Ataboy is Aurora 'Rory' Asperilla-Santiago who is based in Wash DC.
Post Valentine Dinner
Dance
Summer of 1995
January 7, 1995
Dear Ataboy,
Bonus Tsismis! When I dropped off
the Comdex newspapers with the secretary at Vergel's office on Jan 4, ni-recall
ako from the lobby on the way out, at may dapat daw akong malaman na bago.
May instantaneous reunion pala the following day, lunch at Saisaki Pasay
Road, na itinawag ni Rose. Napasok na tuloy sa office niya para tawagan
si Rose. Busy ang line, so naupo na rin. Napagyabangan pa ako ng regalo
na natanggap niya galing kay Rose -- isang tunay na maleta, malaki pati
kahon, which obviously pleased him. When I finally got hold of Rose, kailangan
nang umalis dun sa office kasi may ka-meeting na naghihintay na sa labas.
Ganoon pa man, nakantiyawan ko na nang husto si Rose. Ipinadala na ba kako
niya sa NFA ang maleta para sa akin? Kasi di ko iyon kayang bitbitin sa
bus. I said I can proceed to her office kung di siya busy. Okay daw. so
ayun, isang oras ako sa office niya.
Ang instantaneous reunion ay in honor of Debbie Ledesma from Italy, Christine Foz from Washington DC, Wilfredo Tenorio from LA, and Sixto Salumbides from South SF. Naku, di dapat ma-miss, problema lang ang pagtakas sa office. I'll definitely think of something, assurance ko kay Rose, but I'll know the next day kasi hindi na ako babalik sa office namin that afternoon. Tinawagan pa namin sina Ericson at Luis. Alam na ni Ericson, tinawagan siya ni Pat.Si Luis ay engaged on the other line pero napagbilinan ang kanyang cordon sanitaire na si Josie. Umuwi ako agad para matawagan si Clifton. Makakapunta ba iyon on short notice, duda ni Rose.Malay mo, sabi ko, baka may lakad din sa Manila. Basta he will get the info. I paged Clifton that night. The secretary of Luis called up the next morning to say that Luis had been informed but he has not said if he is going.
Of course nakatakas ako sa office. Sabi ko kay Boss, nai-oo na ako ni Vergel (ang aming consultant). Ayos!
I passed through Greenbelt Park going to Saisaki so tiningnan ko pa muna yung paintings at bas relief sculptures dun sa gallery ng Ayala Museum. I got to Saisaki at half past 12.
Ang una kong nakita sa restaurant ay si Pat, concentrated on the buffet. She directed me to where the group was gathered.Si girlie ang tumawag sa akin habang ini-scan ko ang crowd to locate them. Paglapit ko, tayo ang Cesar Salayo. Sino raw siya? Of course I admitted na di ko matandaan. Aba't andoon si Clifton! Na-timing ang lakad sa Manila. O, nakatakas ka?, bati ni Vergel. Pangalan mo ang ginamit ko, sagot ko. Debbie still looks the same. Long hair na nakalugay. Christine is slim and looks very cosmopolitan, indeed.
I found a seat beside Rose and Agnes and we went to the buffet together. Dumating si Emmeline. Huwag ka na munang pumasok, kumuha ka na muna ng pagkain, we suggested.
Pagbalik sa seat, unfamiliar ang face ng katabi ko. Kasama pala siya ni Willie Tenorio. At kasama rin ni Willie ang wife niya, whom he met and married in Sydney, Australia. They moved to LA in 1987. And after 14 years of marriage, they now have a 13-month old child na kasama din. (Akala ko nung una ay apo niya iyon!)
Jimmy sat opposite us. Nasaan ang partner mo? Sino'ng partner daw? I called her up last night but she was still out with you, biro ko.
Emmeline sat beside Jimmy. At na-tsismisan kami ng mini-reunion that Andy hosted for Sixto where Cesar was present. Naiiyak pa raw si Cesar sa pagkukuwento ng buahy niya. Loveless ngayon. One kid now with the first wife, another kid now with second wife. He is all alone. At si Girlie talaga ang forever love niya.
Dumating si partner. LELAY, ang malutong na malutong na sigaw na bati ni Willie Tenorio. Emmeline, umalis ka diyan sa tabi ni Jimmy, i-vacate mo ang seat for Ling. Huwag, countered Agnes, dine na si Ling sa tabi ko para ibang anggulo naman ang tinginan nila ni Jimmy. Guwapo ako sa anggulo na iyan, patol naman ni Jimmy.
Opps, booming laughter comes in. Hinalikan sa kamay ang mga dalagang balikbayan lang. Kilig na kilig si Debbie sa gallantry. Dinala si Luis sa puzzles of the day, sina Cesar at Clifton. I am not sure kung nakilala niya. Pati nga yung alalay na kasama ni Clifton, isinasali rin sa puzzle.
Bakit wala yata ang isang honoree, si Sixto? Nahatak lang daw ng isang kabarkada,pero darating. Hindi nagtagal, eto na nga. Hindi gaanong nagbago. Isa-isang binati ang lahat. Beso-beso sa mga babae. Hindi maalala ang pangalan, lalo na ng mga nagsitaba, tulad ni Agnes. Pag tinanong siya kung kilala niya ang binabati, ang sagot niya ay siempre. pero di masabi ang pangalan. Pagdating sa akin, sabi ko ay SIEMPRE din ang pangalan ko, he, he, he! Tapos, tinanong ko kung kilala niya ang katabi ko. Bukung-buko, kasi siempre pa rin ang sagot, e asawa iyon ni Wilfredo Tenorio. Tawanan kami. Dapat daw pala ay nag-review muna siya.
Si Debbie was ready with her reference, a copy of our annual, The Prepian. She kept going around taking pictures of us. Franklin also kept going around, taking pictures of us with the honorees. Si Commodore ang photographer natin, hiyaw ng isa.
