By Karren Jay G. Asgar

CPU Development High School batch ‘88 gathers for their 2024 reunion at San Fransisco on October 18-20, 2024.

Batch ‘88 of CPU Development High School gathered in San Francisco for a reunion filled with laughter, nostalgia, and a sense of togetherness on October 18-20, 2024. With the theme, “Pagtilipon CPUDHS ’88,” alumni from across the country traveled to reconnect, recall, and celebrate the bonds they formed in CPU.

Their celebration was filled with reminiscing about old times, sharing funny stories, and having fun during their trip to Napa Valley. As memories of shared classrooms, teachers, and school events filled the entire trip, the attendees felt as if they were transported back to their high school days. The atmosphere was lively, filled with conversations that spanned decades, catching up on families, careers, and all the milestones in between.

“Grateful for the lifelong friendships and bond that we all have. Central Spirit lives on,” Melvin Acanto wrote in his Facebook post.

During the event, attendees captured moments with group pictures and videos to reflect the warmth of togetherness after a long time. They also did not hesitate when talking about plans for the next reunion; everyone tried to come up with some creative and amazing ideas on how to make each following event even more memorable and inclusive. They brainstormed ways to reach out to more batchmates, hoping to encourage a wider turnout.

“The Central Spirit was felt by all who attended. Some batchmates had not seen each other for 36 years, since high school graduation,” the attendees shared in an online interview.

They also shared that throughout those three days of celebration, they took time to share and reflect on their Centralian journeys and the life experiences they had in the halls of Central. The numerous narratives of memorable teachers and harrowing moments of a student’s life each wove a narrative around the fact that they had one thing in common – intersections of Scientia et Fides in their educational experience.

“Grateful to God and blessed that we attended CPU High School together and for the lifelong friendships and bond that we all still have,” they added.

The California-based members of CPUDHS ‘88 organized the reunion, which included batchmates from the United Kingdom and several states in the U.S., such as Nevada, Michigan, Illinois, Texas, and California. A total of 20 members attended the event, accompanied by their families.

Indeed, the reunion was more than just a gathering; it was a homecoming of friends who had lived the ethos of Central Spirit in their high school days and beyond.