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Aparri, Cagayan, Philippines
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AN OPEN LETTER of Aparrianos - by Aparrianos- for Aparrianos

Mr. Orlando Paragua, 2446 Tejeron Street Sta. Ana, Manila Philippines       T - 563-5543 562-9033 e-mail: caparagua@edsamail.com.ph or ecmedel@email.com

AN OPEN LETTER
of Aparrianos - by Aparrianos- for Aparrianos
MANILA, December 31, 2003 VOL. 8 NO. 12

It was ravaged in World War II. It had lagged behind in her population. A majority of it stocks went to a single entity. Its rivals were too glad to fill up the void if it closed shop. And the final blow was it was razed to the ground and was left in ashes.

No adversity, vicissitude or misfortune can put it down

The object of this observation was founded by a group of education-minded and responsible individuals who saw the need to provide education to their youth.

I am reminded of Boabdil of Granada, last Muslim ruler to capitulate to Spain’s reconquest,turned for one last look at his beloved city, tears streaming down his face, was bitterly reproached by his mother, ‘"Yes, you weep like a woman for a kingdom you could not defend like a man."

The minority incorporators, had they not been made of sterner stuff, would have given up like that Muslim ruler and there would have been no mother to reproach them.

I am speaking of the Cagayan Valley Institute (CVI) with the following now as the minority incorporators: the Furagganans, the Pajes, the Singsons and the Valeras. The majority is now held by His Excellency, Archbishop Diosdado Talamayan, overall chairman of the Archdiocesian School of Tugegarao, who now holds 80% of the stocks. In fairness to Archbishop Talamayan, he has graciously appealed to the CVI Alumni Association for help so the idea of a CVI Alumni Foundation was broached and the alumni with Dr. Maria Clara Valera Ravina, the moving spirit behind all this, met in August 2003 to found the Foundation. And they chose December 2003 for their induction as the auspicious time for this was the month CVI was founded 80 years ago. Archbishop Talamayan also vowed to keep the original nonsectarian nature of the school.

And so the CVI’s 80th Foundation Anniversary and Induction of the Board of Directors and the CVI Alumni Foundation, Inc. were held on Dec. 7, 2003 at the new Camelot Hotel, Mother Ignacia Ave., Quezon City.

Camelot, a time, a place and an atmosphere of idyllic happiness like one would find at the site of King Arthur’s palace and court. I think the gathering that night had all that. What a portentous place! What a portentous event!

The Opening Remarks were delivered by Atty. Manuel Molina and the Induction of Officers of the Board, Blessing, and Message were done by Archbishop Talamayan with Edna Paggabao Macatiag as Master of Ceremonies. Those inducted were: CVI Alumni Foundation, Inc. Incorporators, Josefina Singson Chy, Marvie Q. Dicierto, Manolo Gorospe, Bienvenido A. Jimenez, Jr., Nestor Laceda, Manuel Molina, Marion B. Peneyra, Norman B. Peneyra, Alberto Paggabao, Jr., Nieves Rabago, Maria Clara V. Ravina, Amado Romillo, Silvino Tejada, Federico S. Trinidad, The CVI Alumni Foundation Board of Directors were: President, Maria Clara V. Ravina; Vice President, Norman B. Peneyra; CEO, Manuel Molina; Secretary, (acting) Caridad "Cherry" T. Mappatao; Treasurer, Alberto Paggabao, Jr.; Auditor, Josefina Singson Chy; and I was designated PRO. (Thanks. You needn’t have bothered. I am a self-appointed PRO of Aparri and its people.)

In the CVI Board of Directors were: His Excellency, Archbishop Diosdado Talamayan, Archdiocese of Tugegarao, Overall Chairman of the Archdiocesian School of Tugegarao; Msgr. Benjamin Lasam, Superintendent Tugegarao Archdiocesian Schools SYS. T.A.S.S; Msgr. Samuel Baculi, Vicar General Archdiocese of Tugegarao; Sis. Susan Turingan, A.S. Secretary T.A.S.S; Ms. Josefina Singson Chy and Ms. Adelaida Foz, Liaison; School Administrators, Fr. Dante Sabban, Director of CVI, Parochial Vicar of Aparri Parish; and Ms. Aurora de Rivera, Principal.

It is hoped and prayed for that this Foundation will be able to help in whatever way it can, against all odds, intent on performing what it had started to do since 1923 - to provide education for the youth especially those who are less fortunate to go to the more exclusive schools in the locality or in other places – for as of today it has an enrollment of more than 300, the largest among the local private schools. Thus, in a new building on the old site, it will continue to enjoy the fame and distinction of having graduated from its portals thousands of men and women who have become successful in their lines of endeavor.

