Lilia Chamian-Sanchez, RIP

I didn't really know her before her visit to California in early 2000. She was Donna's elementary school classmate, however and a JASHS Class '70 alumnae. I found her as being warm and sincere. It escapes me now why she came to the US but I remember Donna's cousin Feliciano 'Boy' Dizon knew her as well. So one day she came over to our house in Norwalk for a small get-together. She was with two other ladies, I don't remember who they were. Here she is seated to Donna's right.


We bonded really well during our 35th high school reunion in the Philippines in 2005 and our subsequent trip to Japan. Donna's nursing classmate Beth went with us. Lilia's daughter Frieda was in Tokyo at the time and she met us in Yokosuka. When our Japan visit was over, Donna, Dan, Eph, Rach and I left for the US, Frieda and Reggie stayed in Japan while Lilia went back to the Philippines before finally going back to her home in Australia.

Note: IMG pictures were posted courtesy of Robert Custodio.



She was out of circulation for a while after we learned that Frieda went back to Australia because her Mom was sick.

We organized our high school 40th Grand Reunion last year and she was being copied on eMails between our classmates. All of a sudden, I received an eMail from her. She was interested in buying a small house in the Philippines, some place she can stay when she's in town. Donna found one and I took pictures and sent them to her. But later on, she was talked out of getting it by her relatives in the US and Australia.

She intended in attending our reunion and she did so and she had great fun during the reunion as did we.


The succeeding post reunion parties and Karaoke sessions are unforgettable!


Sometime last week classmate and friend Ed Sale called saying he received a text message about Lilia's passing which gave me quite a shock. I told him not to announce it until I got a confirmation from my niece Jack who went to Melbourne last May 12. Last February I had her meet Lilia at SM to widen her network of friends and acquaintances over down under. They hit if off right away with Lilia telling her, "As soon as you arrive give me a call so we can run around shopping, I can show you where the church is and the nearest hospital, etc."

I sent Jack a message and an eMail and instructed her to find out about Lilias condition and give me confirmation. While I was on Facebook, another friend, Roxy asked me on the chat line about Lilia. Then I realized that she had a Facebook account. I clicked it and found her daughter Frieda's announcement of her Mom's wake and funeral schedule.

Frieda Sanchez

Viewing details for my Mom : White Lady Funerals, 25 Cooper Street, Epping. (Melway Ref: Map 182-C12. Wednesday & Thursday May 26-27 from 5pm to 10pm. Mass will be held at 7:30pm both nights. Funeral Service will be on Friday 28th of May @ 10am at St Francis of Assisi, 290 Childs Rd, Mill Park (Melway Ref: Map 9-J3). B...urial to follow at Northern Memorial Park, Box Forest Rd, Fawkner (Melway Ref: Map 17-D1)

It literally took my breath away and I got goosebumps knowing that yes, Lilia is indeed gone. I immediately sent a short announcement to some close friends and I also sent Frieda a message:

Hi Frieda,

I don't know if your Yahoo address is still any good...

Not sure if you remember me but we visited you in Japan in 2005, I think. Your Mom was our high school classmate.

We had the opportunity to be with her last February during our 40th Grand Reunion. We had a lot of fun going out, singing Karaoke, etc. I remember she sang really well. Please allow me to remember her that way; singing, laughing and just generally having fun.

With a heavy heart, I sent out an eMail last night announcing your Mom's passing to our friends and classmates.

We extend to you and the rest of the family prayers and heartfelt condolences.

Uncle Rey and Auntie Donna


To which she replied:

Thankyou Uncle Rey and Tita Donna!
Of course I still remember you!

Appreciate your kind words and prayers!
Mum spoke fondly of her reunion in the Phils!

She had lots of good memories!
And is now at peace with my dad and our God!
Thank you for being a friend to her.

Lots of love
Frieda


LILIA, Rest in Peace!

