchmates, their friends and relatives to donate to the Batch 80 Leyte Fund Drive dubbed Sagip L80.  Donations in cash can be sent via:

 -- bank deposit to USTHS Batch 80 Alumni Associaiton Checking account # 0381-028361-001 Security Bank Branch 101

-- mail check  pay to USTHS Batch 80 Alumni Associaiton (Sagip L80) to Leah Militar-Castillo, our Batch treasurer, #14 Rose St., Lourdes Subdivision, Mambugan, Sumulong highway, Antipolo Rizal 1870

--  money transfer via Western Union to Leah Militar-Castillo.  Please email or text Leah (+63 919 8424270) the confirmation number. 

-- For US and north America residents, you can use Western Union or send/mail check to Jojo Sayson (840 Revere St., Bourbonnais, IL 60914 USA) Tel (1) 815-933-4291 and cell (1)815-953-7787.  Jojo will be in the Philippines in March.

PLEASE FILL UP THE SAGIP L80 DATABASE/RECORD AT OUR YAHOO GROUP SITE AFTER REMITTING THE MONEY.  Click this link - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/usths80/database

Donations will be coursed thru ABS-CBN Foundation (c/o Ronnie Cabanes) or thru GMA Kapuso Foundation.

Updated March 8, 2006

COPYRIGHT 2005 LEO RIINGEN ALL RIGHTS RESERVED