The Class of 1973 Our Alma Mater and JASHS 73

For our Golden Anniversary Grand Reunion and Homecoming celebration on February 4,2021, I was asked by the organizers if I could provide a 15-minute presentation of our JASHS ’73 batch history.

I asked my classmates Ric and Perry to send me a scanned copy of our school paper graduation issue, The Pampangan, for my presentation. In the last minute, the organizers informed me that they preferred a slide presentation of individual old photos for nostalgia and memory lane instead of my presentation of who we are, a sort of demographic profile, of our JASHS 73 batch.

Nevertheless, I continued my research and gathering of information before my trip to the Philippines.

Our Alma Mater, Jose Abad Santos High School, is the renowned Pampanga High School, which was established in 1902 following the public education campaign of American occupiers. Almost 600 American teachers, commonly known as the Thomasites, arrived in the Philippines in 1901. Our hometown was one of the recipients of these Thomasites, and classes were held in a large house in downtown San Fernando. In order to accommodate more students, the school was later moved to a building near the Provincial Capitol, in barrio Santo Nino, and in 1937 the classes were once again moved to new facilities in Barrio Lourdes (Teopaco Subdivison).

It is important to note that the facilities along High School Boulevard became known as the main building while the school site near the Capitol served as its annex. During our time, the annex was exclusively for senior students, making our graduating batch more intact and closer to one another, and having a sense of independence from the rest of the student body and administration of JASHS.

I was surprised to hear from Principal Lyn Esguerra, our guest during the grand reunion celebration, that there are now more than 13,000 students and more than 500 faculty in our Alma Mater, which is now known as Pampanga National High School with six year-levels housed in almost the same land area but more buildings along High School Boulevard. There is no more Annex, and the old school building is being reconstituted as a historical and heritage museum.

Looking at the profile of JASHS graduating class of 1972-73 as presented in The Pampangan, we can gauge the state of our education of our time and expectations of our graduates.

The number of graduates is 1114, of which 562 are males and 552 are females, are spread in 25 sections, with an average of 40 students per section. The sections are arranged numerically based on the students’ grades.

The residence of students illustrates our Alma Mater as Pampanga’s premier high school.

1. San Fernando 666 60%

2. Bacolor 137 12%

3. Sto Tomas 125 11%

4. Mexico 76 7%

5 San Simon 37 3%

6. Minalin 26 2%

7. Apalit 9 1%

8. Sta Ana 8 1%

9. Guagua 8 1%

10. Angeles 5 0%

11. Arayat 5 0%

12. San Luis 4 0%

13. Candaba 2 0%

14. Lubao 2 0%

15. Mabalacat 2 0%

16. Metro. Manila 2 0%

Our batchmates come from various towns and cities just to attend our school. I wonder what the current residential makeup of the more than 13,000 students of Pampanga High School is. It is also good data where these JASHS end up after graduation, unfortunately, we did not have a survey of the living situation of JASHS 73.

I am more familiar with our Section One. We were 46 in our class, 24 girls and 22 boys. And this is the current living situation of Porwan.

1. Residing Locally 15

2. Residing in the PH but not locally 7

3. Residing Abroad -USA & Canada 12

4. Residing Abroad- Europe 0

5. Residing Abroad -Asia-Australia-Pacific 3

6. Residing Abroad - Middle East & other 0

6. Unknown-Missing (No Contact) 6

7. Deceased 3

I am one of JASHS 73’s alumni who resides abroad (San Francisco, California). I migrated to the US in 1984. My last visits to San Fernando were only during our batch reunions (2013, 40th, 2018, 45th, and 2023, 50th). The alumni from abroad are very much represented in our celebrations. Our Porwan even won the greatest number of attendees (34 in all) among sections, and gave a wonderful musical performance.

I am happy to be back. I am inspired and enjoying every minute of our grand reunion and homecoming.

I would want to send my kudos to our batchmates and leadership for the successful Golden celebration, special mention to President Alfredo Patawaran, Carmelita Cruz and their team, and Val Cristobal, Alma Canara, and Lourdes P Velasco for the International JASHS 73.

As they say Together Then, Together Now. Together Again and Again, and Forever.

One of the popular songs released in 1973 was The Carpenter’s Yesterday Once More. As for me, the continuing tune of our generation is about longing and belonging.

As we long for each other, we sincerely feel that we belong here wherever we may be.