Lalong nag-escalate ang gulo nang busog na at moving around na ang lahat. Jimmy directed Ling, Girlie and Emmeline to sit together, then called Cesar Salayo to stand behind them, for their picture together. After which everybody joined in for a group picture. All the succeeding poses of any group will be stopped until everybody else has joined in. Ke-nag-restroom ka, orbumalik sa buffet or simply stepped out, ipapahintay ka. Ilang waiters nga yung nagkukuha ng pictures. At talagang pinapanood kami ng mga waiters. Ang dispensa nga sa kanila ni Ericson, pasensiya na kayo, talumpung taong hindi nagkita-kita. Huwag mong sabihin kung ilang taon, objected the girls.
Luis had a field day teasing Girlie and Cesar. His booming laughter traumatized Willie Tenorio's child, ang iyak po ng bata! Luis kept mimicking Cesar's gestures as he talked to Girlie. Tapos sumisigaw pa ng "Hindi makukuha iyan sa ganyan!" Fianlly, Cesar, dimples showing in embarrassment, stood up and moved away from Girlie. Lalo namang kinantiyawan. Naku, isinara ng waiters yung capiz dividers at masyadong na-e-eskandalo ang ibang patrons. Christine was curious, ganyan ba talaga kayo, ang tanong. Ang sagot ay oo, kaya nga di dapat talaga sa public place nagkakalat. Nakakahiya, may mga posisyon pa naman!
Mahabang procedure ang singilan. Kinulang ang tig-P500 na siningil ng committee. So the process of adding to the sum had to be handled sans discretion. O, Luis, tawag ng finance committee. Oo, one five ako, ang sabi. (He, he, he, ibig palang sabihin ng one five e one share of P500, at hindi one thousand five hundred pesos.)
Sino pa ang hindi nagbabayad, sabihin mo Ruth, at ako ang sisingil, volunteered Wilma. (I remember Luis saying earlier na pag natapos na ang kaso ni Wilma, she can take care of all the gatherings till the year 2000 daw.) Sino'ng may discount card? Christine rummaged in her wallet for her balikbayan card pero unfortunately ay hindi dala. Si Ino, na humabol lang, nasa pinto pa lang papasok e sinisingil na.
Sabi ni Ericson, akala ko kaya tayo hindi umaalis ay dahil nagkukuwentuhan pa, iyon pala hindi tayo makabayad. Then addded another thousand to the pot.
Ano'ng ginagawa ng bankers natin? Rose produced her card which was used to pay the bill. Me nagtanong, Rose, magkano ang tinubo mo? Aba, wala, nag-abono pa raw ng a few hundreds.
May lingering discussions pa about future gatherings. Yon raw bang pagpunta sa Angono to see the home of the Blancos, a family of painters. Gusto ring mag-beach daw sa Zambales. Si Franklin naman, Corregidor trip ang proposal. Basta ang definite ay yung Feb. 17.
But this one was a huge success, in terms of attendance pa nga lang, imagine, over twenty five of us came on one day's previous notice. Sorry na lang si Dennis, nasa Canada pa. Notably absent were Felix, Cesar Cifra, Loida, Joemelo. Ibig sabihin nito, may inuman to update those boys. Soon.
Tll then, namnamin muna ninyo itong bonus edition ng tsismis.
Sincerely,
Urbs
February 18, 1995
Dear Ataboy,
26 of us showed up last night for
the Prepian Class '65 Post Valentine Party at Ruth's place. Another success!
I left the office at 4:30 and was at Rose' office by 6. of course she had to finish the papers on her desk first. we called up Yehey, nag-aerobics daw at pawis na pawis, ayaw sumama. Sa kapipilit, oo na, pero hihintayin daw namin at magbibihis pa. Di sige. Pagdating, naka-jacket over T-shirt, na di daw tatanggalin kahit mainit, dahil braless siya. (Di nga tinanggal, bilib ako!)
Pagdating namin at past 8, kumakain na sila. Aba, nandoon si Poochie at ched, at ang hindi ko agad nakilalang si Joe Solidum. Mayroon akong di talaga mamukhaan, sus, niloko-loko pa nila ako, yun pala asawa iyon ni Ruth.
Hilakbot sila sa announcement ni Dennis on TV about the Valentine Party. Para naman daw tayong adolescents. Nangahiya yata sa mga anak-anak nila. Si Ella at Noel nga, pareho nang may apo, dalawa na nga raw ang kay Ella.
Nang mag-umpisa ang topic ng menopause on one end of the U-shaped table arrangement, lumipat si Dennis doon, for his favorite topic. Dun daw sa aming end (tabi tabi kami nina Rose) hindi menopause kundi breast lift ang dapat, sabi ni Cesar. Ang tawa naming tatlo! Malay ba nilang braless si Yehey!
Dahil di dumating si Francis, napag-tsismisan uli ang kanyang young love (3rd wife) na kaedad ng eldest child niya.
Si Emmeline, ganadong-ganado ikuwento ang dinner nila with Andy and Felice while Sixto was here. Hindi daw sabay sabay nagsasalita. At hihintayin mo munang sabihin kung saan ka uupo (me protocol seating). Me sinasabi pa siya tugnkol sa salad. Hindi kayo puede du, ang sabi pa. Kasi ang gulo gulo pa namin. At saka palipat-lipat daw nang upo, sabay sabay pang magsalita. Si Noel, who was also present in that dinner, was quiet about it. Pero very amused at how Emmeline tells it.
When Jimmy arrived, some of us tapped their spoons on their glasses, in the manner of wedding guests demanding that the newlyweds kiss. Maligayang tuksuhan na naman po!
Magkatalikod at right angles ang seating ni Ling and Jimmy this time. Pero siempre pag nag-turn for pictures, magkatabi lalabas.
Hindi ko na ma-recall ang endless jokes about menopause and its equivalent for males but after all the laughs, a business meeting was demanded by the girls group.
Emmeline passed blank info sheets for everyone to fill out. Tahimik sandali while everyone complied. Bistado ang upcoming birthday ni Rose on Feb 22.
