Archie's Pod

A special tribute to mommy Susan Valdecantos-Roxas.
We miss you mommy!!!
You're always in our hearts.

It was a red letter day for all us PCSians 89 and 93. Cant believe this day has come! After four months of preparations, get-togethers, POC meetings and house to house trips, our Alumni Homecoming has finally come. 1pm pa lang nasa PCS na si Joanne Ponce, Ed Marquez and Lindsay Perez to oversee the preparations of our suppliers. Augustus Castaneda and I joined them. Rhoel Roxas and Sharlyn Bautista, our program hosts, followed to do some sound checking and rehearse the flow of our program.

We started the program a little late, may santacruzan kasi kaya sobrang trapik sa bayan but the wait is definitely worth it. Edralyn Marquez welcomed our batchmates and guests and after his speech comes the much awaited part of the event, dinner. Our food was catered by Bing Cruz catering. During dinner we were entertained by the G26 band and Luis Marcelo's band, Kalapunk. The event was made more special with the presence of our elementary and high school teachers. A welcome remark was delivered by Ms. Lolit Evangelista, elementary principal, Ms. Angelina Esguerra, former elementary principal and Mrs. Precy Landrito, high school principal. Also present were Mrs. Baby Santos, Ms. Precy Hipolito, Mrs. Bautista, Ms. Mercy Pagkalinawan, Ms. Lorena Marcelino, Mrs. Fe Ilomin and Mr. Arcadio Antonio. Vernette Pacan-Pagala prepared a special song number for our teachers. She sang Thanks to you. Habang kumakanta si Vernette our batchmates went to our teachers and gave them flowers. It was a very touching song number. A small gesture to thank our 2nd parents on Mother's day.




Then came the raffle and fun games. Thanks to our batchmates who gave donations for the raffle. Madami tayo napamigay na mga magazines, bags, t-shirts, lotion and gift certificates. We also had a trivia game about PCS. Questions like ano ang first name ni Mr. Dela Pena, our former security guard (naalala nyo pa ba sya?)

This event is a benefit homecoming for both the elementary and high school departments of Pateros Catholic School. The proceeds of our ticket sales will be donated. We will post our financial reports in our future posts. Sobrang enjoy lahat ng umatend and kami mga POC are very thankful to all of us who made this homecoming a success. Di rin maging successful ang event natin without all your support and cooperation. It's great to see all our batchmates and teachers again. Hanggang sa susunod na reunion!!!

Proud to be PCSians!!!

click pictures to enlarge

Pateros Catholic School
Elementary Class of 1989 and
High School Class of 1993


Click to enlarge pictures

I received this email from a friend. It's a good read.

She jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She said: 'How is my little boy? Is he going to be all right? When can I see him?'
The surgeon said, 'I'm sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn't make it.'

Sally said, 'Why do little children get cancer? Doesn't God care any more? Where were you, God, when my son needed you?'

The surgeon asked, 'Would you like some time alone with your son? One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he's transported to the university.'

Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good bye to son. She ran her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair. 'Would you like a lock of his hair?' the nurse asked. Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally.

The mother said, 'It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the University for Study. He said it might help somebody else. 'I said no at first, but Jimmy said, 'Mom, I won't be using it after I die. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom.' She went on, 'My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always thinking of someone else. Always wanting to help others if he could'

Sally walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag with Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car.

The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son's room.
She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had always kept them. She lay down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep.

It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Lying beside her on the bed was a folded letter. The letter said:

'Dear Mom,

I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say 'I Love You'. I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me. He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn't like the same things us boys do. You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know.

Don't be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn't look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see GOD! And guess what, Mom? I got to sit on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That's when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good bye and everything. But I already knew that wasn't allowed. Well, you know what Mom? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter. I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you. God said f or me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him 'where was He when I needed him?' 'God said He was in the same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children.

Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what I've written except you. To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper.. Isn't that cool? I have to give God His pen back now He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life. Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I'm sure the food will be great.
Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don't hurt anymore - the cancer is all gone.. I'm glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me. The Angel said I was a Special Delivery! How about that?


Signed with Love from God, Jesus & Me.

"My lover is mine, and I am His". Song of Solomon 2:16

With that Bible verse, the union of JP and Kaye were sealed in a very solemn and romantic christian wedding last February 7, 2009 at The Mango Farm in Antipolo. It was a very exciting and lovely evening for everyone. The bride, Kaye, was beaming and looked gorgeous in her wedding gown. It was one of the most blissful wedding I've been to. It's always great to hear family members expressing and pouring out their thoughts in words, and JP and Kaye's message to their family were heartfelt. The celebration was made more special because it was also a get-together for me and my former officemates and good friends, Carlo, Jovi and Sondi. Where are you Rose? hehehe... To the newly weds, JP and Kaye, may your love continue to inspire everyone around you. My best wishes, hugs and love for you on your blessed union. I love you guys!!!

Here's a little video I made. Hope you like it!!!

For more pictures click here.