COMING FULL CIRCLE

Documenting the meetings and reunions of Domitillans, Class'59 began with a two-page Bulletin, progressed into lengthier newsletters and reached its golden moment with the launching of our class website. While the emergence of our maiden issue in cyberspace was a euphoric experience for us, this final issue ends on a sober albeit highly textured note. What makes this issue special is a happy blend of articles, regular columns, and highlights in the lives of our classmates and their families, contributions from our honorary members and guest columnists, a compilation of past reunions and a projection of a future one, a homecoming for those long based abroad.

We share the pleasure of retrospection in Greer-Alforque-Papa's series of Vignettes as she describes the St. Domitilla campus and the activities we held there, her music lessons from Mother Margaret, and cooking lessons from Mother Ann where cooking tips served as lessons in life.  Trust Delia Estacion-Ho's fantastic memory to recall the colorful events, settings, and significant people in our Domitillan days in her article, When I Grow Too Old to Dream, I Have These to Remember. Reinforcing the walk through memory lane is the interesting article, We May Never Pass This Way Again by Mona Lisa Tarampi-Coleto, the first editor-in-chief of The Bridgetine, which gives us a glimpse of the transition period when St. Domitilla gave way to St. Bridget School.  We also include chronicles of our past reunions.  In Reflections – A Time in the Autumn of ’96, Linda de Leon-Perez relives the 36^th reunion in Los Gatos, San Jose from the days of careful planning to the magical moments of togetherness. Through All Our Life's Gladsome Days is my report on our 45^th episodic reunion from Pennsylvania, to Virginia, and our convergence in San Diego.  In 46^th Anniversary Reunion Itinerary, Lurleen Bontigao provides both the text and visuals of the itinerary of the 46^th Reunion in Columbus, Ohio.  Our honorary member, Dom Ho, writes his personal analysisand observations of the Ohio reunion in his article with a catchy title, Revenge of the Interns while another honorary member, Henry Aguila gives his kind message as host of this reunion and writes of life's reversal of fortune in When Bad Luck Turns into Good Luck.  We are grateful to Marilyn Tarampi Hinton, Lurleen's sister and now our honorary member, for her insightful article and vivid narrative of the 47^th Reunion, From San Jose to Las Vegas, and up to the Grand Canyon: Journeying with Class '59.  In 50^th Anniversary Reunion in Masinloc, Linda de Leon Perez, host of the 50^th reunion in the Philippines in 2009, proposes options of places to visit, activities, and ludic delights.  With her proposed plan, we open the table for comments and suggestions.

 For those mulling over a cruise for a future reunion, our guest columnist Dr. Ma Lourdes (Tish) S. Bautista, professor emeritus of De La Salle University, Manila shares her experiences in My Mediterranean Cruise: Travelogue and Tips.  In his article, Pride of Heritage in Bay Area Gets Ball Rolling for Manilatown, Jesse Mangaliman devotes special citation to our classmate Delia Estacion-Ho whom he describes as “a well-known retired public nurse from San Jose, one of the many Bay Area Filipino-American leaders rallying behind Manilatown.”

A testimony to friendship transcending death, we are retaining our Tribute to Pacita Salvador Apo who had gone ahead of us for she will always remain an important part of our lives. For those who requested me to let them know what happened after my retirement, I've written From Mango to Maple Trees: Shades for the Journey and a sequel, Of Seasons and Segues.

The sections on Golden Nuggets Graduate features the academic achievements of the children of Mila Mendoza- Aguila, Linda de Leon- Perez, and Delia Estacion-Ho and Precious Mini Nuggets introduces the grandchildren in: Demitri de la Cruz, Grandson to Amado and Evangeline Supnet, Elliana Aguila McKenzie Turns One and Shae Henri, Future English Premiere League Superstar, first grandson of our honorary member, Nati Bragado.