We tried to come up with the succeeding activities. After lengthy deliberations, March 11 for a trip to Angono to see the painters home, and March 26 for a trip to Corregidor were agreed upon. No details yet.
In the middle of the meeting, Hermie Garcia arrived. O, speechless yata kayo, sabi ni Ericson. Hermie's intention was to take pictures to bring home to Mila in Canada. He took a lot.
Everyone stood up and milled around. Hermie took formal group pictures as well as candid shots. He didn't stay for long, but enough to exchange pleasantries with the people he was most familiar with -- Ling, Jimmy, Dennis. I think he had breakfast with Ling earlier that morning.
During this milling around, Wilma commented that up to now, di pa rin nagugusot ang suot na damit ni Poochie. Remember how neat her pleats are at Prep?
When we got reseated I found myself with Rose and Cesar Cifra, who were into a discussion about banking. Cesar was telling us about the 12 boxes of Petron certificates taken by an investment house run by a family. Dummies lang daw yung supposed investors, some of whom were in uniform addresses and some of whom were already dead.
The showbiz chismis on the other end was more interesting, I again changed seats. Dennis was telling them who the mistresses/lovers of whom were.
Somehow bumalik uli s amenopause ang topic. Sabi ni Ling and Ruth, sila raw ay menopause by force majeure, kasi nakapag-pa-hysterectomy na.
Na-bring-up ang matitinding cordon sanitaire nina Jimmy. Reklamo nang husto si Emmeline. Sobra naman daw ang closed door meeting na sinasabi ng secretary, di na makausap ang tao.
Banat ng Wilma, ang bait naman ng secretary ni Jimmy, di ba? Isa-isa pa nga tayong tinawagan para imbitahin sa blowout niya. At di ba isa-isa uli tayong tinawagan para i-cancel yung blowout? Tawanan! Hanip Magparinig!
Ang reolution? Dapat daw bago mag-hire ng secretary in the future, ipa-interview muna kay Emmeline, sabi ng mga boys.
Nabalik uli ang topic kina Felice. Yun nga daw bathroom nila, may sculpture pang decor. Ako nga, ni sa salas, wala, sabi ni Emmeline. Inggit lang kayo, kantiyaw ng iba. Si Jimmy, ginya pa kung paano magpa-flutter ng eyelids si Felice, di ba?
O, ano na nga ang mga sinasabi ninyo tungkol kay Joe Solidum? Si Blay iyon (ulit wala si Freddie). Kaya nga ba delikadong absent dito. Hindi nga ako maka-jingle, sabi ni Cesar. Masama na nga ang tingin ko dito sa baso, ang sabi. Banat naman ni Ericson, ikaw masama pa lang ang tingin mo sa baso, ako ginawa ko na. Maraming green jokes itong si Ericson.
Tayo ang Jimmy. Halika, sumabay ka na sa akin, ang yaya kay Cesar. Delikado na iyan, kayo na pala. They went to the restroom together.
Pinilit ipa-detalye ang lakad pa-Angono. Saan ang meeting place? Kina Ruth. Ano'ng time? 8:00 a.m. May pa-kape kay Ruth, may pa-brunch kay Girlie. Paano ba ang painting pricing? May bibili kasi.
Sabi ni Girlie, nang di pa famous si Nemiranda, nagpa-paint daw sila ng corn harvest scene na ang models ay silang mag-anak na rin. Ang singil daw ay P37/ sq. inch.
Decided agad si Dennis. Magpapa-paint daw siya na siya ang model. ID picture daw na 1 x 1. Hagalpakan!
Natanong si Joe in relation to Raquel Roa. Nasa States na raw. In the same vein, natanong si Jimmy about Amee. Kalimutan na natin ang nakaraan, sabi ni Jimmy. Pati si Ling, kalilimutan rin? Wala namang nakaraan with Ling. Pang-hinaharap, baka pa.
Bumalik na naman ang menopause jokes. Nung nakaraan, crush mo na siya, wala ka pang regla, ngayong hinaharap, wala ka nang regla, puede na raw. At menopause na rin siya. Mai-ihi ka talaga sa katatawa.
Naalala ko tuloy yung earlier joke ni Ericson.
A 60 year old man was celebrating his birthday by paying tribute to various parts of his body. He told his hands, you have served me well all of these 60 years. He told his feet, you have served me well all of these 60 years. Then he looked down and said, if you had not died 10 years ago -- (hindi na naituloy dahil drowned by laughter na ang isusunod sanang salita)
Finally, para maka-progress na sa future, we stood up for some ballroom dancing. Of course this time I was with the girls at the family room. The boys stayed in the garden pa.
Magaling magturo si Girlie at Emmeline. Si Poochie at Yehey madaling nakasunod sa various steps ng swing, LA walk at raggae. Si Wilma and Ruth, marunong na, pero di marunong magdala ng babae. Si Franklin ang unanglalaki to join us. Aba, mahusay! Si Pat, di gaanong yumugyog, hihikain daw siya. Ako, di maka-ikot, nagkakabuhol ang paa. Si Ling, like a fish thrown into the water sa enjoy.
When it looked like we were already enjoying ourselves in the family room, the others joined in. Dennis did dance. Pare, pang-cabaret yang style mo, biro ng isa. Pocho proved to be an able and graceful dancer. Mahilig si Mrs., ang sabi. Si Cesar, upon Hermie's initiative daw, ay may pupuntang instructors sa bahay nila, to start this Sunday pa lang. Si Jimmy, wala raw hilig talaga.
Sayang, absent si Blay, Luis at Vergel. Kulang ng taga-dala eh.
Excited si Yehey. Sulit ang pagka-oo niya sa amin. I think na-resolve ng girls to meet separately and have instructors to help them perfect their steps.
At midnight, noon pa lang ganadong-ganado sumayaw! Dapat di na nag-meeting. Nag-dancing na agad.
I forgot to insert --
After the formal picture-taking, nagpaalam
na si Zeny K. Sinundo na siya ng asawa niya earlier pa, at saka, may menopause
baby daw siya. Sus, istoryang menopause pa rin talaga.
