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La Sallians, Bon Jovi Share Central Park 
Coalition Picnic attendees, Central Park, July 12, 2008- photo by E. Calupig
A few years ago, the Ateneo alumni chapter in the Northeast USA held its picnic at the Great Hill of Central Park. La Salle's alumni group and Assumption's alumnae chapter, which have held joint picnics over the years, decided last year to try out another section of the Park, the famed Pool, near Central Park West. It was so well received, a slice of country in the city's midst, and so easily reached by public transport, that a repeat at this venue was an easy decision.
This year, during hectic planning for the highly successful Kundirana concert that raised several thousand dollars for Bahay Pag-Asa, Assumption alumnae chapter head Vivian Cruz broached to La Salle chapter president Robert P. De Tagle that the La Salle and Assumption activity be expanded to invite the other schools in the coalition that comprises the alumni association chapters of several Philippine universities and colleges in the Northeast.
And so on Saturday, July 12, 2008, as the weather held up perfectly for the second straight year, the Coalition groups' members came, some soon after 8 am, others around noon, and still more in the afternoon, a diverse group including those from Holy Spirit (or 'Holy Ghost'), St. Scholastica's, Ateneo, and from the UN too. Of course, quite a few brought their kids (or pets). Some, such as those from Maryknoll/Miriam, attended as guests, not knowing that their schools are also part of the Coalition. Now they know.
Attendees came from New York City, Westchester, New Jersey, Washington, DC, Boston, Florida, and even Toronto, as connections were made across schools, classes (or "batches") and regions. There were so many "Are you from….?" "Do you know…?' and "How are you related to…?" comments such that the rule of "six degrees of separation" was clearly in effect.
The Coalition's member chapters in the past have joined ranks on various initiatives with great success, in a spirit of goodwill and camaraderie, such as Bandafest and Bandastiks and of course the first night of the yearly Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado (co-sponsored with the Phil. Cultural Society at the UN), around Dec. 12. This outdoor summer fun was a great opportunity for alumni of these schools, their friends and families to meet again or to make new friends.
The Pool, "one of the most idyllic landscapes in Central Park," delighted the attendees.
"This is cool; it's the first time I've been to Central Park," said Gina, a relatively recent arrival to New York, thrilled that she heard about it through the email, texting and phone call brigade.
The Picnic continued the momentum of the alumni chapter, from president Robert to vp's Frank Jimenez and Nonoy Rafael, treasurer Roy Lim, asst. secretary and 2005 graduate Paolo Barcarse (who was the first in the park that day), and directors Rosalie Divall, Frank Cruz, Ramon Legarda and Eric David, to actively recruit and reconnect with La Sallians in the metro New York area. We added members, just as we did at the other major initiatives, such as the first participation in about a decade of La Salle alumni at the Independence Day Parade down Madison Avenue in June (and whose show featured Randy Santiago, LSGH '79, a year below Robert at Green Hills).
The kids, of course, enjoyed the games laid out by the organizers. Truly a success, just before the "other" big event that day at Central Park, the free concert of Bon Jovi, presented during the Major League Baseball All-Star Weekend celebrating the final year of Yankee Stadium.
The event was coordinated by, in addition to Robert and Vivian, Rosalie Divall of La Salle, Abe Inocentes of Ateneo, Sherri David of St. Scho, and Ilo Wallenstein of Holy Spirit.
Central Park Picnic, Summer 2009? You bet!
For more info, contact DLSAA-East Coast president Robert Perez De Tagle at robnewyork@gmail.com. |
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La Salle East Coast alumni and friends at the Summer Picnic, July 2008 - photo by E. Calupig
Summer in the park with early picnic attendees- photo by E. Calupig
Central Park's The Pool, NYC, photo by Mae Palaci |
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