Grand Reunion

CATWomen & A Few Good Men

Picture provided by Vic "Bossing" C.

posted by Batch '78 @ 04:01

1 comments from:  Anonymous,

Happy Birthday "Bossing"

I was told birthday ni "Bossing" today.

No, it's not Vic Sotto's birthday. I'm talking about the other Vic.....Victor Cruz.
Happy Birthday "Bossing"....

and to all those who is celebrating theirs this month!!!

Correction: April pala ang birthday ni Germie N. akala ko August. mali ang posting ko. Pardon my ignorance....

posted by Batch '78 @ 04:03

11 comments from:  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,

Between Poverty and Paradise

What the writer had experienced and written truly hits home. This article, sent to me by a friend, undoubtly touched the very inner core of my self as I recalled many incidents in the past where I've been asked by my American colleagues and friends why year-in and year-out I always go visit the Philippines, my island, to take my precious and much-needed vacation instead of other places like Europe, the Caribbean etc.

I was never shy to admit that although there in our country lies the obvious gaps between poverty and paradise, nonetheless I'm always proud of what the Philippines, my home, can truly offer to those who wants to visit.

------------ --------- -------- ------------ --------- --------

LAST night, I had dinner with a German friend to talk about her planned trip to the Philippines . She had just completed an internship program in one of the law firms here in Malaysia and wanted to take a short holiday in a nearby country before heading off to Australia to finish her studies. She wanted to know more about the Philippines and asked me for tips on making the most of the two-and-a-half weeks that she had allotted for this vacation.

We planned her trip between bites, armed only with a faded map of the Philippines that we had downloaded from the Internet. My goal was to identify all the "must-see" places in the country (her criteria being beaches and volcanoes), plot them according to distance and flight routes, and then cram them all in 17 days.

A tall order indeed, especially for someone like me who has never had a sense of direction even in my own neighborhood. For the life of me, I could not spot where Boracay was on her map. So I took the easy way out and told her to go to Palawan instead. I carried on with the task like a diligent student trying to remember my geography, starting from the rice terraces in Banaue up north, moving down south to the Mayon Volcano in Bicol and the Chocolate Hills in Bohol.

It was an embarrassing ordeal nonetheless as she could see that I was struggling to find all the other attractive destinations on the map, which in turn made me realize how little I truly knew about my own country. She was very excited about the trip and was eager to learn more about the country and its people.

She imagined the Philippines to be an eternal fiesta of Spanish and Chinese Third-World flair, filled with warm and accommodating people who all speak with a clear American accent, where all men have the handsome earthy appeal of Jericho Rosales and women the heavenly mestiza charms of Kristine Hermosa (thanks to Filipino soap operas that have become so popular here in Malaysia ).

It was certainly one of the most honest cultural impressions that I have ever heard and quite amusingly, one shared by many.

In my German friend's opinion, the Philippines is one of the most open-minded countries in Southeast Asia. I found this view rather interesting, especially since it came from a European who has never stepped foot in the Philippines and whose only direct exposure to the country, was me.

The funny thing about cultural impressions is that they often come from a place of both acute perception and blatant ignorance, split in the middle by what is painfully true. But they are what they are ~ impressions.

Quite naturally, my friend and I have come to build our own impressions about Malaysia in the several months that we have been here. Malaysia is a beautiful country that seems to be in a hurry to develop economically, but is hampered by a palpable trace of social reluctance. It seems grounded on an age-old culture that simply does not mix well with progress, or at least the kind dictated and exemplified by the Western world. I find this true for most developing Asian countries, including the Philippines .

My friend pointed out that she has never seen a beggar in the streets of Kuala Lumpur since she moved here and asked me if it is the same in the Philippines . As a matter of fact, she admitted that she has never seen a beggar up close in her whole life and asked me to explain how it is to live in a poor country like mine.

She wanted to know more about poverty. Her question struck a chord in me because I realized that apart from Jericho Rosales, this woman had absolutely no idea about the country where she was going and how it was out there. Here was someone who came to me wanting to know more about my country and the best I could offer was a geographical representation of scenic destinations, which I hardly even knew myself.

By this time, I had put down the pen I was holding, set aside the map, and got ready to explain to her details about my country. I did not know where to begin. After all, how does one explain poverty to someone who has never experienced it before?

