ALUMNI

X-Pats Gather in Los Angeles

Posted Friday, 22-April-2005 11:45 AM

The Xavier alumni meeting was held last Saturday afternoon, 16 April 2005, on the campus of Loyola High School of Los Angeles. A record number of 43 Xaverians attended the affair, which began with the
main program conducted in LHS's Alumni Room. As per the practice in Vancouver and New York, the program began with the National Anthems of the U.S. and the Philippines, followed by the Invocation led by Fr. Johnny Go, who immediately proceeded to present his report on Xavier School.

The report, called "Xavier School: Past, Present, Future," reminded those present of the history of Xavier School, beginning with its opening in 1956 in an old converted warehouse in Echague, Manila, through its transfer to the 7.5-hectare Greenhills campus, to its present state. Fr. Go flashed a graph on the screen that dramatically illustrated the dynamic growth of Xavier School from about 170 students on its first year of existence to over 4,000 students today.

The X-Pats also learned about the many changes that Xavier School is undergoing today, such as the Curriculum Reform Process, the Xavier China Experience (XCE), the construction of the Fr. Rafael Cortina Sports Center, and the scheduled opening of Xavier 2 in Laguna in the year 2010.

Hero Yu (`72), Chair of the Golden Jubilee Celebration, shared with the alumni the school's plans for the celebration of its 50th anniversary in 2006, including the proposal to include the X-Pats all over the world to get together in some way to join the main celebration in Manila on December 2, 2006.

The two presentations were followed by an engaging Open Forum, where many alumni expressed their concern for their old alma mater and asked questions about its present state. Like their counterparts in Vancouver
and New York, the alumni in L.A. were filled with enthusiasm and support for the school's efforts in reaching out to them. One alumnus, Abraham Lim, even already volunteered to work on forming a non-profit AAXS foundation in the U.S.

The program culminated in the Holy Eucharist which was held in Loyola High School's beautiful school chapel. The Mass was offered for the intention of the late Edmund Chua (`68), whose widow, sister, and son were present. In one touching moment, Estie Esteller (`68) led the congregation in remembering and praying for the Jesuits, teachers, and classmates who had passed on to the next life.

At the end of the Mass, Fr. Go and Hero Yu handed the banner of the AAXS Los Angeles Chapter to the leaders of the X-Pats in L.A. led by Estie Esteller (`68), Fred Lim (`72), and John Cheng (`72).

After the Mass, the alumni and their families were treated to a sumptuous Filipino dinner. Hero Yu raffled off the usual Xavier School souvenirs. Five
names were also drawn for the grand prize of a roundtrip ticket to Manila for the December 2006 celebration. The winner will be known in San Francisco.

The successful gathering, the first of its kind of this scale in L.A., would not have been possible without the hard work of Estie Esteller, Fred Lim, John Cheng, and many others who, in various ways, supported the efforts of Fr. Go and Hero Yu.

We would also like to thank Fr. Jack Mitchell, SJ, Superior of the Jesuit Community for going out of his way to help us with all the arrangements, and Fr. Robert Walsh, SJ, President of Loyola High School, for giving us free use of the school facilities and even for sending flowers for the Eucharist.

Of course the most important factor in the entire affair remains the many alumni from the 60's all the way to the 00's, studying and working in L.A., who graced the occasion with their presence and expressed their all-out support for the school. We are also grateful for the presence of Mrs. Rufina So, who taught Chinese to many of us in the Grade School.

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