President: ORDOYO CRF

Secretary: TAN EC

As we Mapitagans await Christmas and prepare to greetthe new year, we welcome with alacrity our new Class President, Caesar Ronnie “Ces” Ordoyo. It’s been a long time coming: he had to be courted, persuaded, convinced, cajoled, urged, coerced, and prodded upon to accept and take the helm. Since last year, Ces actually was a President-in-waiting, having Larry DLC temporary as Prez,as he still worked for PAL as VP for Security. After he reached the corporate retirement age of 65, Ces ran out of excuses. And so, he was bamboozled into assuming the class presidency last 24 September, to the glee and joy ofthe class. Of course, we have known Ces since forever:he is amiable, jovial, kind, generous, and is a very competent manager and a good leader.

The other class officers elected, in reality like Ces wereselected, are:

Honorato “Nene” Delos Reyes – VP for the Army Group

Edgar “Bogs” Abogado – VP for the Navy Group

Nestor “Nes” Deona – VP for the Air Force Group

Elpidio “Bong” De Asis Jr – VP for the PNP Group

Edmund Tan – Secretary

Teodorico “Jun” Sanchez Jr – Treasurer

Larry Dela Cruz – Ex Officio Officer for being the immediate past Class President

Nick Bartolome – Adviser Emeritus

Positions that remain vacant are Auditor, Public Information Officer, and Business Manager. Any takers from other class members???

While hot in the topic of positions, we take pride in the extension of Romulo “Bong” Cabantac Jr as RD of OCD NCR after his official retirement on his 65th birthday last 18 September. Owing to Bong C’s able helmsmanship and the exigencies of the service, he stayed put.Congratulations and good luck to you more, Mistah Bong.

Moving to accomplishments and achievements, we are very happy to announce that a Mapitagan Brat, COLONEL MICHAEL DEON “DONDI” S. COSTES MAC (GSC) O-135770, the eldest son of Dante and Malou Costes, was promoted to full Colonel. Michael, born on 30 May 1979 in Lingayen, Pangasinan, obtained his Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy at Lyceum Northwestern University in Dagupan and is a Philippine Registered Physical Therapist. He has a post-graduate degree of Master’s in Public Management, Major in Development Security.

Dondi’s journey to the military service started when he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 31 March 2003. He was called to Active Duty on 01 May 2004 and served in various capacities with different units/command of the AFP.

Having been psychologically and mentally prepared to undergo the rudiments of soldiery, he was able to hurdle all his required military training courses, particularly in completing the Command and General Staff Course as a member of Class 70-22.

After all these years, his hard work and accomplishments paid off, as at 43 years old, he became one of the youngest members of the Service to be promoted to the rank of Colonel. Currently, Dondi is the Chief of Health Service Center-Central, AFP HSC at VISCOM, Cebu City. To us Mapitagans, Dondi is the first Mapitagan Brat to have donned the rank, and we are all proud of his achievement. Congrats, Colonel Dondi Costes. Kudos, too, to your proud parents.

Another Mapitagan Brat worthy of praise and congratulatory words from our class is another Michael, in the person of Michael “Migz” Romeo Gaddi Prado, son of Romy and Elena (+) Prado, who graduated on 19 August 2023 from the College of Medicine (Batch 2023) of Lyceum Northwestern University in Dagupan, Pangasinan.

The Mapitagans send our warmest congratulations to our Mistah Romy Prado and his family, for son Migz’s graduation from medical school. Yes, sending a kid to study medicine needs the support of the entire family. And since we Mapitagans are a family, some Mistahs especially our honorary Doctors Chuck Chua-Chiaco, Frank Gali and Ordie Sta Ana, decided to join the effort of providing Migz a scholarship in the form of a monthly stipend for his medical schooling, beginning late last year 2022. After his graduation, Migz is now an intern at the Baguio General Hospital for a year, and we intend to continue the monthly support while he reviews for the Medical Board Exam that will be conducted in October 2024.

We are glad to be part of Migz’s journey, and happy that together, we have done and will continue to be doing something “good for humanity” in making Migz become a full-pledged Doctor of Medicine . . . soon!

On a sad note, we as a Class mourned with great sadness the demise of our dearly beloved Mistah, Jesus Isidoro “Jess” C Atoc who passed away in the evening of 14 August 2023, after being in a coma at Cebu Chong Hua Hospital for almost a week due to brain hemorrhage. Jess, after his wake at Cebu Rolling Hills Memorial Chapel, was laid to rest on 20 August 2023 at Mactan Island Memorial Garden in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, with a few Mistahs from Manila in attendance led by Nick Bartolome and wife Noemi. We extend our deepest sympathy and sincere condolences to the bereaved family of Jess especially to wife Baby and his three children: Jesse Louis, Jessica Marie, and Marie Mae, as well as to his relatives and friends. May the soul of Mistah Jess rest in eternal peace in GOD’s loving embrace… 🙏🙏🙏”

In less than three months, we mourned again the untimely demise of another beloved Mistah, Ariel B Bernardo on 08 November 2023, at VLuna Medical Center where he wasconfined due to a lingering illness. Ariel’s wake was at the mortuary in the Libingan ng Mga Bayani, and was laid to rest on 18 November 2023. Our sincerest condolences and sympathy to the bereaved family of Ariel: wife Joy, sons Arian Jed and Arvin Jeff, and daughter Marielle Jen, as well as to their relatives and friends. We request everyone to join us in praying for the eternal repose of Ariel’s soul. May he rest in eternal peace in GOD’s loving embrace…🙏🙏🙏

The loss of two beloved Mistahs in just a span of three months was overwhelming. Out of 111 in our class who graduated 43 years ago, 20 have gone ahead to the great beyond.

