The PCSAA: Who We Are

Several years after its humble beginnings in June 1912, students who graduated from Paco Catholic School started to get together in informal groups and sought ways to translate into reality visions of selfless service passed on by their elders in the School.

Soon, reunions were held yearly through the efforts of active graduates even when there was no formal organization of pre-war and post-war graduates to begin with.

As the number of graduates grew over the years, the reunion "regulars" decided to form an organization to plan the annual PCS homecoming. Braulio Andal, Ramon Duque, Justo Ma. Cascante Jr. '40, Eduardo Jurisprudencia Sr., Maria de la Paz Arizabal, and Maximo Cinco Jr. played key roles in these initial efforts. Mr. Cascante served as its first president.

At that time, the group's efforts were geared towards making each homecoming a success.

Annual homecoming during the fifties became a whole day event of fun and games for the graduates with alumni of different years competing in basketball, volleyball, and various parlor games. The day-long affair then began at nine in the morning with the registration of participants. High attendance of PCS graduates lent a festive mood to the affair as they joyfully cheered for their classmates' team during competitions. Luncheon would see former classmates gathered together in groups talking of past experiences and sharing present-day happening among them. Highlight of the affair was the awarding of prizes to winners in the different competitive games.

The homecoming event was usually closed by the annual election of officers to the alumni board, the results of which were published in the school paper the following week.

Other activities included an open house, mass for the alumni, and inter-actions with guest speakers among which were Minister Jose Leido, Senator Benigno Aquino and columnist Max Soliven.

The PCSAA Reborn

Like other associations, PCSAA had low moments. Twice in the past, members' participation was so insignificant that the organization would have lapsed into a coma if not for the efforts of active alumni.

Sometime in 1979, Paconians mostly belonging to Class 1964 met several times to try to revive the sagging association. After much struggle, the group pushed through with the homecoming within the year and called on all fellow alumni in their efforts.

The core group was composed of Dan Hidalgo, Pepito Milan, Ed Santos, Ed Bondoc, Freddie Lim, Bobby Policarpio, Dodo Montemayor, Doming Ongsangsoy, and Conrad Diez. They were joined by Max Cinco, Linda Wijsekara, Boy Alvarez, Lilian Munsayac Sarte, Lito Manahan, Tony Gamboa, Claro Arriola '61, and Melu Castro-Ocampo (+). Past PCSAA presidents Sonia Saldivar and Lito Janolo were consulted every now and then. After the homecoming, an organizing committee was formed which for six months laid the groundwork for the general assembly of all class representatives from Class 1931 to 1981.

The general assembly was finally held last June 7, 1981 and the new board that it elected was tasked with initiating long-range programs for the Association. The first of such efforts was TAMPISAWAN '81, a variety show held at the Coral Ballroom of the Manila Hilton along United Nations Avenue in Ermita last August 2, 1981.

The Association filed its Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on October 13, 1981 and was duly registered on November 18, 1981 under SEC Registration Number 101922. Its incorporators and members of the Board of Directors came from the organizing committee formed earlier. They were Justo Ma. Cascante Jr. '39, Rafael Villabona Jr., Claro Arriola '61, Dr. Virgilio Gonzales '53, Fe Dellosa, Joselito Cinco '72, Max Cinxo Jr., Angel de Leon, Dan Hidalgo '64, Reynaldo A. Mones '71, Joselito Ponce, Dionisio Almare Jr., Felipe Alacar, Marie Gerardine Estrada '76, and Angeline Gonzales '76. Its By-Laws was subsequently amended to reflect the increase in membership dues and was approved by SEC on July 20, 1994.