By Sarla Ferrer-Duller and Emelda Frange-Valcarcel
CPU Batch 1969 at the Henry Luce III Library.
Memory… just like the famous song from the Broadway musical Cats, the Central Philippine University (CPU) College of Nursing class of 1969, a.k.a. the 69ers, dreamed of the old days and remembered that life was beautiful then as they commemorated their Golden Jubilee from February 7 to 12, 2019. Attended by 25 69ers and some 12 husbands, the class reunion was celebrated in the provinces of Iloilo and Antique, and in six different venues: CPU; Iloilo Mission Hospital (IMH); Tambaliza/Pan de Azucar Island in Concepcion, Iloilo; Dingle, Iloilo; San Jose, Antique; and Pavia, Iloilo.
Day One: 7 February 2019 – CPU and IMH
Deafening laughter, bear hugs, and beso-beso filled the first floor of the Hence Luce Library Knowledge Development Center in CPU as the Jubilarians trickled in as early as 7:30 in the morning on the first day of the six-day class reunion. The Iloilo-based organizing committee was busy signing-in the attendees as they came in, handing out mini buri fans, made-to-order gold tees for the occasion, and the Jubilee mug adorned with each 69er attendee’s college graduation picture! Ahhhh… so young, innocent, and vulnerable-looking! How nostalgic—the image in the mug was taken at least 50 years ago!
CPU Batch 1969 met with Dr. Elmer Q. Pedregosa, a member of CPU’s Board of Trustees and Director of Iloilo Mission Hospital
The venue was almost standing-room-only, and like clockwork, the Texas-based classmates led off the program: Elpa Lagora-Drooglever led the invocation and followed by Terry Camiña who sung her own rendition of one of the songs from the Sound of Music, “Climb Every Mountain.” Indeed, the song resonated the challenges and opportunities in climbing one’s mountain, in following the byways and rainbows until dreams were found! After 50 years, Terry could still deliver!
The next number was the welcome address by the CPU President, Dr. Teodoro (Ted) Robles. The emcee, Lydia Fernandez-Robles, an Iloilo-based member of the Golden Jubilee organizing committee, did the honor of introducing Dr. Ted Robles. Lydia admitted the task was easy since President Robles needed no introduction at all as the husband of a 69er, Angel Antonio. The introduction was sweet and succinct. After the warm welcome, the group was called upon to sing their class theme song, “My Task,” the hymn that buoyed them up through the years, throughout the world:
“To help a wand’ring child to find his way
To follow the truth as blind men long for light
To do my best from dawn of day till night
To keep my heart fit for His holy sight
And answer when He calls…”
Wow! The words were a power saw cutting through souls and tear ducts!
A video presentation followed the class song. Important class activities and memorable events flashed before their eyes. Just like the proverbial day of reckoning, the video accounted some of the things the 69ers did with their talent, time, and treasure for the last 50 years, including their pre-nursing and student nurse’s days. More silly laughter, ohhhs, and ahhhs reverberated around the room. Some classmates were amazed at how petite they were—30-40 lbs. ago. Oh well. Snacks and more snacks followed—rare native delicacies like ibus nga tapul (thank you Gretchen Martinez-West), Ilonggo favorites, and much much more. So irresistible!
As if trying to shed off the calories from the snacks, the group then walked a few meters to the Loreto D. Tupaz (LTD) Hall that houses the College of Nursing where the Dean, Atty. Salex Alibogha, was waiting right at the doorstep to personally welcome the Jubilarians. Beaming from ear to ear, Dean Salex led the group to an ocular visit of the classrooms, faculty offices, and the newly acquired high tech simulation laboratory (sim lab), among other activities. The sim lab is the first of its kind in the Iloilo region, which made the 69ers ooze with pride, considering that the class was among the firsts to remit its 100,000-peso contribution towards the fruition of the project. The sim lab was replete with tech-driven manikin that simulates the normal and abnormal heart, lungs, and abdominal sounds depending on the scenario appropriate to the students’ related learning experience. The group took the opportunity to take photos: with the manikins, with Dean Salex, with each other, in front of the LDT Hall, and under the tarpaulin proclaiming IMH/CPU as the first School of Nursing in the Philippines.
Moving along, the next stop was IMH. The Hospital Administrator, Dr. Elmer Pedregosa, welcomed the Jubilarians in the conference room adjacent to his office, and after a brief prologue, he walked with them to the Healing Garden, cutting through an all familiar-looking Department A. Once again, the 69ers were ecstatic with pride as the benefactors who made the installation of the waterfalls to add serenity to the landscape possible. Selfies and group photos here and there then ensued.
Strolling along, the group noticed a missing landmark. What happened to the Nurses’ Home, the home away from home when they were student nurses? And the garden? Dr. Pedregosa explained that the years had taken its toll on the aging building. He continued that with the changes in the curriculum, student nurses were opting to stay in off-site boarding houses of their choice. Oh, how they missed the Big Hall! It was there where sisterhood developed, was nurtured, and flourished! Where the Nurses Home used to be, now proudly stands the four-story Medical Arts Building housing the multi-specialty clinics/offices.
Lunch followed after Emelda (Daday) Frange-Valcarcel led the prayer. More photo shoots followed at every opportunity. The singing of “Blest be the Tie that Binds” signaled the end of the IMH sojourn.
Back to the waiting vans and on the way to the drop off point at CPU, the Jubilarians were treated to a tour of Iloilo City guided by Angie Majaducon in one van, and Lydia in the other. Iloilo City is oozing with progress; notably among the changes it its city-wide SMOKE FREE policy. Well, CPU has been a smoke-free campus for over a century. The city was finally catching up.