It was exactly 2:20 p.m. when I decided to take the two minute walk from my
rectory to the Manila Cathedral College.  The teachers, mostly male, were
busy arranging what was to be the registration table.  The name tags,
pretty in pink and blue, were artistically done by my Arts teacher, Benjie.
 From where we were, one could see the interior of the faculty room where
the meeting would be held.  It was posted loud and clear:  TORRES HIGH
BATCH '78 FELLOWSHIP MEETING.  Another streamer beams with WELCOME. 

At 3:00 p.m., not a single soul was around.  I decided to take a leisurely
walk to the canteen area where the fellowship and agape was to be held.
Everything was set;  the tables neatly arranged; the buffet centerpiece
waiting for people to feast on the food.  This early, I wanted to hug each
and every member of the faculty, maintenance and canteen personnel who were
as excited as I was for the mini-reunion of the batch. They simply did a
great job. 

My mobile phone signalled a text message at 3:15.  It was from Ronnie
Nieva.  "COT IN A TRAFIC JM AT SSH."  Then, Nelson's message, "WIL B LATE.
TRAFIC IN QUIAPO."  I answered back, "OK LNG.  WL P TAO." It seemed that
the Saturday traffic has got in the way. 

Each minute seemed like forever as the teachers jokingly teased me that the
reunion would be a flop.  (Oh, not again . . .)  I was jittery walking in
and out of my office and checking on the videographer who would cover the
occasion.

4:00 p.m.  Two men came with a lady (the latter, obviously the wife of
whoever.)  They walked in front of me and asked those manning the
registration table, "Nandyan si Fr. Erick?"  We all had a hearthy laugh
when they learned that I was the one.  The two Wilfredos (Torres and Ramos,
with wife Emilie) were the early bird awardees.  A few minutes later, my
mobile phone rang.  Perly Gonzales was on the other line asking for
instructions.  When I looked out of the fence, she was there.  She was with
Jesie Guevara and daughter Janine and Ruby Atanacio.  In no time, people
started milling in front of the registration table filling up the
informations sheets and pinning their name tags.  Dante Manalang, Ariel
Nepomuceno and a bellied man came.  He stared at me; I tried to figure out
who he was . . . I uttered, Ariel? . . . Ciego!  God bless him.  He still
could not recall me! Ariel Nep's sons, Isaiah and Isaac instantly felt at
home and were led to the library by a teacher. 

Soon enough, there were a handful attendees.  Jaime Tan came with some
"priceless" recruits from, yes . . . PA2!  It was nice to see Bobby Reyes,
Jr., Jovito Ombrete with wife Susan, Reynaldo Reyes and Al Custodio. I
could no longer recall as to who came next as there was already a small
pandemonium of people laughing, teasing and playfully guessing names and
faces.  But I remember approaching Helen Roque Pandy who remained young,
flawless and very beautiful through he years. 

The most applauded entrances 'though were that of Solomon Salas, Mr.
Amnesia himself, who came with wife Tess (they were "both" seven months
pregnant; Mon has grown double) and Rosanto Misa. I was inside the faculty
room talking to E1 and Sc1 girls.  We had a good view of the goings-on
through the glass window.  Rosanto came unnoticed . . . he went straight to
the table, filled-up the information sheet while the M1 boys whispered to
one another as to who he was.  Ariel Nep went near him, sumimple at binasa
ang pangalan sa info sheet.  He then let out a big laugh and embraced Ross
who was initially "shocked" about the "silent treatment."  Truth of the
matter was nobody could recognize this big man who seemed to have grown in
height and weight!  Mamang-mama.

My own Cancer classmates Edmon, Ronnie and Malou started to mingle with the
group. 

The faculty room was soon filled with people in their late thirties but
feeling sixteen once more.  We started the meeting with a song being
projected on the screen.  We first rehearsed it; then, the real thing
followed.  We felt that we never sang this song as maningfully and with
gusto as before.  It was the TORRES MARCH! (We sorely missed Ms.
Alejandros's accompaniment.) It was "yesterday once more" for all of us.

I opened the meeting and jokingly welcomed everybody to the "IV-M1 Reunion"
(they were really "visible" in number and bellies). Eventually, Nelson Ceña
and Edna Adriano Gilera took the floor and presided over the discussion on
the Family Day.  There was a big discussion as to where it would be held on
November 25.  There were several suggestions and choices:  U.P. Sunken
Garden, Dapitan Sports Complex, Tondo Sports Complex, South Bay Clubhouse,
Quezon Memorial Circle, etc.  After what seemed like forever, the group
finally came to a consensus.  The Family day would be held at, to my shock,
Manila Cathedral College Gymnasium! (These people must have really fallen
in love with Tayuman.) 

Committess were formed; strategies discussed.  At around 6:30 p.m., the
discussion waned. (To think that Jollo Semilla just arrived!)  It was time
for Ross Misa to take the floor and commit himself as the group's Kuya. He
took on the "difficult" task of asking the group as to how much each family
would contribute for the November event.  Suggestions of one thousand and
five hundred pesos were met with deafening silence. Conclusion: life must
be very hard nowadays . . . and we were already hungry. 

