PHOTOS BY ALLEN ANIMAS
FRESH off its historic centennial, Sun Yat Sen High School steps boldly into its grand celebration, uniting generations of graduates, educators, and community leaders for its 101st Alumni Foundation Day and Homecoming.
More than just a reunion, this year’s milestone bridges over a hundred years of heritage with a spirit of gratitude, continuity, and service.
Festivities opened on November 12 with a solemn flower-offering ceremony and a cultural night, building toward Alumni Night on November 14, 2026.
The main event welcomed around 500 alumni, including roughly 300 jubilarians celebrating their 25th to 60th milestones.
For outgoing Alumni Association president Engr. Fulbert C. Woo, the gathering is a powerful reminder of the institution’s deep roots in Iloilo. Notably, the school’s 101st anniversary coincides with the 161st birth anniversary of its namesake, Dr. Sun Yat-sen.
“There is a 60-year gap because the school was established in 1925 while he was still alive, bringing together a mix of Filipino, Chinese, and Cantonese pioneers here in Iloilo. That is our true history,” Woo shared.
Alumni Night also marked a major leadership transition with the formal induction of incoming President Jaresh Ng (2026–2028 term) and the new Board of Directors.
Stepping into the role, Ng aims to carry forward the momentum of Woo’s centennial stewardship.
“It’s good that our alumni are now very responsive to the call of the alumni associations. They are coming to school and giving out donations, so we can say that we are somehow united as one Tiong San family,” Ng stressed.
Moreover, Woo echoed the pride, noting that alumni generosity has directly shaped the modern learning environment students enjoy today.
“Alumni support has helped build our school facilities,” Woo explained.
Over the decades, that unity has directly transformed the campus — funding air-conditioned classrooms and modern robotics equipment — while nurturing business executives, entrepreneurs, public officials, and global leaders. Yet for both leaders, the institution’s greatest pride lies in its people.
“Seeing how successful they have become in their careers — and how they continue to carry the pride of the association with them — makes us truly proud,” Woo added.
“We don’t only look at the material things they donate, but at how they carry their identity and pride out into the world,” Woo noted.
Moreover, Ng emphasized that the heart of the homecoming lies in mutual appreciation between the alma mater and its graduates.
“First and foremost, we deeply acknowledge their time and effort in coming home to their alma mater, because the true strength of an institution lives through its alumni,” Ng said.
Honoring 101 years of legacy and pride, the Sun Yat Sen High School Alumni Homecoming brought together graduates across generations to connect, collaborate, and celebrate as One Strong Tiong San./PN