GDHS Admirals Log

Mesothelioma, Asbestos, and Navy Veterans

2011-08-31T23:30:00.000-04:00

Hi Fellow GDHS Alumni!

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted, but I wanted to share some information that I just came across that you may not be aware of. As you know, cancer is a tragic disease that seems to be very common in America today. There are so many forms of cancer which can be caused by a number of things such as the food we eat and harmful chemicals that we are exposed to.

I just read an article that said Navy personnel who served until the early 70’s may have been exposed to asbestos, which was used in shipyards and vessels because of its strength plus heat and chemical resistance. What they didn’t know back then was the dangerous effects of asbestos including the risk of developing mesothelioma. Those who worked in the shipyards from the 1930’s until the 1970’s hold a greater risk of developing the disease. Many Navy personnel are not aware of this.

If you don’t know, mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer which affects the lining of the lungs. The most commons symptoms of mesothelioma are difficulty in breathing, chest pain, or both.

If you suspect someone you know who is a Navy veteran may have mesothelioma, I would recommend going to see a doctor. Also, don’t hesitate to file a Mesothelioma Claim to help pay for treatment.

Welcome Aboard!!!

2009-12-31T23:59:00.000-05:00

Welcome fellow Admirals! Hold on tight as we set sail on memory lane. Please log onto the crew manifest log by clicking the comment link. Please answer the following questions:

Name
Class
Years Attended GDHS
Current Residence
Any info you would like to share with your fellow Admirals

2008 GDHS Reunion Picnic

2008-08-07T21:34:00.003-04:00

Hi Everyone!

It's been almost 8 months since I last posted! Time sure goes by fast when you're busy ;) My freelance writing projects are many and I haven't been able to keep up with many of my blogs.

I've been meaning to let you know about the 2nd Annual SOCAL Alumni picnic reunion which is taking place at Mission Bay in San Diego on August 23, 2008. If you plan on attending, contact Ruben Pandes via email: rpandes [at] peoplepc [dot] com so that he can put you on the attendee list. For details and more information about the event, click here. You can also check out a list of attendees (the list was published on July 6, so I'm sure there are more people that have been added).

Here are a couple pictures from last year's picnic...

I'll be there...will you?

What's Your Favorite GDHS Memory?

2007-12-10T03:04:00.000-05:00

Recently I was thinking about all the fond memories I have of George Dewey High School, however, I always think about all those trips I took with the volleyball and basketball teams to Japan and Korea. How exciting to see other countries and experience other cultures as a young person!

That's what I loved the most about attending school in another country. I tell my friends now about how racially mixed GDHS was and I never felt segregated in any way like some high schools in the States are.

So, what's your fondest GDHS memory? Share them by leaving a comment below or you can email your thoughts to me at maria [at] salondemaria [dot] info. I'll publish your memories here in an upcoming post!

Love and Prayers For Coach Stauffer

2007-10-09T04:12:00.000-04:00

Yikes! It's been awhile since I've posted here! I hate to post with sad news, but I think it's important for us to ban together to collect some good energy for Coach Stauffer. I got word that he has been diagnosed with brain tumors and will have to undergo surgery.

Here is a message from Coach Stauffer's daughter, Lyzz:

Dear Friends:

Thank you for supporting our family through this very difficult time. I
speak on behalf of my family when I say that your prayers, thoughts
and well wishes are greatly appreciated. I'd like to ask one more favor
of you all. Please stop by and sign my Dad's Guest Book. I made a
MySpace page for him so that he can see the outpouring of support he has
himself. It can be found here:

www.myspace.com/coachstauffer

If you'd like to e-mail him, his email is CoachStauffer@yahoo.com

Please pass the message along to all alumni. Again, my family is
grateful for all your support. We can't thank you enough.

Sincerely,
Lyzz Stauffer

Send Coach Stauffer some positive vibes!!

