2018 Golden Jubilee Reunion at Legaspi (Planning Stage)

2018 is our batch golden jubilee reunion year. Earlier on last year, my classmates Jose T. Lim, Ricky Lim, Roberto Atienza, Quan Minton, Gerry Tan, Imelda Bugayong, Anita Go and I met at Robinson's Magnolia, Quezon City to discuss our forthcoming reunion event. The venue and date were initially most important. Our class president Joe suggested Legaspi City with the beautiful Mayon Volcano as backdrop and Misibis Bay Resort for beach and hotel accommodation. Joe as you may know, has been doing business with the Misibis Bay Hotel Resort owner, it was therefor a practical move for us to avail of his business connection for a discounted rate. "Aye, aye, aye..." and so we voted. During the meeting, we also agreed on the date, from March 8, 2018 (Thursday) to March 11 (Sunday). Some deciding factors were considred: 1. It being a lean tourist season. 2. March has better climate too, it being less stormy and not too hot. 3. Early March is also for the benefit of some accountant classmates who would be busy for April's taxation. And 4. It was also to accommodate Rita Cua Uy who was coming home for the third year death anniversary of her father. And so, with the date and venue so decided, we can now book cheaper promotional flights to Legaspi City as early as possible. Thus, being the class coordinator, I wrote the following letter:

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June 10, 2017

Dear Classmates,

Greetings! This is to inform you regarding our grand 50^th year class reunion for 2018:

A.    That during our 48^th year class reunion in Bagac, Bataan; we had a meeting and majority voted on the following:

1.     To hold a celebratory excursion in the Philippines for our 50^th year class reunion against going abroad in 2018.

2.     That the excursion will be exclusively for class members only, with exception for classmates with health issue or other acceptable reasons.

3.     That the excursion date will take place more or less around February and/or March of 2018.

B.     Basing from this majority rule decision, last May 30, 2017; I met with Joe, 
      Ricky, Berto, Minton, Gerry, Imelda and Anita Go at Robinson's Magnolia, 
      although other class members were contacted to come. During the lunch meeting, 
      we came up with the following:

1.     Reunion date – March 8, 2018 to March 11, 2018 (Thursday to Sunday)

2.     Venue of excursion – Legaspi City and Misibis Bay Beach Resort.

3.     Logistics:

a.     Buy your own plane tickets to avail of promo fare or you may buy your tickets in groups.

b.     Please buy the first early morning flight to Legaspi City via PAL on March 8, 2018.

c.      Upon arrival at Legaspi City airport, we will take a chartered bus to Misibis Bay Resort ( Shangrila Hotel equivalent)

d.     3D2N stay at Misibis.

e.     Leave Misibis for Legaspi City by bus on March 10, 2018. Tour scenic spots of Legaspi. The main attraction of which is the Mayon Volcano.

f.       Overnight stay at Legaspi City on March 10 (Saturday)

g.     Return home on March 11, 2018 (Sunday)

4.     Contribution – P10,00.00 per person inclusive of hotels, bus and food.

5.     Add on – urging classmates who can afford to contribute more.

6.     No traditional class party prior to excursion.

7.     Be seeing each other at the airport in the early morning flight of March  8, 2018

8.     Please make us know if you are coming or not as early as possible so Joe can make the necessary hotel reservations.

9.     Send your contribution online to Imelda Bugayong/Jose T. Lim at Metro Bank account #.....  After your deposit, please inform Imelda through her phone #..... so she can properly check the transfer. Thank you for your cooperation.

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My letter was sent via email, others were personally delivered to my classmates' front doors or establishments, and some were coursed through William Lee who helped me disseminate to classmates in Davao City. The first to respond was Efren Yap. I was very happy when he replied he was attending from his Facebook account. Efren, you see, lived in Los Angeles, USA. In addition, Sitinela Bansuan who was also living in LA, Rita Cua Uy from Canada, and Anita Du Siy from New York, USA, all responded favorably to come home for this our 50th year event. Yehey! This would be the first time that classmates from abroad were coming home for the reunion! To add to the attendees, another elusive classmate Erlinda Ko Chua in Iloilo was also persuaded by Wee Eng Lu Ong to join. I was simply elated. The female attendees were increasing. We had to make this reunion worthwhile and successful!

But alas! Mayon Volcano in Albay was erupting! It was at its peak of eruption early this year. The volcanologist raised the alert system to level four. For months on, there were lava flows and ash falls. At sometime, flights to Legaspi were also suspended. Nearby villages were also evacuated. This geological upheaval raised concerns for many. Because of this, I requested for a meeting and asked Joe and Ricky and Imelda to have some contingency plan, but my classmates in Manila were unfazed. According to Joe, there were even more tourists going to Legaspi to watch the eruption of Mayon Volcano. Ricky even jokingly said, that if ever the planes won't fly, then we will take the bus to Legaspi instead. Hahaha. So thus subdued by my very positively thinking friends, I began writing some assurance letter to my concerned classmates that in the event of a major eruption, we will find some other place in Manila for our reunion (with fingers crossed). Hehehe. There were also some changes as we moved along. Most of us had decided to stay for another day in Legaspi City and go home on March 12.

Unknown to them, I had been calling up Hotel La Venezia in Legaspi City to oftenly inquire about the situation of Mayon Volcano. The people whom I talked to, all assured me that the lava flow and ash fall were in the opposite direction of the volcano, that Legaspi City indeed was safe for the reunion. With some kind of assurance, my classmates one by one began to arrive Philippines and Manila. I was hopeful for 30 pax attendance, but at the last stage of counting, 27 seemed to be the number. At the last moment though, Sitinela Bansuan from L.A. was unable to come due to one reason or another. Samto Uy too from Cagayan de Oro failed to be present due to sickness. The total number of person hence attending became 25. On the day before we flew to Legaspi City on March 7, the alert level of Mayon Volcano was brought down from four to  three. Yehey! Legaspi City, here we come!!!

Pictures to be included on next posting.............