How green the grass grows

The green-letter day for La Sallians of all sizes, shapes, genders and ages is March 7. That’s when the Archers celebrate this year’s grand homecoming on Taft Avenue and organizing committee chairman Carlos (Bobong) Velez promises the best-organized gathering ever.

“People are going to talk about this event for a long, long time and those who don’t show up will regret it,” says Velez, whose high school class of ’64 is one of the hosting batches. “We’ve thought of every conceivable angle to make this an affair to remember. We want everyone to go home with a smile. Our main objective is to make everybody enjoy a festive and fun homecoming.”

The theme is “Let’s Mardi Green” and La Salle alumnus Fritz Ynfante is turning the Taft green, green grass of home into a virtual party place with buntings, samba bands, dancers in colorful costumes and giant puppets provided by the Guarana group.

“The party atmosphere or ambiance will be like Faces,” says Velez, referring to the popular Makati disco that was a rage for years. “We’re giving everyone the chance to interact. There won’t be any long-winding speeches. The program won’t take more than 45 minutes. We’re just going to have fun.”

Velez says the event will be water-proof, meaning it’s a go, rain or shine. “We won’t let a year of hard work go to waste if we’re rained out,” he adds. “So we’re moving out of the open-air football field to the ground floor of the Yuchengco Building and the central plaza, both of which will be covered. We’re expecting way over 1,000 to attend so we’ll be pleasantly cramped to assure us of some intimacy. But not to worry, we’ve got lots of room to move around in.”

Velez says the preparations for the homecoming left out no detail.

“We’ve even got parking covered,” he notes. “We guarantee parking to be hassle-free and safe. There will be parking attendants and tanods waiting to be of service. From the moment you arrive to the moment you leave, we’ll treat you as special VIP guests.”

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The affair starts off with the 4 p.m. Jubilee Mass, celebrated by four priests and a deacon, all La Salle alumni, at the Main Chapel. The celebrants will be Fr. Jun Merino (BSME ’84), Fr. Jun Poblete (HS ’59), Fr. Cayo Estrada (HS ’73, BSME ’78), Fr. Dennis Meim (HS ’79) and from the US, Deacon Joe Sicat (BSC ’59).

“The fellowship starts during the Mass when we offer each other the sign of peace,” continues Velez. “We’ll take time to go around, shake hands and embrace each other. Then photos will be taken after the Mass of the golden jubilarians of 1959 and silver jubilarians of 1984. From the Mass, we’ll walk to the Yuchengco Building in a parade with bands playing.”

Dinner will be sumptuous, assures Velez. “Barbara’s is catering and the menu is first-class with lechon, roast calf, the works,” he says. “An entrance ticket is P500 and that allows you to eat and drink all you can. During dinner, we’ll present our fun awards hosted by Mike Enriquez. That’s to break the ice by recognizing the class with the most creative outfits, the balikbayans, the biggest clan, the largest batch in attendance, the earlybirds and so on. The family atmosphere will give everyone a sense of belonging.”

Velez says about P4 million was raised for the homecoming through major sponsors San Miguel Corp., Shell, Sta. Lucia Realty, Globe, ICTSI and Petron to benefit the “One La Salle Scholarship Fund.”

Committee vice chairman Cesar de Larrazabal says the homecoming’s slogan of “Two To Go” is a call to action in line with La Salle’s centennial vision of 2011 to raise the ratio of full scholars to paying students to 1:5 throughout the system.

“The goal of 1:5 is symbolic,” explains Larrazabal. “We won’t stop there. It’s a recognition of the Christian Brothers’ mission of education for all. It was St. La Salle who invented the classroom style of teaching to bring the poor to school as lessons used to be taught only to the rich in their chateaus.”

Larrazabal says the Jaime Hilario Integrated School of La Salle in Bagac, Bataan, is a revival of the mission. The school was opened three years ago and charges a tuition fee of only P500 a year using the La Salle Green Hills curriculum. It has a student population of about 170 from Grades 1 to 4. Brother Provincial Edmundo (Dodo) Fernandez’ plan is to eventually expand it to high school. The late Ambassador Carlos Valdes donated the three-hectare property to the Catholic Church, which, in turn, turned it over to La Salle through Monsignor Soc Villegas. Bro. Fernandez, 45, is a Green Hills ’84 graduate.

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After dinner, the main program will be held at the central plaza. The highlight is the recognition of two late distinguished Alumni Association presidents - Ambassadors Valdes and Ramon del Rosario Sr. Their sons later became Alumni Association presidents, too. An added attraction will be production numbers starring the grade school, high school and college jubilarians of ’59.

Velez says the homecoming wouldn’t turn out to be successful without the support of Larrazabal, Ynfante, Adie Peña for publicity, Gil Vasquez for finance, Rhett Ermita as co-chairman of ways and means, Sunny Velasco for research and documentation, Migs Lisbona for logistics, Benjie Uichico as the Alumni Association executive director and Tony Cervantes and Gus Escariel as the pastoral co-chairmen.

The homecoming week kicks off with the sixth Bro. Ben Golf Tournament at the Alabang Country Club tomorrow at 8 a.m. The loot includes an Audi car for a hole-in-one and a specially designed Ramon Orlina trophy (in green glass, of course) for the winner.

Velez says the tournament is all sold out, meaning no playing slots are left. But walk-ins will get the “green” light just the same. “We welcome all La Salle alumni in the spirit of fellowship, even if they come only to watch and participate in the fun,” says Velez. “This is what a homecoming is all about - getting together and enjoying good times.”