UP Prep 65 holds European reunion

UP Prep 65 holds European reunion

48th Anniversary of University of the Philippines Preparatory (HIGH) School Batch 1965

The reunion-tourists at the foreground of the majestic Mont. St. Michel, Normandy, France.

The University of the Philippines Preparatory School, Class 1965, held a European reunion-tour covering selected sites in The Netherlands, Belgium and Northern France (Normandy/Brittany) from April 30 to May 16, 2013.

The tour started in The Netherlands, where a welcome reception was held at the Den Haag (The Hague) residence of the Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands, Lourdes Gutierrez Morales, whose husband Danilo Morales, coordinated the reunion. The tour included a visit to Keukenhoff, the “world’s most beautiful spring garden”; Delft, famous for its royal blue and white porcelain; and Amsterdam where the group enjoyed a boat trip through its famous canal; a visit to a cheese factory, and wooden shoe factory, museums and art galleries housing the works of famous Dutch artists, among them Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh.

In Belgium, the tour covered the old-world charm of the cities of Ghent and Brugge, and the more cosmopolitan Brussels through a bus tour and boat cruises. It also included a stroll along cobblestone streets to visit sites of interesst: cathedrals; museums; and the Grand Place; dining in seafood specialty restaurants famous for the freshest mussels, clams and oysters; and shopping for souvenirs — from fine tapestry and embroidery to gourmet chocolates — for which Belgium is famous for. A dinner for UP Prep 65 was hosted by the Philippine Ambassador Vicky Sisante Bataclan at the elegant Philippine Embassy in Brussels.

The Normany/Britanny experience enriched the tourists’ appreciation for the region’s art, culture, history, and food, as the five-day bus tour included the famous towns of Honfleur, Bayeaux, St. Malo, and Paris (See Kalayaan Garcia de Vera’s column on www.philippinereporter.com). The sites included the exact beach front where the Battle of Normandy was valiantly fought, leading to the eventual triumph of the Allies against Germany; the beautiful Giverny Gardens where impressionist artist Claude Monet lived and painted some of his most famous works; and the grand majestic Mont St. Michel, a surreal sight on the outside, and inside, a complex maze of chambers traversed through hundreds of steps leading to hallowed places of worship and at the top, a vast balcony overlooking a picturesque horizon. At the bottom level of this gigantic edifice are restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops. Last stop was Paris with its ever fascinating Eiffel tower which glimmers at night; Museum Louvre where the famous original Mona Lisa is in permanent safekeeping; the Musee d Orsay, which houses the largest collection of impressionist art in the world.

UP Prep 65 classmates and family at the Philippine Embassy in Brussels during the welcome reception hosted by Philippine Ambassador to Belgium Victoria Sisante Bataclan (middle row, 4th from right).

Participating in the European reunion-tour were UP Prep 65 classmates who came all the way from the Philippines, Italy, the United States, and Canada: Danilo Morales; Linglingay Fonacier Lacanlale; Elmer Sta. Ana; Edith Sangalang; Aurora Asperilla Santiago; Evelyn Curiano-Jose; Josephine Sabalvarro Tan; Loida Hipolito Berbano; Maria Flor Esguerra de Leon; Maria Paz Tagle Chua; Laurella Fuentes Dimalanta; Wilma Guerrero Rodriguez; Deborah Ledesma; and Mila Astorga Garcia.

Family members who joined the reunion were Eric Lacanlale; Chichi Marquez Sta. Ana; Rudy Tan; Ted Jose; Larry de Pedro; Stan Apperson; Clarisse Guerrero Palanca; Bubbles de Leon; Patricia and Johan Gautier; and Kalayaan (Lala) Garcia de Vera.

This is the second reunion-tour of UP Prep 65 in Europe. The first was in 2007, covering selected cities in Austria, Czechoslovakia and Hungary. Previous reunion destinations, aside from the Philippines, were the United States (New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago) and Canada (2001, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Toronto); and Thailand (2012).

(By Mila Astorga-Garcia, with photos by Elmer Sta. Ana,  Eric Lacanlale and Stan Apperson)

Philippine Ambassador to The Netherlands Lourdes Morales (centre, seated) with UP Prep 65 reunion participants at the Ambassador’s residence in The Hague. Seated from left: Girlie Esguerra de Leon; Rory Asperilla-Santiago; Ella Fuentes-Dimalanta; Evelyn Curiano-Jose; Loida Hipolito-Berbano; (standing from left) Wilma Guerrero Rodriguez; Maripaz Tagle-Chua; Elmer Sta. Ana; Dennis Morales; Jojo Sabalvarro-Tan; Edith Sangalang; Mila Astorga-Garcia; and former Ambassador to Austria and later Thailand, Linglingay Fonacier-Lacanlale.

Prepians 65 with fields of tulips in background.

UP PREP 65 in PARIS: The tourists in front of the Louvre Pyramid, entrance to the Louvre Museum in Paris which houses the original Mona Lisa and other works of classic painters.

At the train station in Den Haag, The Netherlands

DEBBIE Ledesma (seated left), concert pianist and Prep 65 graduate took a train from Italy just to be part of the reunion, but left early after two nights due to previous commitments. Photo taken at Den Haag hotel. With her, clockwise are Ling Lacanlale; Mila Garcia; Wilma Rodriguez; Dennis Morales; Elmer Sta. Ana; Ella Fuentes; Edith Sangalang and Maripaz Tagle.