To make things more relevant to her, I started by comparing the Philippines to Malaysia . I told her that blue-collar workers in the Philippines did not have the same opportunities as the ones in Malaysia, who can afford to eat in the same restaurants where executives eat or even shop in stores where their own bosses shop. I told her that unlike the ones I have met in Malaysia, secretaries and administrative clerks in the Philippines will eat in posh restaurants only on very special occasions and can barely afford to travel to other countries.

I then told her about the beggars, young and old, who parade the streets of Manila, the children who knock on car windows selling sampaguita, the mothers who have to forage for food in garbage landfills, and the unemployed fathers who waste their lives on drugs and alcohol. I told her about the shanties that bedeck highways and railroads, the unproductive traffic jams, the garbage-infested streets and sewers, and the regular typhoons that flood the country and exacerbate already poor living conditions.

I told her that poverty in the Philippines unapologetically hits you in the face the very moment you step in. It is an open wound just waiting to be healed.

My friend looked shaken, as if experiencing for the first time a world she has seen only on TV. That was when my tears started to fall. I could not help it. I have never cried in front of a semi-stranger before but for some reason, I cried this time because she was still not immune to these things.

Her unawareness taught me to see poverty as if for the first time myself, which brought out a lot of pain. I have become so used to the pain that I have forgotten how it felt until I painted for her the sad face of poverty.

I then found myself having to explain to her that despite all these, the Philippines is still a beautiful country and this you will also feel the very moment you get there. It is a beauty characterized by the indomitable human spirit of a people who have seen better days and yet still have the capacity to find a piece of heaven in their lives. It is a beauty defined by the untiring faith of a people who have learned to acknowledge their plight with reverence and yet have never lost the courage to dream big dreams. It is a beauty characterized by the painful history of a people who have been abused and pillaged through the years and yet still have so much of themselves to give.

Now her tears were falling, smearing the map that I had earlier vandalized with circles and arrows. But I knew it did not matter anymore at this point.

I realized that my friend had learned all she needed to know about my country and my people. She thanked me profusely, saying that she came to me wanting to know more about how poor the Philippines is but in the end, she learned how abundantly blessed Filipinos truly are.

A beach is a beach and a volcano is a volcano anywhere in the world, but it is the people who make the difference. I learned in that moment that I may not know the geographical features of my country all too well, but I sure know its heart and its soul because it is who I am. The real poverty lies in not knowing this.

------------ --------- -------- ------------ --------- --------

Writer Paolo P. Mangahas, 32, currently works in Kuala Lumpur as Head of Communications for WWF-Malaysia (World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia ). He won Honorable Mention in the 2003 Doreen Fernandez Food Writing Award for his piece "Adobo, I'm Home!" and has published several essays on food, lifestyle, fashion, and social and environmental development.

posted by Batch '78 @ 03:23

3 comments from:  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,

A Few More Kinks

The group are still busy working on the details of our reunion with the "reunion programme" design in its final touch and a few more kinks to iron out of the t-shirt designs & printing.

Here are some pics of the ACI Garden Resort, our chosen venue, and the location map.

posted by Batch '78 @ 04:28

4 comments from:  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,

Given...Proven!

Of all the teachers we had in high school, it's actually a toss-up between Mrs. Espinosa and Ms. Aurora Cruz to whom I felt more intimidated and more scared than anybody else.

If you ask me why, I really don't know. Perhaps because they were the more senior in this group of teachers, along with Miss Laniog. Not age-wise but the most years and experience, teaching-wise.

The level of respect I have with these three super-women is different than the younger generation of teachers we had.

They're once, twice, three times a lady! ;-)

But one thing I know is that I was always in my best behaviour whenever they're around. Between History (Ms. Cruz) and Geometry (Mrs. Espinosa), I fared better in the latter subject. I disliked History so much that I almost failed it. I got 77 on that one!

It didn't help that Ms Cruz is considered a relative of my mom, I've been told!

But with Geometry, regardless of how intimidated I was by ma'm Espinosa, I still had the most fun with doing all this angles, sides, theories, and given/proven stuff.

Rene S once wrote the following but it's only now that I had the chance to post it here:

Theory 1: If two sides and an included angle of one triangle are equal to the two sides and an included angle of another triangle, the two triangles are said to be equal.

