Remembering the Excellent NDTCians
Posted on Sunday, 7 December 2014
REMEMBERING
THE EXCELLENT NDTCians
…for the forthcoming NDTC Great Alumni AFFAIR ( As
Far and Fair As I can Remember)/27December2014
By
Felizardo Lazado
The Notre Dame of Tacurong was
born when I was two in 1950.
Her birth, however, came four
years after the Philippines has gained her independence from America in 1946.
Signifying a closer look beyond the shadow of these three events which all
surprisingly came evenly and successively on the face of local history - the
Philippine independence in 1946, my birth in 1948 and NDT's birth in 1950
implies oddity as odd years came following after each event brought fresh
breath of freedom to the Filipinos in 1947, a fresh breath of new life to me as
I was almost lost by my family due to severe illness in 1949 and a fresh breath
of hope to NDT as it unfolded the red carpet in 1951 to welcome her future
alumni, the first batch of which came in 1954. …101 ? only ?.
There may be hundreds more of
other alumni who are far greater than the ones I’m about to mention, or there
is still someone who stands the greatest of all - but sorry, my crystal ball
failed to flash their pretty and handsome faces when I was preparing this
piece.
Randomly, here we go: One
pre-silver jubilarian - Ben Eliseo
was Tita Cory's appointed Mayor of Tacurong during the yellow revolution in
1987. An heir to a vast Garcia Estate -Antonio
Garcia has left the same sizable
estate to his son Erwin Garcia. The
Garcia Estate runs synonymous to palm oil industry in Central Cotabato. Morito Parcon probably the first NDTCian
to enter UPcampus, his body shall be claimed by UP College of Medicine when he
dies.
Alfonso
Jerez, the
insurance king and Danzie Buenacosa
an entrep prince had once stood famous for their talking voice. The Voice of
Democracy national silver medalist, Arturo
Llavore was noted in oratory. Banker turned entrep Rodrigo Victorio walk hand-in-hand with son Dubert Victorio as they walk the AMWAY . Dubert as ABC President joined the City Council of Tacurong. Carlo Romero and Gideon Carnaje grabbed
the first gold for NDTCBHS in erstwhile Notre Dame Quiz on the Air, while Phill Penaflor set the record in the
entire NDEA as he was twice champion in the NDEA academic contest.
Late in 1965, barely a freshman Diosdado Pedral was teamed up with Rhodora Alcon (Girls Dept,) came as
finalist in the initial staging of Notre Dame Quiz on the Air. Stat instructor Joel Illustracion coached the NDTC
contestants who consistently won the annual stat quiz in the Province of Sultan
Kudarat. Larry Tubalado was the
regional champion in Philippine History contest with DEPED 12.
In government service - local ,
regional and national, here are our great alumni: Ruel Lucentales (RIP) from DSWD Welfare Aide in Tacurong to
Regional Director in Davao to Assistant Secretary of DSWD in Manila was no joke
to tell it all.
Angelo
“Roncal” Montilla
from the Municipal Hall to the House of Representatives was likewise a tough
political journey. He authored the cityhood of Tacurong that made Geronimo Arzagon the first city mayor.
Other siblings of Roncal who claimed the mayoral chair were Lino Montilla, and Lina Montilla in
incumbency. There are two NDT alumni who were elected vice mayor of Tacurong- Dr. Leo Villalobos and Dr. Joseph
Lechonsito also in incumbency (look… both are doctors of medicine). The
Tacurong City Council has been dominated by the NDTC alumni, to mention a few: Rodrigo Jamorabon , Jairus Casipe, Max
Ledda, Jesus Arcillana Max Casador, Benjamin Fajardo, Bonifacio Enitorio,
Federico Seneres Jr. and Virgilo Paredes. VIP (Very Important Personnel) at
the the city hall of Tacurong are NDTCians : Thomas Robles - General Services; Jaime Cedullo - Planning and Development; Eduardo Nicolo – Administration; Elma Bides – Auditing; Nestor
Nomananap-Budget; John Lechonsito
- City Attorney; Rommel Dionela -SP
Secretary; Juney Buenacosa – PNP; Eddie Batchar – Treasury; Dr. Giovanni Deles - City Health
Officer; Lynnie Balino Local
Government Officer (DILG).
Dr.
Domingo Miguel Jacalan
was once elected Vice- Governor of Sultan Kudarat. Other shining alumni: Dr. Efhraim Collado - MHO Lambayong; Jose Tabuga -SKWD Manager; Demetrio Jerez - SUKELCO Manager; Mr. Barron - DOLE Manager; Dr. Benjamin Suedad, Board of
Incorporator Green Hospital; Jimmy
Andang - SP Secretary of the Province of Sultan Kudarat; Bonifacio Valdez - VMC City College
-Owner/Administrator.
