Way back in 1993, our late batchmate Zoilo Lacsina (Sec. 6) had been encouraging me to form a sort of a reunion for our Batch.  Some batchmates had also been asking me to take the lead in organizing our High School Batch grand reunion.  I told them that it is a gargantuan task and is very difficult to handle, aside from the fact that I was thinking that Section 1 should handle its organization.  Every time Zoilo and I met, he always kept on asking me to lead the way and organize our first ever grand reunion.

Unfortunately, Zoilo my kumpadre was immediately called by our Almighty Father. He passed away after suffering from a sudden illness, his dream of a grand reunion was left unfulfilled.

It was during his wake at the Funeraria Angelina, that I have shared this to our other batchmates.  Upon hearing my story, they all agreed to make Zoilo’s dream a reality  and with me at the helm and our batchmates supporting the move. Hence, it was on October 13, 1994 that our first ever Batch 1971 Reunion was finally realized. 

Thereafter, meetings had been held to call on all batchmates, to come together and form our much awaited Silver Jubilee Reunion. For almost a year, we had our organizational and build-up meetings with me as the Interim President.  And little by little we were able to see and meet our other batchmates.  And it was a very nice feeling seeing “good old” faces, some with wrinkles, graying hair, while others with vanishing hair. 

It was in October 1995 that we finally agreed to have our general membership meeting, the main purpose of which are as follows:

1. formal election of officers
2. Choice of official name of our Batch
3. Theme of our Reunion

During that general membership meeting the following were decided:

1. a new set of officers for HAU Batch 1971
2. Forever Young 71 as our Official Batch Name
3. “ABE ABE, SAUP SAUP, PAMICACALUGUD da reng Forever Young 71” as our theme for our Silver Jubilee Reunion.
4. date of Silver Jubilee Reunion
5. Assessment – P300.00 each to cover cost of food and t-shirt

Through our concerted efforts we were able to come up with the necessary funds to make Pareng Zoilo’s dream a reality and at the same time allow an opportunity for each and every batchmate too see each other, mingle, reminisce the good old days, 25 years back . . .

Hence, during our silver Jubilee Reunion, I dedicated said occasion to my close friend, kumpare and batchmate Zoilo Lacsina. .. (may his soul rest in peace)  and the rest was history.

It was during the attendance of the 35th Philippine reunion last February 25, 2006 under the leadership of President Rey Pamintuan that the idea was conceived. Edith and Remy, inspired with the awesome experience of their first Philippine reunion, were excited and motivated to establish a HAUBatch71 USA chapter. As the two headed back home to the Unites States, President Rey gave Edith the list of the names of class 1971 and to Remy the video of the 35th reunion.

On April 2006, the call to action had begun. Edith and Remy met at Ogie Balleza’s home in San Lorenzo, California for a meeting. Ogie, a 1975 HAU graduate, was to create our own website to connect us all. Without a formal schooling in website creation, Ogie with his innate creativity and passion, met the need in his spare time. He incorporated in this website the Yahoo group “foreveryounghaubatch71”, created by Art Layug which became our main tool of communication. Fer Nucum, Jr., first president of HAUBatch71 submitted all related documents to include and complement the history of this batch.

The next steps in planning and implementation were: to contact and get batchmates to be involved; to form the body of officers to commit to the ideals of the organization and to hold the first grand reunion. Edith spent her time, money and effort in contacting the names on her list. Her strategy was to start our first meeting in Southern California due to the large concentration of batchmates there. On May 21, 2006, Per and Soc Yosuico hosted the first meeting in Oceanside, San Diego county; on May 28, 2006, Ressie Dizon hosted the second meeting for the Northern Californians at her home in Sacramento; on
July 1, 2006, Tony and Bernadette Guiao hosted the combined meeting at their home in Santa Clarita. It was at this well-attended meeting that the body of officers/advisors was formally formed and the first grand reunion location/date was voted. The last meeting was held at Peter and Gloria Venzon’s home in Simi Valley on October 7, 2006 to form and assign committees for the April 21-22 grand reunion. Letters by our newly elected Pres. Edith were sent to all US batchmates in the list to announce the US chapter and the upcoming grand reunion.

It is a great feeling indeed, to see our membership growing! Our website is growing too, with pictures to tell the stories and capture memories. Our modern world of technology made it all possible but without the commitment of the people running this organization and the enthusiasm of the members, the idea conceived will not blossom and bear fruit at all.

In His grace and providence, Laus Deo Semper!