May the Good Lord continue to shower us with His blessings!

Sorrows in December Deaths:

1 – 99 Lourdes Arce  3 – 82 Ben Gonzales        2000 Norman Tagoylo  4 – 86 Fina de Rivera Tesoro  5 – 89 Sixto Rapadas in US        92 Ancis Cepeda        52 Dideng Rosales  6 – 74 Charing Cumagun  9 – 2001 Severo Tumaneng 10 – 81 Enio Onate 11 – 75 Juan Atendido         92 Garing Cortes 13 – 47 Ago Furagganan         76 Estela Ladores         84 Cecil Buenavides         2002 Cristela Pablo Palabrica 14 – 97 Johnny Villasanta         94 Efa Rosales Guzman 15 – 99 Lourdes Carino Tamayo         93 Helen Furagganan de Rivera         16 – 97 Ben Rosales, Sr. 17 – 92 Lydia Brosas         96 Leonor Furagganan         82 Manuel Gallardo 18 – 77 David Alameda

18 - 97 Pedro Liquigan         85 Butin Alvarado         99 Domingo Calata 19 – 86 Lilian Villasanta Acosta         2002 Antonio Pablo 20 – 86 Delai Furagganan Luczon          96 Regino Veridiano          2002 Jose Purugannan, Jr. 22 – 98 Nena Cepeda 23 – 82 Quintin Verzosa, Jr. 24 – 94 Trinidad Mallonga Mendoza 26 – 97 Sr. Angeline Arimatea de Jesus         2002 Alma Abad Malana 27 – 99 Lutgarda Acena         96 Benjamin Dicen in Australia 28 – 76 Conching Gorospe         99 Susana Q. Berbano         2000 Asong de Leon         2002 Sitong Corpuz 29 – 80 Maning Castro 30 – 73 Simeon Tamayo         76 Roberto Villaflor         76 Onor Taguba         2001 Dick de Rivera 31 – 2002 Rosalio Ontiveros

Cagayanos hold Christmas party

Gov. Edgar R. Lara and Congresswoman Celia T. Layus, 2nd District, Cagayan, sponsored a Christmas party for Cagayanos in their desire to make their constituents renew old ties with fellow Cagayanos.

This was held on Dec. 3, 2003 at the University of the Philippines Bahay ng Alumni. Cagayanos from the 29 towns of the province led by their mayors came in droves. It was heartening to see them rise and sing proudly in unison "Cagayan, my valley home, is dear to me…"

Our very own Mayor Shalimar D. Tumaru and her husband, former mayor Ismael V. Tumaru, were there. Also present were Aparrianos Hector Kalata, Quilin Paje, Mael Dayag, Luz Escalante Sabas, Adolfo Gabriel, and myself.

Changing for the better

This New Year and henceforth, we should seek to reaffirm our faith in God and love our fellowmen each day of the year. We must change our lives for the better and help transform our world. Mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend or kin. Dismiss suspicion and trust others. Share some treasure, share your time. Give a soft answer. Manifest loyalty. Keep a promise.

Forego a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Ease another’s sorrow. Listen. Apologize for your wrongs. Try to understand. Flout envy. Think of someone else. Appreciate. Be kind. Be gentle.

Sing a song. Write a poem, or a love letter. Relax and take time to be pleasant. Smile. Laugh a little. Laugh a little more. Deserve confidence. Take up arms against malice. Decry complacency, apathy. Express your gratitude. Count your blessings. Pray. Keep faith.

Welcome a stranger. Extend a helping hand. Serve. Respect elders and manifest filial devotion. Encourage youth. Gladden a child’s heart. Take pleasure in the beauty of God’s creating of earth, of life. Speak your love. Express and share your love each day of the New Year.

(Ishmael Q. Calata, former Master of the Fourth Degree, Knights of Columbus, National Capital Region, who sent me this, said, "Kindly know that, at last in this last stage of my life, I have learned to forgive. As if by magic, as I have put it into practice since I discovered this article, I have experienced many good things that have come into my life." He said he picked this up from a reading, copied it, stored it in his computer but was not able to put in the author.)

Short greetings but great in impact

• Wish you the best especially for updating us with information about our kababayan. Virging and Fred Llarena, Sikatuna Village, Q.C.

• May you have the spirit of Christmas which is peace, the gladness of Christmas which is hope the heart of Christmas which is love. Thanks for the sharing and communication. Sr. Agustina, St. Francis Convent, Baguio.

• May all the special joys of the holidays make your spirits bright. Beth and her father, Compadre Miliano Feri, California, USA.

• Happy moments… Happy memories… Happy holidays. Rudi Tan, Parañaque.

