Election fever is heating up! I enjoin everybody to refrain from bringing sensitive issues into our Viber groups (Please take note, Mistah EUE). Let there be no campaigning in our media groups, as some will be bound to disagree with what we post. We may lose valuable friends, in exchange for people who may not even know we exist. Baka imbes na ‘All for One’, maging ‘All For Nothing’!

Eto naman ang ‘All For One’ as when it comes to Mistahs running for elective posts, the class shall be a force to reckon with! So, to the future Mayor Efren Yebra of Paracale, Camarines Norte, and future Mayor Ariel Bernardo of Magarao, Camarines Sur, here we come!

To keep us connected though miles away, several Class 80 viber groups have been created. Foremost is the “Mapitagan Announcements Only,” for class activities and disseminations. Membership to this group is mandatory, including associates and honoraries. Birthdays and other social announcements are posted here, but to keep this page unclogged, our greetings are to be directly sent to the celebrators. Other messages not related to class activities can be posted in our other viber groups such as “Mapitagan Open Forum”. Otherwise, you will take your post, and Mandee Espineli will take charge.

We have seven other viber groups for optional memberships, and that’s not because we have seven presidential candidates. To discuss anything under the sun, there is the “Mapitagan Open Forum”. Para sa mga hampas lupa, go to “Mapitagan Golfers”. “For the Boys” caters to jokes and anything that will arouse you, I mean, arouse your interests. Then we have the “COVID 19-Q” for anything about the pandemic, the “IVM” for those who want to get well fast, and have a kick much stronger than that of all the Pitongs in the world. “Mapitagan Riders” are for those who love to ride, but only on motorcycles (the Class Secretary definitely not included here). Finally, the “Mapitagan Music Lovers”, for those who wish that they are Romy Palaroan.

Our inaugural Zoom monthly meeting last 15 Sept 2021 was a tremendous success, with 43 attendees. Set at 10:00 a.m. Philippine Time, it provided equally decent times for our Mistahs in the East and West Coasts of the US of A and Canada. Unfortunately, it was laundry time for Jack Yaakub in Malaysia, and Bob Ramos in Korea, so they had to pass.

President Nick Bartolome called the meeting to order, and Jess Lomeda led us in The Cavalier’s Prayer. In the Zoomustahan that followed, we all had a minute to update each other on what’s keeping us busy, and what liniment (or lotion) we are using. We also discussed PMAAAI/PMARAI Membership Updates; Guidelines (Netiquette) on Class Viber Groups; COVID-19 updates from survivors Ige Rodriguez, Ted Torralba, and Nes Eloja, and prevention tips from Bong Cabantac and Doc Frank Gali.

Our lifetime membership dues with PMAAAI and PMARAI (formerly BIRC) was a pleasant topic, noting that only a few are still settling their one-time lifetime dues of P10k for PMAAAI, and P2k for PMARAI. If you have questions or clarifications on this, please contact our Class Secretary.

The second Zoomustahan was held last Oct 13 (Wednesday), again at 10:00 a.m. Phil Time. Pres Nick requested Alex De Guzman (who was on duty at that time as hospital nurse in the US) to pray for the class and Nolet Ojeda to recite The Cavalier’s Prayer. Among the topics discussed were:

1) Games of the Cavaliers (Golf Tournament). We have 12 players on Nov 21 and Nov 28. The class, thru the PNP group and Pres Nick, will sponsor their Tournament Fees and T-shirts;

2) PMAAAI/PMARAI Membership Status – Those who have not yet remitted their dues were gently reminded to do so. Everyone was also asked for updated addresses for the delivery of the Cavalier magazines;

3) The class procured 100 copies of the latest edition of the Alumni Register thru the kind support again of the PNP Group. These Registers will be distributed in December to each one of us, including the kin of our deceased Mistahs;

4) We were reminded about postings in our viber groups, and that differing views, especially on political matters, are not to be taken personally; and that even if we agree or disagree to agree, we are all still brothers and friends;

5) There are some classmates who are still “missing in action”, like Mervin Tiu, Bobit Venadas, and Bruce Ringstand in the US. Classmates who have information on them is requested to pass them on to the Class Secretary. Other missing Mistahs in the Philippines have been contacted and we are awaiting their ‘active’ status in Viber. Paging Jufel Adriatico, Bob Calleja, Willy Campos, Dippon Carado, Dodge Macatol, Nelson Nario, Ager Ontog, Tino Pereyra, Silver Primero, and Jude Tadeo. Some are just lurking around in our Viber groups, and preferring to be silent. Hope they will pop out and from time to time, magparamdam naman kayo, mga Mistah;

6) Bong Cabantac talked again about COVID-19 updates and prevention tips, in collaboration with Doc Frank Gali. The meeting lasted for almost three hours, though no fault of Bong C. Next zoom meeting is on Nov 17, this time at 9:00 p.m. Phil time.

The class sympathized with the bereaved family of the late Gen Prudencio Regis ’51 who passed away last Sept 13, 2021 at VMMC. He would have been 96 years old by Oct 23. As per our Mistah George Regis, his Dad’s “death was inevitable. May eternal rest grant unto him and may perpetual life shine upon my father. Last night, he was heard by a nurse talking to my mother. I guess sinusundo na sya ng Mommy ko. My Dad is surely with my mother now. I love you so much Mom and Dad and will be missing Dad.” It may be recalled that George’s older brother, Dennis Regis ’75, succumbed to COVID early last year. It must indeed be hard for our Mistah to lose both a great brother, and a super great Dad.

Last Oct 1, our Pres Nick announced the “passing away of his father Eufrocino Bartolome Sr., 87, who joined our Creator at 11:00am today at the Loving Mother Hospital in Tarlac City due to massive heart attack (COVID+). He will be cremated and brought to his hometown in Gerona, Tarlac. There will be no public viewing… only prayers, please. Thank you.”

Nick thanked the class nine days later, with his message, “Mga mistah, maraming salamat sa inyong pakikiramay at dasal sa pagpanaw ni Tatay. Malaking tulong ito para sa kalungkutan ng aming pamilya. Ihahatid na namin si Tatay sa kanyang final resting place at magkakasama na uli sila ni Nanay sa piling ng Poong Maykapal.

Maraming salamat muli, mga Mistah. God be with us all.”

The message of Bai Emil “Gupix” Gupana to our Pres Nick, captured to sentiments of the entire class when he said, “Bai Nick, the greatness of your Tatay was written on every heart of his children. He would be missed but not forgotten. We take off our hats in reverence. May he Rest in Peace! Our prayers.”

As we end another meaningful year, let us take stock of our blessings, and look forward to better times ahead. Let us keep our sanity intact, our class intact, and let not the intensity of the moment overcome our lifetime relationships.

We close with this timely reminder that, “If we argue with a fool, then he is doing the same thing”!