Last October 15, EAPI held its annual, albeit special, alumni homecoming. The attendees strolled down the 42 years of EAPI’s existence, down to its moment of conception. Fr Jose Ma. Calle (CHN), the last and only surviving member of the original foundational team and one of the honourees, brought back memories and told stories, both heard-of and unheard of, much to the satisfaction of the curious listeners during his talk on the Origin and Historical Highlights of the EAPI. Indeed, one couldn’t imagine how Fr Calle managed to squeeze EAPI history in an hour presentation! The listeners in the Nicolás Auditorium only wished that Fr Calle had the luxury of time and could go on and on with his stories; surely they would not mind listening at all. The whole text of Fr Calle’s talk is available in the attachment.
For her part, Ms. Teresita Nitorreda, another honouree, shared candidly her experience, as a woman and layperson, during the early years of EAPI. First as a participant and then being invited by Fr. Alfonso Nebreda, SJ, then the first director, and reluctantly agreeing to be a member of the staff composed mostly of priests and religious as such. She narrated that, as a lecturer, she took it as a great challenge to be accepted as someone who has something to share and learn from. She always fondly looked at this event in her life as momentous for EAPI being way ahead of its time-a woman’s voice in the auditorium’s ‘pit’ where male voices mostly dominated and were heard.
After the talk, Fr Jeyaraj Rasiah (SRI), current EAPI Director, then initially honoured them with a plaque of appreciation and gratitude for their generous contribution to the EAPI. Afterwards, Fr Rasiah invited everyone to proceed to the two hostels built in 1972 to finally honour both Fr Calle and Ms. Nitorreda by renaming the hostels Calle Hall and Nitorreda Hall, respectively. Since most of the buildings or dormitories in the campus are named after Jesuits, Ms. Nitorreda jokingly remarked that she won’t be surprised if people afterwards would be asking, "Who is Father Nitorreda?"
Those who came included former directors Fr Thomas O’Gorman (PHI) and Fr Jose Mario Francisco (PHI), Bishop Francisco Claver (PHI), and former staff members like Fr. Roger Champoux (PHI), Sr. Vicki de la Paz, MMS, and Ms. Victoria Faicol among others. Some 42 alumni, mostly based in the Philippines, graced the homecoming with their presence. Indeed, everyone had a wonderful time and truly finding the same old-but growing-EAPI, a one big family welcoming everyone to the place they once called home. (Contributor: Mr Ronald Yago)