A REUNION CRUISE FOR THE BGHSN CLASS OF 1962

Planning for the class of ’62 reunion cruise started in late 2006. The coordination of the event was facilitated by Evelyn Garcia Manese. She selected the itinerary and cruise ship rates that offered the most value for the money and worked with Princess Cruise Lines for suitable berthing accommodations for those who were traveling alone or with family members.

She also negotiated with the dining supervisor so that the entire reunion group of 36 could be seated in adjacent tables for dinner during the entire cruise; provided helpful pre-cruise suggestions as well as on-board recommendations for land excursions; and was a resource person who was generally available during the entire voyage to answer questions and to ensure that everyone had a fun time.

Sixteen members of the Baguio General Hospital school of Nursing (BGHSN) Class of 1962 enjoyed an exciting, fun-filled class reunion cruise of the Eastern Caribbean from May 20 to 27, 2007 on board the Caribbean Princess. The 16 classmates, whose individual pictures are featured on this webpage, included: Nena Tuliao La Putt (Honolulu); Lita Padilla Nerona, Amy Macam Mendoza, Evelyn Garcia Manese (San Diego); Lita Castillo Legaspi and Edith Bautista Francisco (Los Angeles); Luz Perena Dazo (Sacramento); Lydia Cachola Rimando (Bay Area) Acela Llanes Cruz (Florida), Nemy Natanauan Gopez and Zeny Glorioso Marcelo (Virginia); Elsie Diaz Aguila (New Jersey); Jessie Ducusin (Canada); Petite Tolentino Quinol and Norie Delizo Tamisin (Illinois); and Mary Lamen Omaweng (Michigan).

With their spouses, relatives and friends, the reunion group was comprised of 36 individuals. From the time they saw each other in Fort Lauderdale and continuing for the duration of the 7-day cruise, the classmates reminisced about their BGH days, shared nostalgic stories and exchanged jokes on the way to renewing past friendships or establishing new ones. The camaraderie and spirit of kinship among the classmates was contagious: spouses, friends and relatives quickly caught on and spontaneously joined in the bonding experience.

Because of time zone differences between Florida and their points of origin, some members of the reunion group flew to Fort Lauderdale a day early, on May 19. Quite a few stayed in the same hotel and for them, the reunion festivities and bonding experiences started over dinner on the 19th and at breakfast the following day. From Fort Lauderdale and after two days at sea, the itinerary took the group to St. Maarten.

The group participated in two organized tours: one group went to the Marigot (French capital) butterfly farm while the other went to see highlights of both French and Dutch sections of the island. Part of the latter tour included a two-hour sojourn at the Boo Boo Jam beach where the classmates hung out in a cabana telling stories and funny jokes while some of the spouses surveyed the clothing-optional section of the beach, later reporting on their eye-popping experiences with mischievous and silly smiles on their faces.

The next port of call was St. Thomas, capital of the U S Virgin Islands. One group took in an organized tour provided by the cruise line while the rest of the group went to town to take advantage of shopping for souvenirs and duty-free items to take home. One highlight of the organized tour was the skyride to Paradise Peak where one could get a panoramic view of the Charlotte Amalie Harbor, its blue crystalline waters and the stunning mountain scenery. While at this port of call, the classmates presented Evelyn a duty-free gift at dinner time to show their appreciation for the time she dedicated to coordinating the reunion event.

After a day at sea, the last port of call was Princess Cays, a private island resort in the Bahamas used exclusively by Princess Cruise Lines. The ship was anchored 2-3 miles from shore and up to 150 passengers at a time were ferried to the island using the ship’s tenders or lifeboats. For first-time cruisers, the use of the ship’s tenders as a mode of transport added to the variety of their holiday. The group enjoyed the sandy white beaches, the clear and warm waters of the Caribbean as well as different water sports. A delightful and sumptuous barbecue lunch was prepared and served by the ship’s crew. In this remote island of the Bahamas, the lunch was enjoyed and cherished with pleasure. Many photos were taken of the group in their swimwear and water gear.

There were two formal evenings during the 7-day voyage when cruisers got dressed to the nines and our reunion group used the occasions to have group photos taken by the ship’s professional photographers. Using high-end camera equipment, the group’s own Jun Natanauan took pictures that captured many facets of our holiday. The ship’s Atrium and grand lobby provided the background for these photos.

One widely held lore of cruising has to do with the food and great cuisine on board. Caribbean Princess did not disappoint. The group feasted on 5-course dinners that included Alaskan crab legs, rack of lamb, steak and lobster, various seafood and pasta dishes and decadent desserts. By special request, we had one Filipino dish served every evening in addition to what was on the regular menu. Five members of the group celebrated their birthdays: the ship provided the cakes, the group sang the Happy Birthday song and cameras clicked away to capture the moment. Because Evelyn regarded the reunion as a grand party, each member of the reunion group was given party favors. Dinners provided many photo opportunities, some taken with Luis and George our dining room stewards and with Carlos, the dining room supervisor.

Breakfast and lunch were served on a sit-down basis in one of the dining rooms or buffet style in the Horizon Restaurant on Deck 15. In both venues, food was plentiful, varied, appetizing and well presented. Some members availed themselves of the 24-hour room service while others took in the afternoon high tea in which hors d’oeuvres, canapés, petit fours, and tarts were served by crew members attired in tuxedos and white gloves. It was not unusual for the group to end the day with a snack at the Horizon Restaurant where they continued to catch up on many lively stories and funny jokes.

As Evelyn noted in her October 2006 letter to classmates soliciting expressions of interest in a class reunion, a cruise holiday offers many notable features. Cruise ships are floating hotels that offer first class accommodations, excellent food, Broadway-like entertainment, games of chance (casino gambling and bingo), exotic ports of call and a wide range of land excursions. We unpack once, don’t have to worry about driving, finding parking spots or designated drivers, have a wide range of choices about what we do or don’t do with our time and have ready access to many ship amenities/activities within walking distance of our stateroom. These features of a cruise holiday provided the twin benefits of giving the group more quality time to interact with each other and of adding a great deal of variety to their cruise experience.

The Captain’s log indicated that the Caribbean Princess traveled a total of 2202 nautical miles along the Eastern Caribbean, with three ports of call and three days at sea. The reunion group traveled additional miles, along many memory lanes that spanned continents and many years. As memories of this reunion recede into the past and everyone returns to their regular routine, a variation of the TV ad for Master Card summarizes what everyone felt at journey’s end ... Airfare for our reunion = X dollars; Price for our cruise = Y dollars; The good times and memories of our reunion = Priceless!