20. When we (Edwin Guevara, Gerry Luistro & I) put up the humongous photo backdrop that showed the Juvenate and it looked like the building had been resurrected.
19. Seeing the USA and other internationals happy with their experience and hearing from them that it was worth their trip.
18. Getting the picture of OMPH as a token of appreciation from the guys.
17. Trading stories with the batch of 67 & other guys after the "Tribute" program
16. Being able to announce that 51 participants out of 57 expected showed up for the Reunion.
15. Fr. Reg's "Tink you!Tink you" & his formal announcement of Chito Desuasido's being a graduate.
14. Fr. Ron Murray singing the "Green Green Grass of Home"
13. Jorge Emmanuel's "You are being honored" skit
12. Gerry Luistro's & Jorge Emmanuel's recitation of Lord Byron's poem'There was a sound of revelry by night..." Jorge still knew every line of it!
11. The meals that were highly appreciated specially the buffet and the Casa Rap lunch
10. Clem Bautista's speech and his choking at the memory of his co-teachers and his experiences in the Juvenate.
9. The group photos session. The weather held up until we were done with all the groups.Then it rained!
8. The closure that individuals shared during the Get To Know You Night
7."Because of you I was able to write speeches for 3 Presidents,Cardinals etc." Archie Inlong paying tribute to Fr Reg during the intro night.
6.The sign of peace during the Day 2 Mass
5. The response after the showing of the "Back to the Juvenate" video
4. Fr. Reg Ahearn's "Was it a waste of time?" sermon during the Mass
3. Tied for 3rd: Fr Reg Ahearn's arrival( it was like a celebrity had just arrived!) & Fr. Nonie's the "catalog" faux pas which Fr. Reg corrected..& got laughs during the Day1 lunch
2. Merienda (Day 1) I was seated at table with Fr. Nick Abella, Lito Palapal,Joe Vergara,Rodel Macasaet & we were just exchanging stories like it was during Juvenate days...no boundaries of seniority.What was memorable was the most senior(Joe Vergara 1961) and the most Junior(Rodel 1975) were seated together.
1. "Joe Vergara is that you?"
"Nonie, its me Nick"
"Bobby Castro!" followed by a smile...a handshake or an embrace...
---for me this was the essence of the R&R.
"Long lost brothers" seeing each other after a long time and still recognizing each other...
...the embrace was like once again"embracing one's past."
...when I saw a lot of this in Day 1, I knew the reunion was already a success!
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