Poochie and I went with Emmeline and
Ino at 12:30 a.m. Iniwan pa namin ang iba doon. Si Ling, sasayaw pa kaya
kina Franklin na sasabay. Inawat ko na nga lang si Poochie, na si Ched
pa nga ang kasayaw sa boogie.
Sincerely,
Urbs
Dear Ataboy,
Prep '65 can't seem to have enough
of each other these days of May '95, our 30th anniversary month.
It all started with Jimmy inviting us over to his Ayala Alabang home for his 47th birthday last May 6. He instructed his secretary to call everyone on his list, as well as add more people to it. Not everybody was in town, others like Luis and Pocho were even out of the country, so it was just an intimate crowd of 16 who had lunch and stayed on till abouyt 4:30, as usual reminiscing about high school. New face was Benjamin, who has 6 kids, the youngest of whom is two months old. Na-break ang record ni Elmer, who had an 8 month old bunso. It was a time of disclosures. Felix was quite open about the problems of securing a divorce from a failed marriage, and about the break-up of a substitute affair. Ling admitted she cried over Doy fro six months, in contrast with her crying over Jimmy for 3 days. Ma. Flor mentioned her high school crushes, but requested that their identities be kept off the record. Anyway, you get the drift of the discussions. We toured the house (he didn't buy it at 23 million). He will move to another house within the same village.
Most people left at about 4, but we stayed (Ling, Dennis, Cesar and Felix) for the 5:30 mass at their Basilica, and then Jimmy decided to treat us to dinner at the country club. More discussions about relationships. We left at 8 past. Dennis took us home.
One outcome of that birthday party was a plan for an outing at Hidden Valley on May 20. At para hindi magkalabuan, nagsingilan agad ng down payment na 500 pesos, to seal the commitment. Ganoon pala dapat ang effective style, gulatan!
And so, for last Saturday, we rented a van thru Emmeline, assembled at the Intercon (Felix, Ling, Girlie, Loida and Vergel had breakfast at the Jeepney) and picked up the 4 girls (Wilma, Agnes, Ched and Ella) at Jollibee Alabang, 30 minutes after the appointed time of pick-up at 8. Those who didn't take breakfast -- Dennis, Pat, Franklin, Rose, Yehey and me are not to blame. Only the traffic was!
We quite enjoyed the traffic. Maraming chismis, at palno sa kasunod na lakad. Kung plano ang masusunod, makararating hanggang Indonesia.
Pagdating sa Hidden Valley, ligo agad sila. I opted to commune with nature at the Hidden Falls first. On my way back, nakasalubong ko ang part of the grupo, so I went back with them to Hidden Falls. Ops, umalis ang bantay, obviously for lunchbreak, so we were able to wade in the stream, Loida, Dennis and Vergel in their swimwear, and I in my denims and T-shirt. Girlie, Rose and Ella who were not ready to swim feasted on posing for pang-inggit na pictures. When we realized we had the lunch tickets, we went back and fished them out of the soda pool so we could eat lunch together. Hindi rin sila agad nagsi-ahon -- Ling, Yehey, Wilma, Agnes, |Ched, Franklin, Francis, and Loida even joined them for more pictures.
We occupied two tables in the buffet area for lunch. Nagpakalunod sa bulalo. Sarap lang! Sabi ni Vergel, next time na pupunta sa Hidden Valley, sa bundok ng Makiling dadaan para di na magbabayad ng entrance fee. Magdadala na rin daw ng platong katulad ng ginagamit doon (tandaan na namin ang pattern) para kami maka-lunch.
Ang sakit ng bee sting! Nakadapo sila sa glasses ng softdrinks at sa dessert bowls. Ang dami!
We compressed in one table for dessert and more pictures and even a serenade by the resident singing group, who sang our requested 'Ang Sumpa Ko' saka 'Pipit'.
Bumuhos ang malakas na ulan. I took full advantage, dahil the previous weekend pa ay gigil nang maligo sa ulan. I went ahead and changed to swimwear (napabili pa nga ng bigger suit sa trip na ito, kasi strictly swimwear daw, and my old suit no longer fits.)
Wow, heaven magbabad sa warm pool! Bago fully nagsawa ay naklipat pa sa dalawang pools. Yung di pa nakpunta sa Hidden Falls ay pumunta, at ang iba ay umulit pa ring sumama. i think that was a harder walk because the paths were wet and hence slippery. Those who went prior to lunch got a better deal.
Anyway, it was out of the soda pool and off to the sumptuous merienda at 4 pm. More chismis and posing. Pinagligpitan na kami ng mga waiters when they realized we were no longer eating, just enjoying togetherness.
Parang prusisyon ang traffic on the way back. Lalong maramaing chismis, at plano.
At pati si Girlie, who went an hour earlier with Francis, ay nagawaan ng istorya. Pang number 6 daw siguro ni Francis si Girlie, at sinadya ng dalawa ang mag-separate trip. May previous plans raw. Sus, kakila-kilabot!
Si Cesar Cifra ang talagang na-murder. . . .
We dropped off the Alabang girls, and got to Makati at 8. it was really a fun outing.
Today, May 26, 1995, on the exact 30 years after graduation, we are going to have dinner at Ericson's penthouse. If everybody who said Yes really meant it, it will be quite a crowd of 37. I'll be quite happy with 30 attendees, though. I'm looking forward to seeing Evelyn Madrazo-Dolor, Ruth Sarmenta-Callanta, Agustin Sevilla -- people I have not seen since way back. Clifton is looking forward to seeing Pocho. I hope Leni drops by with her husband.She recently got her Ph D from Ateneo. Felice said she's not sure, it's the inauguration of the centennial logo. It will be pretty tight. Ibababa ang Virgin Mary kina Arlette at 7:30 pm in Marikina, she'll try to follow. Francis was cancelling his yes this am, he'll have dinner with a valued client. Kahit close to midnight, mag-appear ka, at pagsisisihan mo kung hindi, I urged.
