ALUMNI

XS'65: Life Begins @ 40!
Frederick N. Tiu (XS'79), School Treasurer

Posted Thursday, 7-Jul-2005 7:30 AM

The Xavier Class of 1965 celebrated its 40th anniversary last July 2nd, 7pm at the Xavier School-Angelo King Multi-Purpose Center.  Gongxi!

Last July 2, thirty of the forty-six members of Xavier Class 1965 gathered at the MPC for what would be their 40th anniversary celebration. Upon entering the MPC, we were warmly welcomed by their registration table and Batch 65’s grade school and high school class pictures which made for interesting conversation. I was also delighted to see all of them dressed in their old high school uniform for this night of thanksgiving. I saw a couple of the jubilarians proudly wearing their old Xavier School pins. Another guy showed me his original Kuang Chi school pin bragging that it must now be worth over P30,000!

Aside from their family members which now included grandchildren, some notable attendees were XS Chairman Fr. Ismael Zuloaga, S.J., School Director Fr. Johnny Go (XS’79), S.J., Fr. Santos Mena, S. J., Fr. Joseph Ly, S.J., Fr. Maximo Barbero, S.J., Mr. Noel McRae (former XS Drama Guild moderator), Mr. Samson Tocino (former Head of Student Services) Dr. Ricardo Ablang (former Head of P.E.) and XS Board Trustee Mike Tan (XS'66). The Alumni Association of Xavier School was ably represented by President Jeffrey Siy (XS’80) and Golden Jubilee Chairman Hero Yu (XS’72).

That night, Batch ’65 literally left its mark in Xavier School through a meaningful and poetic Chinese couplet strategically posted on the two main posts of the MPC entrance. The Chinese couplet, which was composed by one of their classmates, Alfonso Ty, is the Xavier School mission statement: Men fully alive, endowed with a passion for justice and the skills for development.”

All the guests were treated to fine Chinese food and a nostalgic program which included sixties music and a slideshow of “archival” pictures paying tribute to the celebrating batch. The evening was likewise spiced up with song numbers, raffle prizes as well as giveaways to remember the event. As a fitting climax and a sign of their generosity, the Xavier Class of 1965 presented their donation to the XSETF.

Batch ’65 is led by two former AAXS Presidents in the name of Harry Chua (the current Batch ’65 President) and Emerson Go (XSETF Board Trustee).

Being from the Class of 1979, I was amazed by the fact that I had not even stepped into Xavier when these guys graduated High School. So, do I think the jubilarians from Batch ’65 are old? From what I saw that night, I don’t think so. As the popular saying goes, life begins at 40!. Luceat Lux!

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