Dear classmates,
Thank you for a wonderful reunion experience in Europe. Our
class reunion was a hoot! Sixteen classmates from the Arellano University BSN
Class of 1980, along with their husbands/wives and sisters, gathered for the
45th anniversary reunion in Norway, then went on a cruise along the European
coast via MSC Poesia Cruises.
Not everyone gets a chance to reunite with those they
started the journey with. Not everyone has the opportunity to reconnect and
restore the camaraderie borne by the blood, sweat, and tears of nursing school.
After our graduation ceremony in the Philippines, we went our separate ways to
navigate the challenges of our personal and professional lives.
Somehow, our class managed to come together again. In October
2011, the 1st Global Reunion of the Arellano University College of Nursing was
held in Las Vegas, with nine classmates from Section 2 in attendance. That was thirty-one years after our class graduation in 1980. We screamed, hugged, chatted away,
and laughed at each other’s jokes and remembrances, as we tried to make up for
the long years in between. We resolved to reunite at least every two years.
Nursing Student Years- 1975-1980
Those years in class and in clinicals —ranging from V. Luna
Medical Center, Quezon Institute, Mental Hospital to the community centers
—provided us with invaluable hands-on experiences that prepared us for the
challenges of “real life”. We wore striped blue seer-sucker uniforms with stiff
starched white aprons and large nursing caps perched on our heads—the good old
days.
Manila Sound birthed the Original Pilipino Music era. The
musical tapestry of our lives featured songs from Hotdog, Cinderella, Freddie
Aguilar, Apo Hiking Society, and, as sung by Rico J, “namamasyal pa sa
Luneta.”
We overcame “terror” instructors, struggled through our thesis projects, and played skits for our patients on our last days of clinical rotations. We graduated despite the butt-numbing traffic and waded through floods (flood control is an ongoing problem in the Philippines, but we digress).
Forty-five years later, most of the OGs have retired.
We are the Baby Boomers, what some people call “Old Guards”, although I prefer
“Original Gangsters”, because you know, we were badass nurses.
On August 29, 2025, we descended into Oslo, Norway, and were welcomed by our gracious hosts Alma and Homer. Our program began with a Welcome address by Alma, a Celebratory remark by Shirley, a birthday celebration for our four classmates (Amie, Louie, Cely, and Janet), and a closing remark by Ces.
How can I describe
the party? BELLY LAUGHS! Not just a mild or polite chuckle, but that deep,
loud, and hearty laugh from the games: Grouping ourselves, Charades, and Hephep
Hurray. Just a good thing that none of us needed Depends yet. We let go of our
inhibitions, being carefree to be young and play as if we were kids again, and
grateful for the camaraderie and that we can enjoy each other again. There is
unabashed joy in just being silly together. Priceless.
Our class reunion was like this. Hatakan, hampasan,
takbuhan, naiihi, mahina, sigawan. The floodgates opened up, and we shared our
memories of our student years. The chatter crescendoed to a point that the
spouses were wondering what banshees we are. You can now check off this on your
list: no Alzheimer’s memory loss yet, because those moments were captured in
our hearts.
Alma and Homer, thank you for putting up with this
group of gaggling hens and their supportive spouses. You were like shepherds
trying to control the errant flock. That was a colossal effort to plan the
itinerary, which included the bus ride to Vigeland Park to see the sculptures,
especially the Monolith, the Skating Arena, the Evening fjord boat ride, and
the reunion party held in Stortua. Cheers for your patience and fortitude. Homer,
you’re a stand-up comedian.
Cely, thank you for your generosity through all these
reunions. You have sponsored the reunion t-shirts and the tarpaulin. You are so
giving, that’s why you are so blessed. The green t-shirts are my favorite; the
color is so vibrant and hopeful.
Ampy, thank you for starting all of this when you and
Althea searched for our classmates on the internet. You were like our mother
hen/detective in coaxing us out of hiding, even opening your gorgeous house in
New Jersey. I would definitely drive 2+ hours to your Robbinsville house to
savor your delicious food spread. And thank you for sharing your health
challenges with us; you are a survivor.
Salha, thank you for your persistence and ingenuity
with Chat-GPT to provide travel tips to us, especially for those who are naïve
with cruise etiquette. You are so level-headed, even when some of us are
impatient.
Luz, thank you for commiserating with me when my hip
pain sidelined me due to my over-confident walking. My fellow PWD, lol. You and
Alma are still graceful in your dancing.
Shirley, thank you for your invigorating celebratory
remarks. I appreciated how you engaged the group with your words of wisdom and
encouragement, spoken like a great nurse educator that you are—hats off to our
Magna. I would have loved to be in your class.
Yoly, thank you for joining us and sharing your
effervescent and bubbly personality. Thank you for your financial tips.
Neth, thank you for surprising us with your
“pregnancy news”, lol. I still remember how you surprised us as Speedy Gonzales
at our Florida reunion. Don’t forget, we need to plan our trip to Ampy’s house.
Lita, thank you for being such a bundle of energy. I
love your stories about your grandkids. We will not tell anyone who your
favorite is. Congratulations on being a survivor, too.
Amie, thank you for being the “selfie queen”. You
made sure that we posed for the pictures, but sorry, we are just bad at
following directions.
Janet, thank you for opening your hearts and sharing
your memories of your dog “Pogi” with us. I can relate, because we lost Boomer
at around the same time.
Mate, thanks for inspiring me to get more physically
fit. We didn’t know about your accident, but you persevered. You’re a
Superwoman.
Ces, thank you for being you: honest, joyful, funny, and
pragmatic. You were quiet during our nursing days, but now you have a lot of
stories to tell. Who can forget how you went over-the-bakod?
Louie, thank you for sharing your wife, Yo, with us;
she is delightful. Thank you for the scarves and the lunch treat. You have
always been generous; remember that you paid for the half-page ad for our class
section at the Las Vegas reunion.
Dori, thank you for joining our section. You blended
in very well. Please join us at our next reunion.
Sisterets, thank you for the three sisters: Bheng,
Poleng, and Lucy. We enjoyed your company.
Spouses, thank you for the support of your respective
wives. You are very much a part of this experience. As eager as they were to
pose for the pictures, they certainly did better than the ladies in following
directions.
Dear classmates, take a bow. We have achieved
greatness beyond our own expectations. We traveled different paths, but we made
it. We define our own success, and for that, as Shirley said, “Pat yourselves
on your back.”
We’ve come a long way from the naïve and bright-eyed nursing
graduates in 1980. Forty-five years never looked so good.
I am happy that we continue to grow as a “family”. Just
promise me, please, next time, you'll know the lyrics for “That’s What Friends
Are For” by heart.
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