It rained after 5. I called up Dennis and requested him to fetch me at the office. I am having lower back pain, it's scary. It is also very painful to stand up from a sitting position, and vice versa. I have applied hot compress since an hour ago. I hope the condition improves, else how can I enjoy this reunion?
It's 8:15. I called up Rose. She's still at the office. I called up Ericson's office. Marami na raw tao sa reunion.
May 27, 1995
Dennis showed up in a brand new Honda
Accord. Kaya pala tinanong kung safe mag-park dun sa eskinita ng office.
He downplayed his pride and pleasure at having the new roomy car. Says
he doesn't get attached to the vehicle like other owners do, to him it
is just a means of transport. The important thing is to get where you want
to go in comfort. Pero, ha, pag medyo me nalapit na sasakyan sa amin, he'd
address the driver with "Hoy, bago ang kotse ko!" even if he cannot be
heard. I was very amused by it all.
We talked about how enjoyable the Hidden Valley outing was. The expression on Loida's face when we waded summed it all up for him daw. Ang tingin daw niya kay Loida ay parang na-transport back in time to our high school days. That image stayed in his mind.
He had occasion to tell Loida about that. She fully agreed that that was how she felt. Ella overheard us and she supplied the exact description fot Loida that time -- without a care in the world.
We arrrived at 9 past, just as Zeny K was about to leave. Sabi ni dennis, nag-quickie daw muna kami kaya nahuli nang dating.
Gus was there, recording the event on video. May nagkakaraoke, may nagchichismisan, may nagtitingin ng pictures, at may nagsasayaw. To each his own. Si Yehey nagbebenta ng raffle ticket. Indoors ang setting, kasi umuulan. It made for a more compact group.
Hiden Valley pictures were all over the place. With the permission of Dennis, I showed their Schindler's List pictures (taken at San Fabian Beach with their maninipis na katawan and their ribs showing circa 1960's). This really brought the house down! Hagikhikang umaatikabo at hagalpakang di mapigilan! Even the waiters couldn't resist taking a look. At tinatanong pa ninyo kung nagka-crush kami sa inyo, banat ni Ruth Ramos. Suggestion ng isa, ipadala natin sa LandBank yung picture daw ni Felix. Ana B., puede ka nang mag-retire, kikita ka sa mga pictures na iyan (I told them I have the negatives.) Puede rin daw matanggap na sa LandBank, blackmail.
Actually, those negatives came from Gus. he gave them to Francis, who in turn gave them to me, kasi nga chronicler daw ako. Reklamo nga raw ni Gus noon, kasi he had no pictures, he was the one taking them. Laking pasasalamat niya ngayon at di siya kasali sa pinagtatawanan.
Loida had stitches on her left eye area and a black eye pa. She met an accident on Tuesday. Alighting from the tricycle, she miscalculated her step. Nabasag ang salamin niya sa mata niya. Her eye is still red. She could not join the dancing kasi masasakit pa raw ang various parts of her body, may mga bugbog pa. Pero, ha, looking forward na to a possible outing in Zambales for the long weekend of June 9-11. What fighting spirit!
Pagdating ni Luis, siempre beso-beso sa lahat. Naku, muntik nang masaktan ang masakit na ngang mata ni Loida. Ilag nga siay at takip agad ng threatened area. Hindi matandaan ni Luis si Ched at Poochie, pero instant recall niya si Ruth Sarmenta. Tuwang tuwa akong nakitang kinukurot ni Ched si Luis, obviously bumabawi sa hindi pagkatanda sa kanya.
Enjoy sa dancing, kaming nanood at silang nagsisayaw. Aba, nandoon yata si Girlie, Poochie, Ling Ella, Ruth, Franklin, Luis, Pocho, Joemelo. Nakakatuwa ang expressions ni Noel at Jimmy while watching Ling dance.
Sabi na nga ba ni Wilma, ngisngisan
dinner ito eh. Saka na alng daw kami gumawa ng culminating activity na
may program, souvenirs, awards, etc.
We broke up the party at midnight.
Itong si Joemelo, pasakay na kami sa elevator ay may hirit pang kuwento about Luis. Minsan daw, nagkita sila at kinawayan niya nang bati si Luis. Obvious daw na hindi ma-place ni Luis kung sino siya, thinking, babatiin ko itong bumabati sa akin. Ako iyon, gago! sabi ba naman nang harapan kay Luis. Tawanan kami. Tipsy pala si Joemelo.
Si Cesar Cifra na pinagdala pa ako ng Tarot cards ay hindi sumipot. Ang Land Bankers ay wala, pareho namang confirmed. Sina Ino at Emmeline, di rin dumating.
Magtawagan na lang raw for the next happening, pero huwag naman raw sa June. Hindi na raw maniniwala ang mga asawa sa dalas ng reunion.
Urbs
December 4, 1995
Dear Ataboy,
Sulit na sulit ang pagkakagawa
ng invitations, pag-plug sa radio at TV, at pagtatawag for our grand
Pearl Anniversary
reunion. 34 people attended it. May mga indian
pa rin, pero we had new faces naman.
Maaga akong dumating, galing
sa inyo sa Sta. Ana. Intentional, kasi magbibihis pa ako. I had planned
on showing up in the usual inuman attire dahil sabi naman sa invitation
ay kahit anong type mo, but when Ling learned about it, she told
me to wear shoes. Ngayon ko lang nalaman na hindi pala shoes ang sneakers!
(I was reminded of Nina who insisted that clogs were shoes, remember?)
So I had time to change into
my costume (beige lace blouse, black pants, beige shoes) , enjoy the breeze
and look at my former neighborhood in San Andres, write half your letter,
before Ericson came. Ang dalawa kong ini-expect na maaga daw kuno, si Camilo
at ang balikbayan na si Rowy Leopando ay parehong hindi dumating.
Ericson had some adorable ceramic
angels in pink and blue, na isa-isang dinikitan ng ‘pearl’ ng wife niyang
si Nini. Souvenir daw natin. (I got you one.) Then he handed me P300,
iniwanan daw ni Manny Deus, na babalik daw later.(May elementary reunion
din siya sa Philippine Normal School kaya siguro inuna na niya at
wala pa namang aksyon dun sa atin.)
