Dito kami nagsimula, nagkasungay, nagbinata; Ang lalim ng pagkakaibigan, di pwedeng pantayan!"
These were the lines I sang at the opening of the Batch Night Program to sum up my message. Twenty (20) years after our high school graduation, we went back to Santa Cruz Academy to renew the ties of our friendship that bind us to this date, and more so, to give due recognition to our beloved alma mater and to honor our mentors.
Indeed, after more than 5 years of preparation and long wait, the much awaited and much publicized reunion of SCABEST came true on April 29 and 30, 2006. During the Batch Night Program, which was strictly for SCABEST members sans their respective spouses and children, a total of 84 came and joined the celebration (the 84 are pure lean meat without any extenders so to speak). For record and posterity purposes, they are follows:
ABALOS, Escolastica Lourdes; ABEJON, Yolanda; ABILLE, Chona; ACIERTO, Lorede; AGAPITO, Marilou; ALCASID, Gloria; ALIMORONG, Henry; ARCE, Miguel; ARQUILADO, Emily; BARRERA, Romel; BAYONA, Sofia; BERNAL, Joselito; BERNAL, Myrna; BONSAY, Allan; BRAGANZA, Venus; CABERO, Orlando; CANULLAS, Arceli; CASTIL, Marvin; CEREZO, Babylita; CORPUZ, Imelda; DELA CUADRA, Mila; DEL CAMPO, Roberto; DELA CRUZ, Rowel; DUMAPIT, Angelica; EBUEN, Emily; EBUEN, Fe; ESPINO, Rodolfo; FUNE, Jimmy; GINEZ, Winston; GONZALES, Luis; GUMA, Beverly; HIPOL, Rey; LEANDADO, Dennis; LUA, Romulo, Jr.; MADAMBA, Bonifacio; MADREO, Sheila; MANILA, Carmel; MAQUIO, Nelisa; MARPA, Nestor; MARTY, Michaela; MAYO, Imee; MAYOR, Lorna; MAYOR, Warlito; MEDIDA, Eric; MELCHOR, Ronald; MENDEZ, Luis, Jr.; MENOZA, Victoria; MERINDO, Josephine; MERZA, Rosemarie; MESIA, Marino; MINAS, Virgilio; MINIMO, Jomar; MINIMO, Menchie; MIRADOR, Edgar; MIRADOR, Perfecto, Jr.; MOLINA, Ma. Lourdes; MON, Yolando; MONATO, Guillermo; MONSALUD, Belen; MONSALUD, Catalina; MONSALUD, Jimmy; MONSALUD, Nora; MONTERO, Servando; MORADOS, Larido; MORALDE, Marylou; MORILLO, Reynaldo; MORTA, Emely; MORTA, Gina; MOVILLA, Alex; MUJER, Sonny; PECSON, Noel; PIANO, Rolando; QUINTO, Ronald; SALAZAR, Ernel; SISON, Jackelyn; SISON, Marilyn; SISON, Roel; TAMAYO, Ronald; TINIO, Dominic; TOMBAGA, Jimmy; TONGSON, Allan; TONGSON, Eden; TONGSON, Emelinda; MERZA, Myrna; PONGO, JOSEPH.
The following day, April 30, we were joined in the thanksgiving mass, motorcade and family day by Eric Mose (who skipped the Batch Night Program for security reasons); Emily Ebue (she needed to rush her son to hospital on that night); and Samuel Bermudez (who failed to attend the Batch Night Program on a very lame and shallow excuse that he had a flu).
Sonny Mujer showed on the Batch Night Program from 6 PM to 7:30 PM but had to leave for work in Iba. He made up his short appearance by joining the second day of our reunion. This makes a total of 87 actual attendees.
During the 2-day celebration, we were also joined in spirit by the following classmates, who in as much as they would want to be part of the celebration, they were handcuffed by their work and previous commitments abroad:
Marilou Montevirgen; Roberto Romero; Angel Meridor, Jr.; Nieva Bilaro; Bernardo Mantes; Mario Minas; Ronaldo Dorado; Evelyn Lamberte; Edwin Maneja; Joel Rodriguez; Angelica Gabriel; Nonette Montevirgen; and Divina Gracia Cruz (her child was scheduled for operation on the day of reunion. Our prayers for the successful operation and fast recovery of Grace's child.)
Their prayers and financial support made our reunion a success. With these numbers, we were able to meet our target of 100 attendees, and filled up the SCA quadrangle.
We were likewise joined by our mentors, namely: Mrs. Misola; Mrs. Manla; Mr. and Mrs. Eclarino (formerly Ms. Malong); Mrs. Valdez (formerly Ms. Mila); Edna Anas; Mr. and Mrs. Moselina; Mr. Montevirgen; and Rev. Father Noel Montes.
