In mid 1980 I had the good fortune to join the UNICEF country office in the Philippines. What I did not fully realize at the outset, was that I was joining one of the best of UNICEF teams anywhere. Twenty of us worked along a narrow corridor with tiny offices on the fifth floor of the government of the Philippines office of the National Economic Development Authority. While a number of UNICEF offices were struggling for gender balance, our Manila team was composed of five men and about 15 ladies.
This year, a previous commitment prevented me from joining what was a highly successful X-UNICEF reunion in early February --- crafted by a team led by Ces Adorna. But about three weeks later I was able to make a visit with the help of Reggie Molera and others had a most wonderful mini-reunion of our Philippines 1980s UNICEF team. It was also a delight to touch base with a number of other Philippine UNICEF alumni including Ces Adorna, Jimmy Tan and particular Mary Racelis
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Seated L-R: Steve, myself Regina (Reggie) Molera, Efren Vigo, Brenda Vigo, Mary Racelis, Tarciso (Tarcy) Burac, Cecilio (Ces) Adorna. Standing L-R Mary Ann (MiAnn) Maglipon, Victoria (Bubut) Rialp
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| L-R: Gloria (Glo) Handog, MiAnn, Brenda, Steve, Reggie, Bubut |
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UNICEF partners in the 1980s
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Tarciso (Tarcy) Burac was my driver, head of registry and my guru on all things Manila.
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Five of the 80s team at lunch in Metro Manila
L-R: MiAnn, Bubut, Brenda, Steve, Reggie |
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| Mary Racelis with Steve Umemoto - A tête-à tête over coffee, Quezon city |
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Thank you Steve for sharing the beautiful pictures and wonderful thoughts about past and present Philippines Unicef office work and team. I am sending my regards and a thank you again to Ces and Mary for the most amazing and most successful Manila reunion in February . Salute to all friends xunicef group and team of organisers . Rafah
ReplyDeleteIt was great to see you again, Steve, in your old stamping grounds, Manila, bringing together the UNICEF gang of that memorable era. Wonderful to have the pictures. We had a happy time catching up and relishing the great pot luck dishes contributed by everyone. It was a hugely successful participatory process. For those of us who had been part of the February XUNICEF reunionorganizing team, what a relief to be able just to sit, relax and have no worries about what might go wrong! Here nothing did.
ReplyDeleteMary, Mary my dear,
ReplyDeleteSays Steve grinning ear to ear,
Was it only last year,
Or more like 40 I fear?
Instead of coffee we had beer,
It was in Manila right here,
And abundantly clear,
My favourite posting you hear,
That brought me pleasure sheer
But also a nostalgic tear.
Then a younger professional peer,
Now as a retiree I appear,
Physically far but emotionally near,
Such reunions bring us much cheer.
Instead of coffee we had beer,