20th Annual Reunion
Eight of the former Philippine Scouts who attended our 2004 reunion:
Left to Right: 1) Greg Ramos, 2) Zosimo Guiang, 3) Joe Aquino, 4) Larry Pangan, 5) Rudy Fernandez, 6) Lt. Col. Ed Ramsey, 7) Capt. Menandro Parazo, 8) Col. John Olson, 9) Dr. Isabelo Torio.
Recap: 20th Annual Reunion
April 30 - May 1, 2004
The Twentieth Reunion of the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society at the Radisson Villa Hotel, April 30-May 1 was a mixture of serious business, entertainment and socializing. Sadly, the final dinner dance was ended early by the tragic passing of one of our new members, James Moises, who died of a massive coronary towards the end of the evening.
The business content of the meeting was more serious than usual, with the Financial and Management Review Committee delivering a report outlining past management problems and recommending a series of reforms in the way the national and chapters conduct business. The Board of Officers overwhelming approved the report and suggested reforms. The Board of Officers also discussed the draft of a new set of National Bylaws and voted nearly unanimously to submit them for approval at our next national reunion.
On a positive note, various reports on activities over the past year stressed advances in spreading word of the Philippine Scouts to the wider community. Part of this was due to public speaking and writing activities of several members, part was a byproduct of the display of a pair of plaques honoring the Philippine Scouts and the three Scouts who were awarded Medals of Honor during the defense of the Philippines in World War II. These plaques now are on display at the Admiral Nimitz Museum in Fredericksburg, Texas and the Fort Sam Houston Museum in San Antonio, Texas. Part was due to the circulation of several poster displays on the Philippine Scouts at various events in California, Washington, Virginia and Texas. And a great deal of the credit goes to our website, which, in its first two years, has attracted about 6,000 visitors.
The general business meeting concluded with a presentation by PSHS member Malcolm Decker about his just-published book On a Mountainside: The 155th Provisional Guerrilla Battalion Against the Japanese on Luzon, which is reviewed on this website.
The highlight of the gala dinner at the end of the reunion was the keynote address of the Hon. Delia Munez Rosal, Consul General of the Philippines in San Francisco. The text of her speech is available in our newsletter.
Another highlight was a fine performance of a Cole Porter medley by members of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Daly City, directed by Terry Buchholz.
Of course, such an event would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of the GGBAC Reunion Committee headed by Chapter President Cion Rael, as well as the generous support of businesses and individuals who advertised in the reunion program or donated raffle items, food or services.
Editor