GDHS Alumni Events

2007-07-22T12:20:00.000-04:00

I was browsing the George Dewey Alumni website today and came across some events you may want to know about:

Monday, July 23, 2007 » Friday, July 27, 2007
Miami, Florida 2007 Cruise by the Class of 82

Friday, October 05, 2007 » Sunday, October 07, 2007
All Class Reunion - Bangor, Maine 2007 by the 60's Group

Wednesday, June 04, 2008 » Sunday, June 08, 2008
All Class Reunion - Oahu, Hawaii 2008, hosted by the 70's group

Friday, August 08, 2008 » Sunday, August 10, 2008
Class of 88 Reunion in the OC

For more information, visit http://alumni.gdhs.org/events/event_list.asp

George Dewey High School Now

2007-07-14T04:40:00.000-04:00

I was going through some old emails and came across something Sam Simbulan sent me awhile back. Somehow this email slipped through the cracks and I forgot about it until now... Well, Sam shares some recent photos of our good ole GDHS...

I believe this is the old math and science building...
This was the first building you saw as you drove up to the school.

Here is the bulletin board in front of the school and the hallway leading up to the gym...

A bird's eye view of one of the classrooms...

I think I took this same picture when I went back to visit in 2002!

*sniff*

GDHS Summer Picnic 2007

2007-07-12T02:12:00.000-04:00

Yup, I'm pretty bummed out about missing the reunion in San Diego this past Saturday, but what can I say? Life happens and we must move on... There will be plenty more chances for our paths to cross, you can be sure of that! Thanks to those of you who helped put it together ;)

Well, thank God for GDHS.org where I can still connect virtually with many of you. Here are a couple pictures from the picnic courtesy of Lyzz Stauffer. Salamat!

If you attended the reunion and would like to submit pictures to be posted here, you can email them to me: maria [at] salondemaria [dot] info.

I will be back in San Diego on the 18th of July. If anybody would like to get together for a cup of coffee or some cocktails, let me know!

2007 GDHS Picnic Reunion Is Set!

2007-06-18T02:24:00.000-04:00

Hey Fellow Admiral Alumni!

Before I give you an update on the picnic/reunion, I'd like to apologize for the lack of posts here. I've been crazy busy with my businesses...That is one of the reasons why I would love to have contributors here so that we can all post updates and let our fellow alumni know what's going on with everybody! If you'd like to contribute to this blog, shoot me an email: maria [at] salondemaria.info.

Ok, now down to the fun stuff! I'm sure many of you have received an email from Ruben Pandes regarding the picnic that has been set for July 7, 2007 (7/7/07! Lucky us! It's going to be a GREAT DAY!)

Where: Mountain Hawk Park in Chula Vista - right next to the Olympic Training Center
When: Around 10ish A.M - Ends at 6 PM
The Eats: Potluck style - Ruben will be assigning items to bring - Alcohol permitted, but NO GLASS

IMPORTANT: If you would like to attend the reunion, you must email Ruben with the number of people in your party. Example: Maria Palma, spouse & 2 kids or Maria Palma & guest. (Just for the record, I'm not married and I don't have kids!) Contact Ruben: rpandes [at] peoplepc [dot] com.

If you ARE NOT not on the list, then you CANNOT ATTEND. So, email Ruben right now and let him know! The picnic is coming up fast!!

See you there!!

GDHS "Get Together"

2007-02-07T22:22:00.000-05:00

Perhaps I jumped the gun on my previous post. In case you didn't read the comment from the post, I wanted to publish it here on a separate post to clarify any confusion:

Hi Maria,

Thanks for putting the word out on the picnic. Well, technically it is a Reunion of sorts, but, not a full fledge Reunion with the Dinner and Dance bit. Just a small picnic that has gotten larger to the point that we have moved it to East Mission Bay. This get together is just to finally attempt who is really down here in Socal so that we can get a good registry for our group started. From this initial picnic we can hopefully plan other events and functions and quickly communicate it to everyone. So far we have close to 70 alumni identified, not including any 90's alumni, yet. This is really quite a number when over 50 percent of the emails listed on the Dewey website registry are no longer valid. So, everyone out there please update your email.

So here is to a terrific picnic in July.

Also by the way I do not run the Dewey website, that would be Sam Simbulan, Class of 1988. If any of you guys get "The Filipino Channel" he is the Director of the show, Pinagmulan. It is a show that documents a Filipinos' return home to the Philippines after an extended absence. Lots of good human interest stories. There you go Sam, another plug. He is doing a great job.

