On Saturday morning, December 19, 2020, 140 alumnae, here and abroad, attended a Zoom Christmas party with the SSpS nuns. Some 70 sisters, mostly wheelchair users, gathered around a big, flat-screen monitor set up in the dining hall of the SSpS convent on Poinsettia Road, Quezon City.
CHSAF has been organizing this event for several years now, and not even the COVID-19 pandemic will stop it from happening. Visitors are not allowed in the convent so coordination was done remotely with SSpS Community Leaders, Sr. Evelyn Jose and Sr. Erminia delos Reyes. The celebration started off with an opening prayer by CHSAF Adviser, Sr. Eden Panganiban.
The CHSAF and High School Batch ’72 prepared the following treats for the nuns: 1) Christmas-colored loot bags filled with oatmeal cookies, chocolates, jellies, biscuits, chips, and tetra juices; 2) cute pouches which contained handwash, wipes and face masks.
High School Batch ’79 contributed, together with CHSAF, a sumptuous lunch. High School Batch ’65 gave each nun medals and prayers.
What’s a Zoom party without entertainment? The CHSAF’s Events Committee organized a lovely program. Song numbers were performed by CHSM students headed by Kristine Madera, top prize winner of the Best Student Public Service Ad for Radio in the recent 42 nd (CMMA) Catholic Mass Media Awards. FYI: Kristine, a CHSAF scholar, also wrote the CHSM Christmas ID 2020 (Alab ng Puso) and co wrote last year’s Christmas ID.
Naughty or nice, everybody loves games, especially at Christmas. All in all, there were 11 games with the following winners:
Game 1: Chinggay Cabrera HS-77
Game 2: Raquel Soqueno-Peterson HS-74
Game 3: Chichi Bihis HS-78
Game 4: SSpS Sisters
Game 5: Josefina Ma. Castro HS-74
Game 6: Thelma Valdepeñas HS-77
Game 7: Vicky Nanagas HS-71
Game 8: Veronica Fenix-Villavicencio HS-72
Game 9: Tisha Tiongco HS-77
Game 10: Vida Maranon HS-77
Game 11: Thelma Valdepenas HS-77
Later in the program, the sisters sang a medley of Christmas songs which were touching and well-applauded.
Sr. Angelita Roferos, Sr. Guadalupe de Leon, Sr. Isabel Angela and Sr. Victricia Pascasio gave their respective messages on behalf of the community.
There were also video messages from celebrity guests, including Jose Mari Chan, singer/composer of the popular holiday song, “Christmas is in Our Hearts” as well as Manila Mayor Isko Moreno.
In his video message, Jose Mari Chan said: “The indelible mark you (the sisters) have left on your students and alumnae is a sign of God’s love that will live on to the next generation.” Manila Mayor Isko Domagoso aka Yorme, with his charm and good looks, warmed everyone’s hearts with his words of support.
In closing, Sr. Carmelita Victoria, Provincial Leader of the SSpS Congregation, and Marissa Camacho, CHSAF President, delivered their messages. Indeed, the party was well-organized and the program ran smoothly. There was even a virtual tour of the Mendiola campus conducted by CHSAF Board Member Cora Guidote (HS-78) and Chel Piopongco-Bracamonte (HS-78).
The alumnae had a great time seeing the nuns on Zoom. It brought back happy memories of CHS. As one commented: “While CHS is the GEM in Mendiola, the CHS Community is the SPARKLE in our lives.”
The event was a great success with many alumnae helping out any way they can. As CHSAF President Marissa Camacho would later say: “It is amazing what we can do when everybody contributes their time, talent and treasure!”
