| STATE OF UST MEDICINE CLASS '67 |
By Cora Gemil, MD, Foundation President |
I cannot remember a time when our class has been so immersed in activities that generate so much fraternity and productivity as in the past 18 months. All of class 67 has now entered their 6th decade of life. We are now older, wiser, mellower, more affectionate, more generous, more caring.
In summarizing the state of our class I would like to mention the activities that we have engaged in. In order to provide equal importance to each activity, I will address them in alphabetical order. |
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By-Laws
Under the leadership of Dan Deaño, aided by Vladi Santos, Zinnia Giron and Roger Guico, amendments to our By-laws had been ratified during our Chicago General meeting. Significant amendments are the inclusion of all members of the class 67 regardless of place of residence. We also did away with the requirement for membership dues making it easy for Philippine based classmates to participate.
Dialogues
There is no such committee. However, the dialogues that appeared at our Yahoo webpage are impressive. Consider the debate about poverty and contraception, the exchange of ideas on jokes and food. Prominent participants are Orlando Cuasay, Rosie Elazegui, Nong Feliciano, Edith Uy and many others.
Entertainment
Vladi Santos’ committee started with a bang. The cookout in West Chester last Oct. ’05 ended with songs and poems. The creation of poems continues to show up in our yahoo webpage. We are in awe at Vladi’s balagtasan, Alice Cuento’s lyric poetry in Tagalog, Zinnia, English and Tagalog poems. Please note, Zinnia is Cebuana. This committee now includes Helouise Mapa, Nilo and Nila Sayat. They will be coordinating with Philippine based Juliet Aliga-Yap to come up with presentations for our Las Vegas and Philippine reunions. Hopefully, the presentations will be participated to by a cross section of our membership.
Financial
Our treasury is in good hands. Pressy Holgado receives revenue and disburses expenses with concurrence from Chit Granados and me. Andy Alisuag audits . In anticipation of significant donations, we have transferred our account with Charles Schwab as counseled by a financially successful and knowledgeable classmate.
We will be filing a report with the IRS for year 2006 and the same for NJ where we are incorporated. We intend to use raised funds to finance our Ruby Jubilee legacy, set up a Medical Mission Project , and set aside money to be utilized for Foundation expenses for the next 5-10 years. It is also hoped that an amount will be set aside to generate interest for the next 10 years , said amount to be used for our golden jubilee legacy.
Get Togethers
Again- no such committee. These are spontaneous spurts of classmate gatherings. Group of 8 ladies had a fling in NY. Opera, dining, shopping, nighttime “chismis” – what fun! Chit Granados, Zinnia G, Rose Noble, Mayette Banogon, Connie Castro, Rosie E. Pressy H. and I . On the somber side, Zinnia, Nila , Connie C. and the Mapas got together to visit the ailing Aniano Josef. The Chicago mob, extended their grand party with a side party for the visiting Nerie Santos. The Las Vegas troop- Soty F. Ed Estrada, Pressy Almonte wined and dined with Willie Lagdameo. There is a continuing visitation of Marina Feliciano who is still recovering from her eye injury.
Las Vegas
Soty Fabella will provide the details. But the tentative plan calls for a pre-conference trip to the Grand Canyon ( Utah) followed by participation with USTMAAA activities at Wynn Hotel and casino. Soty obtained a reduced rate hotel reservation for 25 rooms at Treasure Island. Save the date. June 28 through July 4th. Details to follow soon.
Legacy
This committee chaired by Nong Feliciano and composed of Erwin Gonzalez, Peter Fang, Willie Lagdameo, Tony Penilla , Ging Salanga and me. We are in continuing negotiations with USTFMS ‘ Dean Gonzaga to achieve our stated goal of granting a legacy that will contribute to the Faculty of Med. and Surgery’s academic excellence.
To date we have $ 226,600 in cash and pledges from 36% of our 215 members.