Naunang dumating si Pat
at Franklin, tangay si Cesar Salayo. Nagtingin kami sa mga albums
na dala ni Pat at sa pictures na dala ko.Kinutingting namin ni Pat ang
mga angels, namili na kami ng pose na gusto namin, kinuha ang napili,
and with Eric’s permission ay itinago na rin sa aming handbags.
Pagdating ni Pocho,
ipinasalang na ni Eric ang videoke at nagkanta-kanta na sila nina Franklin
at Cesar Salayo. At eto na si Raul Desipeda, bagong mukha. Napa-oo ni Pat
despite his very busy schedule shuttling among 3 hospitals. Dennis
came in a black long-sleeved shirt,ibang look. Ops, Joemelo and Blay brought
equipment-keyboards. Kantahan na talaga.
Ang komite de festejos, wala
pa. Hinihika daw si Wilma, di naka-practice ang mga artista. Nang dumating
si Ruth, ako ang pinipilit mag-secretariat at maningil ng fees ng lahat,
ayoko nga! Si Zeny K. ang napaupo niya. Halos sabay-sabay kaming nagsibayad
nina Sengga at Au Santos. Eto na ang Linglingay, in a red shift with a
black shawl.( Dapat kako e i-uphold niya ang pagka-classy dresser niya.)
O, ayan ha, naka-sapatos ako, patadyak ko pang sabi. Approving smile
ang bruha. Sabi ni Pocho kay Ling, nagulat nga daw siya sa akin . Hindi
naman dating ganyan iyan, ang sabi. He, he, he! Hindi pa nga yata ako nakita
ni Pocho nang hindi naka-T-shirt or office uniform.
Si Felix Bagas, bagong
mukha rin, learned about the reunion thru the plug on TV at nakarating.
He could pass as the brother of Francis. Kinunan nga sila ng picture together
later. Sabi pa nga ni Dennis, ayun ang panganay na anak ni Francis, pina-una
na dito.
Surprise talaga. Dumating
ang Andy at Felice together. Wow, pencil thin eyebrows ang Felice, in a
cleavage showing spaghetti strapped shirred waist black dress, and
a black shawl. She had the emaciated figure for it. Beso-beso siempre.
Nang culture na ang pinag-uusapan ni Felice at Zeny K, sibat na kami ni
Au.
Bumabanat na ng Remy Martin
ang aking barkada. Nakasagap na agad ng jokes nang lumapit ako kay
Eric at Dennis. Ang tanong, do you talk to your wife after making love?
Ang sagot, Yes, if there is an available telephone.
Isa pa. What did you saw, tanong
ng prosecuting fiscal sa witness. Objection , your honor , banat
ng defense lawyer. On what basis?, tanong naman ng judge. Your honor,
there is no showing that the witness is a carpenter!
Tinawag ako ni Ling at in conference
sila ni Ruth about the awards. (Ibig kasing ma- rig na mabigyan ng
amoy-lupa award itong si Dennis!) Couldn’t decide on whether
it should be Environment Friendly or Ecology Award, aka amoy-lupa. Nakatulong
pa nila si Felice for the rest of the ideas, but we didn’t have time
for this in the course of the celebration.
I was at registration
when Tessie Hernandez arrived. Sexy in a low cut almost spaghetti
strapped cullote shorts (hindi hotpants, mas maluwag ang fit). Buhay ang
dugo ng mga ulol. Biglang naka-beso-beso ang mga boys kay Tessie!
Pati ang Dennis ay naka-score. Nakangisi ang unggoy!
Si Mommy Ruth, biglang dumating!
Siya nga pala yung Ruth na tumawag earlier kay Ericson, asking for directions.
Naku, very slim. 10 years pala siya sa Mexico, pero andito na since 1991,
hindi nga lang na-co-contact. She looks very young.
Sabi ni Dennis, ibinulong daw
sa kanya ni Raul na si Ruth M. ang crush niya noon, at si Tessie Hernandez
naman ang kanyang fantasy. Sulit na sulit pala ang pag-attend niya.
Nag-call to dinner na si Ericson.
Aba’t may mga nagsayaw instead na kumain. Anything goes talaga.
We were scattered in about 7
round tables . As usual, sama-sama ang boys, sama-sama rin ang girls. I
sat on the same table with Rose, Maripaz, Agnes, Ruth, Pat, Loida. We mostly
listened to the account of Ruth about their life in Mexico.
On the table next to us were
the inuman boys plus Raul-Dennis, Cesar C., Pocho, Joemelo, Freddie,Franklin.
On the other table next to us
were Ched, Au Santos, Aurora Tonson and daughter and later joined by Luis,
who arrived as we were having dinner.
On the center table were Wilma’s
group-Ruth R., Ella, Zeny, Felix, Felice and Andy.
Across us were Cesar S., Noel,
Francis, Felix Bagas, Jimmy, Ling, Tessie, Manny spread out on the remaining
3 tables.
Gulo na pagkakain. I got
up to get dessert, and there was Felice already on my seat. So I just got
a vacated seat from the next table. Etc.
Ericson called for
order to start the business meeting. Ruth reported on the state of finances,
even recited the expenses such as mass cards and flowers for departed parents.Bakit
ang Daddy ko, walang flowers? tanong pa niya. Buti nga at sa parents pa
lang tayo nagpapadala ng bulaklak at di pa sa ating kaklase, mused
Eric. Naalala tuloy niya ang nakalimutang mass card for Clifton’s wife.
Eric made another call
for pledges to the UP Prep ‘65 Foundation and announced that we will send
one scholar to UPIS next schoolyear. Maripaz passed around the book of
the foundation for the incorporators to sign.(They erased Emmeline’s name
and substituted Cesar Cifra instead, dahil walang tinupad sa mga ipinangakong
ipadadala kuno ang tseke.)
Battle of the Brainless na.
