By Sarla Ferrer-Duller and Emelda Frange-Valcarcel
The Golden Jubilarians during the 2nd Worship Service at the University Church.
Memory … just like the famous song from the Broadway musical Cats, the Central Philippine University (CPU) College of Nursing class of 1969 AKA 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 Four – 10 February 2019. San Jose, Antique
February 10, 2019, was God’s Grace Sunday and most Jubilarians attended the 9:30 AM worship service at the University Church after which they dined with the recipients of the God’s Grace Program, a work-study programs sponsored by President Ted Robles. Around 1:30 PM, the group was set to go to the next activity/venue, in another province some 101.5 kilometers away in San Jose, Antique. After freshening up, they were ready for the night’s event that laid ahead.
Zenaida (Paday) Catague-Tubaniosa and hubby Jess in their beachfront mansion surrounded with various verdant ornamental plants had readied the sumptuous catered all-you-can-eat dinner, overflowing beverages. The all-coordinated trimmings provided a festive party ambiance unique to Antique with a hired deejay playing the nonstop background music to the listening pleasure of attendees. Invited local Antiqueño talents, composers and celebrities entertained the Jubilarians and guests with songs sung mostly in kinaray-a and folk dances agilely and graciously performed by the local high school students in their festal Maria Clara and other native costumes.
Golden Jubilarians during the Candle and Prayer Ceremony in Antique.
Then came the most-awaited highlight of the evening: the Prayer and Candle Ceremony in memory and honor of the four classmates who had returned to their Creator: Nanette Garganera who died who lupus during our senior year, Nana Jutare from cancer, Linda Sindico-Musharaf from complications of diabetes mellitus, and Edith Saludes from an unknown cause. Paday and Jess prepared a semblance of an altar specific for solemn ceremony: lace-covered table, a candle and a flower arrangement in front of each graduation picture of the four classmates. During the Prayer Ceremony, classmates took turns reading verses/prayers and responsorial Psalms off a booklet that Jess prepared for this special occasion. Sarla gave a short introduction about the practice of lighting candles in memory of departed classmates. The lighting of candles gave us time to reflect on our relationships with them as well as brought focus and comfort for us who believed in the practice. After the short introduction, one by one of classmates and some spouses stepped up to the makeshift altar, briefly prayed and lighted a candle for each classmate. May you four eternally rest in God’s peace!
The Candle Lighting Ceremony was followed by merriment- dancing, dancing, and more dancing to the boogie tune of In The Mood, and other music for ballroom dancing to the discretion of the deejay. Meanwhile, the attendees incessantly went back and forth to the buffet table, refilling their plates and just minding their own business. Meanwhile, on the side line, Betty Triño-Polido and husband Willie looked like they were seriously practicing a dance routine, and oblivious to the lookers.
The day’s good times rolled to an end for tomorrow would be another reunion day!