Hail Mapitagans! We hope and pray that everyone is safe including our respective families, relatives and dear friends. God indeed bless us!

Recently, all of us I presume celebrated “Mother’s Day” with our respective beautiful and beloved “mistahs” and families. This part of our lives can never be replaced, right? Yes!!!

It has been a while since we have meaningful class activities, particularly in the middle of this pandemic. But we manage somehow to gather in small groups here and there, observing and maintaining safety standards and protocols. Of course, we don’t lose hope that in the very near future we can get back together to resume our long delayed nostalgic reunions, lunches, dinners and chit-chats.

In times like this, a mindset shift can be powerful. This is the time to turn our negative thoughts into positive ones, mga mistah. We will all get through this tough time together and become stronger as a class and a community.

Fun times like our regular birthday get- together lunches are seldom these days for obvious reasons. But in certain occasions though, we get to have the chance to push it.

The last class birthday fellowship was held on Feb 21, 2021 at the terrace of the VMMC Golf Club hosted by February birthday celebrators Tony B, Bongda, Bogs and Jayvee attended by 22 mistahs. This was a follow up to the Feb 7 blowout of Noel C and Doc Frank who are also February born. Both celebrations were preceded by a round of golf. The March, April, May and perhaps the other birthday boys for the rest of the year will have to wait before they can host their respective fellowships.

Congratulations to the Mapitagan winners of the 2021 PMAAA Raffle Bonanza during the Alumni Homecoming. Noel M- 7th prize HP Deskjet Printer and Sec Ed- 5th prize Samsung Tablet.

Unfortunately, the Homecoming was downgraded because of the pandemic where only a few mistahs led by Pres Nick attended thru virtual. The usually jolly and jam-packed grandstand was reduced to a sorry sight of around 100 attendees, academy staff included.

For a change and to escape the choking Metropolis, Herbert arranged a golf fellowship at the Luisita Golf Course in Tarlac last March. The gang came in full force: Emil, Larry, George, Dante B, Noel, Bongda, Ces, Paco, and Bogs. The tandem Nick and Benjardi joined during lunch and enjoyed the corny bolahan.

Another Mapitagan was called from retirement to help the central housing authority of the country. Zyril Carlos assumed as Undersecretary of the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development to assist our mistah Sec Ed Del Rosario particularly in the supervision of the Department’s support services. With Zyril around, Sec Sayong can relax a bit in his very hectic schedule.

For Covid update, some mistahs have already been vaccinated with their first dose and now waiting for the 2nd. George Regis is the first Mapitagan in the country to complete his vaccination last April; followed by Gerry Layug. In the US, Obe Antonio already completed his vaccination in January while Noel Dominguez, Timmy Garrido, and Del Lorenzo in March and April. Still, some are in the wait and see mode.

Here’s wishing bai Edmun the best as he starts his service as Director of PMARAI (BIRC) replacing Juni C who performed exceptionally well during his tenure. Good job Juni!

Birthday greetings.

March: 2 – Mike Asuncion, 7- Tom

Orbos, 8- Deo Madriaga (+), 11 – George Regis, 14 – Ted Torralba, 14 – Bert Yambing, 15 – Raymond Yap, 16 – Nick Bartolome, 18 – Nars Lleno, 21 – Danny Saberon, 29 – Obe Antonio, 31 – Cecil Sandalo.

April: 3 – Jake Estrada, 3 – Nabil Tan, 7 – Pong Arroyo (+), 7 – Efren Yebra, 11- Raoul Reyes, 12 – Dante Costes, 19 – Dicta Sugon (+), 20 – Leo Kison, 23 – Jojie Segovia, 30 – Larry Dela Cruz, 30 – Joey Zubiri.

May: 3 – Danny Siongco, 4 – Sandoval Ricky, 5 – Marvin Garbo, 7 – Bobby Calleja, 10 – Cesar Yano, 11 – Nelson Nario, 14 – Manding Guzman, 17 – Jardi Mantele, 19 – Tino Pereyra, 27 – Raffy Torres, 27 – Pol Palacio, 28 – Emil Sarmiento.

June: 4 – Onyok Revilla, 11 – Ric Pasamba, 14 – Chuck Chiaco, 17 – Jess Lomeda, 17 – Del Lorenzo, 20 – Roque Ramirez, 22 – Dante Talino, 25 – Gil Meneses.