Kuwento ng Subic

Kuwento ng Subic Grand Reunion by Ana B. Urbina

Consulted my prep 65 Prepian Annual for this list, so the sequence is by section in your third year.

1. Jerry
2. Teddy, wife (Tita) , son
3. Armi, wife (Viol) and family
4. Ray, wife (Beth), daughter
5. Euly "Bibot"
6. Butch
7. Guilly
8. Dewes
9. Myrna, sister (Hermie), husband , son
10. EQ, wife (Clem)
11. Liz, daughter, granddaughter
12. Norms
13. Lawrence, wife
14. Josie Angeles, husband (Ed)
15. Manny
16. Boo, wife (Tessie), 2 daughters
17. Nellie, daughter (Debbie)
18. Jess
19 Suchie
20. Lily
21. Benj
22. Edna, husband (Hugo)
23. Leonard
24. Ricky, wife, babies and nannies
25. Vic, wife (Marilyn)
26. Fred (aka Godo)
27. Boyet
28. Joey, wife (Baby), son (Joey II)
29 Angge
30 Ed Umali, wife(Arlette), son, daughter-in-law, grandson
31.Perry, aunt (Puring) , uncle (Rudy)

Teachers:
1. Auring, daughter
2. Thelma
3. Casey (aka Aning)

Eavesdropper:
1. Ana

Dear Inday,
        Si Perry ang dinatnan ko sa Oblation at 7:30 am Friday. He will be driving a vehicle, kasama ang aunt and uncle niya. I am sure you would rather ride in the van with everybody, sabi niya. Of course naman! I should be where I can eavesdrop on all the tsismis.
         He, he, he, demures pala ang pag-pronounce nung D' MMURS! Tinanong ko kasi sa kanya, pero wrong pronunciation pala ako.
        If his American history teacher could only see him now, na American citizen na siya! We had a good laugh about that!
        Dr. Aurora Alarcon Lianko with daughter Kristine joined us. Nakasalampak kami doon sa steps ng Administration Bldg with a backview of the Oblation, waiting for the others.
        Dumating sina Edna at Hugo, derecho sila dun sa waiting van on the other side of the building. Sumunod na kami doon. Doon sa kainitan tumayo at nagkuwentuhan. Eto na rin si Boyet, Joey, at Benjie. Saka si EQ and Clem. Si Nellie at si Debbie. Nagka-compare-an ng mga blonde na buhok. Buti kayo, may buhok pa, banat ni Clem.
        Nakahalata ring mainit pala doon sa tabi ng van. Akyat kami sa open lobby ng Administration Bldg. Nandoon na rin Miss Basaca, saka si Puring (auntie ni Pery, ayaw magpatawag ng Tita) at si Rudy, uncle ni Perry (ayaw rin magpatawag ng Tito) They came all the way from California with him. Eto na rin sina Ed at Arlette. Introductions all around.
        Mauuna na raw sina Joey and Boyet. Sige. Pati na rin si Jess and Benjie. Sige.
         Sino pa ba ang hinihintay? Si Mrs Tintero.Saka si Manny. Duda ako about Manny not bringing his car, pero nag-usap daw sila, sabi ni EQ, so sige, hintay kami. Kausap ko naman si Clem at very involved ang aming discussion, kahit noon pa lang kami nag-meet.
        Pagtawag ni EQ kay Mrs Tintero, hindi pala maihahatid ng anak, so hindi sasama. Si Manny, tumawag, nasa Subic na pala. So we were off at 8:30 am. EQ joined us in the van while Clem took their car.

Ang passengers ng coaster ay si EQ, Arlette, Debbie, Nellie, Ana, Kristine, Dr. Lianko, Miss Basaca, Hugo, Edna and Eddie.

Serious ang unang topic sa sasakyan. EQ related what they have just been through during the last two weeks, about Clem's lumpectomy. (Iyon din ang napag-usapan namin ni Clem earlier during the wait.) Tatlong beses isang araw daw sila nagsisimba, seeking guidance. And to think na binabanatan pa siya ni Benjie about being absent from the prep grand reunion on Dec 2!

Thank God the biopsy result which they just got the day before the reunion said benign, and that Clem is fine.

