Coming Home

On December 9, 2006, Ateneo de Manila High School Batch 1981 will host the Grand Alumni Homecoming. It has been more than a year of preparation. Class reps have been meeting monthly to discuss various aspects of the Homecoming Year. We have staged some fund-raising activities from late 2005 to the whole of 2006. We've had golf tourneys, movie premieres, an Ateneo-La Salle Dream Game, fellowships and merchandising efforts.

I have been in the thick of preparations being a class rep of my section and a member of the Homecoming and Merchandising Committees. Getting my classmates together was difficult at first but as our get-togethers got more often, we now average about 15 classmates. The most we got for my section (4-E) was 24 out of 42 during last year's Homecoming. The Homecoming Committee continues to work hard as the big night approaches. We have done most of the work, like, getting an event planner, choosing performers, preparing a budget and conceptualizing the theme TEAM ATENEO - Coming Together, Making A Difference. The Merchandising Committee continues to look for opportunities to sell the various shirts I designed. Only our exclusive special Homecoming Batch 81 shirt, to be worn during the event, is in production.

I am proud of my batch but most specifically of my section. During our senior year, we were judged the model class, thanks to our moderator, then Mr. Tito Caluag (not yet Fr.). Classmates were Rapa Lopa, our Class President and now Homecoming Chair; Ato Salud, our Vice President; now Quezon Congressman Erin Tañada; now Pangasinan Board Member John Rosario; Raul Castro, Executive Creative Director of Lowe Philippines, Dennis Manzano, Sony Ericsson Philippines GM, to name a few. Our batch has produced San Miguel Coach Chot Reyes; Diageo and former Adidas Philippines head honcho John Alonte; Warner Bros. Phils. GM Bookie Soliven and Ateneo Alumni Association President and our batch rep Vince Araneta. We have two Jesuits in our batch, Frs. Roy Cosca and Joey Fermin, now headmaster of the grade school.

Many of our batchmates have passed on. Each of the 8 sections have someone who has gone to the next life. In total, there are about 14 already. We will surely remember them during our Homecoming Night.

I am truly looking forward to December 9. I believe we have a good and memorable show which includes our co-jubilarians. Join us!!

ANIMO ATENEO!!