The Global ... (from front page 1)
As we traveled this journey, we have nurtured this longing through the years that somehow we could all be together as one. We reached out to classmates in high school, relatives in the family tree, our roots. The movement evolved from our continuous exchange of information with fellow Urdanetanians in our e-forum causing us to realize and accept that indeed, nothing is better than being united in mind and spirit, wherever we may be in the world. Consequently, our e-forum is now populated by more than 900 members from around the world from a measly 75 mostly based in Southern California. We will be the global link bringing together Urdanetanians and families from various parts of the world. We shall strive to become the primary information resource point for members and member associations globally.
We have adopted the carabao or “nuang” to characterize our Urdaneta virtues of strength, determination, patience, perseverance and dedication. We cherish our Filipino family values of love, respect and honor. We embrace courage, integrity and loyalty as tenets to live by throughout our daily lives. We have adopted our favorite songs to listen to, Lean on Me, If We Hold on Together, We are the World, Bridge Over Troubled Waters and Impossible Dream. We have established our global e-paper, The Urdaneta Voice, for the benefit of all of us, our families and friends to destroy all physical barriers among ourselves. The editorial board has been formed by our publisher/editors, Elpidio Reasonda Estioko and Lino Franco Caringal, Jr.
Our next phase is the organization and rightfully so, leaders in various parts of the world have responded to the natural calling of unity and fellowship among Urdanetanians. We have commitments from the Philippines, our northern neighbors of Canada, particularly in Vancouver, Ontario and Toronto, East Coast, Midwest, California, West Coast in United States, Melbourne in Australia, Rome and Milan in Italy, Vienna in Austria, London in United Kingdom, Paris in France and French Polynesia, Japan, Spain and Asia. Our Consultative Committee on Global Urdanetanians (CCGU) has accepted the challenges
in the formation of our global organization. We have laid the foundation and defined our concrete vision that will guide and bind us together. Our vision is to have a global community of Urdanetanians sharing common goals and sentiments in propagating the Filipino culture all over the world. Our mission is to provide a forum of ideas and information through the e-forum and the e-publication; to promote brotherhood, sisterhood, and fellowship; and to engage in development and special projects, thereby contributing to a successful and meaningful life of the Global Urdanetanian. In the pursuit of our vision and mission we will inculcate in ourselves the Urdaneta virtues. Armed with such virtues, we are ready for the path that lay ahead. So far, we have made substantial gains and significant progress in our tasks. We will achieve our complete essence when we shall have finalized the drafting of our by-laws
There are more mountains to climb and challenges to hurdle. We will persevere, endure the hardships and stand the test of time. We shall eternally hold on to hope and shall dare to keep our dream alive. For as long as we have hope and our dream lives on, we shall overcome and The Global Urdanetanians could be a lasting reality. Sail on … our time has come to shine!
Yesterday Once More….
By Yvonne San Juan-Sera, UCHS ‘73
When I came to America, The Original Urdanetanians (TOU) was a part of the household. My sister Bing Mateo and mom Alegria San Juan were busy preparing food for potluck every time. They used to tag along with them and enjoyed dancing in their functions. It is in these events that I get to see family and friends from Urdaneta. Reminiscence…
The now President Mr. Lino Caringal, Jr. expanded the group and reached more town mates globally. The The Global Urdanetanians (TGU) was born. Our town mates who are stars in their own galaxies around the world, are nostalgic of their childhood, eager to communicate with town mates, yearning for information about their yesteryears…what has happened to him? Does she still look beautiful? Aha, The Urdaneta Voice (TUV) is the link to those longings. It’s Yesterday Once More.
Yes, the days of brainstorming for the mission, vision, organization name and theme, brought me to Urdaneta once more. Those innocent years of a child, roaming around the town plaza, biking, chewing sugar cane (agus-us ti unas), buying tupig, falling in line for grilled corn, or warm tugi and binatog. Hmmm, recalling the delicious food really makes me homesick and long for Yesterday Once More.
The town plaza, vaguely I remember Dr. Jose Rizal’s monument fronting a basketball court. The vivid image of my brother and cousins playing basketball and my father as the referee come into view. And the town fiesta come the “ber” months bring back the nights that I go there and play my favorite game “shooting”, riding the galung-galong or ferries wheel, and playing the “kulog-kulog” which costs from 1 – 10 centavos. And those elementary school dance competitions where we line up in the sprawling grounds of Urdaneta Elementary School waiting for our turn to show our months’- practiced folk dance. Oh, Yesterday Once More.
The walk on the wooden bridge to Urdaneta Community High School or even travelling in a tricycle which can accommodate five ladies inside it’s hood, two sitting on the lap of other ladies and one on the tiny seat on the side. Remember the ice cream sandwich? The “infront”- snacks i.e. pancit in a bun? The Pangasinan Student Leadership and Press Conferences, after which, I get suitors from different towns, ooh-la-la. And the good looking grade school classmates standing “in front” of the high school just to take a glimpse of their dream girl. Yes, our batch is full of beautiful ladies and handsome gentlemen. We have the Amalia Fuentes, the Susan Roces, the George Clooney or Brad Pitt or even Pau Gasol. The batch of Urdaneta Elementary (Central) School 1969 and Urdaneta Community High School 1973 can actually produce it’s own reality show, “Yesterday Once More”.
“All my best memories come back clearly to me, some can even make me cry. Just like before, it’s Yesterday Once More”
Grand Reunion...(from page 6)
Posthumous awards were given to Josefina Caringal-de la Cruz, class valedictorian, '64 and Jesse Daligdig, class salutatorian '77. An inspirational message was also delivered by ex-congressman Mark Cojuanco, on behalf of wife, incumbent congresswoman Kimi Cojuanco of the 5th District of Pangasinan. He cited plans of the congresswoman Kimi to pursue the building of 30 meter-wide by-pass road from North of the Urdaneta Sacred Heart Hospital and traversing San Vicente West, Mabanogbog, Sta. Lucia and Sto. Domingo. This 900 M peso project will ease heavy traffic in the city proper and minimize flooding as the road will be built with parallel drainage system that will ultimately drain to the Macalong river system, the main river tributary in Urdaneta.
To perk up the occasion, valuable prizes were raffled off during the night. Live music, to the delight to the dancing alumni, was provided by EC Jammers Orchestra, provided by Ex-Congressman Mark Cojuanco and Congresswoman Kimi Cojuanco.
Name the paper ...(from page 1) Elpidio R. Estioko, UCHs '65; Lino Caringal, Jr, UCHS '66 (abstained from voting); Fe Gonzales, Sepulveda, OLLA '63; Gabe dela Cruz, DWA '90; and Jerry May Banaga, DWA '76. The contest ran for one month and a half.
We did it!
Congratulations and cheers to all Urdanetanians!
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