By Nestle G. Taala

 
CPU HS batch 1964 celebrates their 55th year reunion.

Honoring memories of their high school life, the CPU HS batch 1964 celebrated their 55th Year Reunion on February 4 at Damires Hills, Janiuay, Iloilo inspired by Psalm 92:14 (NIV): “They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.”

The event was graced with the presence of their classmates, both from here and abroad. There was a total of 21 attendees. The reunion started with a thanksgiving service where they recognized God’s faithfulness. Pastor Sharon Rose Joy Ruiz-Duremdes said that in a class reunion, participants “remember” and “re-member”: “The call to remember is to bring to mind not only the happenings of yesterday. To remember is to draw forth meanings that reshape us and make us better persons. We become who we are because of what we remember.” She added, “A reunion is an attempt to ‘re-member’ because the relationship that we built 55 years ago are too precious to be thrown to the dustbin of forgetfulness… and so at this 55th anniversary, we have come to remember in order to re-member.”

Rev. Dr. Sharon Rose Joy Ruiz-Duremdes leads the batch in their thanksgiving service.

Afterwards, the batch enjoyed each other’s company through fun games and the sharing of their life stories and things they look forward to in the years to come.

The organizers had prepared for this event since April 2018 through online communication. In addition, Emelda Frange-Valcarcel, a retired registered nurse and one of the organizers, said that after their 50th year reunion in 2014, the group had been meeting each other annually through their mini reunions.

The CPU HS batch 1964 enjoys the parlor games prepared by Emelda Frange-Valcarcel (center).

Meanwhile, Rev. Dr. Sharon Rose Joy Ruiz-Duremdes, also their President, shared in an interview their memorable experiences and the great lessons they learned from CPU: “One of the most exciting… experiences is to challenge each one to do our best.” Moreover, she said that “trying to understand what Central Spirit is [is] to live out that spirit in our own daily lives.”

CPU HS 1964 is looking forward to another fellowship with former classmates, especially in the Grand Reunion at Central Philippine University in 2020.

“To God be the Glory for the Things He has done!”