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SPU Manila INTER-OFFICE BULLETIN

Vol. VIII No. 95 13 February 2017

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ATTY. BENITA MARASIGAN SANTOS REMEMBERED

Atty. Benita Marasigan-Santos, St. Paul University Manila Caritas Christi

Centennial Awardee, was fondly remembered by family and friends at a

Memorial Mass on the fortieth day after her passing, 11 February 2017. The

memorial was organized by the St. Paul Manila Alumni Foundation, Inc.

(SPMAFI), led by its President, Sherry Lara-Alingod.

The Mass was officiated by Fr. Michael Martin, Parish Priest

of Malate Church and longtime friend of Atty. Santos (Ate

Bening). The SPU Manila Chorale, conducted by Sr. Ma.

Anunciata Sta. Ana, SPC, sang during the Eucharistic

Celebration.

After the Mass, Mrs. Marionette Martinez announced that

the daughters of Ate Bening, Sylvia Pineda and Corina

Unson, are donating P25,000.00 to support one Senior High

School student. She took the opportunity to launch the AB

Scholarship Fund under the H.O.P.E. Ablaze Program of the university.

Corina then thanked the attendees on behalf of the family.

A simple reception followed the Mass.

We reprint a post by Sylvia on her mom’s memorial, which is

an inspiring read for all Paulinians.

February 11, 2017. Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. 40th Day

Death Anniversary of my mom ❤️. The St. Paul Alumnae

Association, through MOM, Marionette O. Martinez, graciously offered a Memorial Mass for her in

her beloved St. Paul. There we gathered for a Mass officiated by one of my mom's favorite

Columban priest, Father Michael Martin. He had a beautiful homily that put together the physical

healing miracles through the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes and the "physical and spiritual

healing" of a personal project of my mom...one of the ideas that just popped into her head

several years ago. Every Saturday, to entice the children from the Aurora Quezon Elementary

School in Malate to have some catechism classes, she had bread with a little “palaman” and

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juice prepared for them. The children attend the morning Mass, spend a half hour or so to listen

to catechism lessons from the parish catechist (with small prizes for giving the right answers

after the lessons), then partake of the bread and juice she sends to the church. The project

rolled off and then they had to "group" the children...one Saturday for Grades 1 and 2, etc. My

mom started with 50 pieces of bread in sandwich bags. Then it grew to 100 bags every

Saturday. And my sister Corina and I promised to continue this last special project of hers.

Oh, but I digressed...because I cannot help but remember my mom in the same way...as Father

Martin related.

Anyway, we were joined by the alumnae and Sister Anunciata's beautiful choice of songs also

beautifully sung by the College Glee Club. A special bonus was the attendance of the two

families my mom stayed with whenever she went to the States...which was almost every year

for a period of about four months...for continuous treatment of her eyesight. Her eye doctor, Dr.

Felipe Tolentino, and his wife, Tita Flora from Boston, who have adopted my mom as family. And

cousin Melchor Hernandez and his wife Remy Hernandez and their family in New Jersey...where

my mom stayed in between eye treatments. How perfect is God's timing that these two "US

based families of my mom" would be in Manila on this the 40th day of her passing!!!

Again, we thank St. Paul for honoring our mom by allowing us to hold her wake in the school's

Founders Hall...and again celebrate her 40th Day Anniversary in this school she loved so much.

As Mrs. Martinez said...St. Paul is 105 years old...and my mom went to school there at five

years old. Then she taught there and was the Legal Counsel of the school. But her most

important legacy to the school...after the carpet bombing of Manila in 1945, the only structure

that remained standing in most of Malate was the facade of the College Chapel...the Crucified

Christ. And the nuns did not know how to start again. My mom said she will help them…and with

the passion that fills her when she wants something done, she worked that the school received

funds from the War Reparations Commission...and St. Paul was rebuilt from the ashes. My mom

died a few months short of 99 years old. And yes, how intertwined her life was with her beloved

St. Paul. ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

Ate Bening’s family

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SPU MANILA REP IS TOP PAULINIAN STUDENT

Christian Geo Molina, senior BM student of the SPU Manila College of Music and the Performing

Arts, was adjudged one of the Top Paulinian Students in this year’s SOP. The finals of the

search was held in St. Paul University Iloilo. Geo is well known for his skill in playing the cello as

a member of the SPU Manila String Ensemble.

Geo with Sr. Evangeline … and the other four SOP winners

AB SCHOLARSHIP FUND

The AB Scholarship Fund, which was launched on 11 February 2017, is a fund-raising endeavor

under the SPU Manila H.O.P.E. Ablaze Program. Initiated last month, the fund has already

received the following donations/pledges: AB 1967 (led by Maria Banatao)-P50,000.00; Sylvia

(AB 1968) and Corina Santos (AB 1974)-P25,000.00; MOM (AB 1958)-P25,000.00; Betty Ann

Besa-Quirino (AB 1977)-P25,000.00; Cora Oriel (AB 1984)-P25,000.00; Lydia Boston-Ilomin (AB

1969)-P5,000.00; and AB 1982 (led by Elaine Gardiner)-P10,000.00.

