Wednesday, March 23, 2011
AFTER graduation, especially in nursing, it is inevitable that most of us will venture outside our nests. And in doing so, we find ourselves in places we can only dream of before. We get to meet and make new friends in a new, strange place. And if everything goes right, we stay and become a part of this new community and environment.
Many of my nursing classmates from Liceo de Cagayan School of Nursing are now permanently living, married and working abroad. They now own houses and properties here and abroad. Many of them are also grandparents now.
Some are retired, some semi-retired but a lot are still active as nurses or caregivers (to their families, of course!)
But not for long, because Friendster came into view for a while and then it was Facebook. Awesome! It is very helpful and a wonderful tool, indeed! We are now connected in so many ways. Either we found them or they found us. It doesn't really matter how, what matters most is we are now getting updates and we are all in-tune with one another for a long time!
Well, maybe not all. Because we still have a few who are not in FB. They are probably not "techy" enough. But I refused to believe that they can't learn something new at this time of their lives. Let's just say they are not INTO it, they don't have time (ow, come on!), or they refused to be in it.
We have lost three classmates tragically many years ago. Ms. Beselyn Melendez (Don Carlos) died during delivery, Ms. Elenita Getueza (Musuan), died in a car accident in the US and Capt. Ophelia Campued-Bandarlipe was in that Superferry 13 explosion and had her third son with him. May all of them rest in peace!
On a lighter note, 17 (as I know) of them out of 39 are now working abroad - US, Kuwait, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, London, Australia, Hong Kong and other parts of Europe. The rest are here in the Philippines although we are not so sure of a few because we never had any contacts with them ever since after graduation.
Bobby Serina (Opol) is in Islip, New York; Cesar Ignacio (Kauswagan) is in San Antonio, Texas; Dahlia Alcarde (Kauswagan) - Vallejo, California; Zenaida Albiso (Gingoog City) - KSA; Merlie Alombro - KSA; Sylvia Benedicto-Tan - Australia; Cherrie Marie Caylo-Emano (Kauswagan) - Norwalk, Connecticut; Ma Fides Camello- Cabacas (Kibawe, Bukidnon) - Kuwait; Carlita Crampatana-Navarro (Maramag) - Merced, California; Ledenilla Dajes-Allena - New York; Agnes Guro-Zulueta (Marawi City) - Kuwait; Meriam Jayson (Camp Phillips) - USA; Helen Grace Jose-Mendoza (Kibawe) - London; Maria Lucia Lacson- Ward (Patag) - Manassas, Virginia; Zenaida Manalo-Felipe (Cebu City) - Los Angeles, California; Gilda Mate-del Carpio (CdoC) - Fremont, California; Lina Reserva (Bugo, CdoC) - Hong Kong; Vangie Sapon-Musch (Patag, CdoC) - Europe; Mih Suan-Goc-Ong (Surigao City)- West Hills, California.
Jocelyn Argayoso-Villegas (JCA Realty); Ruth Artango-Casino - NMMC; Dra. Noemi Calvo-Requelme (Uao); Fe Chan- Maningas (Manila); Nenita Chua - (Chua Abalo Optical); Florina Fabe-DyCesar (DECS Nurse); Anita Nisperos (RHU nurse, Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental); Lydia Pahujo-Gamboa (CI, LdCU); (Ret) Lt. Col. Edna Poblacion-Benitez, Warlina Salvo-Gamos - JRBMH.
These other classmates we don't have any contact but would welcome them any time -- Dulzora Balandra (Patag), Christina Egot (Libona), Myrna Gadian (El Salvador), Corazon Lamberte (Phillips), Rachel Mendoza (Claveria), Carmen Puerto vda de Ciudad (Kiburiao), Hazel Glenn Roxas (Alubijid), Maribel Valdez (Malaybalay) and Mindaluz Valdez (Malaybalay).
We were also able to connect with some of our clinical instructors and staff of Cagayan Doctor's Hospital: Marilou Bonita-Vizconde (LA, California), Susan Velasco (Scarsdale, New York), Luzminda Generalao (XU HS school nurse), Virginia Bagabaldo (CI, LdCU), Minda Ravanera, Joy Verdad (New Jersey), Olive Pacana (Atlantic City, New Jersey), Lily Calibara-Tongco (Georgia) and many others.
We shouldn't forget also our other schoolmates who are all successful in their own fields of specialties all over the world.
In 2014, our batch will be celebrating our 35th year and I am urging everyone to attend this very memorable event in our lives. Wouldn't it be nice to see "old" classmates and friends again after all these years? Am sure those bonding moments would last several days and memories reminisced! So far, we have been communicating and it seems everyone is excited and looking forward to this soiree.
Some have suggested a meaningful reunion with a medical mission (we are nurse,
aren't we?), feeding programs, donations of food, medical supplies, clothing, etc. Many things are going in our minds and thanks to this computer age, it is so easy to relay messages! It just needs a lot of cooperation and communication.
Who knows? 2014 is just three short years away!
To all our classmates (including the old curriculum batch, of course), prepare yourselves for several wonderful days and nights of fun, laughter, music and memories in 2014! (Website: www.potsnpans1976.weebly.com; email: potsnpans1976@yahoo.com)
Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper on March 24, 2011.
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