The homecomings which used to be held in its sister school, STC Quezon City, were eventually moved to hotel ballrooms, the better to stage the Broadway–ish shows that now highlight the event.

This year we held it at the William Shaw Hall of Wack Wack Golf & Country Club and my class, HS class 56, celebrated its golden jubilee.

Like all the other jubilarians, we rehearsed for months for our dance number and raised money for the traditional donation to the STC Alumnae Association. We contacted as many of our classmates living abroad, mostly in the United States in the hope they would come home to the jubilee. Eight of them did — seven from the USA and one from Canada.

It was exciting to be a jubilarian even though it meant giving our age away. Still, one could always say — I was a child prodigy? Chuckle, chuckle

We were lucky to have no less than the great and wonderful Freddie Santos as our dance teacher and choreographer. I can still hear him saying in good humor and frustration… "ladies, ladies — God gave you hips so you can sway and wiggle them!" He tried so hard — the dear man — to make cabaret dancers of us to the music of "Chicago."

Beth Sison Tagle was so kind as to lend us her spacious studio at her Galleries of Fine Arts in White Plains, QC, for rehearsals. With less than a month to go, Angie Magbanua, singing coach of the stars, squeezed us into her tight schedule for instant singing lessons (on top of the dancing!). We were golden jubilarians, after all.

Our classmate Malu Evaristo Cruz made our roaring ‘20s costumes, complete with feathered headbands.

Too late we discovered that we had surpassed the time limit given each jubilarian class, including this year’s hosts, pearl jubilarians HS class of ‘76. But we were gung ho to sing the songs of our era… ah, 50 years does seem a long time ago!

The afternoon began with mass concelebrated by the cousins Fr. Lito Caluag and Fr. Francis C. Cruz, (the son of my classmate Lita Caluag Cruz and chaplain of Adamson University).

This was followed by important announcements by the STCM Foundation… that STCM was making a comeback, starting with Mother Redempta Preschool opening this June in Singalong (that is, until we find a permanent home).

Mother Redempta was a little Belgian nun who taught kindergarten class for over five decades. You’d be amazed who her students were. Many are now prominent in government, business, broadcast and media. She truly laid a good foundation for us all.

The Mother Redempta Fund is the service arm of the STAA and takes care of various charities as well.

Our most prominent alumna this year was Aurea Carballo Gonzales of STC HS 1931 who had written the lyrics of the STC college hymn which was sung by generations of Theresians.

We were delighted to see once again some of our teachers from 50 years ago! Ms. Roa, Leonida Torres Africa (STCM Foundation president), Ms. Salud Posadas… as we reminisced about the dear Belgian nuns of our time, our teachers and classmates who had passed away.

Showtime was a riot. It opened with a sing–along by pearl jubilarians HS ‘76 which was a generation removed from the majority of the audience.

In chronological order, the jubilarians performed … Platinum — college ‘41, HS ‘31, HS ‘41; Diamond – HS ‘46; Emerald – college ‘51, HS ‘51; Golden – college ‘56, HS ‘56; Sapphire – college ‘61, HS ‘61; Ruby – HS ‘66; Coral – HS ‘71 and Pearl – HS ‘76.

My sister Mercy Soliven David and her emerald jubilarian HS ‘51 paraded in charming green shawls over black dresses. Well known book author Gilda Cordero Fernando and her classmates of college ‘51 put on a Filipiniana fashion show.

Golden jubilarians college ‘56 boogied to Bill Haley’s "Rock Around the Clock" while sapphire class college ‘61 of ex–STAA prexy Suzy Diez Rueda did an "Achy Breaky Heart" line dance.

Ruby college class of ‘66 hip–hopped and ruby jubiliarians HS ‘66 flashbacked to the "Age of Aquarius."

Coral jubilarians HS ‘71 of writer Angge Goloy danced up a blast to the theme songs of the 70s musical "Fame" and a reworded version of "Mamma Mia." The sapphire jubilarians HS’61 class of Dr. Lourdes Caluag Molina swayed to an upbeat hula dance.

Host class, HS ‘76, is credited with initiating the out-of-campus homecomings in 2001. Led by Gina Valenciano Martinez and Pinky Sabinosa Nelson, they staged a superlative "dance evolution."

All evening, we went gaga taking photos, swapping addresses, phone numbers, etc. The buffet prepared by Millie Reyes of The Plaza was sumptuous, no doubt, but we were flying high and making new memories, that we barely noticed the food.

A homecoming is stupendously wonderful. In the following weeks, we continued to get together – a picnic in Tagaytay, lunches and dinners, ballroom dancing — we simply couldn’t get enough of one another… the way we were and are today.

*****

BY THE WAY… Birthday greetings this week go to — artist Cesar Zalameda, Private Kitchen chef Lydia Castillo, ambassador’s wife Norma Baja (in New York), writer Linda Bolido, Geena Zablan of Heritage Hotel, today, March 27;TV celeb Tina Monzon Palma, hotelier Miguel Cerqueda, March 28;Mandarin PR director Charisse Chuidian, travel writer Christine Dayrit, publicist Ben Afuang, my brother Reggie V. Soliven (in New Jersey), March 31; my STC classmate Esperanza Yap, April 1; my sister in law Amb. Preciosa S. Soliven, actor Tirso Cruz III, April 2… my condolences to my STC classmate Malou E. Cruz and to Gilbert Evaristo on the death of their mother Teresita San Agustin vda de Evaristo, 92, who passed away last week… Condolences also to Berna Lomotan on the death of her dad Jose Jacinto Lomotan… condolences to the Valera sisters — Vilma Valera, Lorna Quisumbing, Susan Laudicho on the death of their mother Teresita Valera.. it will be a hot, hot summer. As much as we would like to linger under the shower to get cool, just remember that over one billion people have no access to safe, drinking water. Save water and not just on World Water Day. Meanwhile, a great cooler is a SMILE!