Take care,

Ruben Pandes 1975

By the way, if you're from the 90's era of GDHS and would like to attend, let me know via comments below. So far we have many RSVP's, but hardly anybody from the 90's!

GDHS Reunion 2007!

2007-02-01T22:58:00.000-05:00

I've been emailing back and forth with Ruben Pandes who runs the GDHS.org site and it looks like there will be a reunion this year!

The tentative date is set for July 7. We were thinking Balboa Park, but from reading the GDHS forum, East Mission Bay is also a possibility. Now that I think about it, Mission Bay does sound more fun! Beach volleyball, yes!

If you would like to help with planning this event, leave a comment below!

Hunting Around For GDHS Pictures

2006-11-02T17:51:00.000-05:00

I was searching around on the web for some pictures of George Dewey High School and came upon this website that has some really old photos of Subic Bay and Magsaysay. Some of these were way before my time...

If you have some pictures to share, email them to me at maria [at] salondemaria.info and I'll post them up here for you ;)

GDHS Kept Me Grounded

2006-10-09T03:31:00.000-04:00

It's been quite awhile, I know. Life gets in the way and you tend to lose sight of what's important - like connections with old friends. At least that's the way it's been for me for the past few months. I haven't been lurking around MySpace to find out what's going on with my peeps from GDHS.

However, I've been on a quest ...learning more and more about myself and thinking about the things that have made me who I am. I have to thank God for GDHS because going to school in the Philippines kept me pretty "grounded" as a person. Here in the States kids are very susceptible to pop culture and the media bombards them with what they should wear and how they should act. Sure, I had my own sense of style when it came to fashion, but I was never one to be obsessed with fashion labels and wearing what was "in" at the time...and the people I hung around weren't that way either. We also weren't fascinated with what celebrity was doing what or the latest technological bling (no iPods or laptops for me back then!)

Nope - I think many of my fellow GDHS alumni and I were just content in having fun, kicking it at the bowling alley, and occasionally having a few drinks at the clubs on Magsaysay (shhh..don't tell my dad!)

The GDHS Forum at Delphi Forums

2006-09-05T23:03:00.000-04:00

I was checking out the stats for this blog and noticed that there are quite a few visitors coming from the GDHS forum at Delphi forums. So, if you have landed here from the forum, I welcome you! I noticed that there are many discussions going on there at the Delphi forum...mostly old school GDHS alumni, I think.

If you are old school - or new school for that matter! - contact me at maria [at] salondemaria.info if you would like to contribute to this blog!

Reunion in Motion....

2006-08-20T04:04:00.000-04:00

Ok, I received a message from Mary [Stauffer - don't know if she's married?] the other day asking if I wanted to help plan a reunion for next year. The tentative date is July 28, 2007. Anybody in the San Diego area want to help plan?

>>>>Also in GDHS news...Mario Delgado recently got married! Congrats ;)

I haven't been doing much galavanting in MySpace land lately, so if you have news to share and would like to broadcast it here, send me an email: maria [at] salondemaria.info

Old School GDHS Alumni: Where Art Thou?

2006-07-30T03:13:00.000-04:00

I received a comment about how this blog is only representing the young alumni folk of GDHS...Ha! Nice to know I'm still young ;) If any of you old schoolers (before the 90's) would like to share a story with us, feel free to contact me and I could add you as a contributor: maria [at] salondemaria.info.

By the way, I'm slowly getting the links together so you can find your fellow GDHS alumni... Anybody care to help?

I'm in the process of moving, so my pictures are packed away in storage... However, I did come across these pictures...Classes '86-'89

New Links

2006-07-05T04:41:00.000-04:00

Hi My Dear GDHS Friends,

It's been quite some time since I've posted. You know, life happens ;) For those of you who know me, you know that my life is pretty hectic - but know that you're always in my thoughts ;) Especially now since I've watched the videos that Virg posted. Boy does that bring back memories! You're probably wondering if I still eat constantly.... and the answer is a bold YES! My ex-coworkers at Nordstrom used to always make fun of my "buffet" that I'd have in the backroom.

Anyways, I'm in the process of adding links to people's MySpace pages. They're listed under "Check Out GDHS Alumni's Sites" in the right-hand column >>>> So, if you're not one of my "Friends" at MySpace you probably won't see your link here. However, you can email me your link: maria [at] salondemaria.info and I'll be happy to share some link love witcha! It doesn't have to be a MySpace page. Any website will do.

