The 2015 DHS Golden Jubilee and Homecoming: A case of ‘justified horn blowing’

I MAYBE viewed like I am proceeding in the way of horn blowing but modesty aside; I just recently coordinated what a “majority” has matter-of-factly touted as a very successful golden jubilee and grand alumni homecoming of my high school in the Philippines.  I can only surmise that the major parameter adopted by this “majority” group was the fact that I was able, of course with the support from a significant and indispensable others, to steer the participation and commitment of all those who matter, namely alumni composed of former classmates and schoolmates now spread out literally all over the globe.  And if this can be considered as part of the winning streak, I think it is safe for me to say that I fared not too badly in confronting head on the big and all-important issue of “time.”  Let’s face it; while today’s modern technology has significantly eased the flow of communication, responding in real time, ironically, still remains a concern because it is a human-dependent-and-controlled issue, one that can largely impact on the overall coordination effort.

        

Memories resurrected

In reality, the whole exercise of having coordinated an affair of this scope and magnitude brought back a flood of fond, happy and poignant memories of my 12-year stint as program director of the local YMCA in Ilocos Norte and Laoag back in the early 70s.  The stark difference, however, is that the sphere of my leadership effort and influence was more contained and concentrated, area coverage-wise, as opposed to coordinating and working with people located in sporadic local and overseas settlements, as had been the case with our high school reunion.  This contrast made the work very daunting at worst but challenging, nonetheless, at best.

    

Members of the other kind

Dealing with people and steering them towards realizing a desired common goal and objective, I am once more made aware through this latest leadership test and work exposure, takes a great toll on one’s skill, knowledge, stamina and resources --- physical, mental, emotional, oh,  the whole-kit-and-caboodle!  Especially when you encounter and work with the “constant negatives” that are, unfortunately, ever present and hounding you in any dynamic social setting.  Of course, I am referring to members who belong to the crab mentality group, who are passive and laid back, who have nothing else to contribute except to hurl unjust invectives and hurtful criticisms, who think the organization can function at will but who, however, would be the first to queue up in the credit-grabbing line at even the faintest sign of success.  And these are people, according to fellow golden jubilarian and homecoming queen Glorina Papaioannou of Australia, who want to be served yet are never willing to serve.  Indeed, it is both hard and lonely for a leader to be surrounded with this kind of followers.  My wedding godmother, Erlinda M. Gloria of Northwestern University, very appropriately calls their breed as “vexations to the soul and spirit.”  In the end, she reminds me once again that their number is just a trickle in the big bucket of positives and advises me, for the umpteenth time, not to take them seriously because “they only impede and derail mobility.”  Well put, Ninang!

Effort and patience pay off

Despite the few minor irritants that normally attend any undertaking, whether big or small, the concentrated effort, the unity of purpose and the overpowering will to succeed against all odds among the greater majority in the organization cannot be ignored.  In fact, these were the very elements that immensely contributed to the unprecedented overall success of the recently-concluded 2015 Golden Jubilee Celebration and 28^th Grand Alumni Homecoming of the former Dingras High School, now the Dingras National High School.

In conclusion, the attendees were all nicely-synchronized to consider the following as life-altering:  the first-hand experience to have revisited with nostalgia and fondness their old school and campus, recalling both happy and sad memories, fostering and rekindling old ties and camaraderie, establishing new friendships, even entertaining little apprehensions on things yet to come—all these provided a temporary respite from the doldrums of daily life and living and which yielded untold joys and fulfillment, treasures they carried with them as they headed back to their respective places and destinations and, for sure, irreplaceable memories not even the passing of time can erase!