In a related story, Betty Ann is donating the proceeds of the sale of her latest cookbook to the

fund. Following is her press release:

Paulinian Alumna Donates Cookbook Profits to H.O.P.E.

If you love a sweet ending to meals, then the cookbook, How to Cook Philippine

Desserts, Cakes and Snacks, is for you. Elizabeth Ann Besa-Quirino, author,

award-winning journalist and recipe developer of the popular blog, Asian In

America, presents 30 all-time favorite Filipino desserts transformed from

traditional heirloom recipes into modern treats in her American kitchen.

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Even sweeter, to honor her late mother, Lulu Reyes-Besa, a

recipient of the Outstanding Paulinian Awardee, author Betty Ann,

as she is fondly called, is donating proceeds from the sale of her

cookbook to the H.O.P.E. Program of St. Paul University. The

program provides scholarships for high school students from

public schools to pursue a college education.

The author’s mother, was an SPU alumna. Lulu Reyes-Besa, was

awarded the United States of America’s Medal of Freedom in 1947

for acts of heroism during World War II. She founded the YLAC

(Young Ladies of Association Charities) to initiate religious

education be taught in public schools. Mrs. Besa was also awarded the Ozanam Award by the

Ateneo University and the Papal Award Order of the Holy Sepulcher.

Her daughter, Betty Ann was born and raised in Tarlac, Philippines. She graduated from SPU, AB

Communication Arts ’77. Betty Ann channeled her love for sweets in these heritage recipes from

her mother, Lulu, when she moved to America. There are over 30 mouth-watering full color

dessert photos for every recipe. This nearly 100-page cookbook features recipes of

classic kakanins (rice cakes), cakes, cookies, pastries, and a beverage. Available on Amazon in

paperback or Amazon kindle format.

LOOKING BACK…

Academic and Cultural Exchange Program between St. Paul University Manila

and Shirayuri Women’s College in Sendai and Shirayuri University

The Academic and Cultural Exchange Program between St. Paul University Manila and Shirayuri

Women’s College in Sendai and Shirayuri University Midorigaoka, Japan was held on November

17-26, 2016. The exchange program was initiated by Sr. Flordeliza Deza, SPC (Director,

International Relations Office and Language Development Center) in 2008 with the Sendai

Shirayuri Women’s College managers and administrators.

The objectives of the 10-day academic and cultural exchange to Japan were for the participants

to: 1) continue bonds of friendship between Sendai Shirayuri Women’s College and Shirayuri

University, Midorigaoka, Japan and SPU Manila and deepen appreciation of their common

Paulinian identity; 2) widen knowledge of Japanese history, life, and traditions; and 3) enrich

academic nursing Experience of students through exposure to different health facilities and

immersion in a Japanese community or a Filipino community in a Japanese cultural setting.

The eight students and one faculty member program participants had exposure to local history

and culture and the life of the Japanese community or Filipino community in a Japanese cultural

setting. The group was able to meet up with the Philippine community in Sendai and to get a

glimpse of the pastoral services provided by the Catholic Church to the Filipinos living and

working in Japan. Tour, orientation, and exposure to Tokushukai Hospital and Caritas No Oka

Elderly Home in Sendai were the highlights of the program for the future nurses. Other activities

included visits to the SPC sister schools, in particular, City Sendai Shirayuri Womens College,

Shirayuri Gakuen, and Shirayuri University in Tokyo; city tours in Sendai and Tokyo; and of

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course, food trips, a bit of shopping, the famous Shibuya area, Tokyo subway, meeting with a

nursing clinical instructor currently an exchange faculty to Japan, Ms. Mary Ann Pascual; and not

the fun-filled day in Tokyo Disney Sea!

ALUMNAE GATHERINGS

High School 1954

Lunch for Mina Lara-Armstrong

6 February 2017

Seated: Medy Alparce, Irma Guison,

Mina, Chuchay Nepomuceno.

Standing: MOM, Eling Reynoso,

Darle Zamuco, Cora de Leon,

and Stella Cagampan.

AB-CA 1979

Mini-Reunion

9 February 2017

Lori Cordero-Lopez, Eva Martinez-Aguilar,

Myra Nepomuceno, Joy Manalac,

and Susan Obispo Valdez.

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SPU Manila High School 1970

Pilgrimage—Shrine of Padre Pio

and Mary Mediatrix of Grace in Batangas

4 February 2017

High School 1968

Get-Together for Joy Ruiz, Molleston

Home of Pinky Sy-Narciso

Tet Alcid, Mita Gutierrez, Pinky,

Cho-Cho Que, Malou Sanchez, Joy,

Roxanne Espino, Louie Andal,

and Malu Reyes

High School 1961

Birthday Lunch-8 February 2017

High School 1965

First Quarter

Birthday

Celebration

St. Paul Makati

11 February 2017