"We make great things happen!"

  
 
 
 
 
 
 

  Writing about classmates who have returned to their Eternal Home was a daunting job. The fact that their names were noted in the directory that Marina published did not make it easier. It was looking into their pictures (some I really did not know or could recall) and noting memories of the class years at UST that brought a lump in my throat. These were people whom we all knew, studied with and had fun with. I guess those happy memories are the ones that we should keep in our hearts and minds to keep them alive. Let us remember them in our prayers and pray that God envelope them all in His Loving Arms.

   Some of you may be close friends to these deceased classmates of  ours. Feel free to add on your happy memories that you shared with them. I went by with what I could remember of them. I am sure that their lives have touched ours  and had left lasting imprints in our hearts. Let us keep their memories alive as they were once vibrant members of the Magnificent Class of 67.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE "CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEAD" BY MARINA G. FELICIANO.

EMERLINDA ABAY-MERCADER

CARMENCITA ACUNA
   Chit as we called her was a quiet person, tall and soft spoken. She was married to Ed Manuel. She was one of our classmate who passed away at an early age. She died from complication of Breast Cancer.

NAPOLITA ANG
   Nap was also a quiet person...and also very tall. Some of our classmates cannot recall her because she was an unobtrusive person.  She also died at a young age from nasopharyngeal Ca.

ROSARIO DE LOS ANGELES
   Chato or Charito to her close friends was one of those child-like innocent women. It belied the fact that she was a very smart  businesswoman and philantrophist. She just recently passed away last  December 13 from Ca of the Pancreas. Chato was very active with all  our class reunions in the Philippines. She will be truly missed by her barkada and good friends. (Memories of Chato from Rosie Aniceto-Elazegui)

   Charito and myself had real strong ties. She was my maid of honor  and was the one who helped me plan most of the details of my wedding. She shared her personal feelings and love life with me. My visits to the Philippines to see my Dad with his chronic ailment were begun my calling Charito as soon as my plane landed. She would see me the next day and stayed at my Dad's place as I could not leave. She was at my Dad's funeral when I could not go home. Chato spent many days with me at Glen Mills. I could not let her  travel alone to New York and often, I would take off from work to drive her to see Velia, her friend in the Big City.  I  looked forward to her visits in the States.

   Chato ,you had been a part of my life and I will never forget our friendship. I miss you a lot but I know that you are now at peace.  (Pressyh@comcast.net)

ROSITA CABAHUG
   I remember Rosita because she was also in my class. She was also one of those quiet ladies , always smiling. I do not know the cause of Rosita's demise. She never left the Philippines. She had Ovarian Ca.

CECILIA CASTELO-LIM
   One would never had missed Cecile as we called her when we were inn med school. A whirlwind, hyperactive person,very tall, and very thin is how I remember her. The last time I saw her was almost 30 yrs. ago when I interviewed for a job in Massachusets. She died from a fatal MI while doing mission in the Philippines. (Comments by Rosie Elazegui)

   Cecile was a very smart girl. Diligent and loyal to her promise to her father and family, she pursued her studies with great results. She never had problems with her grades.

   Cecile was like a " rouch diamond". She wondered how in the world I knew how to "bless you!" when she sneezed, and why ever does she need to keep her knees together when seated etc. I never realized I was a nagging big sister during all our years through school.

   After graduation, she and Ben came to my home in Quezon City to say goodbye.  She was leaving for the US and wanted at least to meet one more time. I was sooooo moved when she said: I'd like to thank you. Do you know you have brought me up? I was quite embarassed but she simply took the years as "class neighbors" as part of her development. I was hoping to get in touch with her as our class got more and more successful at tracing people, but she left too early before I got the chance. May her soul rest in peace. (Eulogy by Isa del Castillo-Berlin)

