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2019: What a Year!

As the year 2019 comes to its conclusion, may this video serve as a flashback of memories and nostalgia reloaded as we celebrated our Golden Jubilee year! It was indeed an amazing and significant year for SMCGS65 and SMCHS69. However far apart now, let no distance of place or lapse of time lessen our friendship.

After months and months of planning, the big reunion finally came to fruition in February. It was a wonderful time of celebration, connecting with old and new friends, and rekindling the Stellan bond. But the festivities did not stop there. We took a trip to the FMM sisters’ retirement home to visit our beloved teachers and mentors, we went on a pilgrimage to Regina Rosarii in Tagaytay, basked in the delights of Sonya’s Garden, and took a tour of our Alma Matter (which many of us have not visited since our high school graduation). Some of us even had the opportunity to vacation in Baguio for a few days.

Stellans in Northern California hosted a mini reunion in Saratoga in September.

When our expat classmates, Rachie and Lita, came for a return visit to the Philippines in September, we organized a mini-reunion at Gloria Maris.

We also joined other Stellans for the SMC Annual Alumni Homecoming.

In October, several of us took a trip to Taiwan.

The bonding continues.

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    Thanks for the Memories

    The 50th Golden Jubilee Reunion at Joy-Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila was a resounding success! New friendships were kindled and old friendships were renewed and strengthened.

    Many thanks to everyone who attended, either in person or vicariously, and very special thanks to those who brought everything together.

    Let’s continue our celebration of friendship. Please join our Stellan classmates from Northern California this September when they host a mini reunion.

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    MALAPIT NA!

    Celebrating 50 Years of Friendship

    Stella Maris College High School Class of 1969 to Mark 50th Golden Jubilee in February 2019

    Stella Maris College Quezon City HS class of 1969 is inviting the whole batch to join in celebrating 50 years of friendship on Saturday, February 9, 2019, at the Joy-Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

    All batchmates are invited, whether they studied at Stella Maris for one year or 11 years. The festivities will begin at 9:00 a.m. and continue through 10:00 p.m. The theme of the Golden Jubilee celebration is The Golden Years – Past, Present, and Future.  “The theme was a logical choice, since the color gold symbolizes generosity and giving; compassion and love; the benefactor or patron, sharing its insight, knowledge and wealth with others,” explained Belle Lacuna, Chairperson-Planning Team. “Our class ministry has endured, lighting the way for others and assisting those in need, as gratitude for the blessings we have received, “ she continued.

    For more information, 
    Contact Person: Yvonne Alcantara
    Email address:  ysaonline@yahoo.com

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    Our Reunion Theme

    The Golden Years – Past, Present and Future

    In celebration of our 50th High School Golden Jubilee in 2019, our theme “The Golden Years – Past, Present and Future” was a logical choice since the color gold symbolizes generosity and giving, compassionate and loving, the benefactor or patron, sharing its insight, knowledge and wealth with others. Gold is a trivalent and univalent which means it is a transitional metal – symbolic of flexibility on our spiritual path while life experiences galvanize our faith.  At the uppermost spiritual level, the color gold is associated with higher ideals, wisdom, understanding, enlightenment and inspires a deep understanding of the self and the soul.  Like malleable gold, WE are transitional because of our flexibility to be what we want to be and be what we need to be to fulfill our dreams.  We have persevered with God’s help, and in the process have gained wisdom and maturity to face life’s continuing ups and downs. These challenges are the “fires” that build and solidify our totality, refining our character as we manage life’s complexities.

    At this stage in our lives, we continue to be productive and independent, with many of us still working full time in the medical, financial and service industries as doctors, nurses, bankers, lawyers, dentists, financial and spiritual advisors, architects, writers, teachers, officers, consultants, administrators, entrepreneurs and salespeople, including  family support for our children and grandchildren.  You name it, we’ve probably done it.

    In Scriptures, gold means something that endures and withstands fire, which is precisely the way ministry should be. A person’s work should be able to withstand fire; a person’s life should be able to be refined like gold.  Our ministry has endured, “lighting the way” for others and “assisting” those in need, as gratitude for the blessings we have received such as talent, prosperity and success.

    Some of the outreach projects Class ‘69 has undertaken in the past and present include:

    • Missions for Mary fundraising (medical supplies sent to FMM sisters in Tagaytay)
    • SMC Alternative School
    • Fundraising for SMC auditorium
    • High school scholarship for Christine Custodio
    • Monetary assistance for classmates’ medical needs
    • FMM Nuns fundraising
    • TOTAL = $25,300 or P1.265 million

    Like the FMM sisters who have journeyed with us through their education ministry and the missionary spirit that impelled the first 12 Franciscan Missionaries of Mary to set sail and settle on Philippine shores over a 100 years ago, we call upon that wonderful Stellan spirit to sustain our mission, invigorating our faith as we go through life’s experiences, thankful to God for His guidance, our good health and the opportunities ahead.  Go 69ers!

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    How would you describe yourself?

    Tell us something about yourself.

    Classmates, we’ve reserved a webpage for each one of you with your school pictures, but we’d like to include some insights about you.  Please send us your thoughts on one or more of the following items below (or anything you’d like to share about yourself, for that matter.)

    What are you most passionate about? 
    Examples:
    – my grandchildren (and why),
    – teaching Christ’s Gospel through meditation (and why),
    – animal advocacy (and why), etc.

    What is your most significant memory?
    Examples:
    – a lesson I learned from a particular teacher (what it was and how it affected me),
    – being away from my mom & dad the first time I went to camp (how much I missed them, how it affected me, and how I dealt with it),
    – when I met my husband (how we met, how I realized he was “the one”), etc.

    Based on what you hold dear and what is most important to you, what is your greatest accomplishment?
    Examples:
    – I’m proud that I raised my children to be good people (including what they’re like and how you raised them);
    – As I took care of my ailing grandmother,  she was able to share many happy memories of our family history and traditions.  Before she went to heaven, she told me those were the happiest days of her life.
    – I was able to get a PhD, inspite of adversities, such as failing health and financial hurdles (and how you did it); etc.

    Do you have a funny or memorable story about something that happened in SMC?  Please share it with us!

    REMEMBER:  This is not a competition.  Each and every one of us has her own unique talents.  God has called us in many, many different ways.