If It’s 12 January Every Year, It Has To Be SACAA Reunion Bash hosted in Gusto
Mangaluru: Come, 12th January every year, it has to be St Aloysius College Alumni Association Reunion Bash, which is held without fail, unless there is a earth quake/cyclone/floods. For years SACAA Reunion has been hosted without skipping any year, and this year was no exception. High school or college seems like just yesterday. That is, until you’re opening a mail that happens to be an invitation for SACAA Reunion. It’s shocking, the realization that much time has really passed since we were hopeful professionals, entrepreneurs, scientists, doctors, engineers etc. These were the people who were involved in an important school/college years of your life. Aside from all of the activities and fun at school/college, everyone has a place in the memories you made there.
Where the heck did the time even go? It doesn’t matter if you were the class clown, a bookworm, or the most popular person in your institution. When you all head back to a SACAA Reunion, it’s almost like you’re reintroducing yourself, because with passing time, you have changed. Yes, it is all so surreal. While you may not need help remembering the good old days, you have to make sure the right words characterize the extreme feels you’re going to get standing next to your high school or college buddies, all grown up, some in their golden ripe age, some in their still young middle age, and some still very young? Anyways, looking back in your photo albums, your pics are going to be a time capsule for that moment — the day you thought would take forever to come when you graduated.
For a change for New Year 2019, instead of this Reunion being hosted at the St Aloysius High School Ground like they always do, this year the St Aloysius College Alumni/ae Association (SACAA), Mangaluru organised the Annual SACAA Reunion at Ladies Club on Saturday, January 12, where Fr Dionysius Vaz SJ, Rector of St Aloysius Institutions and Fr Praveen Martis SJ, the Principal of St Aloysious College were the chief guests for the event. Following a invocation by Fr Denzil E Lobo SJ, former Rector and Director of AIMIT-Beeri, where he recited a Bhajan, thereby making the event more Traditional and Indian, Santhosh Kumar Kadri, the President of SACAA welcomed the guests and gathering and briefed on the alumni association and its contribution to the college and society. Steven Pinto, the Convener of the Reunion Bash also gave in details about the progarmme. Capt Peter Pais proposed the vote of thanks.
Following a two minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed souls of the SACCA Members, it was all then Revelry time, where the vivacious, ebullient, lively, full of life, high-spirited, scintillating, vibrant, zestful, energetic, dynamic, and what not- the “one and only” star attraction of the evening Compere Ms Jacqueline Fernandes kept the crowd alive and in a revelry mood through her witty punchlines and professional compering, and many a times she ended her dialogue saying “I am taking this man/priest home”- and I am not quite sure, ‘Who happened to be the Lucky Man’ that ended up going home with her at the end of the party ?? Ha..ha..
According to the organizers, they had worked tirelessly for the last two months to reach out as many past SAC students to attend the function, and they were lucky to get hold of these alumni who showed up for the event. The patron of SACAA and Rector of St Aloysius Institutions, Rev Fr Dionysius Vaz SJ in his speech stressed the importance of Alumni Association in an educational institution and invited the members to strengthen SACAA further by actively participating in their activities. “The Jesuit tradition has imparted education and more than information, transforming men and women into leaders of tomorrow and living for others. The students are encouraged to shine and reach out to people with compassion. Today, St Aloysius Educational Institution celebrated its 139th Foundation Day. Thousands have received education from this Institution and are serving the nation and abroad in good posts. This Reunion is a joyful moment to share their joy and happiness gained from this institution”
“The Alumni have played an important role in the growth of this institution, and we have added many projects through their help. Just today we launched the SAC Institute of Civil Services, and pretty our Institute will become a deemed university, once the UGC committee visits for college inspection. Michael D’Souza, philanthropist and NRI businessman, and a SAC benefactor, who is present in the audience has collaborated with us in starting the Civil services Institute, which I am very grateful to him and his committee members ” added Rector.
Yes, no doubt that Class Reunions or Alumnae Reunions are a chance to brag about what they may or may not of accomplished. It is also a chance to look at the humorous side of things. Spending time looking at the fashion and the hair in old photos, and is also a chance to look back at some of the stupid things that were done while being classmates. It is also a time to cherish the moments and fun that they had when they were students of this prestigious institution. It was a nostalgic journey down the memory lane for these classmates/students of SAC who came together for the Reunion Bash. The memoirs of yester years were once again rejuvenated as they all shared their memories of those olden, youthful, cheerful days full of happiness and joy. To enliven the atmosphere there was not only live music but also few spot games, floor dance and lots of friendship cum fellowship, together with a sumptuous spread of food that added spice to the occasion.