We then proceeded to the canteen area for the much awaited agape and
fellowship.  It was a real feast prepared by my canteen staff:
corn/tokwa/beef soup, vegetable salad, Pancit Malabon, baked macaroni,
lengua estopada, barbecued spare ribs, fried chicken, pork and chicken
asado, sweet and sour fish, beef apritada, steamed lapu-lapu with salad
dressing, kakaning sapin-sapin among others.  There was also ice cold San
Miguel Beer in cans, tequila and wine (courtesy of Perlie).  To complete my
early birthday celebration, a cake was mounted by Edna. Dinner was made
more nostalgic with the 70s songs of Karen Carpenter. 

"Those old melodies still sound so good to me as they melt the years away .
. ."  For a while, Carpenter's lyrics proved to be a reality.

Bobby Reyes was busy covering the fellowship with his videocam.  I learned
that he's a professional photographer and videographer.  Then, Jessie
Guevara started to belt out some songs followed by Perlie.  Rey Medenilla
(who just came and kept on asking as to who Ross Misa was among the group
of matured men) and Ellen Directo-Fabie, unmindful of the crowd, did their
swing number to the tune of "Top of the World."  Jesie and daughter Janine
even rendered a duet!  After a few rounds of beer, others courageously took
the microphone and romanced the videoke with gusto. 

I went around while they were busy drinking and reminiscing the past.  I
chided Mon Salas for overspending time with us . . . bayad na raw ang
pagiging amnesiac niya.  Jollo Semilla kept on addressing me, "Sir."  After
all, with his 70s looks still intact, he could very well pass for Ross
Misa's son. Later, we bestowed the title "honorary members" of the batch to
the spouses present:  Tess Salas, Susan Ombrete, Emilie Ramos and Rosauro
Gilera.

At around 9:15 p.m., Ross Misa resumed the aborted discussion.  He shared
that while everyone was having fun, he decided to watch the entire
proceedings from afar.  He confessed that he was already teary-eyed and
about to cry a river at the sight of these people boisterously laughing.
"Twenty-two years na pala . . ." he sighed.  He challenged the group to
stick it out through thick and thin . . . and to reflect on more concrete
undertakings which would benefit the present Torres High generation.

He announced that there would no longer be any amount to be paid for the
Family Day.  Just pledges . . . according to each one's capacity to give.
Those who could not give cash will donate anything (manpower, gifts for the
the prizes and raffle, etc.).  Each one was given a sheet of paper to write
his pledge.  Ruby Atanacio computed everything.  It was a test of
selflessness and generosity.  I was thinking, 15,000 pesos would not be bad!

At the end of the gathering, the total amount of pledges was announced:
35,000+ pesos!  Plus prizes, a clown and a magician (courtesy of the
Pangans; Beng would be clown, Elmer, the magician) for the November 25
gathering! Whew!  I blew my birthday candle with much ecstasy at the
thought that my batchmates have really grown in wisdom and grace.

Before 9:30 hit the clock, a group picture was taken.  By then, only one
has left the place (she has to attend to another appointment) and Linda
Padua Tan has just arrived with her and Jaime's daughters, Cindy and Jamie. 

Before goodbyes were said, the group once again did a reprise of TORRES
MARCH with aplomb.  Applause here and there . . .

The M1 group uttered . . . maiiyak si Val pag nakita niya 'to!

9:30 p.m., the place was almost empty with only a table left for Jaime Tan
and wife Linda and Jovito Ombrete and wife Susan and the rest of PA2 who
also left one by one.  They failed to finish a bottle of brandy.  At least
they tried.  In another corner, my Cancer classmates were still having a
"meeting." Malou, Ellen, Ronnie, Leonor, Rey, Edmon and I were planning for
a class gathering before the Family Day.  We wanted Cancer to be ably
represented.  Before 10:00 p.m., we decided to call it a day.  Rey would go
with me to my rectory to see the website.  As we were about to leave, my
canteen manager handed to me a box filled with ulam.  She gently reminded
me, "Hindi pa po kayo kumakain."  And I was not feeling hungry! I was
simply overjoyed. 

While walking away, I could hear my canteen staff laughing and singing;
they were just starting to have their much-deserved party.

In my room, Rey Medenilla surfed the net and enjoyed the website, read each
and every month's edition and went down memory lane while still capping the
night with San Miguel Beer.  I opened a hotmail account for him.  Before we
knew it, it was already 12:45 a.m.  He more than made up for his late
attendance.

It was already Sunday; I would be saying my masses in a few hours. After
praying, I felt very happy and fulfilled.  I decided to hum myself to sleep
. . . Walang uuna sa Torres High . . . humubog at . . .
 

    **********************

TORRES HIGH BATCH '78 MEETING - FELLOWSHIP
3:00 - 9:45 p.m. / Manila Cathedral College, Tayuman

List of attendees: