St. Mary’s College High School Alumni Batch 1984 celebrates their Silver Jubilee

Touching base…renewing ties

It was raining cats and dogs that 18^th day of July.

Two of my sons and I have just been to my parents’ home in Project 8 for a quick visit when the rains came pouring down and the gusty winds almost blew away my new golf umbrella.

After finally hailing a taxicab in this stormy weather, we dropped off Sonny Boy at West Avenue for his Karate-do class while Joshua went with me to out ultimate destination – this year’s grand alumni homecoming in St. Mary’s College at Mother Ignacia Avenue.

It was raining cats and dogs that day…but it didn’t deter nor dampen the spirit and determination of the organizers, as well as many of the alumni participants for this homecoming event to happen.

This homecoming was extra special to me. This year, High School Batch 1984 celebrated their 25^th graduation anniversary. Many of these silver jubilarians were grade school batch mates (G.S. 1980) of mine. There was no high school for boys then at SMC so we simply had to go to another school for our secondary education. But I tried to keep in touch with at least a number of my batch mates through the years.

I met most of the silver jubilarians on my way to the chapel – late for the scheduled thanksgiving Mass which I presumed began by 1pm. The Mass had just finished and they were on their way back to the SMC Auditorium.

Batch reunions with my SMC schoolmates have always been a source of joy for me. With much anticipation, excitement and sometimes even feelings of dread, one never really knows what to expect.

Some of my batch mates I recognized instantly, as they recognized me. Some I couldn’t remember until someone popped out their name or so. Some I couldn’t remember at all…and vice versa I suppose. Each name, each face recognized brought back other names, different events, unique memories. At times, it felt overwhelming.

That day, some I remembered only their first names – Liza who now lives in Australia, Fatima (my youngest namesake and whose smiling face I remembered even in grade school, Evelyn (who simply remembered me as a bright student – thanks Evelyn!), Ralyn (who I remember conducts training courses). Others were more familiar faces - Ting Rillo, Joy Salazar, Felicitas Barrozo, Cristy Bascug, Lourdes Dacasin, Cielo Gruenberg, Liberty Bayani, Imelda Yuki, Claudine Felix, Martha Jiao and Consuelo Guevarra.

Entrance of colors

Members of SMC H.S. Batch 84 occupy the center seats

SMC Alumni Foundation officers tirelessly man the registration table

Religious of the Virgin Mary (R.V.M.) sisters say a little prayer

Batch 84 members are led by Batch President Ting Rillo-Cabalza

(first row beside her husband Kirk)

The formal program that followed included superb performances from the celebrating Jubilarians from High School batches 1969 (Ruby), 1974 (Coral), 1979 (Pearl), 1984 (Silver) and graduating members of batch 2010.

Marians give tribute to Mrs. Pompeya Naval

A solemn part of the program gave tribute to Madam Pompeya Naval (Dean of Discipline and Spanish teacher) who passed away last in the late evening of June 2. Mrs. Naval was the consummate Marian educator, devoting 35 fruitful years of her life into molding the hearts and minds of countless Marians through the decades. Personally, I knew her though as a fellow Marian Alumni Foundation officer and a very active one at that. To many, SMC has never been quite the same without people like Mrs. Naval. She will be deeply missed.

Dance Number by the Coral Jubilarians (H.S. Batch’74)

Song Number (“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”) of the Pearl Jubilarians
(H.S. Batch ’79) brought the Marians to their feet

SMC “institutions” in their own right –

Mrs. Cecile Temporal and Ms. Cecile Asejo

Batch ’84 President Ting Rillo-Cabalza presents the “Bagets” of SMC

Batch mates dance to a medley of early 80’s songs

Products of the early 80’s, my batch mates saw themselves as “Bagets” (popular term for teenagers back then) who never failed to remember their roots. Ergo, the homecoming theme “Bagets Never Forget”. Their dance number reflected the musical trend at that time which was predominantly punk in nature. Being a grade school graduate, my memories with these jubilarians come from an era four to nine years earlier.

Watching my former schoolmates dance that day seemed…surreal

My definitive years with SMC were the latter part of the 1970s. The significant music back then were flashbacks from the Beatles, a fitting tribute by the Bee Gees, Peter Frampton and other musical artists to their music in the revival of the album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the retro music of Grease, the disco beat of Saturday Night Fever and the R & B of Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall album. This thread of thought in fact deserves a post of its own.

Encore! Encore!

Back to batch 84’s dance number, it simply brought the house down. It was really good to see my batch mates dancing their hearts out (so what if there was a little huffing, puffing and panting!) But more importantly, I salute them for raising no less than P200,000 for the Alumni Scholarship Fund where we gave financial assistance to well deserving Marian students.

Batch ’84 donates some equipment to the school

as received by Sis. Annie Co, RVM

The Marian Scholarship Fund receives P200,000 from Batch ‘84

The venerable members of Batch ‘69

I really thought no one could have topped Batch 84’s performance that homecoming. Batch 1969 proved that thought wrong. Members of that said batch which included Fe Silica Serquina -Arellano and Atty. Lorna Patajo-Kapunan decided to spice up the homecoming with the “mystery” guest during their presentation. Aptly described by Batch 76 member Mayang Sison-Pascual, Lorna “swept the rug” beneath the Marians by bringing along controversial Dr. Hayden Kho as part of their special number. Pandemonium especially among the mesmerized women ensued. I call it a very good PR job if I ever saw one. Hayden who figured in a widely publicized sex video scandal with actress Katrina Halili appeared repentant of his despicable actions. He thanked the Marians for what he perceived was a warm welcome to his presence asking that he be granted a second chance.

H.S. Batch 69’s “mystery guest” turned out to be controversial Dr. Hayden Kho

Without prejudice to the ongoing legal charges against him, let me say that everyone does deserve a second chance. I just hope he uses it very well this time.

Photops with one of the most recognizable faces on campus – Ms. C. Asejo

Dinner time at the refurbished school canteen

The picture taking never stopped….

I had the chance to have a little more chat with some my batch mates after dinner at the newly refurbished school canteen. I thought it wasn’t enough to get reacquainted with everyone. But the new pictures, contact cell phone numbers and email addresses I suppose, would have to do for the time being.

The best reunions are really like that. Bad ones you want to end as soon as possible, never to be repeated again. The good ones, they are always fleeting ….giving you more reasons for future ones.

Bring them on!