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A Merry Christmas, a Ruby and Golden Year
On December 6, 2002, Sigma Deltans began arriving early on in the evening. It didn’t take long before the Camellia Room at Dusit Hotel Nikko in Makati was packed with sisters attending the Year-End General Membership Meeting and Christmas Fellowship held in honor of Sigma Delta Phi’s Ruby and Golden Jubilarians.
Maybe it was because of the season. But more probably it was because so many sisters hadn’t seen each other in years, and the occasion was a welcome reunion. Whatever the reason, the place was filled with good cheer and the sound of Sigma Deltans exchanging stories and updates on each other’s lives.
Ces Drilon ’80 was Program Host for the night and the program began with an Invocation by Fellowship Committee Chair Ligaya L. Tankeh ’50, who also gave the opening remarks after dinner. Linda C. Gamboa ’61, Board Chair & President of the SDP Alumnae Association, welcomed the sisters and presented the Accomplishment Report for 2002.
As the evening progressed, the Sigma Delta Phi Alumnae Association presented sisters with various awards:
- Presidential Tokens
- Celia D. Laurel ’48
- Nenet L. Arambulo ’53
- Clarita P. Dragon ’63
- Tina V. Turalba ’62
- Mayvelyn dD. Gose ’61
Presented by Sis Linda ’61 and First VP Atty. Maripaz T. Chua ’67; assisted by SDPAA Corresponding Secretary Tanya S.R. Cruz ’92 and Recording Secretary Nadja B. Buenafe ’94
- Honors for Ruby Jubilarians
Presented by 3rd VP Baby S. Olivar ’69, Treasurer Michelle M. Antonio ’69, and PRO Evelyn P. Aliling ’69
- Special Recognition: Framers of the SDPAA Inc. Charter
- Josie T. Lichauco ’53
- Lilia R. Bautista ‘52
Presented by Sis Linda ’61 and Sis Ligaya ‘50
- Special Testimonial Honors (posthumous)
- Betty Mary Go-Belmonte '52, received by Hon. Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Mayor of Quezon City, on behalf of the Belmonte Family
Presented by Sisters Linda ’61, Maripaz ’67, and Ligaya ‘50
- Honors for Golden Jubilarians
Presented by Sis Linda ’61 and 2nd VP Lena P. Lubi ’66
- Golden Jubilee Tokens
Presented by Charito Planas ’50, who was Grand Archon when Batch ’52 was inducted, Sisters Baby ‘69, Michelle ‘69, Evelyn ‘69, and Liason Officer Vee Sese ’62
Batch ’52 was given a further treat – an audio-visual presentation on batch ’52, directed by Ida F. Vargas ’73.
As part of the evening’s celebration, 2002 Grand Archon of SDP UP Diliman Dinggay Gaston ’99, and Grand Archon of SDP UP Los Banos presented the new sisters of batch 2002 to the alumnae, who were more than happy to welcome them.
Three inspirational messages on the motto, “Cor unum via una” were delivered – Decades of 30s-50s, “One in Mind” from Justice Rizalina B. Vera ’46, Decades of 60s-90s, “One in Spirit” from Atty. Malu R. Raval ’71, and The New Millenium, “One in Heart” from Grand Archon Dinggay Gaston.
Of course, a gathering of Sigma Deltans is never complete without performances. Selected alumnae and residents enjoyed themselves while rendering special entertainment and surprise numbers.
Sis Maripaz ’67 closed the program with a few remarks. But the evening was hardly over. Before going home, sisters won raffle prizes, danced till they were exhausted, drank wine, and wished each other a very Merry Christmas.
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