HIGHLIGHTS

A Record-breaking Homecoming!

Posted Thursday, 14-Dec-2006 12:43 PM

     All roads led to Xavier last November 25 for the annual alumni homecoming dubbed For Gold Times’ Sake.  The organizers, headed by Dobbin Tan of the Silver Jubilarians, Batch ’81, put in a great effort to target record attendance for the Golden Jubilee year.  The organizing batch employed an intensive communications campaign, an attractive entertainment package and low-priced tickets (inclusive of the raffle) to generate a stronger turnout.  The savy marketing strategy worked.

     The conservative estimate placed the crowd at 2000 strong.  What is really impressive is the number of alumni registered at over 1360 (not including the many late-comers that were no longer recorded).  This figure is not only the highest recorded attendance but is three times the average and twice that of the previous record set in the 2004 homecoming (based on statistics from the past five years).  The nostalgia evoked by the Golden Jubilee was strongly felt across batches as, for the first time, attendance even for non-celebrating batches was high.

     The Mass, the first of the 9-day Jubilee Novena Masses, was held at the jam-packed Multi-purpose Room of the sports center.  The officiating priests included Fr. Felipe Ortiz, SJ, who returned to Manila specifically for the Golden Jubilee.  After some frantic search for tables, the guests queued up for dinner and proved the wisdom of the adage: The early bird catches the worm.  Due to the overwhelming attendance, the luckless latecomers had to make do with Krispy Kreme and Oishi snacks.

     The program highlighted key milestones of Xavier School divided over five decades.  Interspersed with these video clips were performances by Barbi Amalbis, Itchyworms, Parokya ni Edgar, Orange and Lemons, and Sponge Cola.  The entertainment was capped by a vintage performance from the ageless musical icons, the Apo Hiking Society.

     Luckily the beer provided by San Miguel held up to the very end.  The special door prize of a trip for two to Hong Kong was won by Mark Andrew Suntay (’04).  Close to midnight, the grand prize, a Toyota Vios, was raffled off and went to the Sharwin Tee (’96).  The organizers, who had promised a donation to the XSETF of P600 for every registered alumnus, were so satisfied with the results that they have decided to round up the donation to P1.2 million.  This landmark event will most likely remain a record holder until the next significant jubilee, perhaps 2026 for the Diamond Jubilee?

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