Edna enumerated kung sinu-sino ang members ng D'MMURS, kasama daw si Divinagracia. Iba-ibang kulay ng ribbons daw ang suot ninyo each day. Merry Ribbonettes ang natandaan kong words sa acronym. Ano na nga yung iba?

Ang planong matutulog sana sa trip para makapag-ipon ng energy, hindi nangyari.

Yung magandang anak ni Nellie, si Debbie, ay ini-pair na namin sa anak ni Myrna. Hindi naman napipikon ang bata kahit pinangalanan na namin siya ng Debbie Soriano.

Nag-jingle stop kami sa McDonalds in San Fernando. Pila sila sa pagkain, kami ni Arlette, punta muna sa restroom. Ang gulat ko nang biglang lumiko pakaliwa sa Men's CR ang kasabay kong si Arlette. Hagalpakan kami sa ladies room a few moments later.

Pila sa pagkain. EQ, take out ba tayo o dine-in? No hurry daw. O sige. Nagsiupo at kumain at leisure ang karamihan. Kami stood outside with the boys and stretched our feet. Sina Benjie at Jess, naligaw! Sa Clark na papunta, hindi sa Subic! Hihintayin ba natin sila? Hindi na. Bakit naunahan pa natin sina Joey at Boyet? Dumaan pala muna sa bahay nina Joey.

EQ transferred to their car on the resumption of the trip. Hina-high blood daw yung driver kasi.

At siempre pa, si Erap at politika ang main topic for the rest of the trip. Plus of course a lot of reminiscing about prep.

Before we knew it, nasa Subic na pala! Stop kami sa APEC Villa #16.

Pinababa kami, , pero iwanan lang daw ang mga gamit sa sasakyan.
Full force ang welcoming committee -- Jerry, Ray, Vic, Boo.
Mingle sa living room with the families of Joey and Vic. Usyoso sa villa. Akyat hanggang second floor.More people pagbaba. Mingle uli.Register sa Secretariat Room. Ray, EQ and Jess were giving out ID's and keys to the rooms. Nagkukuwentuhan na kami ni Hugo ng vinyl signage business niya. Take lunch daw muna. Sus, horrifying ang menu, dala ba ang mga gamot ninyo? Nakainom na. Good. Kuha ng alimango, curacha, sugpo, isda, pusit. Siksikan sa dining room. Nahuli kami sa mga upuan, kaya tumayo rather than miss the tsismis. Tawanan. Maingay.
Tinapos ang lunch. Announcement from EQ: Check-in daw muna sa quarters, tapos, balik doon by 2 pm for the tour of Subic. Distribute ng sandobags of chichirya, ipinag-shopping na raw kami ni Jerry. Sige, sakay na. Ang maleta ni Godo, isinakay sa coaster namin, hindi siya kasama.
Ano na ang pangalan ng ating piloto? Si Mr. Rommel pala. O, Mister Rommel, alam mo na kung saan tayo pupunta? Oo daw, sa Legenda.
Daldalan. Tanaw sa scenery. Daldalan. Uy, ang layo pala ng Legenda. Ay, hindi tayo diyan sa Legenda Hotel! Sa Legenda Suites tayo. Babalik, kaso, puede kaya mag-U turn?
Eto pala ang Legenda Suites. Maraming buildings. Saan tayo? Ayun, may streamer. Welcome to UP HIGH Class 1966. Ay, mali!

Sa second floor ng Narra Building kami, Suite # 7324. Roommate ko si Casey (Miss Basaca).
Sa master bedroom si Dr. Alarcon Lianko and daughter Kristine. Freshen up lang sandali, assemble na naman sa coaster. Balik sa Villa #16.

Sorry, EQ. Late kami, kasi naligaw. Iyan ang sinasabi ko sa inyo, eh! Alamin man lang kung saan pupunta, hindi panay daldalan lang! Hinanap namin kayo, sabi ni Godo. (Aware siyang nawala kami with his suitcase!)

Mapupuno ang coaster. Ibinaba ang cases of softdrinks occupying the back seat. Pumalit doon ang magugulong boys. Pati aisle seats were taken by more magugulong boys.

Kahabag-habag and guide. Pinagpapawisan nang malapot. Hindi makabuo ng isang sentence sa piece niya. Pero hind siya napikon.

