Reunion with Miss Mistica: January 7, 2005

Half-day ako sa office last Friday, kasi susunduin ko si Miss Mistica sa Malumanay in UP Village. Called her at 4:45 pm. Okay ba kayong sunduin ko at 5:30? 5:45 daw, kasi kadarating lang nila. Called up Ellen at Dollar Taxi. Try again at 5:30 daw. I did. Wala daw available taxi in the vicinity. Got one cab dun sa amin sa Kalayaan. Sinabi ko where we were to go, pero susundo lang muna ng teacher. When I got off to ring Ma'am's doorbell, aba't tumakas ang walang modong driver, kaya paglabas ni Ma'am, wala na kaming ride, kakahiya! Their househelp got us another taxi and we were on our way round the Elliptical Circle, on to Quezon Ave, turn to Araneta Ave, Sta Mesa, Nagtahan and on to Quirino Ext. We were in Ericson's Penthouse at 6:30 pm! Kami ang una.

Katakut-takot na tsismisan kami ni Ma'am sa taxi. She is now 68, had stayed in Chicago since 1975. She lives by herself, does not drive because public transport is very convenient where she stays. Walang compulsory retirement age sa kanila, so she sees herself still teaching at 80 yrears old.

She says the smile and the voice of a person do not change. She remembers her high school students (including elocution pieces daw!) but not her college students. But she recalls na pinagalitan daw niya si Gloria (Dexter, English major nun) kasi di daw nag-aaral e alam na alam niya ang ability.

Dun sa States, when asked how long a write-up should be, she told her students that it should be like a dress (nobody wears dresses anymore,sabi ng students), long enough to cover the important points and short enough to be interesting.

Before, she used to wear suits to class but realized she is overdressed so she has shifted to wearing pants now. She also dons denim pants every now and then but always with a blazer. Sometimes she sits on the table in the classroom.

Her waistline is 29". She had Filipiniana outfits done in Greenhills for her stints as secretary sa UP Alumni Association ng local Chicago chapter saka yung overall in America.

We ran through the expected attendance para di siya mabuko. She also asked about Butch Garcia.

She saw the prep gold comm book at Conrado's. Sus, her copy was not given to her by Rene Tiongco! Pati na rin yung faculty citation niya!

She brought two boxes of chocolates, pasalubong daw sa atin.

Tuloy tuloy kami sa Penthouse Attic. Ang formal pala ng reunion, she commented when she saw the elegantly set tables. Magugulo iyan mamaya, Ma'am, pagdidikit-dikitin ang mga tables na iyan. Ang mahal daw siguro ng contribution. Hindi Ma'am, Ericson only charges for the catering, not for the venue. Mga P350-P400 lang iyan pag nagsingil mamaya. I showed her the view outside the balcony and the bedrooms. The waiter gave us drinks and we sat dun sa sofa. Sila daw kung mag-meeting, dala pati palayok (potluck).

Tinawagan ko si Ericson from my celfone to inform him na nandun na kami sa Penthouse.

Eto na ang di siguradong si Zeny K, nauna pa sa lahat. Nang ilapag ni Ma'am ang chocolates, banat agad ni Zeny: "Kulang iyan sa amin, Ma'am!"

Eto na si Ericson. Binigay niya kay Ma'am ang copy ng Coral Reunion souvenir program natin.

Si Tony Cortes, pinaka-maaga from prep 66. Pareho nga palang Fort Boni kids sila ni Zeny K, ayos!

Si Girlie, binigyan kami ng kanyang colorful knits. Ganda! Kinuwento niya sa akin yung vacation nila sa Spain last October, cut short because of the sudden demise of Ben's bunsong brother. Ang lungkot naman!

Pagdating ni Felice, nadagdagan ng isa pang box yung chocolates. Ayan, di na kulang sa atin!

Hindi kita nakilala, Ma'am, bati ni Pocho kay Terri. Magka-color scheme pa ang suot nilang blue gray.

Daig ang eksena sa TV telenovela nang magyakap sina Felice and Ruth Sarmenta-Callanta, close friends since first year sa prpe!