Like it is always said that “Once an Aloysian, Always an Aloysian!”- and so it was, for all these Aloysians in pride meeting together and cherishing their good old days at the SAC, and rejoicing on their achievements that their Alma mater was responsible. And 12 January Every Year, the old “boys” of St Aloysius College- Mangaluru converge on their Alma Mater, but this at a new premises to join in the ‘St Aloysius College Alumni Association (SACAA) Reunion’ bash. And this year too nearly 500-600 SAC Alumni who in their 80’s, 70’s, 60’s ,50’s, 40’s and 30’s, and the oldest among the revelers was 96-year-old Joe Gonsalves, who was so determined to be at this bash, that he made it with the help of his walking-stick? The crowd was predominately mixed, with young and old, gents and females, boys and girls, who were joined by a bevy of Jesuit priests in their best attire in formal slacks and shirts, which was hard to distinguish between “Rev. Fathers” or “Mr. Fathers”- but everyone had a jolly good time.
And for that matter, being an old student of St Aloysius High School/College during the 1980’s, I had the immense pleasure of meeting many of the staff and students during that time. Some of my classmates and seniors have already turned grey, some have gone bald, some have lost teeth, some have become rich and some are trying to become rich, some are still hanging around in Mangaluru involved in various profession, some entrepreneurs- while some minting money abroad, but come down during Christmas holidays. It was indeed fun to meet all of them, thereby interact and share our news and views over a glass of our favorite drink! Call me a lucky dude- ’cause I was treated to a few “cold ones” by a bunch of these SAC alumnus with love. Wow what a gesture and a kind treat-what more could I ask for?
The Celebration incorporated various spot games, live music, baila dance and lots of other goodies and fun. Audience were swayed to the melodious songs from 1904 alumni Wilfred D’souza (Mumbia) and his nephew Dolfred D’souza, a 2001 alumni who gave couple of Konkani songs; and Wincy Rebello and few others also singing Konkani and Bollywood songs. The live band “Rhythm Mates” comprising of eight talented young musicians from SAC transformed the atmosphere into a world of music through their rendition of oldies rock and pop, Konkani, Bollywood and of course, Baila numbers. The Band comprised of Leswin Moras (Drummer/Owner); Deon Sequeira (Lead Guitarist); Samson Coelho (Vocalist); Wilton Fernandes ( Keyboards); Benette Braganza ( Bassist); Melric Monteiro (Vocalist); Floyd Moras ( Rhythm guitarist) and Miss Alina Peris ( Vocalist)
“Rhythm Mates” Band Members
As the sumptuous buffet spread was opened, the baila beat reverberated the venue and those who could not resist dancing, both young and the old, had a gala time.To sum it up the SACAA Reunion 2019 will go unparalleled in history, while the snapshots incorporated along with the report here speak for themselves. Many exclaimed “Oh what an awesome reunion it was!” I will keep January 12, 2020 marked on my calendar to be free that day and attend the next Reunion bash for sure ! Call it a “Saturday Night Fever!”- What a perfect weekend to have this “SACAA Reunion 2019” on a Saturday, and come SACAA Reunion 2020 will be on a Sunday-Wow!
Happiness is being with an old college-mate after a long time and feeling like nothing has changed. It’s the oldest story in the world. One day you’re twenty one and planning for someday, and then quietly and without you ever really noticing, someday is today, and that someday is yesterday. And this is your life. Sometimes you have to accept the fact that certain things will never go back to how they used to be. Sometimes, even when you’re having a good time, you can’t help but stop and think about how much you miss the old times.We have had a good time while we were young, but it is in the nature of Time to fly. We did not change as we grew older; we just became more clearly ourselves. In the end, you always go back to the people that were there in the beginning.
Meeting up with people from St Aloysius Institutions gives us a little piece of the past back. And no matter how much things have changed and continue to do so, we’ll always remember the people we shared those golden years with.That’s the fun of going to a high school reunion: it’s seeing the people who you were close to all those years ago, and re-exploring the relationships of the past. Reunion reveals friendship potential that haven’t yet been emerged in the past. On the lighter side of vein-“Reunion after long separation is even better than one’s wedding night”- this SACAA Reunion 2019 with music, songs, dance and drinks in full swing the party raved till late night and the SAC alumni/ae finally reluctantly bid goodbye to each other, while specifically asking for more such reunions to be organized and draw plans to repay their Alma Mater in the best way possible.
We Alumni of SAC take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everywhere. And as they say “An Aloysian is Always an Aloysian”- and that’s what we are, and will be. Proud to be an Aloysian!