• We hope in all else, all is well with you two. Us three are fine. Merry Christmas! And all of the best in 2004. Edith and John Chase, Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Sorrows also strike in December elsewhere in the world

• Dec. 10, 1936 – King Edward VIII abdicated the throne of the British Empire so that he may marry the American woman that he loves – Wallis Simpson. Edward signified as a further sacrifice for the sake of his romance that he will become a voluntary exile and live henceforth beyond the borders of the British Empire.

• Dec. 8, 1941 – Japan and US at war. 104 die in Hawaii raid. Two US warships sunk. Japanese planes bombed Honolulu, Pearl Harbor, Hickam Field, Hawaii without warning.

• Dec. 27, 1939 – Northern Turkey. Severe earthquake destroyed the city of Erzingan. About 100,000 casualties.

• Dec 28, 1908 – Messina, Sicily. About 85,000 killed and the city totally destroyed by one of the most disastrous of recorded earthquakes.

• Dec. 1980 – Ronald Reagan broke a jinx by leaving office alive even though he was elected in a year ending in zero. For nearly 150 years, every US president in the US elected in such a year had died in office until Reagan.

1. William Henry Harding elected in 1840 died of pneumonia a month after taking office.

2. Abraham Lincoln, elected in 1860, was assassinated.

3. James A, Garfield, elected in 1880 was also assassinated.

4. William McKinley, reelected in 1900 was also assassinated.

5. Warren G. Harding, elected in 1920, died of heart attack.

6. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, elected in 1940 to his third term, died of cerebral hemorrhage.

7. John F. Kennedy, elected in 1960, was assassinated.

8. Ronald Reagan, elected in 1980, survived an assassination attempt and underwent successful surgery for cancer of the colon.

E-MAIL: Dear Cliff, Manong Lando and Manang Carling, Thanks so very much for sending me (again) the November and December newsletters. I’m so glad that Manang Nellie’s girl, Precy, still remember the Aguayos. I wish she has access to the internet so I can stay in touch with her. Here’s hoping everyone has a joyous celebration this Christmas season and may the New Year bring us hope for world peace. Your cousin, Nes and family • Wish you the best especially for updating us with information about our kababayan. Virging and Fred Llarena, Sikatuna Village, Q.C. • May you have the spirit of Christmas which is peace, the gladness of Christmas which is hope, the heart of Christmas which is love. Thanks for the sharing and communication. Sr. Agustina, St. Francis Convent, Baguio. • May all the special joys of the holidays make your spirits bright. Beth and her father, Compadre Miliano Feri, California, USA. • Happy moments… Happy memories… Happy holidays. Rudi Tan, Parañaque. • We hope in all else, all is well with you two. Us three are fine. Merry Christmas! And all of the best in 2004. Edith and John Chase, Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Glimpses of the past

Roman Catholic leaders and professionals of Aparri gave a banquet in honor of Mons. Egidio Vagnozzi, Papal Nuncio, during his visit in Aparri on June 23, 1954.

Among those who attended the party were: Atty. Pedro A. Tajon, secretary, Cagayan Bar Association; Mr. Lim Ching Tee, president, Aparri Lions Club; Dr. Esteban G. Alameda; Rev. Fr. Mario Perissin, secretary of the Papal Nuncio; Bishop Juan Sison, Apostolic Administrator of Tugegarao; Atty. Alfredo Donato, president, Knights of Columbus; Mayor Doroteo Meram of Aparri; Rev. Fr. Roque Fidel, parish priest of Aparri; Rev. Fr. Anselmo G. Bustos, National Director, Propagation of the Faith; Atty. Manuel V. Romillo, president, Aparri Jaycees; Dr. Mario S. Pablo, president, Aparri Catholic Action; Dr. Segundo Catral; Dr. Emilio Alvardo.

Pardon me for this wistful yearning for return to some past periods of irrecoverable condition. This is pure nostalgia evoked by our desire to bring back the memories of that era where our leaders lent their prestige to this occasion.

Would our leaders have the guts and our people readily consent?

Let’s hear someone in our land speak like Lee Kuan Yu, who said, "I say without the slightest remorse that we wouldn’t be here, we would not have made economic progress, if we had not intervened on very personal matters – who your neighbor is, how you live, the noise you make, how you spit, or what language you use. We decide what is right. Never mind what the people think. That’s another problem.

 

About US = The Author

ORLANDO PARAGUA,      2446 Tejeron St.,     Sta. Ana, Manila. Philippines       T - 563-5543 or 562-9033     He has been the originator of the News Letter.     DONATIONS are WELCOME...

END OF THE OPEN LETTER