   I was with Cecile Castelo-Lim at the Salem Hospital (now Northshore Medical Center, ) in Salem,Mass.  Isa's description of her as a 'rough diamond' fits her to a T. I barely knew her before I went to Salem, I knew we were in the same class at UST but that was that. My brother worked with Cecile's husband,Ben, a very good man and a brilliant engineer, at a chemical company in Bulacan and told me about Salem Hospital so I ended up there.The first few months of my acquintance with her was quite a shock. As Zinnia said, she was 'tomboyish,' and more...she was very rough at the edges, her complete naivete about social graces can be embarrasing and yes, shocking, but as one gets to know her, one will discover that she in her own rough way had a good heart. There was no mean bone in her. She had absolutely no insight that certain things were not altogether “proper.”  When anyone points out these things to her, like a child, she would ask, "Was that really wrong?' and she would laugh and say, " I did not know that was wrong," and she truely and honestly meant it, too. And she was thankful for people pointing this out to her. Ben, her loving husband was very patient with her but sometimes we were not. I know she would be laughing out loud as Zinnia said if she hears what we are saying now. Rest in peace,Cecile, you are truely a very good person underneath that rough exterior, a "rough diamond." (purifger@yahoo.com)

EFREN CALAYCAY
   I really do not recall who Efren was but we had a bond even when he was already dead. Our parish priest in Saginaw, michigan was the best friend of Fr. Efren. He was the one who told me all the nice stories about how Efren decided to become a priest. Apparently, he was doing surgery when he heard "THE CALL"  from God. He turned his back from the prospect of earning money as a doctor and offered his life in the service of God. He suffered from Ca of the Liver but Fr. Bob said  that Efren bore his sufferings valiantly. Definitely, we have someone who can intercede for us in heaven.

RAMON ARELLANO CUKINGNAN, JR. (“Cookie”)

   "Cookie" passed away peacefully at the age of 63 after a long illness on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 surrounded by his family.  He was survived by his wife of 37 years, Bernadette and his children Jennifer, Marietta, Amanda, Michael and Tara, his grandchildren, Gianna and Gage as well as his sons-in-law, Garry and Damon. Born in San Jose, Philippines, Ramon was the son of Ramon and Inez Cukingnan. He was the oldest son among several brothers and sisters, most of whom continue to reside in the Philippines. He studied medicine at the University of Santo Tomas (Class of 1967) before moving to the United States to complete his residency.
He was a prominent cardiac surgeon at Torrance Memorial Medical Center and Little Company of Mary Hospital. His hobbies included cooking, fishing, spending time with family and watching USC football games. His remains were interned at the Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.

ADOLFO EBARVIA
   What I can recall from Adolfo is his smiling face. He died from a fatal CVA.

RAMONCITO “CHITO” EDROSA

Chito passed away peacefully surrounded by his loved ones and after receiving the last rites of the church on December 29, 2007 at 2317. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn, their children, Ron, Richelle and Randall, two grandchildren and his in-laws. For more particulars, please visit Chito's memorial page.

DAISY ERPE
   Another person with an ever smiling face. I practiced my Bisayan dialect on Daisy because she was an Ilonga. She had that lilting voice typical of a Visayan lass. Together with some of our classmates, Marina, Mercy, Roger and Oscar and Yvonne Bascug, we were able to view her remains when she died in Maryland. She died from Lung Ca.

VICENTE GAHOL
   Vic to his friends,he was a very friendly guy. I remember him as a Ladies’ man. He died from A Cardiovascular  illness.

ROBERTO GARCIA
   Bobby was also from the Visayas and went back to Bacolod to practice.  He died from Lymphoma.

JAMES GO
   I remember Jimmy as a "kalog" full of jokes and was always laughing. He died from complications of a fall. (memories of Jimmy by Rosie A. Elazequi)

   About a year or so before his passing, Jimmy received an invitation from his estranged father from China, to visit him.  Jimmy and his siblings were raised by their mother while their father was absent.  He was hesitant about making the trip, and we talked.  Eventually, he wisely decided to go. His hometown, Fuzhou happens to be the birthplace of the most beautiful soapstones in the world.  And I am a soapstone collector. With some encouragement, he agreed to find some for me on his emotional trip. I gave him a quick tutorial with photos and long conversations on the phone.  He was a fast learner.  He and his father had a wonderful reconciliation. (memories of Jimmy by Peter Fang)

