Last Sunday was Pres. Cory Aquino's 1st death anniversary. There was too much stuff going on, so I did say a little prayer and it reminded me of her funeral. Where did all that nice "community feeling" go? Pinoys talaga. Such short memories.

Am still very thankful for what Cory has done for us Filipinos and the Philippines. We are much prouder now to be Pinoys. Thats what dignity brings.

Hope more of us remember, so we dont fall back to our bad habits.
Also more hopeful that Noynoy can be the catalyst of the change we so badly need.

Congrats, President Noy-noy on your election!

We pray that your presidency begins the transformation on good & honest governance. May you select the right people to help you achieve your plans.

Let us, the Filipino people help you as well.

Last Saturday, We woke up to the news that former President Corazon C Aquino had finally passed away. Initially I felt, ok - now she wont be in pain and her sacrifices, that have been plenty, would now end. I texted my condolences to members of her family. Hesitating to call as am sure they would be busy in preparing for the funeral.
Then, as the press started showing the ‘83 and '86 pictures and video streams of those days of protest, EDSA and her subsequent proclamation, as our new president - it suddenly hit me. The person although, not by herself - but she did symbolize the return of democracy to our country, by getting Marcos’ allies to convince him to leave. The symbol of courage and moral leadership - Cory Aquino -  was now gone.
She who had brought us, not just democracy but more important, dignity - to Filipinos all over the world, had passed away!

I felt deeply saddened. Not just for her family - but for ALL Filipinos. What a time to go. Who would now represent the moral leadership that we all need and hope to vote for next year???  Was she able to tell anyone who she would be voting for president next year? (before she got too sick).  That would have been a resounding endorsement. But I suppose it was enough for her to have given US that opportunity 27 years ago. Now it’s up to us.  Let’s ensure that all her sacrifices for this country, will not have gone in vain.

Thank you,  President Cory Aquino.  Rest in Peace.  We won't let you down!

Hey Guys!
Guess what?
Our very own Chito Atienza has won the " ESOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR " award sponsored by the prestigious NEW YORK TIMES.
Please share this news with other friends and colleagues in the ESL / CO community. Specially those who were with Chito at the PRPC in Bataan.
If any of you have contacts in the Phil-Am communities in New York and DC - am sure this award is worth their coverage. Pls. forward to them.

Congrats Chitsky! After all these years of dedicated instruction - you certainly deserve the award. We're all very proud of you and your achievements.
It's a great way to celebrate the Easter holidays!

Keep it up.
your former colleagues in ESL/CO instruction in Morong.


p.s.
Copy Sammy, Gil, there are othes in this email that are trying to contact you through my old PRPC photo blog [ My old, hardly updated link re: 25th reunion at PRPC in Morong. ] ( sina Romy, Jesse etc)


----- FORWARDED MESSAGE ----
Hi Jaime,

Again, congratulations on being chosen as the 2008 New York Times ESOL
Teacher of the Year Award winner. As I mentioned over the phone, you were
nominated by Lorna Blancaflor, Jovito de la Paz, Helen Jarandillo,
Christopher Y. Jornales and Liliya Serebrinksaya and the entire selection
committee felt strongly that you deserved this honor.

Thank you for all the important work you're doing in our community.

I wanted to give you details about the awards reception on March 31 and
also ask you a few questions. Again, we would like to invite you and two
guests to the event held on Monday, March 31 from 6 - 8 p.m. here at The
Times. The Times is located at 620 Eighth Avenue, between 40th and 41st
Streets. We'll have someone in our lobby checking people in and directing
everyone to our 15th Floor Conference Center, where the ceremony and
cocktail reception will take place. Business attire is fine for this event.

In addition to your two guests, I'd love to know if you have professional
colleagues from the YMCA or elsewhere that you think we should invite. If
so, please send me a list of their names and email addresses. We will also
notify your nominators that you've been selected and invite them to bring a
guest as well.

We will create an ad that will run in The Times in addition to a printed
program for distribution at the event and would like to include the photos
and bios of the winner and four nominees. Additionally, we would like to
post these profiles and photos on the ESOL Web site. Please send me the
photo you would like to use and a short bio (approx. 125 words or less) by
early next week.

Best wishes,

Uchenna Hicks
Community Affairs/Media Relations
The New York Times
212.556.1757
Fax: 646.428.2197

**Please note our new address**
The New York Times
620 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10018

Hey Guys!
You may post comments here instead of sending email....
(if its about PRPC...)

Thanks Mr. Sammy and Nina David for providing the transpo. Mr. Gil Acuna, Monette Santos and Karen Crisostomo for the warm company. I wish we had more ICMC friends with us. perhaps next year???

Another closeup shot of the ICMC folks. Many brought their kids and spouses. The closure ceremony was an appropriate and solemn occasion. Thanks Willie S! The incense also helped the mood. 

The rest of the ICMC contingent, but note the person in blue shirt, sitting far right of picture. Yes, its the ex-PRPC adminstrator himself, Mr. Tiu Laurel. 

The contingent from Baguio and Bacolod. IF you guys know their names, feel free to edit and/or post them. (of course Saling pusa ako!) 

Velvet, Babes G, Mon and John at the lunch in Morong. Although a PRPC event, I think the most attendees came from ICMC. 

The monkey house! Boy, do I remember lots of visits here? Specially when we started the PASS program. Many of our students were being kept here for minor infractions. e.g. picking up cameras, food and sometimes money from teachers dorms, when they came around visiting. Funny thing though, they were almost always the amerasian kids.... 

They preserved one set of bunk homes and moved it to the "museum". Again, it seems so out of place, specially being next to another familiar landmark. 

This is where they moved the last boat that was at the Freedom Plaza. BTPI constructed a small "museum" that was the old UNHCR Field office and part of the PRPC admin building. All the "artifacts" seem out of place here, I guess to those of us, who knew where and what they represented 20 yrs ago!! 

a smaller Khmer replica of the Angkor Wat. Also at Nbhd 4 temple site. I wish the new adminstrators decide to keep AND maintain these historical scupltures. They may not qualify to be on the Heritage Conservation Soceity list, but they were built by ordinary Khmer farmers and office workers escaping the barbaric Khmer Rouge. It is in their memory that these sites should remain standing!  

Another statue of Buddha at the Khmer temple site. Hardly anything remains of the temple. But the area around it is still serene, peaceful and worth visiting. Thanks to all the prayers and meditation of the Buddhist monks. 

The Khmer stone monument at Nbhd 4. One of the few still remaining. But for how long? 

Another infamous landmark inside PRPC. The water tank! great for sunsets...Monette has a unique and very vivid memory of this tank. :-) 

The infamous Dorm-43! Its just the palm trees that remain standing. They made it into an office. All the rooms torn down.boo hoo 

Lunch at Morong beach with sina Fran and Monette. 

It was both a happy and sad day last Jan 22nd, 2005.
Happy to see old friends and familiar faces. Sad to see the neglect and disrepair of the temples that were in the PRPC. Both templtes in Neighborhood 4 and 7 were destroyed. Lucky they did not destroy the buddhas and the angkor wat replicas. I think it would be difficult for scupltors to create one as intricate as the ones that are left standing. Am sure the BCDA officials could have done a better job in maintaining the temples.