We are close to our monetary goal but distant in volume of participation. The thrust of activities in the next 6 months is to achieve at least a 50% participation. No amount is too small. Help is needed from the entire membership. It is important to state that this committee works very closely and have enjoyed such camaraderie. Erwin Gonzalez has designed a special logo for the legacy.
Legal
Through the efforts Pressy Holgado and Chit Granados and with assistance from Chit Bobila, the legal standing of the foundation as a non-profit was clarified. We have retained a law firm in NJ who provided counsel.
Medical Mission
Tony Penilla made a detailed presentation in Chicago of organization formats for a medical mission project for our class. It is intended that such project be
a continuing activity. This plan is in the not too distant long-range plan. On the immediate side, we are working with Danny Lucila on how we can aid the victims of Typhoon Reming in the Bicol region, Upon getting a Board approval, we will be donating $ 1000.00 to Gawad Kalinga and commit $100 a month for one year to a traveling charity clinic that services these areas.
Membership
Trining Tinio patiently solicits the survey forms she sent out months ago. It is important to know that our membership expanded with inclusion of Philippine based classmates but sadly diminishes with deaths.
MMM- Mortality/Morbidity/Memorials
Rosie Elazegui relieved the legacy-burdened Nong Feliciano in chairing this committee. The articulate and inquisitive Rosie relays the class’ sympathy to the kin of departed classmates, offers prayers and caring words to those who are sick and keeps the class up to date on information. It also helps to have the ears of Marina Feliciano who helps in providing needed information that only Marina knows. It is sad to report that recent deaths include Cecile Costelo-Lim, Adolfo Torres , Charito de los Angeles, the husband of Mila Laude –Paterno and Nieva Salva’s brother-in-law.
Newsletter
Although Zinnia Giron was just elected editor 18 months ago, she had been doing our newsletters years before. Aided by her ever loving Nabal, she issues impressive editions. Her work reflects her talent, her industry and dedication. Mayette and Pio Banogon provided help, food and companionship. Our trip to West Virginia was fun.
Philippine Trip
Our big celebration! The tentative plan is to have a pre-convention fun trip to Cebu and Bohol followed by attendance at UST’s Alumni functions. We are hoping that our Legacy will have been finalized by then. The tentative dates are: Travel to Cebu- Deb 7-8. Cebu-Bohol- Dec. 9-11. UST affairs- Dec. 12-15. Nerie Santos chairs the Philippine celebration and travel plans. Her committee- Roger Guico, Trining Tinio and Pressy Holgado will choose agency or agencies to plan for us. We are hoping to financially help classmates with limited resources that wish to join us in Cebu/Bohol with the commissions that can be derived from the travel plans. It is also hoped that such commissions will be applied towards cheaper fares for the participants.
Representations
To facilitate a closer communication I have delegated Willie Lagdameo as a personal representative in any dealings between our class and with the USTFMS administration. His familiarity with school affairs and known commitment to our goals will benefit us. Nerie Santos and Peter Figueroa are also willing negotiators. Willie will be working on setting up a lecture by our pre-eminent academician-Ging Salanga during our UST festivities. Possible scenario: Our class will host a dinner/ lecture and invite UST’s current academic team headed by the Dean. Sadly very few if any of our teachers are still around.
USTMAAA
We are going to participate in the USTMAAA affair in Las Vegas and they are expecting a big Class 67 contingency. We have expressed our intention to work closely with them . We communicated with Stella Evangelista, Exec. Sec. of the USTMAAA Foundation that we are not discussing our association with them until after our Ruby Jubilee.
Foundation Website (www.ustmed67.org)
The newest thing for our class.-the creation of Dan Deaño with help from Zinnia Giron. Let the page speak for itself- a thing of beauty and it speaks a thousand words! It complements very nicely the Yahoo Group website which was painstakingly initiated, developed and nurtured by Zinnia Giron sometime back in anticipation of increased electronic communication by members of the Foundation. |
