Grand Reunion

Back to School

as written by Rene S (originally entitled "School Opening")

It’s school opening in the Philippines. In the news, we find many preparations being made to welcome the beginning of the school year. Police presence in Manila and other Metropolis had been intensified (because of kidnappings, hold-ups, rape and even murder); classrooms were hurriedly build and prepared; vehicle re-routings were being directed; fire and safety checks were made on schools, dormitories, school bus. Ordinances for food vendors or any “maglalako” were regulated or totally constrained. Entertainment parlors, video shops have to be this much distance away from schools. etc., etc., etc. Everybody is busy doing their own or taking part for this “occasion”. Nowadays, everything is turning out to be too complicated, dangerous and many players were doing their bits.

In our “time”, going to school is very simple. Prepare your hand-me- down uniform, bounded re-cycled notebooks, neatly polished old shoes or repaired rubber shoes, repaired bags plus YOURSELF ready. Voila! You can go to school. We don’t need those security details, as the seniors will take charge of the gates (nobody will kidnap an “anak ng magbubukid”). We don’t need any school bus as any tricycle, a bike or a “cadi-Lakad” is always available. We don’t have to go to the fast food restaurant for lunch, since the food at “Ka Piring” is cheap and delicious while the “buko” and “kornik” at Ka Puti or “Ka Zeny” were equally refreshing afterwards. In other words, starting the school year and going to school is simple and most of all, enjoyable. It is the part of our school life that we’re always looking forward. To meet old and new classmates, to seek new faces (especially the freshmen and even teachers), to show the long hair that grew for two months (which the CAT Commandant, Ms. Pacheco will surely “sasatsatan” for the boys) or tell stories about our two months rendezvous.

In our senior year, we’re full of energy, enthusiasm and every body’s all smile. It is the time that boys would be looking for new prospects and the girls will find a new crush or a “boy next classroom”. It is the time when everybody is very proud as we are the seniors and in-charge of everything, more or less. We somewhat show our superiority over the lower years. Even then there is a trickle of sadness in our hearts.

For the freshmen, it would be the start of a new beginning. But for us (seniors), it is the start of an end.

posted by Batch '78 @ 04:26