NDTC alumni working in the
vineyard of the Lord: Ronnie Torres
soon to be ordained OMI priest; Julius
de Gracia to say his Thanksgiving Mass here in Tacurong; Marlo Horlador (RIP) the first NDTCian
priest; Fr. Joseph Borreros, is the
mission in-charge of the Orthodox Church in Southern Mindanao, with
base-mission in Lake Sebu and Surallah; Bishop
David Salazar covers the Southern Mindanao area of the JIL church. Our very
own Parish Priest is Fr. Robles.
The length and width of
educational landscape has almost been filled up by NDTCians. After serving as
VPA . Dr. Nenita Garcia was joined
by her husband Gaudencio Garcia in
running the first large early learning center in Pres. Quirino. Dr. Rosmalin Arzagon now serves as NDTC
VPA. Merle Baulete is VP for Admin
and Finance, her son-in law Elmer Muyco is
the current Principal of the high school department, Renato Neri runs the institution's Extension Program and NDTC
alumni Affairs; Edgar Gonzales
curates the NDTC Tri-people Musuem.
The public sphere of educational
landscape has Gildo Mosqueda-City
Schools Division Superintendent ,General Santos City; Dr. dela Cruz is Sarangani Division superintendent; Joseph Pilotos is Tacurong Central
District Supervisor; Memvie Alesna -
principal ,EJC Montilla; Freddie
Delantar -Princiapal-VFGNHS; Danilo
Umadhay-Principal-TNHS, Roberto
Leyza-Principal-ENHS; Frank Nawal-Principal
SPCES; Pangi Balubugan-Principal-PQNHS;
Dr. Muhaliddin Suaeb-Aministrative
Officer, SK Division.
Outside Tacurong , we have Renato Hingco Vice President, Bicol University;
Hernanie Carillo-Vice President
-HCCD. Top 50 Filipino entrepeneur greats include one NDTBHS alumnus - Feliciano Juarez of Copylandia
Philippines. He owns the company. Marketing strategist Djolan Lictawa takes charge of 5 signature jeans in the Philippines.
Dr. Remo Aguilar is a multi-talented
physician who organizes lectures on health, a blogger of every event in
Tacurong, an artist, a writer.
In the field of music, art,
culture and technology (IT): Johnny
Garcia is NDTC's Beethoven, Da Vince, and Gates. Dindo Quevada owns QWorks; John
Bernard Fresco owns the FREBROS; Joeph
Glenn Lazado came as the first animator in the city-now handling the
videography of ARKOWA Arts; Melvin
Aradanas and Francisco Torres are the city's favorite emcees. Felix Mendoza became a national -local
coach of Tacurong badminton national players. All CAT oficers in Sultan Kudarat
elected Ron Lazado as President of
the two-week COLT in Isulan. Bernabe
brothers with Ruel, runs the biggest steel and glass works in the city while
the Torrecampo bothers with Jerry,
owns too, the biggest automotive shop in the city. Carlo Casipit won gold in the national secondary press conference
in photo-journalism . His father, Jesusito
Casipit is now the DRAGON King.
Speech power conquers. Allan Rey Lucerna captured the orator's
crown that had long been held by the Cotabato Chinese High School orators in
the Region XII Water District Annual Oratorical competition. Jimmy Tanara won the silver in
Kidapawan and Ron Lazado had his
bronze in General Santos City in the Mindanao-wide Water District oration
contest. Renato Purazon won silver
medal in NDEA Talumpati contest in Marbel. Junel
Bedua also a silver medalist in NDU- NDEA Talumpati. Finally, Gerald Vidal brought home the first
NDTC gold in NDEA Talumpati held at the Notre Dame University.
And also who would ever believe
that it was an NDTC alumnus who was made to speak before the world dignitaries
- ambassadors, consuls, papal nuncio, Philippine cabinet men, legislators,
governors and mayors, government executives and celebrities during the LAST
birthday of the Philippine strongman Ferdinand Marcos at Malacanang Maharlika
Hall. He spoke on the Philipine experience in human settlements. While he was
speaking, Cardinal sin was seated at the right hand of the strong man, his
eyeballs were seemingly twirling as he was looking at me (as if asking me: is
that so?). That was a five-minute speech. The program was emceed by Bert (Tawa)
Marcelo and Pilita Corrales. Vilma Santos was the last celebrity to arrive to
greet Marcos. That alumnus is the by-line of this simple piece….
L
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