I am extremely excited about our class reunion next year.  I am also very thankful for the extraordinary efforts of our reunion Steering Committtee for meeting with our classmates and in fact putting together a “mini” reunion last September.  The joy and excitement of meeting long lost classmates, seatmates and friends was on everyone’s face.  Some sang songs, others recited poems, all to express their happiness that we were together again.

           Preparations are on the way for our Grand Reunion on July 12, 2003 in Tanjay.  Our energetic Juvilo T. Napao,  Henrietta Dael (Borromeo),  Rogelio Ybanez,  Peluche Teves,  Isabelita Alcantara,  Paz Catacutan (Borromeo), ElsaTabasa (Sevilla), Patria Ramirez (Gravador) and Enrico Pilas , are meeting regularly with our classmates to work out the details of the activities for the reunion to ensure that this get together will indeed be an affair to remember.  The response we have been getting from everyone is very encouraging and inspiring.

           One of the highlights of the reunion will be the initial funding of a High School Scholarship Program for the poor but deserving students of Tanjay who will enroll in any accredited school in Tanjay.  Our vision is to establish a P500,000.00 endowment fund whose income will be used to assist eligible students to go through high school.  At 10% interest rate, this endowment fund will earn P50,000.00 every year which will be awarded as scholarship grants.  A conservative estimate tells us we can have 12-15 scholars in high school year after year.  Please note that only the earnings of the fund will be spent.  The principal amount of P500,000.00 will be kept intact as an endowment, kept in the bank and managed by a Board of Trustees.  Hopefully, with additional donations from sympathehtic individuals and organizations, this endowment fund will increase in the latter years.  Before the year 2010, my hope is that, this fund will increase to P 1 Million.

           To kick off this fund campaign, we will hold a raffle of attractive prizes.  Tickets will be on sale very soon.  I strongly encourage each member of our class to buy tickets to this raffle as well as sell tickets to friends and the general public.  Raffles will be drawn on July 12, 2003, our reunion day.  We are hopeful we can raise between P150,000.00 to P200,000.00 from this raffle.  My challenge to our fortunate classmates living overseas is to match the amount we are able to raise locally, at the least.  It will be most appreciated if they can put up the difference between P500,000.00 and the amount raised from our local efforts.  To our classmates in the United States and elsewhere abroad, we are looking to you for about U. S. Dollars 6,000.00 to 7,000.00.  We are very confident you will accept this challenge.

             This High School Scholarship Fund will be our legacy to the people of Tanjay City, a token of our appreciation and gratefulness to those who gave us our high school education.  This will be the first of its kind in this City.  I am sure our fellow Tanjayanons will appreciate our efforts which will certainly have the approval of our Lord and Savior who said “ Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to Me.”

           Please share with me the anticipation of a wonderful time at our reunion.  Let us have fun when we meet our classmates again and experience the profound satisfaction that we have helped our less-fortunate brethren.