Ruth brought Bayani Miguel, now the pastor at Cosmopolitan Church.

Jerry Barican explained to me and Girlie why he is practically blind on the left eye.

Naks! Break ng corporate profile si Wilma. Very colorful, from top to toe!

Felice, why did you choose "My Fair Lady", asked Ericson. ? Ewan na. Ang dami daw nagasta nina Ericson at Florante noon, balik-balik ng panood ng My Fair Lady sa sine, para sa sets na kailangan nilang gawin.

Si Eds lang ang kulang sa team. Present si Felice, Debbie, Jerry, Dennis, Ericson. Yung 'My Fair Lady' ang isang malaking bond ng prep 65 and 66. Dapat siguro i-re-stage in one joint reunion, di kaya?

Ito ang reunion na halos nakatayo kami the whole time except nung dinner saka nung business meeting.

Dumadami ang tao. Di na kami kasya dun sa receiving area. The prep 66 boys are big! Dumating pa si Dewes, nagmukha kaming petite beside him.

Nagdikit na ng tables ang inuman boys at naupo na sila. Girl talk pa kami nina Zeny K about the young ladies of today na mga fashionista (Zeny K had a menopause baby na teenager na ngayon) who grow their nails really long and sport manicures kahit weekends lang and who love to try on clothes, accessories and footwear in shops. Pansin ba ninyo, dagdag ko, tayo nun, tinututop natin ang blouse sa neckline para di makita ang cleavage (as if meron!) while the girls now, ang tinututop ay yung likod ng short tops nila. They have bigger boobs now, added Girlie.

Ready ang food, sabihin lang ninyo kung kakain na, ani Ericson. Nagpadagdag na rin siya ng tables kasi yung 36 na seating ay kumonti dahil dikit-dikit na nga. Nagdikit na rin ng 3 tables ang girls.

O, sige, dinner na at baka gutom na si Terri. Nag-lead ng prayer si Pastor Bayani Miguel.

I took a moment to check my fone. Na-stroke ang friend kong si Minda and nakikibalita ako ano na ang developments sa Acute Stroke Unit ng St Lukes.

Nakasunod na si Jerry and Kuya Victor sa buffet ttable kaya pinasingit nila ako to follow Wilma, who is color coordinated with the buco pandan dessert (her words!) We had rice, bread, pasta, fresh greens, fish fillet, roast pork, healthy, ha? Masarap!

I was going to join the boys pero pinasingit ako between Wilma and Maripaz to join the girls. Nang dumating si Ling (hay, salamat, at hirap na hirap akong i-pronounce yung vin d' honeur na alibi niya for coming late), we added another table.

Ruth told us the story of the daughter of Blue Boy. Similar daw sa experience ni Gina Lopez.

Ling told us about her trip to Indonesia for the tsunami summit. Bilib ako. On the night of the day she got in from New York! At saka yung choice niyang Vienna assignment.

So, one group ang prep 66 boys with Kuya Victor prep 64, one group ang inuman boys, another group ang girls. Si Ericson, Luis and Pocho ay may separate caucus. Silang tatlo ang untugan ng ulo dun sa isang table, ano kaya ang pinag-uusapan, di ako nag-eavesdrop..

Eto na ang batch 70 (si Hector). Parang anak lang kita, ani Girlie. May glitters ang beads ng top ni Debbie. Iba talaga ang Italian chic! Tawanan ang lahat nang dumating si Felix, kasi may dala pang pang-exchange gifts!

Nagpapaalam na aalis si Ruth Sarmenta, hindi pinakawalan ng girls hangggat di naisalaysay ang testimony niya. Ayaw ng sa email lang babasahin, as she was promising.

EQ took to heart Perry's instructions about taking digital pictures. Ako ang kinukulit. Paano ko naman iistorbuhin ang involved conversation ni Terri and Felice, or ang umpukan kay Ruth Callanta hanging on her every word about her encounter with the Lord?