Nag-set-up ng buzzer and bell, with lights pa. Inilagay ang props, seals
of the competing schools, Yupi Yupi Lavatory School with contestants
Dennis Moral-less and Zeny Agawan, and Up Up High School with contestants
Freddie Bay and Loida Hipo-lito. Sa set-up pa lang, hoots and howls na
ang audience.
First Question: Sino’ng L.L.
ang crush ni Jimmy Gonzales nung araw? Answer: Leni Lontok!Sidelines
comment: Lagot kayo, seloso ang asawa nun!
Second Question: Sino’ng J.G.
ang crush ni Ling nung araw?Answer: Jose Antonio Gonzales.
Clue:Mas guapo naman doon. Another answer: Jose Mari Gonzales. Clue: Hindi
naman ganoon ka-guwapo. Ponciano Gonzales, Jr? Wala sa script, bumanat
ang Dennis na ang iniyakan talaga ni Ling ay si Doy Vea! Wala kang passport,
he! patol ni Ling kay Freddie na pinaka-tutukso-tukso siya.
Third question: What L.P.
is common to Dennis, Cesar and Luis? He,he,he! Luis stood up and
took the floor and vehemently denied having to do with L.P. Hindi ako kasali
diyan!!!Sila lang yan, and pointed to some others who had it with
L.P.
Fourth Question: What
is the C that Girlie, Emmeline and Linglingay have in common? Ans: Cellulite.
Giba ang poise na tumayo si Ling and objected. Hindi ako ang gumawa ng
script, depensa ni Dennis. Clarificatory clue: C.S. iyon. Ah--ceasarian
section.
Pina-sample-an lang kita. Ako
ay naiiyak na sa katatawa , at nagpapapadyak na kami, and I could hear
proper Felice howling in laughter at my back, too. That battle brought
back the adolescent in all of us. Saludo ako sa script ni Wilma.
Biglang nagdagdag ng question
si Dennis, to the embarrassment of Raul.O, sino ang crush ni Raul, at sino
ang kanyang fantasy? Pare, sa atin lang iyon,pakiusap ni Raul, not knowing
na naibulong na ni Dennis sa amin earlier. Mabuti naman at wala nang sumagot
pa.
Ericson got a phone call saying that Debbie Ledesma called his home thinking
that we were having the party there. At 3 am Italy time, she was on the
phone to wish us all a happy pearl anniversary. That was really so sweet!
Nagsi-inom lang konti, then
we decided to forego the games including the awards . Instead , we passed
the mike around and everybody talked about his family and his
activities.I think this was the best part of all.
Dennis said that his idea of
heaven is being forever in high school and if it were at all possible puede
na sa kanya yung magpaulit-ulit lang yung 4 years na iyon na maging
buhay niya . Lonely and miserable daw ang buhay niya because he is away
from his family. Ang lakas ng Huuu!!! ng audience.
Pocho said his children
have not experienced coed schools, mahigpit daw si misis. He recalls,
sa class ni Mrs Goseco sa Everlasting, yung pagkanta nina Jimmy at yung
refusal na kumanta ni Vergel.
Cesar Cifra said he frequently
sees Rizal Hall nowadays because he has a daughter in medicine. Faded na
raw ang paint, but it still stands as proud. The garden looks smaller than
before, but the lab where we used to hold our biology classes is still
being used as a lab by UP Manila which now occupies the bldg. He
sounded so nostalgic about it.
Manny Deus said his children
now do all the kalokohans which he and Filo used to do.
Freddie Bagas said nalugi daw
ang negosyo niya sa Masbate so he has a different venture now...
Joemelo and Freddie both acknowledged
the help extended to their company by our classmates and hinted that someday
they will pay back with interest.
Raul is CEO of Calamba Medical
Center and his specialization is laparoscopy. Yun daw yung puede ka nang
umuwi kinabukasan after removal ng gallstones kasi walang
incision yata. Kami ang kokontrata ng hospital mo, sabad ni Joemelo.
Ako si Loida , de Pedro noon,
Berbano na ngayon, declared Loida. May nadinig akong nagsalita sa
tabi ko- Singson in the future-sabi. I probably have the oldest child among
all of us, aged 27 years. I have 3 de Pedro children, and 2 Berbano children,
dagdag pa niya. I’m working in the Congress Secretariat now.
Ling agreed that it is a lonely
and miserable life away from the family, as Dennis had said. But it will
be otherwise soon, because they are scheduled to fly to their families
for Christmas.
The introduction I’m Felice
married to Andy elicited laughter. She then unumerated her various
cultural involvements and urged us to visit the historical shrines
that they take pains to preserve. She also hoped that we would be reading
her newspaper columns, and even quipped that if we do not understand what
she had written, we can call her up for explanation. When asked to write
about the class, she told them that I had already asked her to.
I said I’m Ana, then somebody
coached, one of the boys. That was really what I was going to say,he he!
I assured them that I shall continue calling them up to attend reunions.
I also offered to tell the fortune of anyone who requests it , basta
Tuesday and Friday lang.
Maripaz said she’s a practicing
lawyer and has set up her own law firm with two partners. She married her
college classmate and now have 3 children, two of whom are studying in
Canada. Takot ka sa kidnap, ha?, observed one.
Of course Rose made a pitch
for You’re in good hands with Metrobank. When it was Au’s turn, she claimed
the the customer is first in PCI Bank.
Ruth M. was happy she attended
the reunion .She had been here since 1991 and had she known about the gatherings,
she certainly would have attended. Aba, they all looked at me accusingly
with the unasked question, why wasn’t she contacted before. I was incredulous.Is
it my fault? Samantalang ako na nga ang naka-trace kay Ruth through the
lead of a friend! Naisahan ako ng mga ulol, nakapagtawa sila!
Tessie is married to a PAL 747
pilot, so they have travel privileges. Hanapin lang daw si Capt Limcaco,
puede pang ma-upgrade sa first class. She has two sons, both 6 footers.
