'this is why I came home. Them."
When you live in a small enough town, chances are your high school classmates are the very same ones you attended pre-school and elementary school with. We danced, swayed, moved our hands and bodies to the music of Prince's "When Doves Cry", Eurythmics' "Here Comes the Rain Again" and to the irrestible beat of Cyndi Lauper. We horded on anything Little Twin Stars, My Melody and Hello Kitty. Afternoons, particularly at 1pm, meant Chemistry or Spanish classes, either way, we couldnt escape Mrs. M!!! Fridays were cool...CAT (sort of military training thingy) drills and stuff...cool! Or not. HAHAHAHA. The pic with me in red and sunglasses, that was taken at Cambalading, our camping grounds where we had war games!!! Which gave me a reason (and the chance) to hit my enemy (--ies) or crush (who I would deliberately seek...) with water bombs!!! HAHAHAHAHA!
That means we had been friends since we were all 4 years old!!! With the case of most of us, our parents went to and graduated from the very same school. And for most of us, it was a conscious effort...or fate (?) that we kept in touch since getting our diplomas in March 1984. I wrote letters (yes, letters!!!) to several friends all throughout college. Putting photos in an envelope would be expensive, so I drew how I looked like so they wouldnt forget me. We held annual reunions most especially during Christmas (it was mandatory to go home for Christmas no matter where you are). With the birth of cellphones, my monthly bills would almost have the label "too much texting high school friends" on them! HAHAHAHA. My high school friends comprise 60% of my phone and email address book! Even if I was dreading the assignment of reading the Responsorial Psalm during the thanksgiving mass ( freaked me out --Im not a stage person hehe) I couldnt believe I almost (consciously) missed my own Silver Jubilee reunion.
25 years... and to this day I simply havent figured out yet why I was assigned to play the piano when we sang our graduation song! Hehehe that was confusing...why me? I was the best in dodging my piano lessons. I had the most number of absences!!! Hehehe...I hope nobody remembers when I hit the wrong (last) note during practice when I saw my crush walk into the gym!!! HAHAHAHA!!! Intramurals week was the best! I would always thank the stars above whenever I make it to the volleyball team (or any team for that matter) coz it meant I didnt have to wear any short skirt of the cheering squad! hehehe.... Wow. my first singing contest! HAHAHAHA!!! Who knew? Not me! One night of practicing "Dito Ba?" and beating a last minute replacement singer of the other faction (Ernest came down with fever) didnt exactly make me a famous pop star in the country, now did it?! HAHAHAHA!!!
They should also revise a rule:
The 11th Outstanding Student awardee SHOULD be given an award...or else she...ehem, or he just might get traumatized and scarred for life. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! (I believe I turned out pretty well actually. HAHAHAHA)
Thanks to my friend, Fred, I also have pictures! hehehe. You can see me and Fred during the mass up there. Someone took a shot at us. At 7 years old, Fred and I were snapped together as partners during our First Holy Communion. The girl Im hugging up there was my roommate during college!!! Congratulations to Batch 84!!! A job very very well done! The most blastest homecoming party and weekend ever!!! So many stories, as if I have not chatted and emailed most of them regularly. So many discoveries! So much fun! No, no no... way beyong FUN!!! The Superdome was amazing! I have never been inside there before. It was beautiful!!! I was hungry when I got there but was too excited to eat! Wonderful to be with them juniors, sophomores and freshies!!! Classmates from other countries came home.
We could still enumerate how the class roll call sounded..."Pajaron, Palacio, Patanao, Paylado, Penserga, Pepito..." HAHAHAHA!
25 years...and I know exactly where those years went. Each one have their stories. Sad and happy. I took the time to talk and hold the hand of those I had not been very close to in school, look into their eyes and ask how they were. Some, as destiny had it, were not as fortunate like most. But they have managed to come, celebrate and be with one another. But there was no need to shed tears for them because they are happy. In simple and sometimes trying ways, they are happy. And it makes me happy. I found joy in talking with a girl who belonged in another class. We did not share common memories. We moved in different circles 25 years ago. That was the most amazing thing about it coz she told me a hundred things she did in high school which were new to me. I never knew she was this, she was that, she went to this, she saw that. She offered me another view of life in high school. I spent more than 7 years in the same school with her and yet everything she told me was totally new!!! I felt sucked into a beautiful and happy time warp. Just me and her talking about the past. How she saw me move in my own 'circle' (that is such a politically incorrect term hehe). She made me see my life in high school like never before. Everything makes more sense now.
May I suggest to those who have yet to celebrate their 25th: that year would probably the one time you would attend a reunion especially if you live in another country. When you come home... seek those outside your circle of friends from high school. Say hi to those from the other sections. Say hi to your most hated. Dont just stick with your old "barkada". Say hi to the parents of your classmates! Know the children of your teachers. Look for the old janitor or the auxiliary worker. Sit in the canteen. Take the time to stand in the quadrangle, look up and hear the cheers of the many Intramurals that were. And if you still remember how the big bell sounded each morning 25 years ago, you can be assured that guy pulling the rope is Rev. Dennis Soon, of Batch 1984.
See everyone again in 25 years?
See everyone NEXT YEAR is more like it!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHA
Thank you Boss for making the weekend the greatest success in history! Hehehehe...
Photo credits to Charisse, Imelda, Clyde, Gay, Fred and Tatit.
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