Come Fly Home Ateneo Homecoming

This year's hosts, yours truly, Ateneo Courtside reporter 

Laura Lehman, 

Ateneo Blue Eagles shooter 

Von Pessumal 

and Former Ateneo Lady Booter Tata Garcia - Long.

 Hail the Silver Jubilarians

Cara Manglapus, Granddaughter of Raul Manglapus leads the singing of
Blue Eagle the King. 

The turnover of AHS 1989 to AHS 1990

 The Singing of 

the Ateneo Alma Mater Song

Thank you for Flying Home

See you again Next year

Blunited for Others - Ateneo Alumni Homecoming 2013

Singing the Alma Mater Song

The Ateneo High School Batch 1988 set high targets for this year's annual Ateneo Homecoming and their goal is to raise 8.8 Million Pesos to give back to the Ateneo. Ateneo de Manila University President Fr. Jett Villarin told their batch "Are you crazy?" Eventually come December 7, Fr. Jett, with a big smile on his face told AHS 1988 "Thank You for being Crazy!" The Ateneo High School batch 1988 was excited for this year's homecoming because they not only reached their goal but helped a lot in the process.  

The check posted by Caloy Coronel in his FB account

Ateneo High School Batch 1988 homecoming head, Alejandro "AL" Neri thanked his wonderful batch mates as he said " That however good your leaders are, if your followers do not cooperate you wont reach your goal!" This statement is a testament to the batch's resiliency as they eventually donated that amount together with other batches that donated millions to the Ateneo. Their beneficiaries include the Tulong-Dunong perpetuity fund which will help TD Scholars with their miscellaneous expenses, the P.A.G.S.I Ateneo HS Teacher's fund for the development and assistance of AHS teachers past and present that they may continue to learn, educate and inspire generations of Ateneans, the Jesuit Aged and infirm fund to help our beloved Jesuits in their twilight years and the Yolanda victims.

Al Neri thanking his batchmates

BLUNITED for others. This year's homecoming was all about coming back to the place where it all started for most of us. For starters the entrance fee was very affordable at P 88.00! As Al Neri said it they wanted their homecoming to be intrusive rather than exclusive as the venue was packed not only by Batch 88 but by other Jubilarians and non-Jubilarians as well. The event was presented by the San Miguel Corporation while lots of other sponsors pitched in to help out the event.

And the winner is....

The event had so many highlights. Besides the bountiful donations, there were so many raffle items for grabs.  Imagine winning either and HTC or Lenovo phone. At the same time, would you want to own one of the three Beer Below Zero Freezers that were up for grabs. The highlight of the raffle was the Toyota GT-86 which at first was the centerpiece of the One Big Shot but unfortunately the 20 guys who got picked to take the shot never got the shot in. Eventually someone was picked at the end of the event to win the other Toyota GT-86.

Another highlight of the night were the entertainers that performed. Ateneo High School Batch 1963 took us to the music of the 60's with Titus Santiago leading his group. Next in line was the 70's music of AHS 1973 which was led by popular singer and songwriter Joey Ayala. These two bands rocked the crowd which was eventually mellowed down by the sentimental number of College 73 Jubilarians Jim Paredes and Boboy Garrovillo who sang the Awit ng Barkada song together with their original Apo Hiking Society barkada.  Then came the guest bands, the new Freestyle band that sang cover songs,  the SIDE A band and the night was capped off by the energetic 80's performance of Juan Miguel Salvador.

Noli Lorenzana said to Joey G. 

"Tell Me!"

For me, being asked to be one of the hosts of the Homecoming is again an honor. Joining me were ABS-CBN Umagang Kay Ganda host Andrei Felix, Ateneo courtside reporter  Selina Dagdag and former Lady Booter and now a budding ABS-CBN Talent, Tata Garcia-Long.  It was a blast being a part of this year's homecoming. I am just proud of the accomplishments of Batch 1988 and I hope that there will be more blessings to come Ateneo's way. Blunited was really a great way to come back home to the Ateneo.

Selina Dagdag, Andrei Felix, Tata Garcia-Long

and yours truly - BLUNITED as one!

BLUNITED: ATENEO 2013 HOMECOMING

BLUNITED

If there is one thing I thank my parents for is sending me to the Ateneo de Manila University.   The things i have learned in that institution are priceless and the teachers i met helped become who I am now. If the Ateneo is community is my second home, the people are wonderful. I might agree growing up was difficult considering you have to always be at your best and more importantly not left out. As they say there is no room for mediocrity here. I survived a bit, picked up the pieces and is now content with what I have. The great thing there is that through out my journey, it was my friends from the Ateneo who helped me out in many different ways.

THE RAFFLE TICKET

Last year went fast as me and my High school batchmates celebrated our 25th year Silver jubillee. I must admit seeing most of my batchmates and other Ateneans from other batches was a blast and the stories on what we used to do in HS kept pouring on while the laughter was enough to make someone get a heart attack.  It was also nice to note that most of my batchmates are succesful in their own feild and have their own kids studying in the Ateneo Grade School and others in the Ateneo High school.  The Ateneo Alumni Homecoming is really a great venue to renew ties with people we have not seen for a long and more importantly it is a way to come home to where everything started.

READY TO COME HOME?

This year, the Ateneo High School 1988 play hosts to this year’s event which is entitled BLUENITED! True enough, coming home once again to the Hill is something a lot of Ateneans look forward to more importantly if the event is to eat, drink and be merry with fellow Ateneans.  This year, ticket prices are at P 88.00 only and everyone is invited to join the raffle with a chance to win a Toyota 86, Beer Below Zero Freezers, gadgets and various other prizes.  Imagine that, an evening to recount memories with sumptous food from Mercato outlets, booze courtesy of San Miguel and a chance to win raffle items. What more can you ask.