Videos

2006-06-22T13:25:00.000-04:00

Mt. Pinatubo Eruption
created by NBS

GDHS Music Videos
created by Glenn Jordan and his gang

Farewell GDHS
created by NBS

New Site: MyYearbook.com

2006-06-06T02:13:00.000-04:00

I just discovered this new website, MyYearbook.com. As of right now GDHS is not listed on the site, but I'm going to try and get it listed... It's supposed to be the next big social networking site...We'll see!

My Friends Are GDHS Alumni!

2006-05-28T03:37:00.000-04:00

I revisited "My Space" today and noticed that most of the people in "My Friend Space" are GDHS Alumni! I never really got into the whole MySpace thing...thinking that it was a site solely for high school kids, but I'm glad I linked up with this concept because it's kept me in touch with some great people :)

By the way, I've added a recent picture of me at my page...Check it out!

And for some fun and artsy photos, check out my Flickr page...

~Maria Palma

Reunion, Anyone?

2006-05-17T01:03:00.000-04:00

Well, my computer crashed the other day...probably due to overwork! Which probably explains why my scanner keeps failing me. However, I do have a new computer and will have it configured soon so that I can start posting more pictures.

As I was washing the dishes tonight (this is when great ideas come to me!) I thought that it would be nice to have a reunion with GDHS folks. At first I thought we could have one at a hotel here in downtown San Diego, but knowing the price of gas and airfare these days, it may be out of reach for some people to come here PLUS pay for a ticket to attend the reunion...

I live across the street from a huge recreational park here in Mira Mesa (a suburb of San Diego), which may be an option....that is, if people would be interested in even having a reunion.

Any thoughts? Leave your comments here!

Glenn Jordan Has A Baby!

2006-05-10T03:00:00.000-04:00

Just kidding! I didn't get permission from Glenn Jordan to post this picture, so hopefully he won't be too mad about it :)

This was taken during a CPR class we had....don't remember exactly what grade we were in. I think we were seniors?

Did you know that Glenn and I knew each other in first grade when we lived in Washington state? ("It's A Small World" is playing in the background...Ok, I'm corny...It's late!)

Hey, Glenn, if you're out there and you want me to take this picture out, shoot me an email: maria [at] salondemaria.info

More GDHS Pictures Coming Soon!

2006-05-07T05:45:00.000-04:00

I know, it's been awhile since I've posted, but I was hoping that some of the "contributors" would start posting as well.

WHERE IS EVERYBODY??

Anyhow, my scanner was on the fritz again, thus the lack of picture posting from me. But alas, it miraculously started working again today...

Stay tuned for more pictures - I promise, you'll like these ones :)

Ciao!

P.S. I've been quite the busy body lately...

The Power of the Blog

2006-04-25T04:15:00.000-04:00

Ah, I do love the internet! It has the power to bring long lost friends together, as it has done here at the GDHS Admirals Log.

But, where is everybody? People have signed up to contribute (ahem- attention to the list of "contributors), but are too shy to "speak up"! This is your chance to shine in the blogosphere and perhaps come in contact with someone who can help make your dreams come true...

Anybody out there? I don't want to be the only one "talking" around here.

Everything I Learned About Life, I Learned At GDHS

2006-04-05T21:01:00.000-04:00

Last graduating class of GDHS

Sometimes I regret dishing out the thousands of dollars and the seven years spent going to college...because in retrospect, everything I learned about life I learned in high school:

Teamwork - playing on the volleyball and basketball team was a thrilling adventure for me. I learned that teamwork is what wins games...Teamwork is the catalyst for success....

Focus - even before I started high school, I made a goal of becoming senior class valedictorian. I reminded myself of that goal every time report cards came out and every time I took a test. I was determined and I was focused.

Global Awareness - attending a DODDS school offered me the
opportunity to travel to other foreign countries and learn more about other cultures. In my three years in the Philippines I traveled to Japan, Korea, and Guam.

Friendship - oh, the good times - the laughter, the tears, the closeness....

Saving Money - there was no pressure from peers to buy the latest fads or carry a designer purse. People loved you for who you were, not what you were wearing.