   Jimmy was the quintessential “free spirit”.  Fun and laughter followed him.  But beneath the carefree exterior was a somber person with deep sense of family.  He was always handy around the house.  During one of his New York visits, I awoke to hustle and bustle.  He decided to re-landscape my garden, pruning the pine shrubs like oversized bonsai trees.  He found slabs of slate and built a long bench, where I could sit and smell the roses.  I still have the bench, and continue to prune the shrubs as he did. (memories of Jimmy by Erwin Gonzalez)

JOSEPHINE ZOLETA HERNANDEZ - ALIBUDBUD
   Josie interned with Norma Baer and I at Mt Sinai Hospital. She went on to train in Pediatrics at Hartford Hospital. She married Ben Alibudbud and had a son. She died from a Motor Vehicle Accident in Florida. (by Rosie Aniceto-Elazegui)

   Beautiful, inside and out.  Intelligent, simple, humble and unassuming. A devout and very religious Catholic. A very loving and devoted daughter, sister, wife and mother.  A true and trustworthy friend and a dedicated physician . She loved yellow roses, fine things, and her favorite song, “Somewhere My Love”, from “Dr. Zhivago”. Josie was a home body who shunned  parties and glitters. She was content to stay in her dorm when not in school, the church, or the hospital, reading and studying. Her favorite hobby was reading the Bible. You see, for the longest time when we were together all throughout  Pre-Med. and med school, Josie wanted to be a nun. Had it not been for the persistent pursuit of our classmate Ben (or Boy as we called him then), Josie would have entered the convent. She was forever talking about religion, prayers and sacrifices! We used to go on weekends, when we did not have much studying to do, to the Catholic Trade School, our favorite hang-out, buying prayer books, “estampitas”, etc. or just browsing and passing time. I remember on one of these walks to the Catholic Trade School, Ben followed us. He was quite a distance away but somehow,Josie spotted him. Giggling, Josie said to me, "Don't look back, someone is following us."  Of course, I looked back otherwise how would I know who was following us. Then she said, "I have a big problem with the name. How would my name sound with 'Alibadbad' at the end?" Sorry, Boy. And we laughed all along the way. Ben to this day, probably has no idea what we were laughing about. “Hele, hele, bago quiere.” They were married in Connecticut years later and Josie honored me as one of her bridesmaids. Her oldest sister, Belen, was maid-of-honor. Belen, a teacher in Quezon, sent Josie through Medical School as their father died the summer before we entered our freshman year in Medical School. Josie died in a car accident in Florida in the late 70's leaving her only son Andy, and her husband, Ben. She was my best friend, and the big sister I never had!  I will never forget how she chose to give up being a “live-in intern” at the UST Hospital ,and be a rotating “living-out intern” because this poor friend of hers could not afford to “live-in”. That was the time when interns could choose to live in the hospital for the first time in UST Medical School history.  And “living-in” became sort of a status symbol, and “living-out” was, well, marginalized. She was a true friend. I miss her terribly. Josie, we will see each other again someday, but not that soon, yet. And Josie, one big favor, when you see any member of Class '67 approaching the pearly gates, say a good word to Saint Peter to let them all in. As for this writer, if Saint Peter balks at the idea, wait until he falls asleep, steal his keys, and let me in!  Don't worry, you are already in, St. Peter will not kick you out. I will be content to stay even in the basement there as long as I get in.  I am sure you are in one of the penthouses there closest to GOD!  Good night my friend. (by Purificacion Geronimo-Flores)

ROBESPIERRE LIM
   Who can forget this very friendly and amiable person who dedicated his life to the poor after our graduation. He had the most charming smile. Robie died from a plane crash while doing medical mission.  (by Rosie A. Elazegui)

   He was born in Loay, Bohol, also the hometown of my father. He talked to me when we met in the lobby and hallways since he knew I also hailed from the Visayas.He had fair complexion, was good looking, polite and easy to talk to.We elected him president of the Visayas Medical Association in medical school.  He tried so much to please everybody in our group.  He was also very considerate, always checking if anybody disagreed or was annoyed with him on matters pertaining to our association. One interesting tidbit of information: Robie was one of several that carried a torch for Mayette Andrada. (by Zinnia B. Giron)

ALEX MANASAN
   I remember him as a Big man but never did get to know him well. He died from complications of Cerebrovascular Disease.

