Ely Aragon

[Sophie Lizares-Bodegon (HS Class '71)]

Ely and I were the two actors in the one-act play "The Wedding Dance," which was staged by the Drama Class under the direction of Mrs. Luisa Reyes in 1969. It is set on the night before Awiyao (Ely) was by tradition to leave his wife, Lumnay (me), after seven years of a loving but childless marriage. As it was all about memories and good-byes, it was heart-rendering (or so we tried to make it!). Throughout the rehearsals and the play dates, Ely was kind and patient, a true gentleman. He will be missed.

Condolences to his family, may you be comforted in the hope that he is in better hands.

[Darlene May Casiano, HS 73]

And that was the one play that I thought then, had the best actors. I do remember the depth of both your acting but the story was too mature for me to understand then.

These days, we couldn't understand why couples get estranged despite having grown children and lived, shared a life together for so long.We also meet couples who continue to live happy married lives even without kids.

I remember Ely as one of Elizabeth (Bebing) Agsam's barkada, together with Eulamy Lizada, Armi Legaspina (four of them from Villamonte) Rosario Fuentebella and Aurora Young (I met her at Wila Inventor's home in Orange County with Rodolfo) also of HS 70 and of Villamonte. Bebing also joined our creator many years back. Many a summer I shared their meeting place at the Agsam Residence as me and my siblings use the same for our younger circle of play mates. Bebing Agsam was a Chiro Leader and was more like a big sister to me. Bless their souls!

[Sophie Lizares-Bodegon (HS Class '71)]

Hello Darlene! Thanks for considering our acting to have "depth." I don't think I understood much of undercurrent in that play at that time myself. But for all intents and purposes, Drama Class was really an opportunity to all of us so that we could explore what talents we may or may not have, helping us understand other people's perspectives and experiences. You will also remember Street Theater.

Thanks for the updates on the others in Class '70 and for bringing back memories of the Chiro days. Cheers!

[Andrea Lizares Si (HS'73,AB '78)]

As it is for Darlene, Eli Aragon brings back first year memories of the senior class. In addition to the Chiro leaders (a kind of Catholic girl scouting movement) whom Darlene mentioned, let me add Oda Silva, Tita Guanzon, and I think there were one or two more. The senior girls were close to Eli, Raul Guanzon, Jim Lopez, Rafael Gustilo, Joe de la Pena, Alfredo Gonzales, Mario Co (?), Benjie Sevilla (?). These were also the guys who did well in drama class as well as in the basketball court and in the classroom, in other words, they were the stars of our first year in high-school. The Aragon phone number also happened to be 2-49-47 while ours was 2-47-49. Naturally, we got a good number of wrong numbers meant for Eli or Elmer or Art.

After the Class of 1970 graduated, we lost contact with most of them but when Eli's older brother Art later married our high-school classmate Antonia Alonso, this meant that Eli was never that far away. The big surprise was when he turned up among my Remedial Law students in the UNO-R College of Law. It was weird having this star of my high-school years, sitting with other students listening to me. I don't think i ever felt completely at ease with that although if I am not mistaken, in his class I also had the dean of the UNO-R commerce department. The difference is, I didn't know that this other person was the dean, he was just one of the students. Meanwhile, Eli was Eli. Later, when Eli joined Mayor Bing Leonardia in City Hall, I had some dealings with him as he often represented Mayor Bing in functions and meetings. In all the times I met him he always struck me as the same good person that he was when he was Manang Sophie's leading man in "The Wedding Dance."

We'll all miss you, Eli.

[Rodolfo B. Castillo (Elem'69--HS'73--College'77]

Eli was in the Senior Class when I was a freshman. He was one of the "role models" I look up to. I was inquiring how he is related to my batchmate Antonia (nee) Alonso and thanks to Andrea's comment I now know that Antonia married Eli's brother.

Condolences to Eli's family.

[ALFREDO D. GONZALES II]

LCCIANS,

Allow me to share my recollection of Bing which was delivered during the necrological service in his honor last November 13, 2008.

