On the eve of the 22nd of October, about seventy alumni from all over Sultan Kudarat and the neighboring towns came to renew the Central Spirit that binds the hearts of every young and old Centralians from far and near at Jim’s Place, Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat. As the Alma Mater Song was played over the air during the Induction Ceremony of the CPUAAI Sultan Kudarat Chapter, most of the senior alumni could not hold back their tears. It was nostalgic! All of them were glad to get a glimpse of our sprawling  campus on video.  

It was such a pleasant surprise for me to meet Mr. Robert Demafiles, the President of the Sultan Kudarat Chapter. The very pleasing thing about our meeting was the realization that he was indeed the “Bert” who was a former hospital aide at Iloilo Mission Hospital. We were often together on the night shifts at the emergency room. With Bert, everything would always be in proper order and the nurses’ workload always lighter. Above all, I can never forget Bert’s determination to rise above his condition. He was a working student who worked 8 hours a day on night shifts and went to school as a commerce student on full-time basis during the daytime. He obtained good grades inspite of a very hectic schedule. He was cheerful despite the pressures of his work and studies. Now, he is a Certified Public accountant and owns the Roberts College of Business Administration in Sultan Kudarat. He told me that he can never forget the people who had supported him financially, morally and spiritually. He said he will always look back to his past with gratitude so that he can always look forward with hope and faith. 

 
Sharing meals with the Sultan Kudarat Alumni officers at the Lozada's residence. 

I was able to renew acquaintances with relatives like  former mayor, Fulgencio “Nonoy” Buenaflor (LLB’85). Some former students of my aunt, Miss Nona S. Dominado were also around like Mrs. Ninfa T. Isla (BSEED ’62) . I was touched by the active involvement of  the senior alumni especially Mr. Ramon Genova(BS Math’52) and Mrs. Gloria Canzana (BSE ’47). I was also glad to see some nursing alumni like Cheryl de le Cruz and Jocelyn Pagunsan who were both happily married and active in the alumni affairs of the region. 

What caught everybody’s attention was the humorous composo of the former Miss Engineering KUNO 1991, Cathoy Castor. Our President liked the song and requested for his own copy of it. We have this printed so we can share to you our own glee over this song: 
 
 

Maayo nga gab-i sa inyo mga kauturan labi na gid sa amon bisita sa Iloilo gikan 
Nalipay gid kami nga inyo ginkadtu-an 
Salamat, salamat sa mga fellow Centralians nga naghili-ugyon sa tunga sining kabudlayan 
Ang Central Spirit nga aton subong tanan nabatyagan may ngipon pa ukon wala, bata man ukon tigulang 
Akon nadumduman palangga ko nga eskwelahan mga nagliligad nga ti-on indi ko malimtan 
Ang Roblee nga building bisan may white lady o aswang wala ako nahadlok, palangga ko didto ko nakit-an. 
Chorus: CPU indi ko malimtan, matahum ko nga eskwelahan 
Daku gid ang akon nga handum, nga akon siya mabalikan pila ka tuig ang nagliligad nga akon siya wala gid makit-an bangud sina pila ka adlaw akon siya bisitahan 
Ang flagpole nga area, paborito namon nga magbarkada kami nagahulat sang matahum nga dalaga kami sa engineering, paborito ang nursing kag ang mga nursing nanamian man magpaduding. 
Pasensiya na kamo sa akon nga ambahanon bisan amo lang ‘ni, mabudlay nga sugponsugpunon. Sorry na lang gid kon kamo wala nanamian kay bisan ako napilitan gid lamang. 
Advance Merry Christmas na lang sa akon mga kauturan kag sa tanan nga Centralians kag sa amon ginikanan 
Si Jesus indi kalimtan, siya gid lang ang aton dalan, Siya ang Kamaturan kag kaluwasan 
Akon na lang ini nga untatan,basi kamo sa akon matak-an 
Basi maglupad ang baso kag pinggan diri sa akon atubangan 
Sa liwat ako gapasalamat sa inyo gid nga tanan 
Indi na gid ako magliwat sa sini nga butang. 
Malu-oy man kamo, inyo ako palakpakan. 

Who can ever forget the warm hospitality of Eñing and Lydia Derequito in Davao. Our trip was a “fruit-full” one. The smell and taste of durian lingered even after I reached home. A kilo of lanzones only cost 15 pesos yet it’s sweet as any  60 pesos per kilo can be. The marang, piña, rambutan, etc….were  luscious and abundant. All of the fruits served were extra sweet with the feeling of being “at home” with the Derequito couple and the Sultan Kudarat Centralians.  

I can never forget,too, Dr. Warlito Laquihon’s breakfast of fresh goat milk and homemade, freshly baked banana cake. Dr. Laquihon’s residence was constructed to be environment-friendly with aesthetic taste included. He was explaining about his water supply stored in an underground cistern below the floor of his house and how the water supply is automatically pumped by a non-electrical hydraulic machine. 

Dr. Laquihon also shared some of his concepts that are now being page 7