First update: October 26, 2025, 9:00 AM
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Hygeians 77 Reunion a Smashing Success
Ricardo Salise Caluen
No stone was left unturned to ensure the successful celebration of the 48th year anniversary of Class ’77 of the Bohol Provincial Hospital School of Nursing. Calling themselves Hygeians 77 (after the Greek goddess of health and sanitation), 29 (2 men, 27 women) out of the original 80 members of the batch gathered in Niagara Falls for their bi-annual reunion last September 4-6.
One member rushed her New Zealand vacation and another travelled all the way from the Philippines just to be able to join their batchmates. Class president Betty Pizarras-Ramirez hosted the welcome dinner at her beautiful home in Niagara Falls. Their 3-day itinerary included mass at the famous Shrine to Saint Therese of Lisieux, tour of The Lady of the Mist, dinner on top of the world at The Skylon, and of course the dinner gala. Everyone came dressed to the nines and danced the night away at the popular Delphi Banquet Facility to the music of deejay Romy Mativo who also serenaded the nurses. Engr. Gil and Betty Ramirez once again played hosts during the despedida dinner where some 80 guests were in attendance, including the husbands of the Hygeians 77—the Hygiemen—and other family members.
The Hygeians were one in declaring the Niagara Falls gathering the reunion to beat, despite President Betty being practically a one-woman organizing committee. Cora Simsiman, the event co-chair, has already accomplished some spade work but had been taken ill on the eve of the celebration and had to be hospitalized. The group looks forward to their 50th anniversary in 2027 which will be held in Tagbilaran City. The Hygeians are also planning on launching a legacy project during the gathering. Hygeians 77 had the largest class in the history of BPHSN. It is proud of its track record where in the 1977 nursing licensure exams three grads garnered the 3rd (Maria Luisa Digal-Lungay), 5th, and 7th places with 100 % passing average. Gerry Uy reminisces that despite the size of their batch they remain close to each other because they all lived in the dormitory, were in the same subjects, ate together in the cafeteria, and studied together for 4 years.
The frequent reunions have only strengthened the group’s esprit d’ corps. The first batch of BPHSN graduated in 1966, the last in 1985 when the school, together with six other public nursing schools, were phased out by the Department of Health. The late Mrs. Guiditta Tan-Borja, a native of Iligan and a product of the Zamboanga Provincial Hospital School of Nursing, served as principal pretty much throughout the existence of BPHSN.
(Credits: Some info about BPHSN is lifted from “Woman Lens” by Tagbilaran, Bohol journalist Belinda Sales)