Graduation time is upon us once again. Time for our first HISTORY LESSON, my dear readers and followers.

On June 21, 1948, four Marist Brothers from the United States arrived in the Philippines upon the invitation of Bishop Gerard Mongeau, OMI to work in the Diocese of Cotabato where the Oblates have their mission.

Headed by Bro. Maurus James Doherty, FMS, they took over the administration of the Notre Dame of Cotabato Boys’ Department (1948), followed by Notre Dame of Marbel (1950), and the Notre Dame of Lagao in 1952.

Here is a 55-year old picture of the 2nd batch of graduates of the Notre Dame of Lagao Boys Department (now known as Notre Dame of Dadiangas University) where my late father, Avelino belongs. He was the Philippine Military Training Commandant at that time. When he graduated in 1954, he was 22, one of the oldest since he had to work in their farms in Lagao and babysit for his younger sisters.

Click on the image for a larger view.

Where others went off to college, my Kapampangan dad opted to study Tailoring in Davao for two years and later on, established & owned the biggest tailoring shop in GenSan (Avelman’s Fashion and Haberdashery) until he retired in the 80s.

I hope you can see my dad here with the X mark.

You might be able to recognize your dads, your fathers, or your grandpa’s among them.

And oh, while you’re at it, would you or anybody happen to know the names of the MARIST BROTHERS in the picture?