Class08’ History

Dean Victor Dacalos- Bijis

Ben Daniels said: Special moments in life need to be recognized and acknowledged.
There are moments of pride and accomplishment. Indeed, we have earned this moment
and the night to be proud of our accomplishments.

Ah!Memories of bliss, from innocence to maturity…Indeed, Batch 2008 has a beautiful

story to tell, the success of this batch has urged me to give an honest account of all the
achievements and awards we have brought the school for the past 4 years.

More than 3 years back, over two hundred students enrolled as freshmen. Batch 2008
traces its humble beginning during the 2004 Summer Enrichment program where new
acquaintances surfaced. Oh, how colorful were the experiences and the memories the
whole summer brought.

June 7, 2004, that was the moment of truth, when we entered the portals of the school
with minimal fear and a lot of curiosity. We were a group of naïve and confused students
going to unknown directions and paths. That same day, we were grouped into 6 sections
namely St. Luke, St. Claire, St. Catherine, St. Matthew, St. Ma. Goretti, and St.
Elizabeth. Leading these classes were the equally smart and caring teachers, Mrs.
Josefina Daleon, Mrs. Portia Priete, Mr, Dexter dela Cruz, Mrs. Rhodora Gamboa, Mr.
Rene Omar and Ms. Amor Mia Banuno.

Our freshmen memoir was full of colorful episodes, our group excelled in many ways
and significantly, this year accounts many first times. We were the first ones to
experience an air-conditioned library! In the same year, we exercised our right of suffrage
during the SBO elections. Charis Abracia emerged as the first year representative. Also
this year, we were lucky to be graced with Math Wizards, with the likes of Sheila Mae
Adaya, Suzette Hao and Sydney Ceniza who actively participated during the Metrobank
Math Challenge. We cannot belittle Dyan Valleser, Mariel Espadero and JC Batchar who
became part of the UIC Pink movers. During the nutrition month, not even the sophies
and the juniors could stop us from bagging 2 first place titles as we dominated the Jingle
singing Contest and Commercial spoof. Indeed, this group excelled in many ways.

As sophomore students we continued making our legacy. We were grouped into 6

sections namely, St. Dominic handled by Mrs. Sylvia Pidor, St. Gertrude under Ms.
Mardi Concon, St. Augustine under Mr. Ronald Allan Zeta, St. Rose of Lima by Mrs.
Elbessa Ibarra, St. Agnes handled by Mr. Vincent Devera and St. Anne under Mrs. Portia
Priete who became our instant moms and dads. Again, this batch was filled with more
accomplishments and citations! This year, UIC celebrated its 100 years of excellence in
the field of offering standard education and character formation to the students. In the
field of sports, John Nabor, together with Sydney Ceniza brought glory as Gold Medalists
in the 2005 Davao Association of Colleges and Schools (DACS) sportsfest in the field of
Taekwondo. In that year also; the school was victorious during the DACS sports fest as
the school emerged as the Over-all champion. The dynamic Pink movers went off as far
as the Big Dome in Manila to represent Mindanao for the First day Funk Dance Contest
and they brought home the 2nd runner-up trophy. Behind this amazing stint includes Dyan
Valleser and company. In the same year, Hannah Alegado hailed as Ms. Centennial
Sportsfest because of her amazing charm and intelligence. On the other hand, The UIC
High School Choral, which has Leanna Arellano, Hannah Alegado, Carren Castillo and
Yuriko Yoshida came out as the first runner-up during the Pasko Fiesta sa Davao 2005.
Charis Abracia was elected as the Girl Representative to the Davao City Council Board
of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines. Truly, the ten months spent that school year was
exulted not only by those achievements but also by the number of cherished memories.
The original composition of this Batch showed some changes as some opted to transfer
by circumstances or choice.

In our third year, our Batch became instrumental as UIC claimed back the Over-all
Championship title in the 2006 DACS sportsfest. We are so proud of our batchmates who
participated in various events. Sheila Adaya was among the Division Secondary School’s
Press Conference for Editorial writing (Filipino category). She ranked as 4 th place. She
was considered also as one of the most outstanding youth in Davao City. In academics,
Roy Fernando, Rvin Servillon, Sheila Adaya, Maryzelle Tay, Keziah Tupaz and Charis
Abracia together with their Science Investigatory Projects, reached the regional level of
the DepED Intel Philippine Science Fair. It was also this year when the Halaw-Hawig
Dance Company continue to reap honors under the supervision of Ms. Nancy Joyno.
Since then the group brought more honors to the school. Behind the success of this group
includes Dyan Valleser, Mariel Espadero, Sarah Mendoza, JC Batchar, Roshen Sabater,
Ayana Mascardo, Jessica Bisnar, Ace Ugdang and Bruce Famin.

