IN THESE PANDEMIC TIMES…
On 30 January 2022, alumni of St. Paul Manila attended the virtual homecoming from different parts of the country and the world. More than 200 alumni attended via zoom, and many others through the official SPU Manila face book page.
The homecoming started at 9:00 A.M. with a Mass celebrated by Msgr. Clemente Ignacio, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Manila, in the Chapel of the Crucified Christ, with representatives of the High School 1972 batch, this year’s Golden Jubilarians and homecoming host, in attendance.
The Mass was followed by a program, which opened with greetings from Jose Cardinal Advincula, Archbishop of Manila, and the welcome and report of Sr. Ma. Evangeline Anastacio, SPC, University President. Sister thanked the alumni for their unwavering support of the school’s advocacies, like the campaign for PPEs and scholarships for HOPE Ablaze. Ms. Sherry Lara-Alingod, President of the St. Paul Manila Alumni Foundation Inc. (SPMAFI), also welcomed the attendees. A short video update on the Nursing Arts Lab followed.
“In Memoriam” remembered the Sisters, faculty, and alumni who passed away in 2021: SPC NUNS: Sr. Mary Matthew Damo, SPC; Sr. Lucila Perpinan, SPC; Sr. Elizabeth Borromeo, SPC; Sr. Mary Cyril Corpus, SPC, former President of SPCM; Sr. Cecilia Sto. Tomas, SPC; Sr. Eugenie de Marie Madronero, SPC; Sr. Milagros du Rosaire Ycazas, SPC, former President of SPCM; Sr. Marina de Jesus Calderon, SPC; Sr. Luisa Maria Chavez, SPC; and Sr. Kathleen Zamayla, SPC. ADMIN AND FACULTY: Erlinda Aguila-Ignacio, former Dean of College, SPU Manila; Nena Del Rosario-Villanueva, former Music teacher; Melvin Lazaro, alumnus and former CMPA teacher. ALUMNI: Cristina Monasterial-Guerrero (AB 81); Annabelle Aunario-Heckathorn (AB 80); Carmen Mendoza (BSC 58); Debbie Yu-Chan (HS 71); Carol Quinto-Brinas (HS 66); Agnes Roa-Kalaw (HS 61); Teresita Gomez-de Sequerra (HS 49); Sonia Kalaw-Hernandez (College 70); Carmen “Baby” Barredo (College 62); Benita Maglanoc-Papp (BSN 62); Chona Matoza (HS 75); Fe Sarile-Valera (College 69); Rosario Carballo-Singian (HS 61); Evelyn Sta. Romana-Rucker (HS 68); Zenaida Millado-Pambuan (HS 70); Ma. Luisa Reynoso (HS 65); Ma. Elena Ponce-Cruz (HS 64); Blanquita Gabriel-Florentino (HS 61); Carmen Peralta (HS 59); Mitch Cabrera-Samonte (AB 76); Alice Bernardo-Jose (HS 61); Cynthia Da Roza-de Castro (HS 70); Jo Anna I. Villanueva (BSN 97); Justine Macalima (HRM 2013); Carina Carpio-Versoza (HS 76); Susan Alejandrino-Guevara (HS 68); Carmen Querubin-Bautista (HS 68); Rosette Miranda-Fernando (AB 76); Susan de Jesus-Ongoco (HS 65); Sr. Theresina Santiago (HS 55); Praxedes Veneracion-Palo (BSN 68); Rita Lavente (BSC 80); Rose Parcon (HS 81); Asuncion Borja-Hernandez (BSN 71); Chet Gargantiel-Aldan (BSN 71); Evangeline Claire Samonte-Davao (HS 80) and Angelina Javier-Malabanan (HS 64).
Some illustrious Paulinians, greeted their fellow alumni—Teresa Ignacio-Gonzalvo, Marie Virata-Halloran, Cora Sia-Crisostomo, Vicky Amalingan-Sales, Jeanne Margaret Lim-Goulbourn, Celeste Legaspi-Gallardo, and Martina Geraldine-Dimalibot. This was followed by the presentations by the jubilarian classes, led by the High School Golden Jubilarians, Batch of 1972; the Platinum Jubilarians—HS 1957, represented by Teresita Bagaybagayan-Bayot and College 1957, represented by Guadalupe Reyes-Juan; Diamond Jubilarians—HS 1962, who recited the HS Graduation Pledge and sang “Everybody Loves Paulinians,” and College 1962, represented by Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, who interpreted the soliloquy of Lady Macbeth; High School 1967 and College 1967, represented by Pacita de Guzman-Falgui; College 1972, who presented their “apos” greeting on behalf of their “lolas”; High School 1977 and AB 1977, who presented a video of their school days; High School and College 1982; College 1987; and BSN 1997, who shared pictures of their batch in the front lines during the pandemic.
The event ended with the singing of the Paulinian Hymn, which many said brought them to tears—of nostalgia for the school and the good old days spent there.
