Looking back, WHAT SPECIAL MEMORIES HAVE I OF CLASS '65?

An extraordinary bunch of budding high school teens pulled together towards a center forming a nucleus so strongly bonded; were separated over three decades; and then, for some inexplicable reason, gradually reemerged at the start of the millennium, reunited by that same bond still enormously strong. I have wonderful memories of Pampanga High School, still remember the facade of the school, its structure monumental, authoritative, imposing, and strongly built to last generations. I remember the cluster of trailers that served as classroom extensions to the right of the main school building. I remember my first steps inside the campus, quite excited, quite nervous and quite intimidated by the presence of scholarly-looking colleagues, not to mention the other hundreds of curiously looking eager-beaver bodies, sizing you up and all. Until I found comfort and relief in the company of familiar faces from elementary years. I remember scrambling through the Registration Area checking the Section listing.... Of course, the class sections clearly indicated a student's scholastic ranking, which in these modern times might be considered discriminatory. I had happy memories ... being a writer and columnist of the school journal, The Pampangan; winning an essay writing contest "Respect the Centavo"; leading the National Anthem on Monday mornings proudly wearing the prescribed uniform (white blouse, neatly tucked in a box-pleated gold skirt); participating in school dramas/stage performances; being invited to singing performances within the community chaperoned by no less than the school principal, Mr. Pinlac or Miss Gloria Dayrit; of division meets; of class trips to the city (wow, what a deal!). Please bear in mind that the above section is in no way a form of self-promotion; my intention is to purely articulate how our alma mater paved a solid foundation, set high standards, for us to embrace and uphold for our own good. I had memories of grueling periodic exams, of sleepless nights buried in books, of on-the-spot class participation (I dreaded those times)... I dreaded Biology, Geometry, and Physics classes. And then fond memories of classmates…some inspirational, some mystical, some good-natured, some standoffish, some natural comedians, some natural antagonists, some spiritually wholesome, some intellectuals, some multi-talented, some whiners, some good looking, some egoistic, some shy, timid, quiet, some free spirited, some naturally sociable, some born to be successful in their chosen professions, some scholars, some poets, some writers, some singers, some daring; some risk-takers, some actors, some neat, some friends you keep, some friends you lose, and then some you thought you've lost forever, then by fate you meet again, friendship renewed and recovered... For friends who will have the opportunity to attend the Reunion and return and set foot on the same high school ground, I envy you for I will never have a chance to be a part of this memorable event. Kiss the ground for me, will you?

Lissa Dayrit-de Vega