Theory 2: If two angles and an included side of a triangle are equal to the two angles and an included side of another triangle, the two triangles are said to be equal.

Theory 3: If one side of a triangle is connected perpendicular to another side and forming a 90° angle, the triangle is said to be a right triangle.

Aristotle, Pythagoras, Ptolemy: early Greek mathematicians, Complementary, supplementary and right angles, obtuse, right and isosceles triangles, parallel, perpendicular, adjacent.etc.etc.etc.

Anong subject nga ba ito? Nalimutan ko na yata!

Who else could ever forget our Geometry subject and teacher na si Ma’m Espinosa. The ever energetic lady teacher na kahit anong gawin kalokohan e di man magalit. Ewan ko lang, pero, di ko siya nakitang nagalit man lang during high school. Talking about Geometry, first thing na marinig mo ‘yung mga gan’ung words, nakalilito di ba? Banatan ka pa ng mga theories. Sa pag-prove mo ng statements e wala ka naman laging ibibigay kundi “Given”. Pero sa banding huli e “Proven”. Naka, paano kaya nangyari yun? Honestly, marami rin naman akong ginawang hokus pokus kapag may’ron ng ganitong exercises. Ang masaklap, sa sarili ko, di ako makapaniwala na tama nga ba ‘yung ginawa ko. Para kay Ma’m Espi, bow!

Rene's memories of ma'm Espinosa is perhaps no different that mine. It's proven how much influence did she have, and all the other teachers, on you and me...

...with one exceptional given factor that I had: the intimidation factor. :=) no offense ma'm! hehehe...

posted by Batch '78 @ 04:09

2 comments from:  Anonymous,  Anonymous,

1974

Why didn't we have a more elaborate graduation than what is shown in the pic is beyond me.

In fact, I don't even consider this "graduation ceremony" at all. I don't really have any memory of it until Eva sent me this picture of her receiving the diploma.

I still can't figure out why.

What was so bad about 1974 that a simple, traditional graduation rites didn't happen?

More so, I have not seen us in any Grade 6 group picture. Is there one exists?

Pic below is the Grade 4 class under Mrs. Paguio. Same old fart faces....hehehe...

posted by Batch '78 @ 04:40

7 comments from:  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,

Just the way you are

Don't go changing, to try and please me
…...
…...

Don't go trying some new fashion
Don't change the color of your hair
You always have my unspoken passion
Although I might not seem to care

I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are.

I need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew
What will it take 'til you believe in me
The way that I believe in you.

I love you JUST THE WAY YOU ARE!
__________________________________________________
Ok. 1977. Billy Joel. “Stranger” album. My all-time favorite. Great lyrics but it’s the melody that I like most, especially if played with sax.

This is also the song that reminds me of our petit teacher named Miss Natividad F Tamayo. (let it be our secret- she doesn’t want to be called petit); the song that seems to connect the two of us. I often smile alone when I hear this song because I could recall my being naughty then that made me closer to her. Don’t ask—I won’t elaborate!

When Lil was in town earlier this year, we tried to look for our high school teachers so we can personally invite them to join us in this coming reunion. So far we have found Sir Ed Villarante, Miss Aida Pacheco (Manrique), Miss Leticia Cruz (Sarmiento), Miss Josefina Navarro (vda De Carlos), and of course Mrs Herminia Espinosa (who has been in our mailing list long ago).

With Marcy, Vic, and Ester in tow this time, we tried our luck finding Miss Tamayo in the same place where I last visited her 27 years ago.

I remember visiting her in Mojon, Malolos, Bulacan--- on my birthday, July 14, 1980 which happens to be her birthday too! I remember seeing her if not in #6 its #66 and if not in Felipe St – it is in San Felipe Subdivision and the house was with a nice “pasamano” where we sat and chat.

Without much solid information to use on our search, nagtanong-tanong kami--- at swerte naman kilala pala sila doon!. (kahit naikot na yata namin ang buong neighborhood ng Mojon).

Ngayon, phonepals na kami--- we talked for hours recalling my high school days, her days with SDA, we talked about her life, my life—we don’t do “chismiss” because we don’t talk about other people’s life. She stays with her sister Ason and father “Amang” who is already 94 yrs old but still could eat all by himself and would always want to have “one for the road” with my two alalay (Marcy and Vic) both, to my surprise, declines the offer, only because they would not want to be loaded when driving me back home.

