FCAA President, Antonio Sta. Elena, delivering his welcome address during the last Alumni December 29, 2007 Affair. This particular affair was a prelude to the Grand Alumni Homecoming, which was held last April 25, 26, 27, 2008.
They came, they saw, they conquered. Young and old, teachers and students, men, women, children, and even grandchildren, came in droves to the great portals of Claret College of Isabela during the Alumni December 2007 Affair.
Golden Jubilarians Batch 57’ enthusiastically attended the memorable affair.
By: Dave Malcampo (Tue 10/06/2009 2:55 AM)[/b]
Nota Bene: I got an email blast early this morning (California time) from Dave Malcampo, FCAA on the subject. With his permission, and I would assumed it comes as well with the acquiescence of the rest of the officers of the FCAA, headed by FCAA Pres Antonio Sta. Elena, I am reprinting in toto his message addressed to all Fatima-Claret alumni’s. By the way, I am one of them. Joey P. Tugung (CCI Elementary Class of 1975-76). In addition, all the pictures accompanying this article are old pictures, dated December 2007.“Reunion is not only the rare moment that we gather with our classmates to exchange pleasantries and have fun. It is also the appointed time to muster our memories in order to relive the good old days; the rare time that we gather our thoughts to interact with the present and plan what is best for the future. In essence, it’s a one-shot deal of opportunity – so convenient and expedient, a sneak preview of the past, present and future. And above all, it’s a recognition of the education and the values that She, our alma mater, gave to us. If not for Her, we are not we are today.” ~ Joey TugungIsabela, Basilan --- If they were 15 years of age in the average when they graduated in high school, they must be 65 years old (or older) this school-year 2008-2009 – and celebrating their Golden Anniversary.
If by the Grace of God, a few of them, who are still living, would have the chance to come together for a high school batch reunion for their Golden Anniversary, would you miss the golden opportunity - if you were in their shoes?
Organizing such a high school batch reunion and giving recognition to the Golden Jubilarians is one special concern of the
Fatima-Claret Alumni Association (FCAA). Sad to note, however, is the fact that while a high school batch celebrate their golden anniversary only once in their lifetime, the FCAA can feasibly organize a Grand Alumni Homecoming only every after 3 years.
As could be expected, it was during the 2005 and 2008 Grand Alumni Homecoming that the FCAA was able to give due recognition to all past and current year golden jubilarians.
The good news is this practice may soon be a thing of the past starting their school year.
Headed by
Eng. Antonio Sta. Elena, the FCAA Board have recently decided to organize a Recognition Day for the 2009 Golden Jubilarians on December 27, and hopefully to institutionalize a similar annual activity before a Grand Alumni Homecoming by the 3rd year (e.g. 2011) – where a new set of FCAA Board Members shall be elected at large.
To add vigor to the planned Recognition Day,
FCAA Vice Pres. Dave Malcampo proposed that 9 other high school batches will be invited for a joint celebration in the same occasion. Following a five-school-year interval, Malcampo suggested to involve the high school batch observing their respective 10th anniversary (Tin), 15th (Crystal), 20th (China), 25th (Silver), 30th (Pearl), 35th (Coral), 40th (Ruby), 45th (Sapphire), and 55th (Emerald) anniversaries.
For this school year, these would be the following: batch 1999, 1994, 1989, 1984,1979, 1974, 1969, 1964, and batch 1954, respectively. For the following school year, these would be high school batch 2000, 1995, 1900, 1985, 1980, 1975, 1970, 1965, 1960 (Golden Jubilarians), and 1955, respectively. This proposal was also approved by the FCAA Board.
In addition, the Board also approved that we shall be inviting the college alumni to join the Dec 27, 2009 Recognition Day. This would mean that those who have graduated (in any collegiate course) in school year ending 1999, 1994, 1989, 1984,1979, 1974, and 1969 will be welcome to join the whole day affair at the Claret College of Isabela campus.
FCAA Pres Antonio Sta. Elena reminded the Board during its monthly meeting that several college alumni have been expressing their desire to join alumni activities in the past – but that they find themselves “out of place” as the focus of activities were only on the high school alumni of Fatima-Claret. This popular sentiment was articulated by no other than by Fr. Joselito “Bambooth” de los Reyes, who was the guest speaker during the 2008 Grand Alumni Homecoming.
Sta. Elena envisions that the in-coming
Recognition Day on
Dec 27, 2009 will be replicated next year in 2010 – all in preparation to the full organization and mobilization of all college and high school alumni of Fatima-Claret in the next Grand Alumni Homecoming in April 2011.
The FCAA (SY 2008-2011) Board Members (and their contact numbers) include: Ms. Zeny Lim Eisma (0917-722-3873), Ms. Mila Alano (091-892-93190), Ms. Becky Eustaquio (0916-621-5703), Ms. Cathy Ong (0917-732-2637), Ms. Elsa Jalao (0916-664-4457), Ms. Gina Daniles (0915-390-8503), Ms. Lucy Ramos (0916-310-0612), Engr. Antonio Sta, Elena (062-991-059), Mr. Roy Tan (0916-204-9188), Mr. Rey Sible (0920-233-3950), Mr. Rafael Enriquez (0928-550-2692), Judge Danilo Bucoy (0928-407-2373), City Councilor Bobong Dans (0917-300-8414), Mr. Ben Espino (0928-717-4424) and Dave Malcampo (0928-502-3104). For more details, please contact Dave through his mobile phone or email him at
dm.pia9@yahoo.com.
