Xavier University College of Agriculture

Home

Coming home

The Aggie Alumni Homecoming 2008 from the perspective of a junior
By Sozina Alamban

The curtains of the magnificent good old days rose beyond its short case. The Appropriate Technology Center (ATC) became a worry-free realm in an instant as former college boys and girls vomited outbursts of laughter and shared stories from ages ago.

I parked myself at one corner of the room, observing the happy faces around me. Some of them were gladly watching the performers, applauding the awardees and listening to the ones who were tasked to speak.

The celebration was lively opened with the harmonious singing of the Aggie frat song led by the Pearl Jubilarians or the graduates of 1978. As a witness, I can tell that they sang it by heart and with so much pride and devotion not quite visible among the younger generations.

Dean Roel Ravanera formally launched the ceremony as he released his concerns on the problem of the decline in enrolment –12 percent this year, as well as shared on the improvements of the College and the accomplishments of its students – top performing school in Mindanao based on the recent Agriculture Licensure Exam.

Mr. Danilo Tan, a Silver Jubilarian, introduced the keynote speaker who captured the crowd with the clarity of not just his voice but of the message he wished to connect. Mr Roberto Ansaldo, an Aggie alumnus, quoted Bill Gates’ creative capitalism. “As I see it, there are two forces of human nature: self-interest and caring for others,” read he from the article Gates wrote for Time. As if the words of the Microsoft genius were not enough to stir the room, Mr Ansaldo spilled that he and some others would try to bring theBill Gates to the Philippines to talk more about his creative capitalism. To put the idea into context, Mr Ansaldo mentioned his article that appeared on the Philippine Daily Inquirer, which was also photocopied and circulated to the alumni, about Graduating to a 4^th Development Model.” He cited the special role of the College in “bridging business and civil society,” for which he had two words to leave the crowd: Engage Business.

After that edifying speech, the Silver Jubilarians, being 25 years-long graduated, were offered a slideshow of their youthful graduation pictures which they viewed with much heehaw and amusement.

In honor of the special people who molded them during their stay in the College, the Pearl Jubilarians, known as the boys’ league (since they were the last all-boys batch in the college), conferred recognitions to their beloved teachers. Ms Thelma Zablan, former Assistant Dean, returned the expression of gratitude advising her former students to “do their best, aim high and let flowers bloom in the desert.”

But the heart of the homecoming was really in the singing and dancing. The dancefloor donned a fantastic youthful aura with winsomely-packed elders bopping ballroom hits.

Click here to watch the homecoming on You Tube!!!

Set as favorite

Bookmark

Email This

Comments (4) Add Comment

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Show/Hide comments

2008 Alumni Homecoming
written by jovinatanauan, September 25, 2008

This is a nice piece, many thanks for writing about the event.

Would you also be kind enough to upload in the Image Gallery photos of the 2008 Alumni Homecoming.

Many thanks.

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Votes: +0