It was held  at the Manila Cathedral College, home of the newly-revived Troop 85 - the same model troop  which brought countless honors to Torres High in the field of scouting and proud mother outfit to several men in various fields including business and the academe. It was the troop where I came from . . . my very roots, indeed.  Thus, I never had double thoughts in adopting it. The same troop which honed the likes of Val Buzon, Rey Bisda, Edmon Liao, Ronnie Nieva, Egay Atienza, Jollo Semilla and Solomon Salas among others in our batch. 

     At the entrance of the Manila Cathedral College, one could see the streamer, courtesy of Sir Jun Narvaez,  beaming with jubilation: Happy Birthday Sir Rudy Gutierrez, Scoutmaster of Torres High, FEU and Trinity College.  It was heartwarming to see members of Sir Rudy's original Troop 136 founded in Almeda Street in the late 50s mingling with the middle aged and young members of Troop 85.  Some are old enough to be our grandfathers. 

     Sir Rudy was his usual self reminiscing the past and emotionally recalling the humble beginings of the Troop in painstaking details.  Former councilor Chito Lucero also addressed the gathering.  Two prominent Troop 85 alumni who came were Sir Danny Paguia who came with his family all the way from La Union and Sir Naz Gutierrez, the epitome of an 85r.  Sir Naz came late. When he arrived, I told him that any birthday celebration of Sir Rudy or any other troop reunion for that matter would not be complete without him. I also shared with Sir Rudy the greetings from the scout alumni from the United States and Canada. 

     I asked my canteen staff to prepare a simple dinner topped with lechon. Everyone partook of God's bounty.  After dinner, Sir Rudy gave a moving sharing.  He was entrusting the troop to Sir Calupitan as he already finds it difficult to commute from Quezon City to Tondo every Thursday, every centavo means so much to the poor old scoutmaster.  I promised him that I would work out a possible request for a monthly transportation allowance courtesy of my school board.  Then, he proceeded to tell everyone that he
decided to sell his piece of land and tomb at the North Cemetery where he is supposed to be buried when he dies.  He needs the money for him and his wards' survival. He asked that his body be cremated and the ash divided among us: I, Sir Naz, Sir Danny, the Olmedos and the Buzons.  Later I reminded Sir Rudy that the while the Catholic church already allows cremation, there is still the policy of having the ashes buried.  So I offered him a place in our family mausoleum, besides the resting place of my Nanay who was once his student in grade school. 

     After what sounded like a reading of last will and testament which he wanted to be known by the Olmedos and the Buzons, I invited Sir Rudy to blow the lone candle in the birthday cake which came just in time for the closing ceremonies.  I offered to make the wish myself and he obliged. Then, with might and strength only a Boy Scout can have, he blew it once.

     The oldest Boy Scout in the country turns a year older.  He never knew my wish: that we could still gather together each year for the next decade on his birthday.