A song presented by Silver Jubilarians Batch 82’
They all strolled in casual fashion in the school’s quaint-looking campus grounds, student canteen, rooms, hallways, library, and auditorium during the December 2007 affair. In their pace, everything tunneled with flashback memories in black and white and to a certain degree in slow motion. They all seize the moment in turning back the clock just to relive the good old memories.
FCAA Board of Director, Roy Tan, explaining the mechanics of the bingo to the alumni’s.
In a gathering like this, what would you expect? They all wax nostalgic tales of the past, exchange interesting notes of the present and traded ideas what is in store and their plans for the future. It was déjà vu all over again. The feeling was surreal as they walk through the campus grounds, the hallways and the rooms. Some even have to wipe their tears out of joy seeing their long lost classmates. To some, it was spine-tingling, shiver to the bones, and stomach butterflies type of experience during the space of their get together. No matter, everybody was on cloud nine; a natural high that kept their emotional state in flux. It was a mixed-bag of emotions; fluctuating from joy to sadness; glee to sentimental; high to lows; and intermittently stabbed with pensiveness. All sorts of stories ranging the gamut from joy to sorrow culled or voluntarily exchange by the classmates flew in from different directions. Stories of success were lauded and made the batch mates proud. Stories of failure and hardships of some of their classmates were also tackled and the classmates had the strength to give words of comfort and encouragement.
Nita Oliveria Baltazar danced along with the music of Batch 81’
This building is a testament to the resiliency of the Claretians through the ages.
Far or near, or wherever our path has led us to, let this building serve as a beacon to all Claretians that has passed this way. Homecoming is a way of giving back what we owed to our alma mater
Saint Anthony Mary Claret (Catalan: Antoni Maria Claret i Clarà; Spanish: Antonio Maria Claret y Clarà) (December 23, 1807 – October 24, 1870) was a Catalan Spanish Roman Catholic archbishop and missionary, and was confessor of Isabella II of Spain.
History of the Order. With the words
“Today a great work is beginning”, spoken by Antonio María Claret y Clará (Anthony Claret) to five young priests in a cell in the seminary in Vic on July 16, 1849 the existence of the Congregation of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary began.
He had been thinking for a long time about preparing priests to proclaim the Gospel and bring together a group of priests who shared his vision to accomplish work he could not do alone. Through his evangelizing missionary work in Catalonia and the Canary Islands he was convinced that people needed to be evangelized and there were not enough priests who were sufficiently prepared or zealous enough for this mission. He was a humble man who knew that this vision came from God and not through his own means. “How great can it be since we are so young and so few?” asked Fr. Manuel Vilaró, one of the priests gathered at the seminary in Vic.
Had it not been for the Divine Providence of God, the order would have surely failed. Only 20 days after its founding, Claret received news of his appointment as Archbishop of Cuba, which he accepted despite his reluctance. The Congregation was left in God’s hands and under the guidance of one of the co-founders, Esteban Sala, who died in 1858.
Another co-founder, José Xifré, took over the directorship. Archbishop Claret, called back from Cuba to Madrid to be Confessor to Queen Isabella II, contrived to remain very close to the new Superior General and to all the missionaries. He attended the General Chapters. He played a major role editing the Constitutions, which the Holy See approved on February 11, 1870, only a few months before his death. He gave spiritual and financial guidance to his order. He also wrote his autobiography for the good of the Congregation and at the order of the Superior General, who had previously been his spiritual director.
However the problems of the Congregation did not end there. With the coming of the Revolution of 1868, the Congregation was suppressed by the state and all the Missionaries had to seek refuge in France. Archbishop Claret also had to go into exile there, where he died in 1870. At this time the order had its first holy martyr, Francisco Crusats. But the founder had the great satisfaction of seeing new foundations spring up throughout Spain, as well as in Africa (Argel) and Latin America (Chile).
Trivia. Claretians. The Claretians, a community of Roman Catholic priests and brothers, were founded by Saint Anthony Claret in 1849. They strive to follow their founder's
“on fire” example and help wherever they are needed. Their ministries are highly diverse and vary depending on the needs of the area. They focus on seeing life through the eyes of the poor and respond to the biggest need at the time. They have a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Their formal title is the "
Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary", but they are popularly known as the Claretians.
Spirituality. Saint Anthony Claret described the ideal Claretian in these words, "A son of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is a man on fire with love, who spreads its flames wherever he goes. He desires mightily and strives by all means possible to set everyone on fire with God's love. Nothing daunts him: he delights in privations, welcomes work, embraces sacrifices, smiles at slander, rejoices in all the torments and sorrows he suffers, and glories in the cross of Jesus Christ. His only concern is how he may follow Christ and imitate him in praying, working, enduring and striving constantly and solely for the greater glory of God and the salvation of humankind."
As missionary servants of the Word, the spiritual life of our Congregation at the beginning of the new millennium is profoundly marked by the historical moment in which we are living. A spirituality that is missionary and prophetic is called upon to respond to the great challenges of our time and to insert itself into the spiritual movements, which the Spirit is bestowing on humanity today
Pictures courtesy of Raymond Lintag, Jason "Tata" Dumadaug and Lydia Lubaton.
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