Stop for photo op sa office ng SBMA. Tama ang welcome sign doon for UP Prep Class 1966.Maraming kodakan.

Naiba ang seating arrangement sa likod. Perry took the place of Manny, a welcome switch.

At one point, I heard Miss Basaca telling Manny, "Gumaganti ka yata!" Go figure.

Madaling natapos ang rolling tour of Subic. Bumaba kami sa daungan ng ferry boat for the cruise.

Saan magandang pumuesto, tanong ng katabi kong naghihintay sa go signal to board. Siempre sa upper deck, where you can enjoy the sea breeze.

Akyat na kaming lahat sa tiny stair steps. Delikado ang matangkad, mauuntog. Seated na kung saan gusto, at kung sino ang katabi. Vacant yung seat between me and Miss Basaca. In front of us are Clem and Dr. Lianko. Behind us are Arlette, Joey II and Baby Mundo.

Masarap naka-group sa teachers, kasi lahat lumalapit at bumabati sa kanila, so meeting everyone was effortless.

Sailing na (este, cruisin' pala dapat). Sarap! Pinalitan ko lahat ang air sa lungs ko!

Si Ray, naghahanap ng Swiss army knife. Hindi ready ang mga boy scouts. Pero, resourceful ang mga explorer scouts, nakagawa ng makeshift corkscrew out of plain pocket knives.

Binuksan at pasa-pasa yung iba't ibang chips. Pringles, Doritos, Lays. Distribute ang paper cups for the drinks. Nabuksan na ang red wine. Si Benjie ang bartender. Huwag mong malapitan at bibigyan ka ng generous refill.

Si Vic Yenko went around, offering still more chips. Vic, congrats pala sa racing win mo, nabasa ko sa news. Nakakahawa pala ang appendectomy? Tawa siya.

Inihabol ni Armi sa pasa-pasahan yung dip.

Daldalan. Pasa ang chips from Clem to me to Joey II, and back again. Daldalan. Minsan, naka-lingon sa likod, kina Arlette at Baby. Minsan sa harap, kina Clem. Nellie took the seat between me and Miss Basaca. Very interesting ang kuwento ng paglago ng kanyang business.

Si EQ, ubod nang gulo, a catalyst for group mixing and bonding. Walang program. Go with the flow lang.

Dumaong ang ferry boat. Ano. tapos na? Akala ko ba two hours, tanong ni Nellie.

Nag-negotiate daw ng another round si Ray, para sunset cruise. Cruisin' again! Hindi namin napansin ang sunset, at ang pagdilim, sa dami pa uli ng daldalan! Talaga naman!

Madilim na talaga when we ended the cruise.
The coaster will bring us back to Legenda. Hihintayin na rin kami for the short trip to Subic Bay Yacht Club.
Opps! Sina Edna at Hugo, taga-Villa. Sama na lang kayo sa suite namin at doon na mag-freshen up.
Ngek! Ini-lock pala ni Casey ang room namin from the inside. Hindi mabuksan. Tawag sa front desk. Hintay. Tawag uli. Hintay. Sinundo ko na sa front desk. Nagkasalisi kami ng nagbukas.
Madalian ang ligo at bihis!
Naks! Ganda naman ng ambiance sa Subic Bay Yacht Club. Italian buffet, al fresco sa deck, ang dinner.
Kumakaway si Arlette. Dito ka na sa amin. I put my bag in one seat. Lumakad-lakad, took in the harbor lights scene. So serene.
Ay, tinambakan ng souvenir T-shirts yung seat ko!
I took my bag and wrap, and joined Puring's table. Then I took time selecting the size and color of my souvenir T-shirt. Opted for maroon XL. Type ko yung shawl ni Benjie (from the Holy Land) draped over his maroon T-shirt.
Mostly we listened sa conversation in our table. Jerry, Boo and EQ were there. Obvious ba kung ano ang topic? Later, tinabihan ko si Clem para mag-tsismisan kami, bigla namang Tong Payumo decided to join the group. Nagbulungan kami ni Clem na makinig na muna. Juicy! Panay pa ang diskurso ni Tong Payumo when somebody called for class picture taking.
That ended the dinner.
Sina Josie lang ang bumaba for the sing-along sa Villa #14. Si Dr Lianko signed up for 4:30 am simbang-gabi. Si Casey, pass. Ako, depende sa natural gising. Nagdadasal pa si Casey nang makatulog ako.

