The shooting finally stopped. The war was over. The enemy was defeated
and the Americans went home. What was left of the war was a badly ruined
town. Butuan was reduced to piles of debris. Even the statue of the
national hero was mangled down to its iron ribs. The town suffered
tremendous pounding. Japanese dropped bombs extensively before occupying
it. Guerilla fighters also burnt it to the ground and what remained;
the American finished it with their bombs.
From different evacuation sites, the inhabitants of Butuan slowly trekked
back to the town they abandoned four years ago. They put up temporary
dwellings. It was not easy. But in less than a year, government
structure was in placed. This included the opening of schools.
A group of over a hundred children was assembled and started grade one.
It was not normal schooling. School supplies were not available.
We didn't have a building to accommodate us. We occupied partly
ruined houses in Agao as classrooms and sometimes classes were
conducted under an acacia tree. These children still fresh from
the wretchedness of war were the forerunners of AHS class '53.
Danger still existed. Live grenades were commonly found in playgrounds.
There was a house along Jose Basa Street that we used as a classroom.
The military came a week after and took the children out. They dug up
the ground in the next room and removed a big unexploded bomb.
Condition however gradually improved. Butuan Central was able to
put up the needed rooms. It was a frail nipa-roofed building with
nipa partitions between rooms. School supplies from American relief
agencies also arrived and with it were powder milk and gallon size
cans of corn beef husk.
It was in grade four when some children from the interior joined us.
Schools in the barrios were only up to grade three and students move
in to Butuan Central to continue schooling after. There were also new
comers from out of the province, whose parents at work were transferred
to Butuan.
These children grew up together. Butuan was then a small town. It
was a place where people knew each other by names. We had one
Catholic Church, one park and a movie house.
It was in the year Hibok-Hibok volcano erupted when we finished grade
six. We had our emotional graduation. This was also the time when
the new Agusan High School at the Capitol Site was ready for occupancy.
It was located three kilometers away from the town poblacion. This
was quite a distance to students. To walk that far to school was
difficult to imagine that some classmates enrolled at the nearby Urios
High just adjacent to the old cathedral.
That late afternoon in March, we sang goodbye to Agusan High and
pledged our loyalty and devotion forever. With our pride and enthusiasm
at its peak, we felt that we were ready to lock horn with the world. Were
we ever wrong. After the hoopla subsided, reality crept to awareness
that high school was just one of the many steps up the ladder of learning.
Aboard the MV Escano and MV Rizal, we headed north in pursuit for
college education. This was the time when we really matured quickly.
We were on our own to individually put a mark on destiny. It was to
each its own. After years of togetherness, from gleeful childhood and
into the thrills of youth, the more than a hundred war children
assembled a decade ago were finally on its way.
Priority in needs engulfed us profoundly that contact amongst us was
no longer fittingly possible. We were engrossed intensely in searching
for merits and prominence that we simply lost the chance to even
recollect the good old bygone years.
An assembly was called to celebrate our silver anniversary. The celebration
was successful. A significant event took place after. The Butuan
classmates decided to have a yearly reunion to coincide with the alumni homecoming.
They became the core group representing our class every alumni
grand reunion since then. It started small and gradually increased
its number as they went on year after year. The composition of the
group was amazingly a mixture of class '53 AHS and Urios high school
alumni. There were some from other schools, but all were classmates
during the post war era with the Butuan Central.
Fettered together by a common past, the once spirited youngsters
sealed themselves into a healthy and compassionate alliance. They
became a club whose members shared with others on occasion of
merriment and helped one another in time of need.
It was late in the nineties when this loosely composed alumni group
was formally organized. The Class '53 Integrated Alumni Association
came into existence. The idea of celebrating the golden graduation
anniversary in 2003 was the main purpose. Tracing of classmate's
whereabouts was launched. It was indeed remarkable that after all
these years; ninety percent of AHS classmates were accounted for.
Twenty-five percent however were already deceased.
This was followed by awareness campaign through newsletters, website,
e-mails, phone calls and all means available. Interaction amongst
classmates was highly promoted resulting in two mini reunions in
Las Vegas and the well attended millennium gathering in Butuan.
Annual banquets and excursions of classmates were also regularly
conducted. There was a unified intention to reconnect. Classmate's
relationship and camaraderie, after half a century of separation
were re-established. It was a good feeling to have captured anew
the long lost relationship once molded affectionately together
during the early jovial days of youngness.
The big occasion came and world event interfered. International
travel restriction due to the outbreak of SARS made it impractical
for classmates living abroad to attend the golden celebration in Butuan.
It was indeed a big blow to the plan. After years of preparation and
when all were said and done, the whole thing was deprived from
classmates abroad on account of a bug. Only two classmates from the
states braved to go home. The rest had their celebration in Vegas
instead. The golden reunion was still celebrated in Butuan under a
modified format of the plan.
