Fun Class 73 reunion of Jose Abad Santos High School in Charlotte

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

It has been said that a person has to recall a happy memory as often as he or she can and this is especially true when one attends family or class reunions.

One such class reunion is is Class 73 of the Jose Abad Santos High School in San Fernando, Pampanga (JASHS) held in North Carolina recently.   Jose Abad Santos High School is now named Pampanga High School and it takes pride in one of its former graduates, the late Philippine president Diosdado Macapacal.

About 29 people--20 graduates and nine spouses--came from all over the US, Europe and Canada to attend the three-day reunion held last May 16.

On the opening day, the batch mates were treated to an arrival dinner at the Ferreras Home in Concord, North Carolina.  The host Angel Ferreras is a member of Class 73.

Class 73 consisted of 25 sections of 40 to 50 students each or 1,000 graduates that year. Angel and his lovely wife Herminia hosted, a boodle  fight (a communal meal in which diners partake of the food spread on the table).  Soul music wafted through the early summer night, sparking animated conversations among those present.

The dinner at North Carolina was the  first for JASHS 73.  Class 73 holds its reunion every one to two years either in the Philippines or in the US.  Most of the attendees have never been to NC.  Angel wanted to show to friends the best that North Carolina had to offer.    “We held a smoke pit barbecue in Concord to Biltmore house/estate in Asheville.  They also ate at Bojangles and shopped at Charlotte’s premium outlets,”  Mrs. Ferreras said.

Last year year it was held in San Diego, California.

Here's a photo of the attendees.  

Standing from left are Dr Jun Canaria from Maryland

Edan Garcia- Toronto Canada

Annie Martinez- Arizona

Lucy Galang- Chicago

Peter Puno- Switzerland

Lourdes Velasco- Maryland

Greg Velasco - Maryland

Ian Arranza- Virginia

Gloria Mangune- Portland

Armando Panlilio- California

Ed Miclat- San Diego

Rommel Meneses- Jacksonville

Angel Ferreras - Concord NC

Ritz Panlilio- California

Lerna Meneses- Jacksonville

Second row from left

Alma Canaria - Maryland

Lot Mather - Florida

June Concepcion- Vancouver

Mollet Aranza - standing from Virginia

Lilian Julian - Chicago

Alma Scali- New York

Elvira Atienza- New Jersey

Emmy Puno- Switzerland

Shirley Cristobal Hermie from Concord, NC

Front row

MC Canlas - San Francisco

Val Cristobal - Michigan

Dr Cezar Tapnio- New Jersey
Cristobal- Michigan 
and Armand Atienza.

Angel Ferreras provided live music courtesy of the IBand.  For those who attended the reunion it was yet another precious memory to be savored in their life’s journey with more to come in next year’s reunion.