33 Years Later, University of Pangasinan’s Nursing Class of ’93 Reunites in Las Vegas

By Oscar Estaris and Nitaflor Francisco · In My Corner with Julie Ann Torremoro, page E-2 · Adapted for the web by the PTSNV newsroom · Masthead

Thirty-three years after they walked the halls of their alma mater, the University of Pangasinan Nursing Class of 1993 finally got everyone back in one place. The batch held its first-ever class reunion in Las Vegas from September 25 to 27, 2026, with classmates flying in from the United Kingdom, Canada and the Philippines.

“Despite being more than three decades apart, the passage of time dissolved instantly,” class organizers Oscar Estaris and Nitaflor Francisco write in their account for the Philippine Times.

Three Days, From a Picnic to a Gala on the Strip

Organizers built a weekend that mixed nostalgia, adventure and a little elegance:

• A meet-and-greet party to kick things off
• A relaxed brunch picnic to catch up on 33 years of news
• A day trip to the Skywalk at Grand Canyon West
• A gala night in a decorated ballroom at the Horseshoe on the Las Vegas Strip

The Memories That Came Rushing Back

For years, the classmates had hoped to fill one room again. Once they did, the stories flowed: sleepless nights conquering microbiology, anatomy and physiology; their very first acquaintance party; the pride of their capping and candle-lighting ceremony, the Filipino nursing-school rite where students receive their caps; and the grind of affiliation days, hospital rotations and research presentations.

Those shared struggles, the organizers write, reminded everyone “that we faced the storms and finished strong as one unique, forever-bonded batch.”

The Team Behind the Reunion

Oscar Estaris, Maryann Preza and Roviena Ycu led and co-chaired the planning team. Catherine Mangapot, May Ann Henderson, Josephine Casbang and Maribel Santos contributed, along with organizers Evelyn Maquiling, Marie Resalie Rivera, Pearl Villarta and Leonora Pangilinan, plus generous donors and supportive families. Henderson, one of the alumnae, is also president of the Pangasinan Association of Southern Nevada.

Not the Final Chapter

Nurses trained in the Philippines have long staffed hospitals across the United States, and the Class of ’93’s careers took them to different corners of the world. The weekend proved the bond held anyway. The batch left Las Vegas hopeful that this was not the final chapter, but the start of a new adventure. Mabuhay, Nightingales ’93, until we meet again.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the University of Pangasinan Nursing Class of 1993 reunion?

September 25 to 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. It was the class’s first-ever reunion.

What did the reunion weekend include?

A meet-and-greet party, a brunch picnic, a day trip to the Skywalk at Grand Canyon West and a gala night at the Horseshoe on the Las Vegas Strip.

Who organized the reunion?

A team led and co-chaired by Oscar Estaris, Maryann Preza and Roviena Ycu, with help from fellow classmates, donors and families.

Related in this issue: The full October 19, 2026 edition · The Welcome sign goes red, blue and yellow · FAHF’s 2026 Golden Pearls · Nevada’s nursing workforce

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