Saturday, December 16, 2000

Late riser si Casey, kaya una ako sa banyo. Got a newspaper at the front desk while checking out the coaster. At 7:30, Casey and I went down the front desk. Doon na daw kami di-display to wait for the others.

Bakit kaya kami lang ang nandoon? Naiwanan kaya? Tried calling the secretariat. No luck.
Nasa golf nga pala ang mga boys. Finally got connected to the Triboa Bay Club. Just then, the coaster came into view.

Mr. Rommel, bakit late kayo? Ang alam namin, 7 am ang breakfast, 8:30 ang report ng tour guide. Hindi po. Ang instruction ni Mr Pablo, 8:00 am ang sundo ko sa inyo.

Nagdatingan na ang iba. Sina Dr. Lianko? Nag-simbang gabi, baka tumuloy na doon. Kinatok mo ba, tanong ni Casey. Hindi Ma'am, walang kumikilos sa kuwarto nila.

We sat down with the others to a Pinoy breakfast. Ang ganda ng view!
May tawag at 9 am. Kay Hugo ibinigay ang phone. Si Dr. Lianko, nagpapasundo sa Legenda. Na-oversleep daw sila! (Casey flashed me an accusing look! )

Mukhang naipasa ng golfing secretariat kay Clem ang coordination. Siya ang nag-introduce sa grupo nung manager ng Club, who offered us a tour of their facilities.

Sige. Follow the guide. Uy, may oxygen room. Paglabas mo doon, Michael Jackson ka na.
Kodakan sa veranda. May nakipag-appointment na sa beautician for the Prom. Baba sa hagdan. I took a look at the venue of the Senior Prom. Hmmm, low ceiling, compact seating. (Sa loob-loob ko, hanggang 2 a.m. siguro ang dancing!)

Tuloy-tuloy sa swimming pool area.
Went down the stairs leading to the beach. Sayang, wala kaming swimsuits! The water looked so inviting! Nag-kodakan na lang. Bukas na tayo mag-swimming, after breakfast.

Balik sa breakfast room. Who wants to go shopping? Almost everybody. Paano yung butterfly garden tour? Ma'am, puede tayong 30 minutes sa butterflies tapos shopping na, said Olive, the guide. Okay, let's go! Teka, si Clem, nasa phone pa, arranging the lunch.

Susunod na lang ako sa shopping, sabi ni Clem. She has to go to Legenda Hotel to finalize the lunch at The Museum. Wala pa raw reservation, at walang makausap sa phone.

Very fascinating yung display ng different insects sa butterfly garden. Konti lang yung butterflies, hindi masyadong colorful, at maliliit, pero tuwang-tuwa kami na nadapuan nung dying butterfly na raw iyon, sabi ni Debbie.

Shopping na! I think everyone found some item to buy, kahit walang intention to purchase. Si Edna, bumili nung nakalimutan daw niyang isuot earlier. Kaya pala mukhang lalaki daw siya, sabi ni Hugo.

At 12 noon, we proceeded to Legenda Hotel for lunch.

Nauna kaming dumating sa Museum Chinese Restaurant in Legenda Hotel . The golfers are still in the showers.

Mingle, mingle. Sino itong dumarating, di ko kilala. Hi, I'm Ana. Si Euly pala. You just came from Malaysia? Oo, and they spent over an hour looking for the Dragon Restaurant. Kilala ko itong kasabay niya, si Leonard "Halimuyak" Serafica. Si Eleanor? May golden anniversary celebration ng pinsan, kaya hindi kasama.

More people in the mingling circle. Ops! Ako na lang ang nakatayo with the prep '66 boys. Bigla akong nahiya, at naupo with the ladies. Pero teka, nandoon ang tsismis, kaya balik sa circle of boys. I caught Euly explaining the change of his nickname from Bibot to Euly. Sabi daw ng cathechism teacher, he is too big to be called Bibot.
Si Godo, Freddie daw to family, but his professional name is Fred.

Leonard, alam mo bang I was so concerned when the e-mails said the boys will visit you. Akala ko maysakit ka!

