Finally after a long Christmas season, the Sinulog Festival which is the Fiesta of Cebu, where nearly a million and a half people joined the solemn procession, then a week later, Cebu played host to the 51st International Eucharistic Congress only then that we were able to breathe with a sigh of relief that this celebration was over. But for me, it was not over yet as last week, my classmates celebrated the 50th or Golden Anniversary of the University of San Carlos Boy's High School (USC-BHS) class 1966.
Fifty years ago, our class had 145 classmates. And of this number, 29 already passed into life eternal. So last Friday, 51 of my classmates went back to memory lane to what the USC now calls the North Campus in Mango Avenue for the first part of our reunion and Holy Mass officiated by the Rev. Valentin Darunday, who is now 84-years old but had a very good memory of our old teachers, most of whom already gone to the great beyond. That evening was a night of fun at the Lanipao Mountain Resort of our classmate Dick Cabucos. The resort is a 20-minute drive up the mountains behind the Guadalupe Church in Guadalupe, Cebu City.
Saturday was a whole day at the Apalan private resort of another classmate Enrique "Quito" Fararrons, located 84 kilometers northwest of Cebu in Tuburan where we reminisced with our classmates during our high school days. Then last Sunday, at least 55 classmates from class 1966 showed up for our gala night at the Casino Español, in what I would say is the most successful high school reunions of the USC-BHS.
Notable amongst our classmates who came to Cebu are Rotary Exchange student in 1966 Mr. Geoffrey Davis, who came from Canberra, Australia. He came to Cebu landing at the old Lahug Airport and left that airport to return to Cebu for the first time in 50 years. We also saw Mr. Manuel Picornell of Las Vegas, Ramon "Moncho" Picornell who now lives in Manila, Mr. Epictetus Patalingjug now a UP Economics Professor, Dr. Almario Tantoco of Ohio, Dr. Walter Quijano of the Federal Gov't of Texas and Tony Rizarri, my best friend from Houston, Texas.
Kudos to our classmates who made an effort to make our historic Golden Reunion successful, especially to retired Senior Supt. Manuel Cabigon, Bill Uybengkee, Felipe Cabrera, Dick Cabucos, Al Santos, my brother Architect Bing Avila and Mr. Quito Fararrons. Mr. Harry Limtong made the closing but fun and touching closing speech and we all came out hoping for the Diamond Reunion soon. Best of all, it was a great time to meet with the wives of our classmates. Indeed 50-years is a long, long time!
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So finally, just when I was eager to return back to work, I learned that yesterday was the Chinese Lunar New Year. This year is the Year of the Monkey. Supposedly, the Year of the Monkey brings good fortune to Geminis. This remains to be seen. I still believe that good fortune comes from hard work, not luck. However it does not hurt that a person who works hard gets lucky at the same time.
So now that we are in the Chinese New Year and since we are in the midst of the political season, what we would like to hear from our local candidates, notably for Cebu Governor Hilario "Jun Jun" Davide III and his challenger former Government Service Insurance System general manager Winston Garcia is their respective plans to improve our road conditions in Cebu, and social development as well.
This also goes for those seeking the positions of Cebu City Mayor notably Mayor Michael Rama and challenger former Mayor Tomas Osmeña. For instance, we need a concrete plan not just a three-year plan on the collection of garbage in Cebu City. We do not want to hear their woes and complaints why they could not do this, just plans on what they would do after they get elected into the office of the mayor after the May 2016 polls.
For those seeking to be mayor of Lapu-Lapu City, Cordova, Mandaue, Talisay, and Consolacion and of course Cebu City, we also would like to find out their doable plans on how to solve the traffic problem. If I get a favorable response to this article, I will analyze these plans and write my commentaries on them and tell them honestly whether it is doable or impossible to implement.
Honestly, I am sick and tired of hearing from their respective radio barkers, all sorts of insults thrown against their political opponents because it is a clear sign that these radio barkers have nothing else to say, perhaps because their political masters never told them about their plans and programs. The politician that gives the most credible, workable, and identifiable work plan that would get my attention will get good reviews from this corner that might improve his or her chances of winning. Abangan!
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For email responses to this article, write to vsbobita@mozcom.com or vsbobita@gmail.com. His columns can be accessed through www.philstar.com.