Malalaki, she motioned. Her older son is in medical school, the younger
one could pass for a male model, mana raw sa kanya. She has a steak house
in San Pablo named Ole! and an amusement and games center, too. She also
has a fiberglass factory. Kung alam lang daw niyang presidente pala
ng Reynolds si Jimmy, di na sana siya nag-bid at natalo pa.
Sabi ni Franklin, si Pat daw
ang Commander sa bahay , siya Commander lang sa Coast Guard. Kaya pag sa
bahay tatawag, bubuuin daw na Commander Franklin Mangonon ang hanapin.
Pag sa Coast Guard, defined na raw sa Commander Mangonon. Wala daw sanang
problema kung a-action-an na ni Luis ang promotion ni Franklin to Admiral,
sabi naman ni Pat. Hindi ko matanto kung nagbibiro ba o serious iyon.
Aurora Tonson vda de Turaray is a distributor of candies and biscuits at
Kalentong Market. She also operates Kalentong Cafe, na nung ini-apply niya
sa pangalang Aurora Cafe ay hindi na-lesensiyahan dahil maraming kapangalan.
She took up law but stopped after 15 units. She enumerated the children
and the schools they attend.
Jimmy was very proud that his
daughters could defeat boys in a basketball game. Amo daw niya si Felix,
kasi Board of Directors ng Reynolds. He is president, reporting to the
Board.
Luis said he is busy rearing
3 three children. Kaklase pa ng anak ni Jimmy ang isa. Unlike your children,
mine are still very young, the eldest being only 10, he said.
Noel is a grandfather
of one. It is also a lonely and miserable life, because the wife is abroad.
He installs movie theatres, sound systems etc.
Ella is a grandmother
of 2. At lola daw talaga ang tawag sa kanya ng mga apo.
I am probably the only
farmer among us, claimed Cesar Salayo. Life is lonely and miserable
only occasionally, not all of the time, he said.
Francis brought the house down
and got a standing ovation when he openly announced that he has an on-going
relationship with a 22 year old girl.
Andy enumerated
his achievements, one of which was assisting in the birth of a calf (in
Australia, Felice whispered to me) but said that his greatest achievement
was marrying Felice in 1973. We clapped our hands. Felice was beaming with
pride.
Sabi ni Franklin, si Pat
daw ang Commander sa bahay , siya Commander lang sa Coast Guard. Kaya pag
sa bahay tatawag, bubuuin daw na Commander Franklin Mangonon ang hanapin.
Pag sa Coast Guard, defined na raw sa Commander Mangonon. Wala daw sanang
problema kung a-action-an na ni Luis ang promotion ni Franklin to Admiral,
sabi naman ni Pat. Hindi ko matanto kung nagbibiro ba o serious iyon.
Ched has retired from
her job at DBP, and is now taking military contracts. Hindi daw siya
malakas, kaya hindi laging nananalo sa bidding.
Eric said that one of
his children has the makings of a ballerina.
Hindi na-tape ang portion na
ito, sayang. Wala na akong maalala pang iba sa mga sinabi ng lahat.
Nag-set-up ng slide projector
at instant screen, then Wilma showed the slides of ‘The Making of a Rare
Breed’. This was an updated version of the one shown during the 25th anniversary.
Naku, di naman halos madinig ang narration sa dami ng side comments at
ingay ng tawanang hindi masawata ng kahit sino. Utter chaos baga. Walang
ka-disi-disiplina. May lumalapit sa screen, either for a better view or
to point out someone. Ang maganda sa collection na iyon, there were pictures
of past celebrations. You could really reminisce about the good old days
extending even beyond high school. May mga inulit pang ini-project na pictures,
by popular demand.
Ericson announced that the next
reunion will be a Valentine affair on Feb 17, which gives time for Francis
to date his wives first on the 14th, 15th, and 16th. Pakiusap ni Eric--palitan
na ninyo ako as president, very busy talaga siya.. Ayaw namin. Puwede namang
permanent headquarters daw yung penthouse niya. Gusto namin.
Distribution of raffle gifts
followed. These were solicited from selected people lang-mostly
company giveaways. I got an umbrella of PCI Bank, donated by Au Santos.
Dancing commenced. Naku,
ang tiyope naman ng mga boys, ni walang ibig kumuha kay Tessie para isayaw,
kahit panay na ang prod namin. Finally, napilit ni Wilma si Luis na isayaw
si Tessie. Sige na , para makita natin kung magaling pa rin siyang
sumayaw. anya. Aba, e talaga namang walang kupas! Si Tessie na ang nagtiyagang
manghila sa kanila, si Dennis, Pocho etc.
May mga small pockets of discussion
na. Ang barkada ni Ruth, nagpaplano ng kanilang christmas party. Yung inuman
boys, mukhang may gimmick ring binubuo. Etc. Ala-una na, mukhang
wala pa ring may balak tapusin ang event. Sinundo na si Eric ng mga
anak. O, ano, ipapahanda ko na ba ang tulugan?, kanyang tanong. With that
signal, everybody packed up to go. May mga lingering conversations
pa rin.
I hitched a ride with
Tessie. Marami pa ring napag-usapan sa daan . She’s into astrology pala.
Explained to me how to make decisions in consonance with the phases of
the moon. Studied it in India raw. At yun palang ka-sexy na iyon , hindi
pa siya nag-e-exercise. She was resolving to exercise again, may gym naman
daw sa bahay dahil into body building ang mga anak niya.
Before I slept, inilista ko
na ang mga notes ko for this report, at napakaraming details na baka makalimutan
pag nakatulugan.
Si Pinky, tumawag
sa bahay. Sumakit daw ang ulo niya. She had to run after an assignment
(freelance writer siya). Kung nag-attend ka, nawala sana ang sakit ng ulo
mo kako. Ang tagal naming nag-daldalan, more than 30 minutes. She updated
me about what’s happening to her and I did likewise. Dapat kaming magkita,
ang lapit lang ng bahay niya sa amin, one short ride.
That's about it!
Sincerely,
Urbs
1995 was our 30th year so there were lots of activities.