HERNANI MANDAC
   Though I do not know him well either, Marina said he was good person.  He died from a cardiac illness.

EDUARDO LAS MARIAS

AMANTE LAZO

CHRISTINO GARCIA
   FIVE YEARS! That's the number of years I have known Cristino Garcia as a friend and as a fun loving person with a fountain of abilities and humor.

   These five years started on the first year of medical school when every student was alphabetically assigned to a section. Having a family name starting with the letter "G", I met the likes of Gagalang, Gallanosa, Garcia, Go and Gonzalez to name a few.

   The bonding with Tino was spontaneous and rapidly progressed to a point that we were almost together everyday after school hours and even took the same bus home to Quezon City via Espana Extension now called E. Rodriguez Blvd.

   This brotherly relationship was what I felt through those short years.  We had the best time of our young adult life together with our own new found group that included Pete Clemente, Henry Fernandez, Pepito Isidro and Ernest Go.  Some of the experiences that I can vividly recall include our first finger prick for a perfect malarial smear which we did to each other several times and the many nights together reviewing for every important exams culminating in a fine Chinese dinner in Ongpin irrespective how we fared during the exam.  Would you believe that we established a fraternity "Delta Rho" during our senior year that included other classmates such as ChitoEdrosa and Ed Ladlad as chartered members?

   Tino is a lover of beauty.  It is for this reason that he knew more beautiful women classmates of class 67 except perhaps for Henry Fernandez and Pete Clemente.

   A dark cloud occurred in the end of our senior year when Tino was delayed because of an unlucky twist of event but being Tondo raised and possessed of a strong will to succeed, he overcame this difficult challenge and although he graduated a little later, he was still considered a class 67 graduate.

   I lost track of my good friend until I heard the sad news from Willie Lagdameo after Tino passed away due to advanced colon cancer.  I am sorry for not being there for him during his dark hours. I only have those five years of memories to cling to and these will be treasured for a long, long time. (Eulogy by Roger Guico)

EDUARDO MANUEL
   Ed to his friends, husband to Chit Acuna.  He was also a very quiet  guy.  I remember him as one of those guys with very well ironed uniforms when we were interns.  He died from an myocardial infarct.  He and Chit had a son named Eric.

MERCEDES MARTINEZ-TROMPETA  

   Another sad day for all of us. Our circle is broken one more time, with one less to help make it whole again. God took back a very beautiful soul, a very talented mind. She opened up to us with her beautiful poems in Tagalog and in English, the few she shared with us. Death sounds very final. We will grieve with the rest; then we will rejoice for a classmate, a friend, had successfully made her final journey to the kingdom of the Lord. Let us bid Mercedita Martinez-Trompeta our final goodbye. (Obituary by Zinnia B. Giron)

CARMEN NIEVA
   Menchu to her close friends, she was a quiet unassuming person.  She fell victim to homicide. (Rosie A. Elazequi)

   This day, I finally got myself to write my tribute to one of my dearest and best friends, Carmen Nieva, fondly known as "Menchu".  I could not do it before, because a deep sadness always overcomes me.  However, I want people to know how beautiful a person she was. I did cry when I was writing this poem, for I miss her a lot.  This poem, of course does not say it all but you will have a glimpse of her loving character.

"A GENTLE SOUL, MENCHU"
How do I describe a lady so nice
A friend so dear, a saint in my eyes
The bonding we have, indeed has no price
No one can separate our real strong ties.

I treasured our friendship, so deep in my heart
The memories of my friend, I will never part
The moments we shared were just full of joy
Despite the tears shed,
The times were precious and never got cold.

She often carried a smile on her face
Her nature was gentle and just filled with grace
Her laughter never failed to brighten a place
It exuded life and I was truly amazed.

