Connecting the Damean Family: Our First Newsletter for 2026

Dear Fellow Dameans,

I am very pleased—and, quite honestly, a little relieved—to share with all of you the Gensan Dameans Newsletter, Volume 1, Issue 1, January–August 2026.

As President of the Notre Dame Schools of General Santos City Alumni Association International, Inc. and Chairman of the Editorial Board, this issue is particularly meaningful to me. It represents our continuing commitment to keep our Damean family informed, connected, and engaged, wherever in the world we may be.

Putting this issue together has been quite a journey. It took a tremendous amount of time, effort, writing, editing, coordination, creativity, and persistence to bring all these stories and pages together.

But ultimately, a newsletter is not about the people who put it together.

It is about the people and stories it represents.

And this issue is filled with them.

From our scholarship initiatives and the inspiring young scholars whose futures we are helping shape, to updates from our beloved schools, the achievements of fellow Dameans, our heritage and recovery efforts, and the exciting preparations for Orlando 2027—these pages capture many of the things that make our Notre Dame community special.

MY HEARTFELT THANKS

I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to everyone who contributed to this issue.

Thank you to those who submitted articles, photographs, messages, stories, information, ideas, and personal experiences. Thank you to those who responded to our requests, patiently answered questions, reviewed material, and helped us get the details right.

And to all those who worked quietly behind the scenes—thank you.

Every contribution, no matter how small, helped make this publication possible.

As I wrote in my President’s message, our collective efforts are strengthened by those who give their “time, talent, resources, and, most importantly, heart.”

That is exactly what I have seen in putting this issue together.

THANK YOU, RUBEN

I also want to acknowledge Ruben T. Tugari, our Editor-in-Chief, for his participation in the editorial process and for helping shape this issue.

As Chairman of the Editorial Board, I am grateful to Ruben and to everyone who joined me in this undertaking.

Producing a publication is never a one-person endeavor. It takes people willing to contribute, cooperate, and see the project through.

MORE THAN A NEWSLETTER

For me, this issue represents something bigger.

It is part of our effort to build a stronger, more connected Damean community—one that remembers its roots, celebrates its people, supports our schools, gives opportunities to the next generation, and continues to strengthen the bonds of friendship that began so many years ago.

Our newsletter’s editorial vision is built around editorial excellence, community engagement, and operational efficiency—with the goal of delivering stories that matter and information our members can count on.

I hope you will take the time to read it, enjoy it, share it, and most of all, see a little bit of yourself and our shared Notre Dame story in its pages.

This is our newsletter.

Our stories.
Our achievements.
Our memories.
Our Damean family.

And there is much more to come.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this issue possible.

With gratitude and pride,

Orman O. Manansala
President
Chairman, Editorial Board

One Damean. One Family. One Legacy.