Slowly, the 7 reserved tables filled out. Wala pa rin ang golfers. Eto na si Chairman Payumo.
Clem kept looking for somebody to play host to him. Jerry reversed her orders about serving the lunch.

After lunch, Jerry introduced Tong Payumo and he made a presentation of SBMA. Parang educational tour!

And now for EQ's announcements. First he called Euly, Lawrence and Boo to join him up front. Bakit kaya sila dapat magkasama-sama for the enjoyment of the class? Hulaan ninyo.

We were off to the Subic Bay Yacht Club next. Binigyan kami ng charge cards , for use in whatever activity you may fancy. I was with the teachers group. Parang masarap yatang mag-ice cream, sabi ko kay Dr. Lianko.
Dr. Abiva led us on a tour of the facilities. May nadaanan kaming set-up ng wedding dun sa poolside. May nag-lilitson ng baka dun sa kainitan. Mama, gaano katagal ang paglitson? Tatlong oras po. "Pati siya, luto na rin sa sikat ng araw after three hours," sabi ni Dr. Abiva.
Pasok sa gift shop. Tingin-tingin. Sukat ng sapatos. Ray's wife Beth went in to buy socks.

Gusto ninyo magpa-massage? Sauna? Beauty parlor? Sa Cosmic Bowling nauwi. Ay, hindi ko kayang buhatin ang ten-pin balls.

Iniwanan ko sila doon. Found a quiet place to write my notes on the second floor lobby. Inaantok ako, nanghihingi ng pahinga ang katawan. I was going out to look for the coaster when I met Dewes. He will go back to Legenda in a few minutes. May I ride with you? He got me from the quiet nook after twenty minutes. On our way out, we met Hermie Cifra. They have just arrived. Benjie was trying to detain Dewes, but he had me for an excuse, so off we went. He has coughs and also needs a snooze.

Went straight to bed. Nagising lang ako when Casey and Dr. Abiva arrived, some two hours later. Si Casey, ni hindi nahiga at baka magusot ang buhok na ipina-ayos sa Yacht Club.

Bihis na kami nang dumating ang mag-inang Lianko, na nag-bowling na, nagpa-massage pa.

We all went to the front desk to wait for the coaster. Service ni Jerry ang sumundo this time.

Senior Prom Night

Sa Triboa Bay Club, pababa sa hagdan, nakasalubong namin ang crush ko, flashing a shy smile. Ka-guwapo lang!
Sa reception are, all handsome prep '66 boys, too! Benjie had a red bow tie (James Bond?)
I went straight to greet Lily and Norms, who was visibly very excited.

All tables were already ocupied except the ones near the band. Maingay doon, sabi ni Dr. Lianko. Earlier occupants yielded a table to the teachers group.

Nagkakatuwaan na ang mga hardly demure D'MMURS sa table by the entrance. Ibinukadkad for the nth time yung blown up Orchid class picture ni Perry. Halakhakan. More people joined that table. Nakisiksik din kami sa maraming kodakan. Bahala kang ipuwesto ang mukha mo para di ka matakpan!

Suchie, Happy Birthday! Nagkakabungguan ang bumabati.

Benjie took the seat between me and Casey. Benjie, ikaw naman ang magkuwento ng grand reunion. Hindi puede. Kasi, kailangan daw somebody else will describe what he is wearing.
O sige, ako na ang bahala sa part na iyon. I will say you look dapper. Uy, ano'ng ibig sabihin nun? Duda siya. Good or bad? Ayan, katabi mo ang English teacher, si Casey. Pero talo ka ng crush ko. Sino? Nakita mo na ba si Joey II? Hindi pa. Just then, the subject walked in. Oo nga, conceded Benjie.

Dinner is served. Umuugong din ang daldalan sa queue. You have beautiful daughters, I told Boo's wife.

The program, emceed by Edna and Ed, started with a simple but moving invocation by Ray.
Afterwards, Joey and Perry took their places for the powerpoint presentation of the Prepian annual pictures . The reunion movers were a heartily applauded lot. After all, the reunion is already at its climax, and everyone is heady with bonding.

Puzzle yung additional pictures. Sino yung ini-escort ni EQ sa isang picture. Walang makapag-identify and EQ is not telling! Hindi makuha ni EQ sa tingin at kindat ang mga bruho!