I poured out my feelings to her everytime
Problems about loved ones, were concerns of mine
The answers I received consoled my heart
It's one of her gifts right from the start.

She gladly played cupid to every lonely couple
Excitement and joy always filled her soul
Patience and endurance were some of her virtues
Sacrifices for love, she would happily choose.

Many lessons I learned from this faithful soul
We both blessed the Lord for His goodness and all.
A question we posed to ourselves as we pray,
"How much do we love God", from day to day
She answered,"As many leaves as there are on the trees"
I answered back,"As many raindrops that fall on the ground"
Joyfully, we both praised God, for the things we had said
Hopefully, we would act out our expression of faith.

My heart grieved endlessly when she passed away
I felt one of my ribs, was taken away
No one will ever guess how much I miss her
But her sweet memories will stay forever.

My friend, no goodbyes were said when you left suddenly
I was so distraught and extremely lonely
But who am I to question the Lord of Mercy
His timing is perfect throughout history.

Dear Menchu, you are a gift and an inspiration to me.
I too, need your prayers, that the light I may always see.
We are all poor souls on this earth's journey
Trying our best, to give God, all the glory.

Almighty Father, loving Creator and Redeemer
I lift up to You, Menchu, Your devoted daughter
Accept her soul in Your Kingdom and embrace her
Bless her with your promise and gift of eternal life forever and ever!

   We thank You Lord for the gift of life and the gift of friends, the gift of Menchu and all our classmates whom You have called home to be with You for all eternity.  All honor and glory to You, O God!  Amen!  (Alice Pecson-Cuento)

STELLA PEÑAFIEL

REYNALDO PILARIS
   I remember Rey from our 20th year reunion in the Philippines.  He attended it though he was terminally ill. He died from nasopharyngeal cancer.

RAQUEL ROBLES
   A beautiful sweet person, that is how I remember Raquel. She died from Ovarian Ca. (by Rosie A. Elazegui)

   We became good friends in medical school.  I was drawn by her cheerful nature and the smile she always had on.  And she also was about my size!  She commuted from home from first year medical school through internship and was always in a hurry and breathless when she arrived.  Like Tessie Balza, I identified her by the umbrella she carried  and by the short , straight and unruly hair that she kept brushing off her face.  I was surprised when she told me she had a boyfriend early on.  She married somebody else when she came to the United States.  I visited her once when she did her rotating internship in New Jersey in 1967.  That was the last time I saw her.I was devastated when I heard she was dying of cancer several years later.  She was a great loss not only to her family but also to her friends. (by Zinnia B. Giron)

ERLINDA RAMISCAL
   Marina said she sang in the church choir in Virginia.  Although I know her from her pictures, I never got the chance to really know her personally.  She died from Breast Ca.

COLITA REGNER
   Colita died from  dental anesthesia complications. I remember her from our class reunions. The St. Louis people probably knew her very well.

ALFREDO REYES
   Pressy Holgado and I  will always remember Freddie Reyes.  He also  had a smiling face....quiet. The last time I saw him was at our 20th year reunion in the Philippines.  Freddie died from complications of a Liver illness.

DANTE SAVELLANO
   I remember Dante from his attendance at our reunions.  He was practicing ballroom dancing when he suffered a fatal MI.

ROSITA TAN-FONTE

  Rosita Tan-Fonte passed away on 3-03-09 from lung cancer complicated by a rapidly progressive pneumonia.  Rosita, who originally hailed from Iligan City, in Lanao del Norte, settled in Odiongan, Romblon before migrating to Wellington, New Zealand.  She was married to Ernesto Fonte with whom she had 2 daughters, one son and 5 grandchildren. To view the eulogies for Rosita, CLICK HERE. (by Teresita Fonte Silverio)

WILSON UY
   His picture is familiar but never got to know him personally.  He died from a fatal MI while walking down Michigan Avenue in Chicago.

NINA VICENTE
   I remember Nina as an intelligent woman.  I last saw her during a USTMAAA reunion in Wisonsin.  She died from Ovarian Ca.