Thanks to Jackie, Armand & family for hosting our meeting (complete with moon bounce, an array of Pinoy food and mahjong games). We had our fill of Jellis handa (Jackies daughter) for her 6^th birthday.  Ang sarap ng special guinataan, Jackie bring that for any future potluck get-togethers.  My apologies to Jackies sister-in-law, Ruby, who made the sweet and sour fish which I called sarsiado pasensiya na dahil ube and cassava bibingka lang ang specialty ko.   The kids, of course, loved the moon bounce and I think Jackie pulled an all-nighter.  Thanks to Jackie for setting aside their garage area for us to practice our much-critiqued dance numbers; and to Reynald and his wife, Christina and Mike (my hubby) for helping us choreograph one of our numbers; and to our drill sergeants Marissa and Ian (Margies daughter) for keeping us in line and perfecting our number.  Dont forget, final dress rehearsal on Saturday (with set-up), 1pm. 

Special thanks also to Marissas cousin, Gerald Bermudez who made our practice CD and Marissa for making the arrangements. 

Heres a summary of our discussion:

ITEMS DISCUSSED:

A.         U.S. Reunion Updates

·         Margie reported that we made the 25 minimum no. of rooms.  Lina and Tibo will upgrade theirs, so we can use it as the meeting place for set-up within Monte Carlo.

·         Margie will check on the meals for the DJs, ballroom name and floorplan/layout.

·         Reynald will be calling Monte Carlo to make the final arrangements for our guaranteed headcount and any allowance that Monte Carlo can give us.

·         Our updated preliminary headcount is 136, with 12 (possibly 16) more pending payments. 

B.         Other Committee Reports/Updates:

·         Website

o        Last minute reunion announcements regarding registration, raffle and cancellation policy will be posted on our website. 

o        USTHS 78 permanent website (USTHS78USA.tripod.com) please continue to direct other alum to this website.

o        Group email address (USTHS78@hotmail.com) please send your questions, suggestions and any emails to this email addrs.

·         Budget/Finance

o        To date, we received payments for 136 attendees, all fully paid.  Thanks to all of you who have paid.

o        Janet submitted checks for a few ad pages.  Margie also turned in receipts and recent payments she received at the mtg.

o        If you have other receipts with you, please turn them in as soon as possible.

·         Montage Presentation

o        Lito has completed the montage.

o        Margie returned some of the pics submitted for the montage.

·         Souvenir Program/Solicitation Letter/Ad Form

o        Ferdie reported that theyve started printing the souvenir program. 

o        Ferdie asked for a follow-up on the ads for batch 79 and 3 other ad pages

o        150 copies of the souvenir program will be printed.

o        Margie provided a list of attendees to be included in the souvenir program.

·         Give- aways/Decorations

o        An inventory sheet went around for members to correct and change as necessary.

o        Everyone (except for Marissa) is expected to bring the items they have for the giftbag.  Marissa will only bring enough to cover all attendees due to the nature of the item shes transporting.

o        Depending on additional payments we receive by Monday/Tuesday, we will order another dozen of a give-away item.

o        All committee members were requested to provide their ETA, so we can plan on the gift bag set-up.  All committee members will be given their gift bags during the Friday working meeting.

·         Registration  

o        Table/Seating Assignments will be modified by Lina as needed. 

o        Lina & Daisy were reminded to inform incoming attendees to wear their nametags so they can be served their dinners.

o        Two items will be separately distributed during registration.

o        The order form will be modified to reflect a change discussed on the price of an item.

o        An announcement will be posted on our website re the registration process.

·         Raffle

o        Marissa will make necessary adjustments to the program schedule to accommodate all prize drawings. 

·         Entertainment

o        More changes were discussed on the entertainment program prepared by Lito, (final version no. 10, na daw!)

o        Practice, practice, practice was the order of the day with tsibugan in between.  Jump, snappier, kembot mo, more attitude, and smile were the comments/orders from our drill sergeants and critics.  We even had an encore performance (ay, practice pala!) for Perla, our special meeting attendee.

o        Janet asked committee members to submit a music list for the DJ.  She will meet with the DJ on Friday afternoon to scout the ballroom and plan his set-up for the event.

·         Roster/Directory

o        There are now 77 names on our list of 78 graduate (US and Canada only).  The rest of the 223 names found are either in the Phils. or in other countries.  Please visit our website for the full directory list.

o        Again, thanks to those who continue to assist in finding other fellow grads, both by phone calls and email. 

o        Please keep those names coming.  Everyone truly appreciates making the connection with long-lost HS friends, even from Educ HS.

o        Names of other batch graduates will be submitted to the USTHS Alumni of America for their respective batch representatives.

D.                  There will be a working meeting on April 25, Friday, 8:00 pm at Tibo and Linas room (Monte Carlo).  Set-up and Dance practice starts at 1:00 pm, Saturday, April 26.  Please keep your cell phones on, so we can all be in contact Friday and Saturday.

E.                  There will be a brunch hosted by Lots Pascual-Diaz for all batch 78 alumni on Sunday, April 27, 2003, 9 am.  Marissa is making the arrangements.

F.                  A post-event meeting will be scheduled a month after the event.  Details will be announced later.

Finally, our endless appreciation to those who help and continue to help and support our efforts in planning this memorable event.  Many thanks to everyone who continue to share their time, talents and generosity.  We hope that this will just be the beginning of our renewed friendship and fellowship as Thomasians, in honor of our alma mater.

Helen Panaligan-Crist

USTHS Reunion Planning Committee, USA