Guest BlogPost from Nanette Rose Cabusas-Yatco

Hi Joe,

I also studied at DPS from 1964-1972 (kinder to 2nd year high school) but transferred to CNHS so that's where I graduated from High school. I never lost contact though with my classmates from DPS-LACO. My sister Edna Cabusas is two years younger than you I guess and my brother Cocong is 2 years older than I am. I read your blog and I enjoyed reading it. It brought back memories of school days at DPS and I'm amazed at how vividly I still could remember how the classrooms looked like, the library, the laboratory room and I also remember how good your batchmate Ed Canela was back then.. it's easy to recognize him, the science whiz of your time. Also I think you were one of those who were very active in the student council (am I right?) I remember the Venida sisters as we have a Venida in our batch too.. Mendy is the sister of another classmate of mine. Marybeth Regalario is so pretty it's hard to miss her. Anabel is visible in Daet as she was active at the church choir (I'm not sure if she till is). Fechie is also the sister of our classmate Alex.


I don't know why I could clearly remember up to now some familiar names and faces and school activities when actually we were still in grade school at the time your batch graduated.

I remember the convocations, the spelling , oratorical and singing contests. I remember the campaigns for the student council . Also the science fair. We had all sorts of memorable school activities like plays, rosary parade... I think there was also this animal parade.Halloween was well- celebrated too. Our creativities were challenged in the costumes and the classroom decorations during that affair.We also had programs during th UN celebration and we see those chosen to represent the countries of their choice in their very colorful costumes.

I even recall seeing the COCC initiations for the qualifying of WAS and ROTC officers. I saw there one student who was asked to eat sili and her face was all red from the anghang. Also there were school bands which we call "Combo" back then.Basketball was also very "in" that time and were there cheering squads?

Our biggest celebration was "Foundation Day" and Msgr. Reganit was the main character being given recognition. We would always as kids anticipate the "alamusa" of money and candies on that day.

I also remember the houses which were in the school campus where we used to pass by . They were the Alarcon and Bordado homes. We used to have merienda at the Alarcon's and we would rent "komiks" like Liwayway and Hiwaga.

Anybody of you remember Pipo the dog that the nuns took care of ?

You mentioned Ms Ayubo, I also remember her teaching piano (and ballet too?). And Mr. Idnani.... I remember hearing some of my sister's classmates singing... " A song of loyalty....bagsak sa history.... binagsak ni Idnani.


We had our 30th grand reunion last December 2004 and we had the chance to visit our Alma Mater too. MS. Nora was still there and Ms.Segui now Mrs Lunario didn't seem to age that much.If you know Ms. Carmelita Pena, she is my aunt.Ms. Penalosa came home from the US too to attend our class reunion. The school doesn't look the same although there was still a part that they haven't renovated yet. The memories though still echoes in our minds.

Reunions always bring back good old flashes of yesterday and it still gives us that unexplainable feeling that brings smile on our faces. And when classmates meet again....... no one really feels old . It's as if you''re always taken back in time and you feel like you're in that era again don't you agree? You forget that you've aged and in your mind you're still the same boy or girl back in school where most of the foundations for the future came from.

By the way, I happen to have a copy of the year book of your batch. I even made a sketch of the old DPS building because my classmate Ana Cootauco-Olaivar ( Class1974) requested me to do it for her, and Agnes Aquino -Tan used that sketch in their class website.One of my cousins gave it to me and have kept it. I saw your batch pictures.... . such beautiful and handsome faces. I've wanted to scan them so I can send it to your batch in case you don't have a copy but right now I couldn't find it. I'm quite sure though that one among your batch of saved it and have shown them to you during your reunion.

Nannette Rose Cabusas-Yatco