Batch ’64 30^th Anniversary Reunion - Parang Kahapon Lang

It all started when I sent a Holiday 1993 greeting card to an old chum and classmate, Prima J. Vera-Aguilar.  In one of my postscripts to the holiday card I wrote:  "Soon (in 1994) will be our 30th high school anniversary, is there anything cooking?".  That was enough to stir up Prima’s interests, as well as the other batch ’64 alumni. Headed by Prima, Noel Ilagan and Lito Hernandez, planning immediately started. Flyers were sent out, advertisements were placed in major Manila newspapers and a reunion big banner was hung at the main entrance of THS building along Juan Luna Street. 

It did not take long for Teofilo (Butch) Santos and I to make a decision – come what may, we were attending the reunion. The reunion date was set for December 3, 1994 at the Torres High School Cafeteria.

Being away from the alma mater campus for over 30 years, I found myself riding in the car of Prima and Jun Aguilar, who graciously offered me a ride from their house in Makati, Rizal.   Familiar faces confronted us at the door.  A long line of happy, smiling faces welcomed our arrival. I could only compare the feeling to that of anticipated excitement during our high school jam sessions.  Friends like Noel Ilagan, Felix Lumabas, Felix delos Santos, Romy Sotto, Edgardo Cordero, Lito Hernandez, Federico Binuya, Renato de Jesus, Federico Suavillo, Ernesto Sayo, Rodolfo Villanueva, Ed Pingol, Rolly Josue, Alfredo Tan, Efren Salandanan, Renato Godoy, Reynaldo Tizon, Rodel de Leon, Enrique Villegas and co-balikbayanista (and college friend) Butch Santos were all out in force.  The usual unmistakable Filipino way of "barkada" and "samahan" were very evident at that moment.

Inside the hall were the fair ladies of our batch.  Their friendly smiles and warm hello's were a far cry from our high school years when they acted gregariously with innocent looks and bashful smiles.  The beautiful ladies which formed the reception line consisted of Prima Vera, Myrna Tuason, Carmelita Vindollo, Remy Saldana, Lilia Reyes, Lucia del Rosario, Carmelita Belmonte, Norma Nepomuceno, Leonora Nocum, Librada Sayo, Concepcion Lindenberg, Ethel Lopez and Raquel Mendoza.  Violy delos Santos whom I met earlier at a Fellowship affair could not make it due to a wedding engagement.

What followed was the introduction of each attendee. People talked not so much about their educational or professional achievement, but more about their family. Laughter was almost a non-stop affair. We found out later it did not matter who we became. What mattered most was what we still are – Torresians - molded and prepared by our alma mater to be the better citizens of the world, providing services, knowledge and skills for the advantage of the human race, wherever we may be.

We resolved that this was just the beginning. We made a pact that on our 40th anniversary in 2004, we will definitely do it again.

See you all in February 2004 for our Balik-Torres (40th) Reunion!

Enrique (Eric) Santos