Finally, Ericson took the microphone and asked the Everlasting boys and girls to come forward and do a number for Terri. That took time, kasi hindi mahugot sina Ling and Maripaz dun sa umpukan kay Ruth, so sige, picture taking daw muna ng Terri with the boys. Sali ako. Hoy, Ana, Everlasting ka ba? Boys ito, no? Boy ako! Prep 66 with Miss Mistica. Sali pa rin ako! Suot ko yata ang prep 66 T-shirt namin!

O, ready na ang Everlasting boys and girls with sabi na nga ba "Blue Moon", e.

Sumunod na diyan ang spontaneous program. We sang DC5, Beatles, Chad and Jeremy, etc, From New York New York to Californnia Dreamin'. Solo, duet, trio, foursome, group singing. Hindi daw uuwi hanggat di 100 ang score sa videoke. Wala bang Astrud Gilberto?, asked Ling at some point.

Biglang may nagsasayaw. Ilag kami at pinaiikot na ni Hector si Felice, then si Girlie, si Ling. Debbie was directing different voices, find you pitch.

Naalala pa yung apron dance nang tugtugin ang Dancing Queen. Panay tanong ni Felice kung ano yung apron dance, surprise na lang next time. Sworn to secrecy yung nakapanood na.

Si Terri was serving the chocolates na pasalubong niya. Ella brought Mrs D. baked goodies, too.

Retreat sa receiving area ang prep 66, binuklat ang souvenir program natin. Panay ang kaway for them to join.

Mas structured ang reunion ninyo, comment ko kay Vic Yenko. Kami talagang ganito, parang family gathering, sabi ko.

Ang ganda raw ng Coral Souvenir program natin. Magkano raw iyon? Labor of love iyan kako and we only charged P200 per copy. Yung printer kapitbahay ni Girlie. Yung celebrity quiz, kay Jojo nag-umpisa. I also tried doing it for your batch, pero di daw ninyo style, I added.

Hector, isayaw mo si Terri. Naku, namimilipit sa pagtanggi. Mahiyain pa rin si Ma'am, commented the boys.

Si Jerry, tinawag for a rendition of 'Diana'. Dun yata sa group singing ng 'Let It Be' pinakamataas ang score namin.

Debbie gave us perfumes in flower design containers, ang cute! Sali rin kami sa champagne na ibinigay niya for the boys. Nag-toast earlier with red wine during the dinner, toast pa uli ngayon!

Kinausap ko si Gil na i-taxi kami nina Terri at Debbie pauwi. Nang isagot ko ito sa tanong ni Dennis, dapat daw may maghatid sa amin in a car. (Maripaz took Debbie, Ling took us.)

Tinawag ako ni Wilma dun sa pinag-uusapan nang date ng Ruby reunion. July ang kino-consider. Tumayo ako, nilapitan at tinanong sina Dennis at Pocho kung andito sila in July. Oo naman.

Nagpaalam na as a group ang prep 66. EQ gave a prep gold souvenir CD for Terri.

Tinawag na ang lahat ng naiwan for the meeting. Bumalik si EQ, hinatak si Ericson at meron daw gustong bilhin ang prep 66.Bumaba si Ericson.

Free for all discussion muna regarding the date and activities of the Ruby reunion.

Bumalik na si Ericson. First of all, what we want for the Ruby reunion is attendance. Iyon daw ang lilinawin. May initial funds naman, and dadagdagan pa kung kailangan,nino na nga? Mag-form kayo ng committees, suggested Terri.

Sino ang may mga nag-aaral pang anak? Tinginan kami ni Debbie. "Wala tayong anak!"

Saan ang out of town? Punta Fuego, Puerto Azul, Subic, Tagaytay Highlands, iyan ang aking mga narinig. Siempre priority ng boys, golf. Walang makikita sa Subic, objected Loida.

Pipili ng dates. Hindi makita ng mga farsighted yung kalendaryo sa celfone. Pinakuha ni Wilma ang isang Petron calendar. By the time na nabulatlat ko yung bundle, nakapag-eyeglasses na ang mga kinauukulan. July 28,29,30 and 31 ang napagkasunduan. Hindi na raw babaguhin, final na. Si Terri, nangakong babalik to attend our reunion.