Indeed, the reunion is a celebration of sort of bayanihan spirit, friendship and uncommon valor. Consider the following:
Gina Morta endured the 14-hour land travel from Lagawe, Ifugao, with a baby in tow just to be with us during the 2-day reunion;
Monato Guillermo, who works in Olongapo from Monday to Saturday, ran immediately to the Victory Liner station after his 8 to 5 work sked to catch the Batch Night Program;
Edgar Mirador, who was not immediately recognized by our female classmates led by Eden Tongson, cut short his Boracay honeymoon with his wife, to arrive just in time for our Batch Night Program;
Ronald Melchor, a no-show during all the reunion meetings, made up his absence by providing his IT skills and knowledge to allow the showing of the SCABEST Movie in the wide screen, and for acting as the IT guy during the entire Batch Night Program;
Romel Barrera literally slept inside his car to be able to buy the needed flowers for the church decoration from Dangwa Street, Manila, and arrive in Sta. Cruz by 7 AM of Saturday as required by Rose Merza;
Carmel Manila and Fe Ebuen temporarily left their sick child to join us during the Batch Night Program;
Venus Braganza arrived early on Saturday morning to help in the stage decoration;
Rey Morillo and Ronald Tamayo gave up their day's earnings to distribute last minute invitations and distribution of t-shirts to classmates;
Jomar Minimo drew P1,000 from his pocket which started the voluntary contributions from others, and flooded the Batch Night Program with beers;
Baby Cerezo lent her singing talent during the Batch Night Program;
Roel Sison left his family in Japan for a 5-day vacation in the Philippines to join us in our 2-day reunion celebration. Upon arrival in Manila airport, he immediately motored to Sta. Cruz and caught the Batch Night Program at around 9 PM. He brought the house down when he sang the famous My Way song accompanied by the RMTU Band from Iba;
Chie Abille is simply indescribable. She spent 1 week of her 2-week annual vacation in Sta. Cruz as advance party to check on the details of our preparation. Aside from being the Treasurer, the Chairperson of Ways and Means, solicitor of prizes, wrapper of mugs, maker of the invitations, and the Jackie of all trade, she authored the balloon concept of stage design and center table;
Melen Tongson spent her precious 3 weeks vacation in the Philippines to help Chie in the preparation, and to check on the details of the preparation. Together with Chie, she likewise served in the registration table during the Batch Night Program, and the willing host of the Friday last minute meeting to fine tune details of preparation, the showing of SCABEST Movie and the singing voice of incorrigible Pitong;
Cathy Monsalud, despite the untimely death of her mother a few days before our reunion, attended the Batch Night Program;
Eden Tongson rushed the 4th issue of SCABEST Newsletter, and the details of the SCABEST Scholarship Program in time for the Batch Night Program;
Odie Espino provided the necessary comic relief during tense situations especially when the reunion was just a few hours away;
Rose Merza took charge the preparation of the church such as coordination with the choir and the pianist, flower arrangement and decoration of the church;
Marvin Castil teamed up with Odie Espino together with Borotoy Bernal and Orlan Cabero to ensure the sufficiency of beers, ice and pulutans at the beach. These guys were seen busy carrying cartons and cartons of tetra pack juices, softdrinks, chips and cheese cup cakes;
Lourdes Molina served as the link and key to the utilities and administrative needs from SCA;
Yolanda Abejon arrived first during the Batch Night Program, and received a desk fan for the being the early bird;
Mila Dela Cuadra campaigned hard for our classmates at Lipay and brought around 15 classmates to the reunion;
Imee Mayo and Luis Mendez despite the babang luksa of Imee's mother on that day attended our reunion and joined the fun;
Lorna Mayor did not use as an excuse that she did not receive any invitation and t-shirt for the reunion. She dressed up like Hermana Mayor and enjoyed the reunion in the company of other female classmates;
Sofia Bayona who is now based in Iba attended our reunion with so much gusto;
Angie Dumapit was also present during our reunion and extended her vacation to ensure that she wont miss our reunion;
Larido Morados shouldered and paid the contributions of Henry Alimorong and Bonifacio Madamba for the reunion. The 3 of them were present during the 2-day affair;
the diminutive Virgilio Minas stole the limelight when he danced one of the sexy singers of the band;
Balong Movilla has to go back to Palauig to get in-focus equipment, wide screen and his laptop to ensure the complete and uncut version of the SCABEST Movie;
Ondette Abalos did not mind at all that she is heavy with her baby. She helped in the stage preparation and laughed on never ending antics of Odie Espino;
Winston Ginez took lots of guts and attended the Batch Night Program without his Joy of His Life by his side. He sponsored one lechon for the Family Day at the beach;
Molly Lua became the instant admirer of the lovely and beautiful Myrna Bernal, who remains single to this date.
As early as Saturday morning (April 29), it already revealed the number of attendees to the reunion. Many of our classmates went to SCA quadrangle to help in the preparation and/or simply lend moral support. They include Lourdes Molina, Eden Tongson, Rose Merza, Mila Dela Cuadra, Romel Barrera, Marvin Castil, Odie Espino, Balong Movilla, Ondette Abalos, Jimmy Fune, Molly Lua, Pitong Mirador, Chie Abille, Melen Tongson, Yolando Mon, Nelisa Maquio, Ronald Melchor, Ernel Salazar, cousins Emely and Gina Morta, Rey Morillo, Ronald Tamayo, Venus Braganza, Araceli Canullas, Marilou Agapito, Shiela Madreo, Winston Ginez, spouses Carmel Manila and Fe Ebuen, kapatid Nestor Marpa, etc.
One good thing that happened during the 2-day reunion, the financial and social walls between classmates and friends came fall apart, and enjoyed the celebration in the company of one another. Everybody who attended the reunion were one in saying that -- it deserves a repeat and they promise to come in better numbers and more force the next time around. Congratulations to everyone who, in one way or another, contributed to the success of our reunion.
So should I say, see you in 2011 Reunion?
Then our reunion will be entitled “Sarap 2 b back @ 25!”
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