MESSAGE

“Let us pray for the soul of Bingot kay wala na siya.” This was the simple message I received from Tita that fateful Sunday morning. I offered a silent prayer for my friend and classmate Bing. Although, saddened I felt elated. Thank God for this day of deliverance.

When I got home I sat down to e-mail our classmates abroad to inform them of the sad news. It’s hard to reconcile with the fact that somebody who enjoyed life so much, somebody who laughed with gusto is gone.

Like me Bing transferred to LCC during our First Year in High School. Back then spaghetti westerns were in. I remember how Bing loved to mimic Clint Eastwood in the way he walked, talked and dressed. We even did a parody of The Good The Bad and The Ugly in one of our convocations. Bing was very active in school activities then particularly in school plays. One time coming home from a party past midnight, we passed by the LCC auditorium. With a mischievous grin, he dared Boy and I to climb over the fence and sleep at the entrance. I didn’t want to be called chicken so I climbed over and joined in thinking my mother will kill me for this! True enough when I got home I was bombarded with angry questions. Both our mothers had a sleepless night calling each other wondering what happened to their precious sons. I did not get killed that day otherwise I would not be standing here.

Bing was our immediate past president and we used to hold our meetings at the Bank of Commerce where he was manager then. I remember how he would go out of his way to make us comfortable. When he was a director of the board of our alumni association, he wanted so much that the homecomings be well-attended. It was during our silver jubilee when as a sponsor we did the unprecedented and radical. The alumni paid P 50.00 and were provided lunch of lechon, chopsuey, pancit, rice and soda.

Bing was one of the better dancers and he was the other half of our foursome. Now I’m worried what would happen should we decide to do a dance again during our ruby year in 2010. I see Boy Gustilo smiling over there. Anyway, Boy if you’re planning to take Bing’s place in the dancefloor, please don’t even think about it! Seriously, I’ll miss Bing. Wala na sang manigput sang Pasta Putanesca ko. Jo, you know Bing always remembers you whenever there’s putanesca. He’d whisper, Alfs, dalhan ko si Jo karun ha?

I’m so glad that you made that journey together with Bing last year. I am sure that in a way that journey was an act of rediscovery of your love for each other. Love is stronger than death even though it can't stop death from happening, but no matter how hard death tries it can't separate people from love. It can't take away our memories either. In the end, life is stronger than death.” Let me end by reading a poem for Jo and the children.

[ALFREDO D. GONZALES II]

TO THOSE I LOVE AND THOSE WHO LOVE ME

In memory of
ELI T. ARAGON
September 25, 1953 – November 9, 2008

When I’m gone, release me and let me go
I have so many things to see and do
You mustn’t tie yourself to me in tears
Be happy that we had so many years.

I gave you my love. You can only guess
How much you gave to me in happiness
I thank you for the love we each have shown
But now it’s time to travel alone.

So grieve a while for me, if grieve you must
Then let your grief be comforted by trust.
It’s only for a while that we must part
So bless the memories within your heart

I won’t be far away, for life goes on…
So if you need me, call and I will come
Though you can’t see me or touch me, I’ll be near
And if you listen with your heart, you’ll hear
All my love around you soft and clear.

And then when you must come this way alone,
I’ll greet you with a smile and say “Welcome Home.”

LCC H.S. CLASS 70

[Andrea Lizares Si (HS'73,AB '78)]

[Andrea Lizares Si (HS'73,AB '78)]

[Andrea Lizares Si (HS'73,AB '78)]

[Andrea Lizares Si (HS'73,AB '78)]

The PMT officers (?) with Miss Torrefranca.

[Andrea Lizares Si (HS'73,AB '78)]

Eli with some classmates. I recognize Aurora Young, Armi Legaspina, and Rosario Puentevella.

[Andrea Lizares Si (HS'73,AB '78)]

Eli with Modesto Sa-onoy and Miss de la Pena