The Reunion

On April 16, 2011, 34 years after we graduated from E. Rodriguez Jr. High School, our batch reunited.

Whereas we used to worry about our school activities, the gathering of Batch 77 was a fun night full of dancing, singing, parlor games, raffles and the very important KODAKan session. In between, video presentations were made which became THE EXCUSE to wander around in a surreptitious manner. When the lights dim, the video presentation gave us the opportunity to do our clandestine activities - move from one table to another, exchange hugs and kisses, secretly take pictures while giving an account of what had happened in our lives 34 years since we left school.  These while we try to politely pay attention to the video presentations. The clandestine activities became so rowdy and uncontrollable that it prompted Olive, our Reunion President to stand and beg our batchmates to sit and watch. So what do you think happened next? Somebody grabbed Olive, put her in the middle of a group and got herself enmeshed in another endless KODAKan session.

It was a fun night alright. It was good seeing Rommel Abella dancing without a care, Emmanuel Bobadilla asking for a marching showdown with the CAT officers, hearing Reggie Bacani share his story, watching the macho men of Molave gyrates unabashedly, watching the macho men of Batch 77 trying their PA-CUTE best to the hot ladies of our batch, listen in surprise that Clara and Fernando can sing well, watching the macho men of Batch 77 trying their best to evade the corkage, the pantomime of Narra, the lembot-kembot of Molave's femme fatale, the seductive Yakal/Kamuning group and a game Ms. Nadonga doing the hula. The stories were endless, the smiles unconditional.

On April 15, 2011, I worried that the time allocated for our reunion was too long. I told myself, surely there will be gaps that will be difficult to fill but April 16, 2011 proved me wrong. Happy me I was proven wrong.

For April 16, 2011 was a night to remember. A night where we teased about our high school past, talked about the now and the future, and joked about ourselves - who needs Viagra?, ano maintenance mo, me rayuma ka na ba?, ilan ang panganay mo?, Pare me HIV syndrome ka na (hair is vanishing), tigasin ka ba o kamag-anak ka ni Mr. Dizon - the sound of our laughter drowning the sound system. One could only wish that April 16, 2011 would never end.

Thank you very much Steering Committee for making April 16, 2011 happen. Thank you Edmund, Alma and Larry for being great hosts. Thank you batchmates for making this OUR event. But most importantly, thank you Lord for making our day. Olive Santos Dayao said it right - THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE and we rejoice.

The night
fades away. Years
from now,  we'd be all
be wrinkled and gray, but
the memories of ERJHS
and April 16, 2011 will
always linger. See you
next time, mates.