HOW THE NEHSAA WAS BORN
The Full Story
MANUEL P. SEVILLA '28 broached the idea of an alumni association in their 45th class reunion at his Pasig residence on April 25, 1976. The members of Class '28 enthusiastically endorsed it. They devoted five months of discussion, meetings and linking with the other alumni persuading them to join.
Their efforts became a reality on October 10, 1976 when 54 chapter members registered to form the Nueva Ecija High School Alumni Association (NEHSAA), with Sevilla as the first head. He and other officers were to serve the association till December 1978. The article of incorporation was drafted by a committee chaired by Lazaro S. Villarosa '36 together with Leopoldo Diaz '31, Pastor Tanchoco '30, Carlos Ferrer '24 and Carlos Oanes '35 as members.
Before his term would end, Maning Sevilla suffered a stroke incapacitating him to serve the association. Joaquin S. Maniego, a board member that time, took over as acting president. Fourteen months after, on June 14, 1981, Conchita Ozaeta '34, the vice-president, was prevailed upon to take over.
On March 22, 1979, NEHSAA was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission with Consuelo V. Asis '28; Jose Bagaybagayan '34;Gregorio Bugarin '36; Francisca M.Carlos '28; Carlos M. Ferrer '24; Primo E. Ferrer '31; Julita V. Gonzales '28; Joaquin S. Maniego '28; Carlos A. Oanes '35; Conchita J. Ozaeta '34; Armando M. Paz '41; Enriqueta G. Rivera '34; Manuel V. Sevilla '28; Pastor Tanchoco '30; and Benjamin Tumangan '28, as incorporators.
The first Baliktipon was held on November 30, 1979. It was when Joaquin Maniego sponsored two landmark resolutions: declaring November 30 as the date of the Board of Directors' annual meeting: and creating a board of representatives from all classes for wider participation and involvement of all alumni. Service awardees during the first Baliktipon 1979 were Maning P. Sevilla, Jack S. Maniego, and Conchita Joson-Ozaeta.
In March 1980, Conchita Ozaeta left the association when she migrated to the USA. For three months thereafter, the board meetings were characterized by a lack of quorum. But in August of 1980, the vice-president, Pablo Salomon '41, was persuaded to take over the presidency.
Salomon himself, together with Manuel "Gabby" Alino '41 and Apolonio Ramos '41, led the alumni in reviving the association. The first fund raising raffle draw chaired by Primo Ferrer, generated P125, 864.
It was during the presidency of Gabby Alino that the publication of the NEHSAA Newsletter came out on August,1981, with Consoling V. Asis and Apolonio Ramos as co editors. They were later joined by Paterno V. Viloria '41. Alino gave material support. At that time, too, they published the first souvenir program and established the Annual Professional Awards in 1982.
The start of a newsletter fund drive was initiated by Consoling V. Asis in 1983, on the proposal of Gonzalo S. Robles '32, who started the ball rollingwith an initial donation of $100. They also initiated a fund campaign to construct the NEHS Gymnasium .
Gabby Alino's term stretched up to 1984. Then it was the turn of Guillermo A. Pecache '46 to lead the association . The campaign for the scholarship donors went full blast, and it was also under his term that the construct ion of the NEHS Gymnasium was undertaken . Guillermo Pecache ended his term in 1987, with Sedfrey A. Ordonez '38 succeeding in 1988 to December 19, 1990, Sedfrey's pet project was the NEHSAA Foundation. After Sedfrey's term, the NEHSAA had Pedro 0. Sanvicente '40 as president whose brief reign ended on January 21, 1991. He was responsible for the improvement and standardization of the Newsletter series. Taking over in March 1991, Amado Q. Aleta introduced a number of innovations and policies.
Succeeding him in 1992 was Paterno V. Viloria . Pat's manner of wielding leadership of the association made him be re-elected year after year to the presidency. Among the notable achievements in his five years of service to the association were examination and review of the corporate funds of NEHSAA, INC; finding the liquidity status of the association sound; its financial position solid; thus restoring the integrity of the association .