EVENT POSTER OF BLUNITED

Lastly, a true trademark of an Ateneo event is to where the proceeds will go to. In a way I am quite happy that Batch 88 has continued to support the Jesuit Infirmary and the Tulong dunong perpetuity fund. At the same time they added other beneficiaries as they included the Ateneo HS Teacher’s fund and the P.A.G.S.I Fund.  For tickets or more information kindly call the Office of Alumni Relations, Ateneo Loyola Heights Campus. The OAR is located at the 2/F Faber Hall, beside Xavier Hall. You can contact them through 426-6001 local 4088. You can also look up their Facebook page of the event at this url: https://www.facebook.com/blunitedahs88. 

See you guys, prepare for the One Big Shot and the One Big Night!!! See you guys and Congrats in advance to AHS Batch 1988. 

RE BLUE TION - Ateneo Alumni Homecoming 2011

The Mass at Gesu

When the Ateneo Blue Eagles won the UAAP Title for the first time in 1987 they were invited to to the Ateneo Alumni Homecoming at the Ateneo High School covered courts to be given a heroes welcome for finally nailing the ever elusive UAAP crown. Fortunately, me and my friend Jeffrey Tan also got invited since we were tasked to introduce the Blue Eagles to the Ateneo Alumni. Back then, what we did was kind of a novelty since we introduced the team through a rap number with Jeff Tan acting as the boom box and me introducing the team through a rap we made. Mingling with the Alumni back then made me belong to the community and was really looking forward to 2012 which is the year that our batch will be silver jubilarians.

The Blue Babble leading the way

December 3, 2011 came and the last of our upperclassmen hosted the Ateneo Alumni Homecoming with their brand of celebration entitled ReBLUEtion. High School batch 1986 saw their final quarter in High School halted as the 1986 EDSA Revolution took away the remaining two months of classes which was not the best way to end the best times of your lives. But the 1986 batch became closer to each other even after their last months in the Ateneo High School was abbreviated by the revolution.

Ateneo HS Batch 1987

Jubilarians from different batches were there to celebrate and the one thing nice about attending Ateneo gatherings is the prospect of seeing lots of friends who I have not seen in ages. From the Ateneo HS Batch 1961 I saw the father of my good friends and same goes with the other non jubiliarians who were just there to enjoy the evening. For me there were two highlights of the evening, one is the launch of the Tulong Dunong MTV which was a song of the APO Hiking society that was rewritten and now sung by Parokya ni Edgar. The song includes lots of Ateneans who were also former TD Kuyas showing what TD is all about. I was lucky enough to be part of the launch together with my former TD teacher Onnie Martin.

Batch mate Pike Fernandez - a one of a kind homecoming

One of the best part of the event was the turnover of Batch 1986 to our batch of the Symbolic Eagle. Imagine, having seen the Ateneo Alumni Homecoming for the past 24 years its already our time to host and as of now I am so excited for our batch to celebrate more than 25 years of of being a part of the very prestigious University that breeds men for others. I am who I am because of the Ateneo. That is why its time to give back and hopefully come the 2012 Alumni Homecoming I hope that there will be a lot of Ateneans who will be happy of our hosting.

Batchmates with new friends

Year Ender 3 - Fave Events in 2008

My Top 5 Favorite Events for 2008

STI 25th Anniversary Celebration

25 Years of quality education is what STI brags about. Not only does STI do wonders in the field of education but when STI handles events expect it to be a monumental one. Celebrating SIlver was the theme and the event was a culmination of a month long celebration in honor of STI's 25 years of Quality ICT education. Just read the events that happened on that day.

Celebrating SIlver - http://mhelgarrido.blogspot.com/2008/09/sti-25th-anniversary-celebration.html

SINTA

Many years ago Dulaang Sibol recasted the longest running stage play in the country-SINTA. When I was in High school i was a long time understudy of some roles and eventually got to play some in the later part of the original casts run in the early 90's. I was just so happy to be invited to perform and mix it up with the young one's. Most probably Sinta will have another run this February.

Blog Story - http://mhelgarrido.blogspot.com/2008/02/sinta.html

OUR LADY'S LITTLE PRINCESS

This event is all about our family! I thank my Mom, Lola Mae to the kids for making things happen. SHe was the moving force in making my neice Ma. Angelica "Bujoy" Garrido win this event. She was on top of every solicitation, follow up and everything. Also, if not for my brother Arnel and his wife Timmy, Bujoy would have not gone far. Next stop, other pageants hahaha.

http://mhelgarrido.blogspot.com/2008/07/our-ladys-little-princess-2008.html

BELLY DANCE FESTIVAL

What used to be a dance recital eventually became a show and then as the years passed they gathered the best belly dancers in the country and staged the event in Glorietta for all to see. The show was long but seeing one of my best buds dance and show off her belly dancing skills was enough for me to enjoy. Unfortunately the day I went to watch I was so tired and spent that I went home right after the show.

Highlights of the BellY Dance Festival http://mhelgarrido.blogspot.com/2008/07/belly-dance-festival-2008.htm

ATENEO ALUMNI HOMECOMING

For me, the best part of the event was SEEING and TALKING to friends I have not seen in years. Like what I mentioned, so much people to talk to so little time. I enjoyed the stories and even just hanging out with friends who I use to have fun with and even the ones who had fun at my expense. I was not even in High School when this jubilarian batch was there but I have lots of friends from their batch. Like what I said, this early I am already looking forward to the next Ateneo High School Homecoming.

http://mhelgarrido.blogspot.com/2008/12/ateneo-alumni-homecoming-2008.html

1.