In sports, Jose Pacquiao emerged 2nd during the DCAA swimming competition and
managed to qualify in the Palarong Pambansa. The UIC Bowling team led by Jechrison
Alcala, Gerardo Dado, Christine Ganotice and Pocholo Fulgar made a name for the
school for bagging several awards from different competitions. Year 2006 was also the
year of the bands. Hotshots and Reggaelados were some of the bands who ruled the
campus. The 2006 Intramural League united the 6 sections of the juniors which are St.
Stephen, St. Paul, St. Cecilia, St. John, St. Benedict and St. Francis under the supervision
of class advisers Mrs. Teresita Adriano, Ms. Johahne Tampepe, Ms. Corazon Jaena, Mr.
Perseus Hamto, Ms. Joyce Unabia and Mrs. Asuncion Ravago. During the said event, we
came close to the seniors, can only manage Second to the Seniors Over-all Championship
performance.

Thank God! Last February 2007, everybody’s finest moment came true. We had our first
JS promenade. The night seemed like a fairytale come true as everyone alighted in their
best attires. Lovely as his partner was, one junior stood out and became as the Prom king
in the person of Mario Go.
It was in third year that showed how we matured. This was because of the things we’ve
been through. The difficult times we encountered made our class stronger and more
bonded.

After two months of vacation, this group of students finally reached their last year in high
school. This is the moment all have been waiting for-to be ates and kuyas to the younger
members of the UIC family… to be the pride of this school. This is the time that all of
our efforts and hard works will pay off.

On the 4th day of June 2007, classes started and again, we were assigned into 6 sections
St. Anthony de Padua, St. Lorenzo, St. Therese, St. Martin de Porres, St. Christopher and
St. Jude under class advisers Mrs. Rhodora Gamboa, Mrs. Lilibeth Lozada, Ms. Bessie
Ann Mata, Ms. Amor Mia Banuno, Mr. Ronald Allan Zeta and Ms. Corazon Jaena. This
year showed that we were truly united in spite of the shuffling of sections that had
happened during the first week of classes. Also, this year, many clubs and groups were
formed like that of the Community Watch Group-Teens lead by its president, Dean
Victor D. Bijis and supervised by its moderator, Ms. Sol Mejorada and the Students
Brigade against Dengue under Mrs. Estesin Sungahid, RN where majority of the seniors
were chosen to lead this group.

This batch also produced award-winning science investigatory projects for the division
and regional level. Astoundingly, the group of Rvin Servillon, Christian Alagon, Charis
Abracia and Rigil Batistil won the 4th place for life science –Team Category in the
division level while the group of Tessa Sarabia, Roy Fernando, Sydney Ceniza and
Clarissa Catipay won the 3rd place for life science- Team Category in the DepEd Intel
Regional Level. Inclined to that, partners, Jose Pacquiao and Angela Uytengsu also won
the 3rd place for Applied Science-Team Category in the same level.

We are saddened though that despite all opportunities of growing in school, some chose
to become members of unproductive outside organizations that led 6 students from our
batch to exclusion.

From the big jolt, we tried to recover. Youth leaders in this batch were highly
distinguished. Charis Abracia was elected not only the SBO president but also the SK
Chairman of Biao-Calinan and the SK Federation Secretary of Davao City.
There were also students who went for the 2007 Nat’l PRISAAP Congress held in
Baguio City and these are Bruce Famin, Hannah Alegado, Charis Abracia, Rey Moraga,
Leanna Arellano, Jose Pacquiao, Dyan Valleser and Roshen Sabater. Time and again, this
batch strove hard to alleviate the school’s glory. Jethro Devera was merited the Best
Table Tennis player during the DACS sports fest. Same with him, Rvin Servillon gained
the title, the Best Chess player during the same event. Also, Sheila Adaya ,Azzedine
Sadsad, Suzette Hao, Kim Calub and Hannah Alegado brought honors to the school from
joining in the Division Secondary School’s Press Conference last year. In the field ofGirl
scouting, seniors’ very own, Madel Abapo was elected the Purser of the Davao City
council’s cadet planning board. On the other hand, Jessica Bisnar, the typical example of
a UICian beauty, won the Ms. GS Cup title. Indeed, there might not be much that this
batch attained but whatever we achieved, we’re proud of it.

Our retreats this year is something to remember. Through this, we became better
Christians. Our bond as one class was strengthened and our Camaraderie was reassured.

This is it! We are lucky to have it this year, our JS promenade and now we are all
gathered together having this because we simply deserved it.

We, the fourth year students of batch 2007-2008, would like to share these humble
achievements with the special people who have been a part of our lives. As a sign of our
gratitude, we dedicate these things to our dear subject teachers, beloved advisers and
most of all to our father, Mr. Guillermo Quintero, in this university we call our second
home,.

May the history of Batch 2008 inspire the next group of seniors to do better and avoid our
mistakes. May the experiences and learnings we had help everyone in this batch reach
our goals and live a life most pleasing to God.

Yes, Batch 2008 has many things to be proud of: The challenge that made us stronger;
the determination that guided us; and the willingness that has kept on to give our best.

After going through the processes of LEADS and SHAPES, now we all know that
dreams really do have a way of coming true and we have proven it.

Thank you dear Alma Mater. Batch 2008 promises to continue to be good. We shall
follow all the golden opportunities that are still ahead of us.

Our High School history symbolizes a time of completion, a time for new thoughts
towards the future, a time to stop and see what we went through. This is what we have
become. The pages will continue to increase as we keep Batch 2008’s dreams alive and
keep them coming through! All of you are part of our history!