JASHS Class '70 Reunions

Theresa sent me a Facebook message saying she'll be in Southern California for the weekend and can she see me? And of course I said yes, since the last time I saw her was...
That's how long it's been - I can't remember!

Her brother Romar sent me another message saying we'll meet for lunch today at Ten Ten, a dimsum restaurant in Artesia.

Donna, Nido and I went there after church. They were already eating when we arrived! We had a great time. It turned out Theresa and Erline were in town to celebrate the latter's birthday.

Happy Birthday Erline!



After lunch friend and high school classmate Ed Sale, picked me up so we can go to an ANASI scheduled meeting with Cong Paing at his house in Bellflower. Capampangan co-advocate Pids Rivera will attend as well all the way from San Diego. Before we left the house, Cong Paing called saying the meeting will be delayed a bit because he was to attend an awarding ceremony in nearby Lakewood. He won a couple of prizes in the Lakewood Artist Guild art exhibit - First Prize and Best of Show. Ed and I drove straight to the Lakewood Recreation Center to view the exhibits and attend the awarding ceremony. It didn't finish until almost four and by then it was too late for Ed to attend the meeting so it was just me, Pids and Cong Paing in the meeting. We called the Ari Ning Parnaso Renato Alzadon and updated him on what we've talked about.



Flashback December '09
The tag line for our annual JASHS Class '70 December 30 reunion that we printed on our banners "Ing e dinatang atin lang rayuma!" literally translates to "Whoever does not attend has arthritis!" We graduated in 1970 (I know, some of you haven't been born yet at the time!) so we thought it was appropriately humorous.


Like all previous reunions, it was well attended and highly successful. The grand prizes of a TV and a refrigerator helped motivate some classmates to attend. We also gave away a bunch of goodies what with the Holiday season and all.


I took way too many pictures for me to post them here. Click here to view the rest of the pictures.

Fast forward to February 2010
Right after the December reunion, we were in a rush to organize our 40th Grand Reunion. We had it at the same venue, R & B Gigster. Since we started our meetings Donna and I have been telling our friends we have a surprise for everyone, something they'll never forget. All of them were so anxious trying to trick us into telling them our surprise but we insisted it wouldn't be one if we did. The tag line this time? "Deng e munta, sumisi la!" which means whoever does not attend will regret it.

We've been having a lot of contact with the Pampanga High School (PHS) principal Mrs. Imelda Macaspac and everytime the subject comes up, we always tell her that we didn't get to 'graduate' in April 1970 because the ceremony was held outdoors and it got rained out. Finally Mrs. Macaspac said, "Why don't we recreate your graduation?" She further stated all we have to do is let her know how many will attend and she'll take care of the rest; cap and gown, guest speaker, the works. Donna and I exchanged glances as if asking, "Why not?" And that's how the idea, of us 'graduating' again, started. Hence, OUR SURPRISE!


Below are pics courtesy of friend and classmate John Andrade.


So during the mass officiated by Father Mon Torres, Mrs. Macaspac and I have been sending each other text messages. She said they're on their way. I told them to hold off and come in right after the mass. As soon as the mass was over I announced if they want to know about our surprise all they have to do is go out and they'll find out. Mrs. Macaspac and staff were waiting outside in the heat ready to hand out caps and gowns to everyone. That's when they realize what's going on. Mrs. Macaspac's surprise to us however, was the guest speaker. She talked Mrs. Umali, our former Geometry teacher and a retired DepED supervisor to be our guest speaker.


Mrs. Macaspac did such a great job! When each 'graduate' started coming in with the graduation march playing in the background, we can't help but be all emotional and goosebumpy thinking "Finally, we're graduating!" For all practical purposes, it was an authentic graduation ceremony complete with a school choir, confirmation of the graduates by the school principal and even a speech by the salutatorian Allan Sanchez.


Click here for the rest of my pictures.

Click here and here for John's pictures.

Suffice it to say that we were right when we told them, "Deng e munta, sumisi la!"