And these are the things I learned at GDHS...

What did you learn?

~Maria Palma

GDHS Alumni, Do You Want to Share Your Website?

2006-03-31T00:17:00.000-05:00

If you want a link to your website displayed on this site, please send an email to: maria@salondemaria.info

If you have a blog, that's good as well. I'll be creating a blogroll here in a few...

~Maria

GDHS Full-Circle

2006-03-30T17:53:00.000-05:00

For years I wasn't in contact with anyone from GDHS...but now it's GDHS all over the place :) I recently joined MySpace.com (yes, I'm a lagger) and have come in contact with quite a few people.

Then I go to an ARTS meeting here in San Diego and run into someone from GDHS. Then the other day Chrissy Salas (she lives in Murrietta - north of San Diego) emails me out of the blue....then Stefani Price (lives in Arizona) calls me on my birthday...

The spirit of GDHS lives and I'm very thankful to have found long lost friends!

Tequila Posse

2006-03-24T08:16:00.000-05:00

Anybody know the whereabouts of Joleen Reynolds and Debbie Abeyta?

We Survived Mt. Pinatubo!

2006-03-23T02:33:00.000-05:00

My boyfriend told me he saw a special the other night on the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. I shared my memories with him. Being stuck at Stefani Price's house for a few days...all the ashes...shoveling ashes for hours off Stafani's roof.

The funny thing is, I don't really remember being scared at all. Even when the earthquakes hit and Stefani and I were standing in the doorways waiting for things to subside.

I also remember that day when we evacuated. We boarded the U.S.S. Lincoln to set sail for Guam and then took a plane back to the States.

I'm very thankful to have survived that tragedy. I'm thankful that we had the resources to make it out there alive, unlike many people in New Orleans.

Reliving the Nightmare...

2006-03-17T16:00:00.000-05:00

For those of you who want to relive the days of the Mt. Pinatubo eruptions, check out the photos from a Subic Bay website that was put together by Sgt. H. James Holub, USMC Ret. Click [here].

Here is another site called Pinatubo Volcano "The Sleeping Giant Awakens".

I still have a copy of those two Mt. Pinatubo news specials created and aired by FEN/NBS. Sure brings back memories.

Anyone Have Basketball Pics?

2006-03-15T02:41:00.000-05:00

I'm still hunting for my yearbooks and old pictures. Why is that when you really want to find something, you can't find it? And then I find this picture of me and Stefani Price taken a few years ago, but now my scanner isn't working!

Well, I'm really on the hunt for girl's basketball pics. If anyone (Theresa?) has any basketball pics with me in them, I'd appreciate it if you could email a pic to me: maria@salondemaria.info

On another note, have you connected with anyone lately that attended GDHS?

I worked with Dennis Infante at Macy's in La Jolla, CA for a little while. He works in Visuals. Dennis still looks the same to me and he has my dream job...brat! :) I told him that the only way I would go back to working for someone else is if they offered me a visuals position. As of now, I'll stick to writing and making jewelry.

Me and Stefani Price email each other once in awhile.....same with Sheila Calara. Stefani lives in Arizona and works at ASU and Sheila lives in the San Bernadino area(?)

Photo Shoot Fun

2006-03-02T22:28:00.000-05:00

Some fun on front of the camera. Photo shoot was during our Junior Year (prior to the Mt. Pinatubo eruption). Taken at a photo studio in Olongapo City.

(T to B, L to R) Rowena Cichoski, David Eisen, Oliver Calcetas, Dennis Infante, Danilyn Yu, Me, Dave Hitchcock, Bernard Domingo, Sheryllyn Bautista, Bobby Miranda, and Stephen Yim.

A Night in Paris

Out in the Jungle

Out in the City

Lost in Space

In a Daze

Saying Goodbye

2006-02-22T22:33:00.000-05:00

The following pictures were taken at the Cubi Pt. MAC Terminal. This was the first wave of people leaving Subic Bay...if you don't count a year before with the Mt. Pinatubo evacuation. I forgot who was leaving that one day these pictures were taken, but there were a lot.
(Standing L to R) Orlando Guerra (in the background), Orlan Calcetas, Oliver Calcetas, Me, Bernard Domingo, Becky Williamson, Jay Cueto, Sean Dillon, and Nick DiPietro. (Kneeling L to R) Louis Santos and Phil Jones

(L to R) Leo Arsitio, Merry Grace Valerio, Debbie Abeyta, Bernard Domingo, Becky Williamson, Bobby Miranda, Me, and Johnny Nuckols. (Back) David Eisen.