The group was filled with euphoria up the top floor of the Polo Tower
in Las Vegas. Yet there was still an apparent longing to be with the
main celebration. When hands were held together while singing the Auld
Lang Syne, the glitters of Vegas wasn't able to brighten the sadness
in the heart of those that longs to be home with classmates. It was not
the same. It was not Butuan. However, it was decided later to extend the
celebration to homecoming 2004 in Butuan. The Butuan groups later also
decided to do the same.
The Gala Night at Dotties Place on May 2004 was successful. This was the
continuation of the golden celebration as agreed upon in Vegas. It was
well attended and everybody had a wonderful time. This was also the time
to close the existence of the integrated association. Nothing ever last
and similarly the Class ' 53 Integrated Alumni Association would gracefully
make exit to rest. The purpose was already served and relationship
by itself alone wouldn't be enough reason to stay together. The last
function was the overnight excursion at Duka Beach Resort. It was quite
enjoyable.
What may happen from now on is difficult to surmise. The AHS Class ' 53
Association is still functional. New set of officers was installed and
finances are also secured. But it's undeniable that members are already
facing the last few remaining sunsets. There is a somber thought that
this fabulous story is also coming to its ultimate ending. Like others
before, this noble alliance will likewise slide calmly into its restful
passing. Our diminishing energy and weakening vitality may already have
influenced our efficiency to fulfill. The hour is late and climbing up
the stairs, which then was easier done, is now a strenuous undertaking.
AHS Class ' 53 is now a component of a passing generation. The glorious task
is done. This amazing togetherness, which started from under an acacia tree
in grade one to the eagerness of youngness and into the golden horizon of
the old, indeed manifest to contain an extraordinary relationship in
camaraderie and usefulness. Assembled together from different background
by accident of fate and acknowledged to face against various adversities
and challenges, these 107 proud and determined alumni group mostly came
out victorious in chosen endeavors, expertise and discipline. Ten percent
of members did receive outstanding alumni awards from ANHS Alumni Association.
This supplement the bragging right as the alumni group with most awardees.
Most classmates are presently members of the newly organized Butuan City
Alumni Seniors Association (BCASA), whose objectives are for the well being
of Butuan senior citizens. With their own pace and style, this
contribution will undoubtedly be an outstanding asset to the association...
AHS CLASS ' 53 GRADUATES:
Porferio Abundo, Feliciano Acorda, Cleofe Aninao, Leona Azombrado, Ramon
Batino Jr. Corazon Bedonia, Jesus Bersamira, Casmiana Budlat, Florencia
Buque, Segundo Buranday Jr., Nenita Bustillo, Zosima Bustillo, Columbus
Cabahug, Apolonia Cachero, Alicia Calo, Reynaldo Calo, Vicente Calumbay,
Felicitas Campus, Felomino Cassion, Nemesio Cordero Jr., Ester Corvera,
Evilla Cubillas, Asuncion Cupin, Eustaquio Dairo, Clarita Demata,
Heliminas Demata,Bernardo Duncano, Marciana Duncano, Teresito Fortun,
Angeles Franco, Rosario Franco, Estrella Gabriel.
Victoria Ganeron, Maximo Garcia Jr., Teofilo Gelacio, Narciso Jandug Jr.,
Encarnacion de Jesus, Artemia Kiawan, Luzminda Lacuin, Alma Lopez,
Carmenchita Luminarias, Victor Magno, Jose Manaligod Jr., Carmen Mondejar,
Anicia Montilla, Edita Morano, Conrado Musico, Leonardo Nonan, Fortunato
Pacot, Jesusa Palacay, Bienvenida Penaso, Diosdado Pemcenaves, Luz
Pencinaves, Asuncion Plaza, Hermogenes Pojadas, Artemio Radaza, Rogelio
Rosales, Martha San Juan, Herminia Sanchez, Kingkira Sanchez, Domingo
Sedano, Nora Sevilla, Norberta Tejada, Rufo Tidalgo Jr., Sixta Torralba,
Antonio Tupaz, Angel Villanueva and Norma Yatco,
DECEASED:
Eleuterio Abala, Cesar Asis, Domingo Bayuna Jr., Rodrigo Cabuntucan, Porferio Calo, Benjamin Candelaria, Delia Cocon, Erlinda Custan, Alfredo Daprosa, Vizminda Doctora, Severita Duncano, Restituto Duro, Hermites Evanoso, Jovita Fuertes, Lucia Gabor, Elena Libarnes, Adriano Mabunga, Flor Malicay, Antonio Pastor, Angel Pates, Felipe Peralta, Teodoro Peralta, Bernardo Rebuyon, David Solon, Lita Suan, Fernando Torralba, and Roberto Ybanez.
WHEREABOUTS NOT KNOWN:
Aurora Espirito, Silvana Huerta, Alejandra Quimado, Diosdada Marticion, Hospecia Talavero, Nenita Viajar, Eutiqiano Tualla, Eugenia Cabuhayan and Monaliza Torrado
