���Ĵ�ý

By Cyrus A. Natividad

The CPU College of Agriculture Class’78 at the Punta Villa Resort during their 3rd Grand Homecoming.

Forty years after graduating from ���Ĵ�ý College of Agriculture, the CPUCA Class ���Ĵ�ý�78 came together to celebrate their Alumni Association on their 3rd Grand Homecoming. It was held at the well-known Punta Villa Resort in Arevalo, Iloilo City on July 8-9, 2022.

Despite the drizzly weather, many of them were able to arrive from Manila, Mindanao and places where they have mostly employed or established businesses. Some have checked-in the day before. ���Ĵ�ý�Hi���Ĵ�ý�, ���Ĵ�ý�hello���Ĵ�ý� and lots of stories come readily with snacks served after their arrival and registration.

The invocation and singing of the national anthem and ���Ĵ�ý�Central, My Central���Ĵ�ý� was followed by a welcome address by Class Chairman Eugene Glen Paraico. Agnes Martines Caliza made a roll call and recognition of new attendees.

A slide presentation of the departed Batchmates was followed by a moment of silence, and Marieta D. Temporal read ���Ĵ�ý����Ĵ�ý�The Empty Chair���Ĵ�ý����Ĵ�ý�, an inspirational poem about life and reality.
Dr. Blanquita S. Garcia, CPU Cares Alumni President delivered a message to Class ���Ĵ�ý�78 Alumni. In her message, Garcia recalled how agriculture was once a progressive economic foundation of the country (even mentioning Masagana ���Ĵ�ý�99), a program of the elder Marcos administration); then ���Ĵ�ý�as the technology was left to the latter generation-the bountiful basic rice production was taken over by other Asian nations. The country even suffers until now as rice importation is the order of the day.���Ĵ�ý�

���Ĵ�ý�Whatever happened to the development in rice production is a responsibility of the next generation – or what the agricultural technicians and agencies did after that?���Ĵ�ý� She challenged the CPUCA Batch ���Ĵ�ý�78 to continue on promoting Agriculture and make its group a catalyst of change in rice production and technology.���Ĵ�ý�

Lunch was served while the songs ���Ĵ�ý�Then and Now���Ĵ�ý�, ���Ĵ�ý�Yesterday When I was Young���Ĵ�ý�, and ���Ĵ�ý�Batch ���Ĵ�ý�78 On Lock Down���Ĵ�ý� were played in a Video Recall. It was hosted by Josefina A. Magno.
The Business Meeting that followed included a financial report by Merlyn S. Teodoro; Election of the new set of Officers, and ���Ĵ�ý�What���Ĵ�ý�s next for Batch ���Ĵ�ý�78���Ĵ�ý�. Snacks were served at 3:00PM. There were parlor games by Mila Layog. Genedina S. Serofia was the Emcee during the activity.

The dinner was started at 5PM while old favorites of the 60���Ĵ�ý�s, 70���Ĵ�ý�s and 80���Ĵ�ý�s were played. There was a live band and cocktails that followed later on.