Unforgettable - Prom '92

2006-02-17T23:25:00.000-05:00

Unforgettable, that's what you are
Unforgettable though near or far
Like a song of love that clings to me
How the thought of you does things to me
Never before has someone been more

Unforgettable in every way
And forever more, that's how you'll stay
That's why, darling, it's incredible
That someone so unforgettable
Thinks that I am unforgettable too

......Instrumental.......

No never before has someone been more ooh

Unforgettable in every way
And forever more, that's how you'll stay
That's why, darling, it's incredible
That someone so unforgettable
Thinks that I am unforgettable too

Duet by Nat King Cole and daughter Natalie Cole

(Standing L to R) Lito Powers, Sean Dillon, Becky Williamson, Stefani Price, Sarah Smiley, David Eisen, Rowena Cichoski, and me. (Kneeling L to R) Bobby Miranda, Lito Casal, Oliver Calcetas, and Bernard Domingo.
The Ladies L to R: Lei Mendoza, Becky Williamson, Amy Sue Esperanza, Sarah Smiley, Rowena Cichoski, and Stefani Price.
Miss Jolene Reynolds - Our Prom Queen

A Beautiful Picture From Ole' Subic Bay

2006-02-15T00:45:00.000-05:00

I've been digging around for pictures to share. So far I've come up with a picture of the bay that I took the last time I visited Subic Bay, which was a few years ago. The old base still looks more or less the same.

I was very sad to see the high school. It just looked abandoned and deserted. I peeked into one of the old classrooms and there were boxes and papers thrown around everywhere. I'm not quite sure what they are doing with the school nowadays. All I know is that the gym is now a convention center and the cafeteria is now a restaurant. When I find more pixes, I'll post them... For now, enjoy this view :)

~Maria Palma
C/O '92

Decommissioning of GDHS

2006-02-03T01:51:00.000-05:00

The Class of 1992 forever sets the anchor on GDHS on June 11, 1992.

GDHS Last Graduating Class: Deborah A. Abeyta, Theresa R. Albornoz (Class President), Napolean S. Arsitio, Joey Baesas, Sheryllyn P. Bautista, Jason Lee Bradley, Alfredo M. Bundalian, Anthony C. Calaguas, Oliver M. Calcetas, Annelito A. Casal, Rowena B. Cichoski, Jason Troy Cueto, Sean Gareth Dillon, Nicholas J. Di Pietro, Bernard V. Domingo (Salutatorian), Daniel Eugen Echols, David Walter Eisen, Steven J. Gagne Jr., Virgilio A. Gascon Jr., Janise P. Gonzalez, Emelita B. Greger, Orlando Guerra Jr., Matthew A. Hert III, Phillip A. Jones, Glenn Jordan, Brian William Knox, Jason K. McCollough, Christino R. Miranda, Jhay Suan Misa, Karen Lynn Murrell, Richard Noynay, Maria Teresa V. Palma (Valedictorian), Raquel B. Palmer, Manuel G. Patio Jr., Angelito D. Powers, Stefani Tempo Price, Jessica A. Quenga, Genevieve Q. Reyes, Joleen L. Reynolds, Louis D. Santos Jr., Christopher L. Shefstad, Martin Clyde Simonds, Sarah Jane A. Smiley, Scott Christopher Turner, Rebecca Lynn Williamson, and Diane E. Wilson.

Time to Reconnect

2006-02-02T22:56:00.000-05:00

Time flies, eh? After fourteen years I'm finally reconnecting with my long last pals from George Dewey High. When Virgilio asked if anybody was interested in contributing to this blog, I jumped at the chance. Why not share stories about the good ole days back in Subic Bay?

(long pause....I'm reminiscing....)

It's my hope to bring together anybody who every attended GDHS, especially the class of '92. Would love to hear what everybody's up to!

~Maria Palma
Salon de Maria