Most of you might not remember Miss Tamayo as she is not the likes of Miss Laniog, Miss Cruz, Miss Letty and Mrs. Espinosa, who are most well-known in the campus. She is so simple, quiet, always composed and reserved.

But I remember her so vividly with powder blue uniform that’s fits her very well. How she carries herself inside the classroom with so much confidence and coolness. She doesn’t give out recognizable laughs but rather let go of the sweetest smiles.

She asked me—“why did you hide away and after 27 years you suddenly popped up?"--- was it because of the reunion?” Partly yes—but the truth is-- I never was far away. If only she knew that every time Billy Joel sings or the sax plays the song “Just the way you are”, it brings back a lot of great memories of her.

Then I asked her if she still remembers me...and to my delight she does!

Miss Tamayo lives a simple life just like I’ve known her. Just the way she was…. just the way she is…

...and to you Miss Tamayo, I love you just the way you are…...Eva F.

posted by Batch '78 @ 03:57

5 comments from:  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,

Pardon my ignorance...

The last couple of weeks I've had problems communicating with Eva. In fact, I once felt neglected and ignored because I wasn't getting the usual updates from her so I can have something to post here and for all of you to read.

This week, Eva and I have been going back & forth why I have not been getting any emails from her. Little did I know that there's been a problem with the email system Eva was using when transmitting messages to me.

All her emails she sent to me using her office account failed to reach me, hence the lack of knowledge of what's been going on since the last meeting of August 17th.

It just dawned to me that there have been quite a few of our classmates who celebrated their birthdays in the month of August that I wasn't aware of...and of course I failed to mention at all here.


Well dear classmates, please pardon my ignorance....

One email of Eva that didn't get to me on time was the report of the last meeting of August 17th. That day happened to be the birthday of Claire R, and a few days back, on the 14th was Joey M's, while on the 12th, it was Ester dJ. Last August 27th, it was Frank D's turn to celebrate.


Now I wonder no more why there's so much food on that day that every pictures I got from that lost email had all of them busy eating and not even bothered to look at the camera. :-))

Even Miss Aida Pacheco got into the mix on that day.


That meeting/birthday celebration also resulted in a lot of reunion tasks being assigned on or better yet, volunteered upon by some of your most reliable and unquestionably faithful classmates.

Food & Cocktails for the reunion will be handled by Precy D, Ester dJ and other volunteers.

Claire and Germi voluntereed to take care of the t-shirts procurement and printing.

Technical aspects of the reunion will be handled by Felx M, Vic C, Librado S, and Marcy dG. We made Marcy & Vic the "official drivers" as they will be going in all directions to make sure transportation is available for those who needs them like Sir Ed V who has offered to bring with him needed lights, sounds, & LCD visual display monitor.


I apologized for missing out on those birthdays.

This is what happen when I'm thousand miles away and the only link between you and me is this internet technology.

You have no idea how I feel when I am deprived of email updates, I really feel so disconnected. I told you once I feel naked when I am not getting any emails from any of you. Do you really want to see me naked?

Oh well, I will wear my birthday suit when it's my turn to be 24....hehehe....

Belated happy birthday to me and to all!

posted by Batch '78 @ 04:23

6 comments from:  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,

O Canada

I've always wanted to visit my neighboring border to the north.

Oh yes! I was referring to our Canadian border where Digna B & family now currently resides.

Niagara Falls is on the top of my list of where to take my unica hija. She's been dying to see this electrifying and magnificent natural beauty...

...and so am I!


By the way, earlier this afternoon a check for $250 was delivered in my mailbox.

I'd like to thank our dear now-canadian classmate Digna B for her generous donation. She's kind enough to make the contribution even though she sadly admitted she won't be able to make it to the reunion as she confirmed it to me awhile back in one of her emails.

Well my dear friend Digna, we will definitely miss you there.

Worst, with your generosity comes with a prize too! Someday, I will conquer Canada and wreak havoc on your household.

We all know good deeds never go unpunished...hehehe...

posted by Batch '78 @ 07:17

11 comments from:  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,  Anonymous,