But back to a happier note. The August-September born Mapitagans hosted a Fellowship bash last 24 September 2023 to a full packed crowd at the Philippine Navy Golf Clubhouse. It was one of the most well-attended class events, as many of us turned 65, and wondered how come we don’t even act, este, look our age. 

We became kids again as we joined the ‘no brainer’ parlor games (bagay), and became cadets again as we did our roll call by companies, and fought over our honorary members to be our company mates. 

Because the wives were not around, it was cheat day for many … on food, as the first to vanish was the lechon. We turned singers for the day, while Ed Tamayo and Dante Costes regaled us with the latest dance steps … of 40 years ago. At kung baga sa komiks … Itutuloy. 

We also celebrated the retirement of Ces Ordoyo from PAL, as he took on the more formidable task of being our Class President. Congratulations, Ces. We are proud to have you as our new Prez. Congratulations likewise to the outgoing President Larry Dela Cruz, evidently the happiest person on earth that day! 

Unfortunately, the exciting Part 2 planned by the Class Secretary was aborted. Sa Christmas Party na lang daw.Ano kaya yon? Hehehe . . .

Still in the offing is the next Fellowship, to be hosted by the October-November birthday celebrants, slated at end of November 2023 in a venue still to be determined. Everyone, we are sure, looked forward to this bi-monthly gathering of Mistahs, in celebration of birthdays of the hosts and other surprises.

With the avowed goal of “Strengthening The Bonds” emblazoned on the giveaway golf shirt, PMAAAI kicked off this year’s edition of The Games of the Cavaliers with the Camp Aguinaldo Golf Course leg playdates of October 25 to 29. At stake were Individual and Team Awards for alumni and Individual Awards for friends and guests of alumni.

Wielding the golf clubs for Team Mapitagan were George Regis, the Team Captain, and members Larry Dela Cruz, Ces Ordoyo, Emil Sarmiento, Bong De Asis, Ted Torralba, Herbert Yambing, Dante Balao, Paco Francisco and Onel Lleno. The Mapitagans vied for the team championship under the Senior Tac-O Division against Classes 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1983.

The Philippine Navy Golf Course leg followed later on November 4 to 8. The Golf Fellowship Tournament culminated with the team Championship of the PMA Classes in the morning of November 12 at the Villamor Golf Course. At noon, awarding of the team and individual champions as well as other category winners followed.

As expected, Team Mapitagan poured their hearts into the game, “where we triumph as considerate victors and lose with determined grace and a determined will to win.”

The stoutest heart belonged to Team Captain George who brought honors to the Class by being the Individual Runner-Up in the Senior Tac-O’s Division composed of Classes 1978 to 1983, with an over-all total score of 101 points (49 CAGC, 52 PNGC), just a mere shade below the 102 score of the Individual Champion Villamor Bumanglag ’79. Congratulations, PB George! Ang galing mo! 👏👍

In the other side of the world, ten Mapitagans, based in the US/Canada, namely: Mike Agudo, Jun Ancheta, ObyAntonio, Caloy Cariaga, Noel Dominguez, Jess Lomeda, Del Lorenzo, Allan Sta Ana, Jun Tagulao and Edwin Talens, attended the Botong’s Cup last 05 November 2023 at Legacy Resort Phoenix in Arizona, USA.

The  event, a yearly golf tournament for bugobugos and invited guests, is held every November, the birth month of Rodolfo “Botong” Silva ’78, the organizer whose birthday falls on November 11.

The Mapitagan class happens to have two classmates in the area, namely: Mike Agudo and Caloy Cariaga, a long lost Mistah. The two took care of all the needs of the participants to make their stay comfortable and enjoyable: shuttling them from the airport for those arriving by plane, bringing them to the airBnB rented place paid for by bothwith Del Lorenzo for a three-day stay. We heard the ref was well-stocked and never ran out of boodles, beers, and sodas. Red wine overflowed over non-stop stories, mostwere rehashed but always elicited laughter, reminiscing about plebehood and of course, magan upperclassmen. Time flew so fast for them that sleep proved elusive as they must prepare for the practice round and tournament on the following day.

Also present in the Botong’s Cup were Roda, the wife of Allan; Jess Altuna ’78, the buddy of Edwin; Bong Golez ’79 and Gerry Tenazas ’76 – the car-pool passengers of Noel D.

Mike Agudo emerged as the Champion for Class B Category of the tournament, by breaking 90. Big congrats, Bai Mike! Lami kaayo, no? Hehehe . . . 😀👏

Lastly, in the spirit of the Christmas season, we greet all Mapitagans and their respective families, a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year 2024! Cheers to all!!! 🙏🎉

-end-