Dumating si Ennah, glamorous in black. Luis, ang sundo mo. May lakad pa sila? Wala na. A, galing siguro dun sa wedding na sinasabi ni Luis.

Kukunin daw niya ang isa pang box of chocolates, bulong ni Terri. Ako na. Ayun, white with mints naman pala.

Mahaba ang exchange of opinions about where to go. Pero mukhang leaning towards Puerto Azul kasi nasabi na rin na may van dapat na sasakyan yung mga dadalhing pagkain and tagaluto.

Comic relief, dumating si Benjamin! Late nang nakatakas! Nabawasan ang alaskahan nang ipaalala ni Luis na "Nandito ang asawa ko!"

Eto ang designated committees, sa tanda ko. (Na-misplace ko ang list na ibinigay ni Girlie)

Over-all Chairperson: wala, si Ericson na siguro.

Invitations: Ana (pati daw teachers, invited sa welcome dinner)

Program: Wilma, Felix and Pocho

Transportation: Ella

Finance: Ericson/Ruth

I know that the names of Hector, Zeny K. and Girlie are in the committees pero di ko matandaan kung ano. Dancing, decoration and food ba?

Wala na raw souvenir program pero na-assign si Ella na i-update ang individual data dun mismo sa isang copy ng coral souvenir program nung 2000. Mag-submit na raw ng design to be printed on the souvenir T-shirt ang mga artistically inclined tulad nina Benjamin, Florante and Proceso (si Ericson din yata). Pag design mo ang na-print, libre ka na (yung T-shirt mo, hindi ang reunion fee, he, he, he!)

Ang next meeting, dito rin next month. February 8? Kawawa naman ang pamilya ko, sagot ni Ericson. February 18 ang na-set na date. Post Valentine.

Natapos rin sa wakas ang short meeting daw. Humihikab na si Ling, jetlag na.

Picture taking sa spiral staircase. Kani-kanyang pili ng puesto. May tumayo, may naupo sa steps. Naiyak ako sa katatawa sa mga pinagsasasabi nina Luis and Hector habang panay ang flash ng cameras. Ano ba yung ini-intriga mo kay Luis, ha, Hector?

Ipinakita ni Ericson kay Terri yung naging venue ng welcome dinner natin nung 2000 Coral reunion. Puwede na ring dun uli sa Ruby reunion in July.

Tuloy ang kuwentuhan sa car ni Ling, kasama namin si Terri and Gil. Medyo nalito kami sa closed gates ng UP Village, pero naihatid rin si Terri safely at past 1 am.

May text si Debbie. In her excitement at seeing us, hindi na raw siya sure kung na-kiss goodbye niya kami ni Terri. Si Kuya Victor, may text rin. Strongly suggesting that we take a bus together sa out of town trip ng ruby reunion.

The next day, may call si Loida. Nalimutan raw niyang kasal pala ng nephew niya ang July 30. Sa Fernwood Garden ang reception, and Ninang pa siya. I texted Ericson, Wilma, Ruth and Girlie. Wilma will check the date of the Petron Stockholders' Meeting. Si Girlie, baka nasa States din sa July, pinapupunta raw siya ng anak niyang lilipat ng apartment. Okay lang kay Ruth mag-change ang date basta July.

I got an email from Eds saying she will be job hunting and will not likely be taking a vacation in the Philippines. Delay said she decided not to go home in 2005. See you in 2006, sabi pa.

Magtulungan tayo sa 100% attendance drive, ha? Ang pinakamalaking factor sa reunion attendance ay yung makulit na nagyayaya. Pag good friend ang nakiusap, usually napa-persuade tayo, di ba? Pag printed invitation lang, kahit gaano kaganda, parang impersonal, di ba? (Pero Wilma, pa-design-in mo na si Husband Ed ng invite in the style of 'Pag di ka sumipot, dapat kang matakot . . .' )