Gov. Espino extols PNHS alumni
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – The alumni of the Pangasinan National High School (formerly provincial) converged at Las Vegas last month for their 3rd Biennial Grand Reunion and were extolled by Gov. Amado Espino Jr.
The governor, in his keynote speech read by Mario Panoringan, founding-chairman of the PNHS-USA at the reunion held at the Hilton Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, called on the overseas Pangasinenses to sustain and support projects initiated during his first term in office.
He urged them to work with him and defy the existing and long-established mores, traditions and practices that have caused the province to retard and stagnate over the years.
“I have laid the solid foundation for long term and sustainable development. Now we are ready to attract big investments and undertake more strategic ventures”, Espino said as he announced that several groups of foreign investors have signified their plans to invest in Pangasinan.
Extolling the alumni of the first public high school in the province as ‘shinning examples of solid educational foundation’, he described the reunion as a gathering of global Filipinos who have excelled in various fields of endeavor and carrying well their basic identity and character as full-blooded Pangasinenses.
The first reelected governor to score a lopsided victory in the recent polls, Espino praised the hard-working alumni for their success and attributed it to the solid foundation in education they acquired from their alma mater.
He assured the alumni that the provincial government under his watch will continue serving the people with renewed vigor and determination at pursuing the vision for Pangasinan and make the province a truly number one in the country.
The three-day celebration kicked-off with the traditional Founder-Chairman’s Luncheon attended by 250 alumni representing 30 batches some of flew in from Australia, Canada, Germany, the Philippines. One of the prominent alumni who arrived for the occasion was 2nd District Representative-elect, Leopold Bataoil of Class 1970.
Capping the affair was the awarding of the Founder-Chairman’s Medal of Honor by Fely Abarabar-Quiteves in her capacity as chair of the 2010 reunion, to Leonardo J Galvez and Lydia Pioquinto, both former PNHS faculty members.
Classes ’58, ’63, ’65, ’67 and ’69 were cited for their role and involvement in the “Adopt-A-Classroom-Program” including the renovation of some school buildings of their alma mater.
Other prominent alumni include former President Fidel Valdez Ramos, former Senator Geronima “Imay” Pecson, former Central Bank Governor Gabriel Singson, former Energy Secretary Francisco Viray, the late Dr Pedro T Orata, Father of Barrio High Schools in the Philippines and a Ramon Magsaysay Foundation awardee. –(LJGalvez, LA Correspondent)
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
