April Full (of fun) Day

April Fool’s Day became an April Full (of fun) Day for the Assumption High School Class 1978 Foundation when their benefit concert, Let’s Groove Tonight packed Streetlife in Glorietta with more than 500 baby boomers rocking to the music of the late ’70s.

As expected, the night was filled with nostalgia as the now 40-something silver jubilee celebrants caught up with news, watched a this-is-how-we-looked-then video and participated in the program’s trivia quiz game. Sample trivia questions: When did Assumption grade school move to Antipolo? Who was the only male teacher in high school? Who (from Class ’78) starred in a movie with The King, Fernando Poe Jr.? (Answers: 1975; Prof. Ariston Estrada; Susan Katigbak.)

Gigi Piit Adam flew in from her Boracay home to host the program with FM disc jockey Carl Guzman. Gina Bautista Martin, who now resides in Silay City, Negros Occidental, also made a special trip for the concert as chair of the Foundation. Gigi and Gina, with Carl, warmed up the crowd with raffle prizes and the trivia games before the entertainment began.

Opening the musical portion of the show was Ogie Alcasid (younger brother of Gigi Alcasid) who did the front act out of sheer love for his sister and her friends. He reminded the ladies that he was the pesky little brother in underwear when they visited the Alcasid home. And indeed, he was. Now that Ogie is married with two kids, we are reminded that 25 years is already a lifetime.

Next to perform was the Hyperbeat band with its electrifying renditions of songs heard over and over on the radio as Top 40 hits in the ’70s (of course, now these are all available on MP3). But a funny thing happened when the band began to play – no one danced!

At first almost everyone seemed nailed to their seats although the tapping of fingers on the tables and feet on the floor could be heard. "Why is everyone so laid back?" asked someone. It must be the age, we collectively thought.

But there was no need to fret. Soon enough there was hardly any space on the dance floor with people releasing all their pent-up passion for disco. And dance they did with their partners, in groups or with a DI (dance instructor) here and there. It was amusing to watch the dance floor and see bobbing gray heads. "At least," a batch member said, "They’re not bald heads!"

Capping the evening’s entertainment, Vicky Salvador, who belongs to the celebrating class, performed with her band Rage. Rage kindly obliged the class by performing some ’70s and ’80s music. And so the dancing went on and on. Grace Venzuela directed the seamless program.

To augment the concert proceeds, enterprising classmates also organized minor fund-raising events like a silent auction and the sale of Assumption Class ’78 merchandise. The proceeds of Let’s Groove Tonight have been earmarked for the Assumption mission schools in the Philippines.

It was also a joy to see the support of alumnae who belong to the younger and older classes, proving that the Assumption spirit transcends age.

Congratulations to the core group on the success of the event – Gina Bautista Martin; Nanoy Lopa Reyes; Anya Escobar Hofileña; Chona Gana Samaniego; Gigi Alcasid; Babita Anido; Karen Batungbacal; Chona Borja; Bonnet Caguiat de los Reyes; Dorcie Reyes Guingona; Barbara Lago Fernandez; Joji Ramos Luz; Cynthia Gatmaitan Menchaca; Deena Ledesma Mendiola; Karen Hernandez Montinola; Cherry Ledesma Olbes; Mela Yutuc Santos; and Marivic Lopa Silva.

But this is just the start of the silver jubilee celebration. A medical mission is set to take place in May; a retreat in June and the publication of a class book of memoirs. The finale will be on Oct. 19 when we celebrate Old Girls’ Day back in school and in our red plaid uniforms.

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