Dinner With....

Rosalinda "Peechy" Corpuz-Valdez

Truly, it was a good Monday night for some of us here in the Philippines when we met once again my fellow SS-Librans.  She was Rosalinda “Peechy” Corpuz-Valdez.  We met in Gloria Maris Restaurant in Greenbelt 2, Makati. If you would ask how did we able to locate Peechy. It was about a month ago, when I was talking with Nato Barredo over the phone and he happened to tell me that he saw a certain Peechy Valdez in a TV news program of Channel 2 being interviewed about her 14-year old son who was brutally shot to death. Her son was a victim of cellphone snatching/hold-up. I told Nato that I do remember a classmate of mine by the name of Rosalinda Corpuz who was also called by her grandma “piching”.  So, I immediately phoned Evelyn Alcaraz (EGA) and requested her if she could inquire with the news department of Channel 2 about the news item they aired regarding the murdered boy.  And as usual, EGA, the very capable intelligence agent of Batch ’78, was able to get Peechy’s cellphone and house phone numbers.  Upon knowing the numbers, EGA and I kept on calling Peechy thru her house phone but nobody was answering the phone. We tried getting thru her cellphone but it took us about 3 days when Peechy finally answered my call.  ‘Yun pala, kalilibing lang ‘nung anak nya.

While conversing over the phone, her voice was a voice of a very sad mother still mourning for the very tragic death of an eldest son. Peechy likewise told me that her husband already died four years ago and she was now left only with one nine-year old daughter.   I mentioned to her about the Kaeskwela thing and about the upcoming 25th  year Grand Reunion.  She was so excited about it. EGA also got a chance to chat with Peechy over the phone and finally we met Peechy last Monday night.  With us were Jenny Isidro, Edmund Liao, Perlie Gonzales and my wife, Ruby. 

Peechy showed us a newspaper article featuring some stories about her son. We were surprised to see Peechy in good shape. I for one did not right away recognize Peechy ‘coz she looks different now. No more curly old-fashioned hair but straight black shoulder-length hair.  No more dark complexion but whitened skin.  As she said, “that’s the wonder of modern technology”.  She stays jolly despite of her sad and heart-breaking experiences.  Ang gulo, gulo. Parang ‘di namatayan ng anak at asawa.  But everytime, the story of her son butts into discussion, her eyes get misty.  But she can still manage to tell us “Ok tama na yan, ‘yung masaya naman ang pag-usapan natin”. Sabi nga ni EGA, “kala ko tayo ang magpapasaya kay Peechy, eh tayo pa ang pinasaya nya, eh”. It’s because Peechy was so happy reminiscing our high school life.  She is really a good entertainer, I tell you. I even told her that she looks like Cynthia Patag, a lady Filipina comedian. 

I asked Peechy to e-mail me to tell something about herself and attached a picture of her family for our Kaeskwela file.  She promised to do that ASAP. 

At any rate, attached are some pictures taken with the high-tech cellphone/camera of Perlie Gonzales. 

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We have mixed emotions in finding Rosalinda....we're so sad to hear about the death of her oldest son.  Our heartfelt condolences, Peechy...... 

On the other hand, we are so happy to hear that she was found and amazed to see the transformation as mentioned by Ronnel.  One thing hasn't change...."her smile".  I have this picture of Rosalinda in my mind when we were in elementary school and her signatured smile helped me recognized Peechy.  As usual you are a fun person and we admire you for that...you can smile and laugh even in the midst of sorrow.  Welcome aboard, Peechy!!!