May mga lumalapit pang maige sa screen to point or confirm na sila yung nasa picture.

Bitin ang nostalgia nang matapos ang presentation.

Not a moment too soon, the band went in and started playing. Wala munang sumasayaw. Si Suchie, nag-ke-kenkoy na ng sayaw, solo.

The band, trying to feel the crowd, shifted to a slow number. Jerry took Suchie to the floor. The other couples followed, and soon, puno na ang dance floor. Si Dra. Lianko daw, sasayaw kung may kukuha, sabi ni Kristine. Banat din si Dr. Abiva. Casey was good, too, even at 70.

Dancing was so involved, it was fun to watch. It was at times romantic, most of the time nostalgic. The Lopez sisters, Mryna and Hermie, had an able DI in Dr. Soriano. Tita asked her son, "Kaya mo ba akong dalhin?", just before they danced. I think I saw some girls dance without partners. Debbie and Kristine were clueless about mashed potatoes. They had their open palms over their faces in mock shame when their respective mothers did their thing sa dancing circle.

My vote goes to Myrna and hubby for most romantic pair.

Boo's wife obviously loves to dance, is a graceful dancer, and she evens sings while dancing!

Nangapagod ang golden knees, time out muna sa sayaw. Kantahan naman. Isinalang ang souvenir CD. Lalo nang nostalgic. All the girls were signed up as D'MURRS. At one time or another, everyone sang. Pag tinawag ni EQ, siguradong mapapapunta sa front. Pag ayaw niyang paupuin, hindi uupo.

Kilig kami when Jerry dedicated a song to Poyang.

Joey II was a hit with his "guitar playing". The young people sang 'Cruisin', the theme.

It was really a swinging party! Sabi na nga ba, aabutin ng alas dos, eh.

And the band was so versatile. So wide ang range. Pati 'Puff the Magic Dragon' tinugtog.

Alternate ang dancing, saka singing. Nang mapagod, sing while seated. Still later, watch the band perform. But nobody wanted the night to end.

It was again a call for class pictures that ended the magical night.

It was a long, lingering goodbye at 2:30 am.'Graduation Song' was a fitting last number.

At pagdating pa namin sa suite, isang oras pang kumain at nagkuwentuhan! Teachers group na iyan, e di siguradong lalo pang mas matindi yung mismong '66 prepians!

Subic Sunday

Tanghali na kaming nagising, buti at 9 am ang sinabi naming sundo kay Mr. Rommel. We even had time to pack our bags and check out na.

Ray and Fred fetched us. Inihatid ng coaster yung mga nag-ferry sa Morong, Bataan.

Converted na ang mga teachers, sabi ng mga dinatnan namin sa breakfast room sa Triboa Bay Club. Paano, we were wearing our prep '66 maroon souvenir T-shirts. (Baka may picture-taking, sabi ni Dr. Lianko)

I told Manny I wore mine because wala na akong identity crisis, unlike the day before when I wore my prep '65 T-shirt to remind me of my true identity. He, he, he! Si Arlette naman ang may suot ng prep 65 T-shirt niya!

Hindi kami kasya sa table ng crush ko, kaya we took a separate one, sayang!

Nag-distribute si EQ nung cassette tape of songs. Pinatungan ng 66 stickers yung 69 sa label.
Over-anxious daw siya about Clem, so he spent one night focused on producing the souvenir music.

(Ops! I forgot to say that during the prom they distributed CD's in little bayongs, and UP keychains . Also, they honored the teachers with floral bouquets.)

After the meal, nakalingon kami ni Nellie sa table nina Fred, at nakalingon naman si Dr Lianko sa other table, we finally pulled our chairs para hindi manghaba ang leeg.

Manny clarified that the reason why Suchie did not want to hold hands with Dewes and Benjie (during the Grand Prep Reunion invocation by George Sison) was religious in nature.

Inihit kami ng tawa sa istorya ni EQ.

Ang tulis pala ng batang iyon, he said of Myrna's son. Hindi pa raw niya naipakilala, aba nakita niyang nakatabi na and in earnest conversation with Debbie, Nellie's daughter! Do you know who I am, tanong daw niya kay Matthew. Oh yes, Mr. Flores, and shook his hand. (Ang tinis ng tawa ni Nellie!)

