Among HS classmates, AFP chief ‘heartthrob’

LUCENA CITY—The picture says it all.

Lt. Gen. Jessie Dellosa, now armed forces chief, is neither high nor mighty among his classmates at the Quezon Provincial High School (QPHS) here.

At the 25th founding anniversary of the Southern Luzon Command here, Dellosa gamely bantered with members of class 1974 of QPHS, among them women who recalled Dellosa being a “heartthrob” during those days.

He still is, according to many of the women members of the class who were invited to the Solcom anniversary.

To Pacita Antenor-Flores, a member of the class, Dellosa was still “simple Jessie.”

Elmer Arias, another member of the class, said he knew Dellosa would be big someday and recalled the AFP chief being good at math.

“We were not surprised when he was named AFP chief of staff,” said Arias.

The Dellosas migrated to this city when their father, also a soldier, was assigned to Camp Nakar.

“He chooses his circle of friends but he is not a snob,” said Dellosa’s younger sister, Marilyn.

Marilyn said their late father, who retired as master sergeant, was a model for the now AFP chief.