They came in their shining SUVs, some landed at Naga airport after their long journey from Canada and the US, while still others had themselves fetched by their classmates’ sedans, or simply took the jeepney on their way to Sonia Sancho’s big house for the welcome dinner in the evening of August 16. They hugged, kissed and kinda patted each other’s back to usher in the 3-day grand reunion of the Ateneo de Naga-Colegio de Sta. Isabel High School Class of 1972. The next three days they had dinners, lunches, a trek to Panicuason hotspring via the new Ateneo high school campus in Pacol and a tour of CWC. The event took a serious route when they formally turned over a duplex unit whose construction the Class of 1972 funded for two family-beneficiaries of Gawad Kalinga at depressed Zone 7, San Lorenzo Village in Bgy. Sabang, Naga City.

        As they bonded at the old Ateneo campus, at Champagne Garden, at a classmates’ posh residence, and at Lolo’s Bar, stories that took place 35 years ago were retold, retro music replayed and beer, brandy, whisky and lady’s drinks flowed as pairs who did not have to worry about weak limbs and varicose veins danced the night away. At least four of their former teachers were there, too, during one of the dinner-soirees, who were happy to note that the naughty young adults at 16 or 17 “are now responsible men and women who look gorgeous, prosperous and happy”.

Caption: PAGC Commissioner James Jacob presides over a table of giggling colegialas (left to right): Aging, Joji, Emma, Mendotte, Bess, Febes, Amor and Sweet during the dinner-dance at Champagne Garden. SWAYNES PHOTO STUDIO



Caption: THE Ateneans, chaired by Rudy Calandria at centertable, booze it up at Lolos Bar. SWAYNES PHOTO STUDIO









Caption: BOYET SANCHEZ interviews a son of one of two benefeciary families of a duplex (background) that the ATENEO-CSI joint class ‘72 donated to Gawad Kalinga during its formal turn-over in Brgy. Sabang, Naga City. SWAYNES PHOTO STUDIO





Caption: THE Colegialas in their usual girl talk during lunch at Moraville the Garden. SWAYNES PHOTO STUDIO