Debbie, o ano'ng sabi? Mr. Flores nga po. Hagalpakan na naman kami.

Ako ang derechong sinabihan ni EQ ng: "Akala mo kasi lagi lang akong nagbibiro, eh. Totoo ang sinasabi ko." (Mukha kaya akong laging duda?)

Goodbye. Babay. Nag-thin-out na ang crowd. Si Dr. Abiva, pumunta na sa Subic Bay Yacht Club to meet her husband. Bumalik na sina Nellie sa Legenda para mag-pack.

Kami doon na lang maghihintay ng coaster, kasi we have given up our room earlier.

Nakipagkuwentuhan ako kay Manny sa lobby. Tuwang-tuwa siya kay Ricky.

Si EQ, hindi makaalis. Pino-problema kami. Finally, isinakay kami sa vehicle ng engineer.
(Ana, ikaw ang bahala kay Mang Andy, the driver. Sa iyo kukuha ng instructions. Sige.) Sina Nellie daw, isasabay kay Lawrence.

Ayun, nakalibot pa kami sa Olongapo.

On the way, nag-text si Debbie kay Kristine. Dalawa lang silang sakay ng coaster. Saan ang mainam na rendezvous? Sa Double Happiness, Victory Liner terminal sa Lubao, Pampanga, sabi ni Mang Andy, who was relieved na hindi na kami ihahatid all the way to Manila.

Nag-stop pa kami, bumili ng alimango saka aligue sa roadside stall.

Sa Lubao, bumili ng mga pasalubong.

Si Kristine pala, bumibili ng souvenir T-shirts in every place she visits. Merong Double Happiness T-shirt doon, I pointed to one stall. I don't think she got one.

Tig-iisang row of seats kami sa coaster. Natulog nang nakahiga ang mag-inang Lianko.

Kami ni Nellie lang ang bumaba sa Mc Do to get sandwiches and drinks for us and the driver and mechanic. Ayaw ni Casey, busog daw siya.

Nakatawag na si Debbie for their sundo to be in UP Oblation at 3 pm nang ma-flat tire kami sa end na ng North Expressway.

Hindi nila matanggal ang gulong! Siguro parang naka-weld na yung screw kasi mainit at expanded yung metals. The delay was about an hour. Kaya marami pang napag-usapan.

I recall that in this trip, not necessarily in sequence:

1. we even thought of putting up a database of prepian doctors on the web for everybody's easy reference.

2. Casey wondered kung bakit Boo ang nickname ni Pedro (Bakit nga ba?)

3. Dr Lianko even offered her place as a reunion venue

4. Napag-usapan pa ang mga binata sa prep 66. Sa prep 65, sino ang binata, tanong pa ni Dr. Lianko. Ako na lang yata, Ma'am, sagot ko.

5. Magkaibigan lang daw si Lily at Guilly, sabi ni Nellie.

6. Mas bagay daw siguro si Matthew sa 17 year old na anak ni Liz.

I got off at City Hall at 4 pm. Tulog agad, hindi ko na nalabhan ang T-shirt na isusuot ko sana sa prep 65 party to tease my classmates.

Tapos na po ang kuwento. I will make habol another episode: Remembered Conversations, to include yung mga pinag-usapan sa Cruise, and etc, mahaba pa iyon. (Clem, tulungan mo kaya ako sa Balbas Pusa, etc?)

Inday, I hope I got you thinking about things other than your concern for your blood sugar level . Happy New Millennium!! Sana, we get a chance to meet in one reunion, and sana, it will equal the magic of this one in Subic. Send your picture naman, so I can see you.

Sincerely,
Ana

Ana, maraming-maraming salamat sa Prep '66 reunion series. I was very glad to
read all of the accounts and tidbits - parang nandoon na rin ako although I
know I would never be able to capture the real emotions that the participants
actually felt. Boo's nickname wasn't something that originated from Prep. It
might have been from his parents or someone else... The day after Edna
arrived from the Phil., she called me and gave me a 2-hour account of the
whole event also kaya talagang busog na rin ang puso ko. I'll try to get one
of my sons to scan our old family picture one of these days so you can meet
us all. Happy New Year!

Love,
Inday

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