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Emotional! That's how I felt when I boarded the bus back to Manila. I
have not seen Lucena for quite a long time - probably for as long as I
have been in the Middle East. The moment we entered the first barrio en
route to Lucena, I started looking for familiar places, faces, concrete
fence, asphalt roads and hanging store signs. I smelled the scent of
burnt coconuts--its molecules whiffed from my nostrils to my brain and
signaled recognition. Aahh...this is it...this is home. I'yam home!!
Iyam, Lucena City. It's nice to be back home.

Wait, who are these people? What is this place? Whose house is that? And,
it this Quezon High? These were the questions I was asking loudly to
myself when I noticed a woman staring at me. She was listening to every
word I uttered. Who was she? She must be the pigment of my imagination
and I always traveled with her.

Anyway, I had three trips to Lucena since I arrived on the 18th of
February. On my first trip, Abel, James and I dropped my brother Wally
and his wife Claudia from Villa Escudero to Lucena via Pagsanjan-Lucban
road. It was Claudia's first visit to the Philippines so my brothers and
I thought of giving our stateside sister-in-law a tour she'll love to
remember. It was a total shock to her, but she enjoyed the trip and she
was fun to be with throughout the journey. We went to a lot of places
which really kept the first leg of my repat very busy. It was late at
night on the same day when Abel and I drove back to Manila so I didn't
see much of Lucena. I promised myself that I'd come back, and I did.

My second trip to Lucena was brief. We took Wally and his wife antique
shopping. At that time I felt I had to see someone in Lucena so I asked
my brothers if we could have a side trip to Iyam. My hunch was right. My
former neighbor, Ronora Ranuda now Tolete just arrived in town. I
recognized her immediately from the reunion pictures. It was a nice
feeling to see Ronnie again. She knew me well as we were neighbors in
Iyam. She probably heard me cry when Mom sometimes spanked me. I
remember being always in trouble back then. Oh, I was a bad boy in my
younger days...at least that's what people thought about me. But I love
my Mother and Father and they knew it. I missed them so much these days.

Ronnie hasn't changed. She is still wearing the eternal smile. This time
I knew that her smile meant two things: she was happy to see a long time
friend, a batch '69 and secondly she recalled my bad boy image of the
family. Ronnie insisted on seeing another former classmate, Tet
Obcemia-Asilo. Now, I'm no longer a stranger in my own town. Tet is
pretty much the same. While we were exchanging pleasantries she recalled
several incidents during our high school days. Tet and Ronnie were so
warm to me and I realized how much I missed them. We talked about the
cooperative, a class '69 fundraising project in the Philippines. I
didn't hesitate to join the coop when I saw the names and signatures of
classmates that I knew.

It was getting dark and we had to hit the road or get caught in traffic.
I promised both of them that I'd come back for the March 24th meeting. I
was like MacArthur--I returned on that date only to learn that the
meeting was postponed as it coincided with the graduation day in some
schools.

This was the start of our mini-reunion. It didn't take long to see Boy
Abcede and family, Sig Atienza, and Atty Euclides who immediately
volunteered to treat us to Palaisdaan in Tayabas. This restaurant is
famous for a grand selection of fresh sea and native foods. I was just
overwhelmed to see everyone--it was a completely different feeling.
After all those years that I didn't see these guys, it seemed and felt
just like yesterday. I lost a family when I lost contact with
classmates. Now I found them back and they were like one big arm wide-
open to welcome a long lost brother. Now I know what a reunion is all
about.

Commander Alejandrino was out on mission, but not to a battle or military
operation. He was to be a sponsor to a wedding in Tiaong. Boy Abcede has
been in contact with him every time, assuring that Charlie will know
where to find us, and Charlie did. He was a busy man, sponsoring an
average of 2-3 weddings or baptismal in a week. Boy, oh boy, is he in
trouble. Charlie's got a few months left to cut off his waistline from
40 to 34. "you are so big!" I greeted him with an embrace. He smiled and
replied, "Not really, you just didn't grow much yourself". Everybody was
laughing. He was the same Charlie that I knew--always ready to crack in
some smart stuff. Although tired and weary from a whole day's travel,
Charlie came to join us at Halina hotel. We talked about a lot of things
as if giving an update of what has happened through all those years--of
family, friends, politics, high school days, whatever we could think of
and whatever came out. To my surprise we didn't drink too much beer. I
guess at this age or stage in life everyone is getting conscious about
health. It was only I and Atty Euclid who puffs and blow smoke once in a
while. Boy just sniffed his unlighted cigarette most of the time, a
smart way of quitting. I think I'd do that myself. Our mini- reunion was
quite memorable. I wished I had my handy cam to capture that evening.

The next morning I was getting ready to go back to Manila when the phone
rang . It was Boy Abcede who invited me to have lunch with them and meet
his family. It was really nice of him to do that as I didn't only had
the chance to meet his lovely wife and his only son, but I also met his
Mom whom I never realized was my own parents' close friends. She spoke
of my mother and father and asked how they were. She didn't know that
her friends passed away. I found myself talking to my own mother while I
was talking with her. She was just as nice and loving and it was an
honor to have met her in person. Boy is blessed and lucky to have his
Mom with him. We had a hefty and heart filled lunch which Baba prepared.
Sig Atienza was with us all the time and before I noticed we were
tossing a few more bottles of San Miguel, while playing the CD that Boy
was so proud of having received from Johnny, our web master.

Antonio Noriel, another former classmate passed by and so we did a few
more bottles. Boy and Baba started singing old time favorites, another
surprise to me that this couple were pros. We stayed a little longer
hoping that David Villabroza would show up anytime. David was on short
leave himself, but was out for a relative's funeral. Stuffed with
delightful lunch, San Miguel and hangovers of the wonderful mini-
reunion, I said good-bye. Sig, Boy and his son drove me to the bus
station. My feet felt heavy, my stomach filled with butterflies and
there was congestion in my chest as if I was having a heart attack.
Those were the odd feelings I experienced while boarding the bus. I did
not expect such a warm reception. It was that kind of feeling I had the
very first time I left my two daughters to work abroad. It was painful
to leave my family then, it is not easy to leave quality friends now.

I was thankful to God first and foremost for giving me the opportunity
to come back and see a family of friends and classmates. It was indeed
such a wonderful experience for me. I left a family for 30 years and
came back to their most welcoming arms with gladness and enthusiasm.
Lucena, classmates, I promise to keep on coming back. I shall have IYAM
my home one more time.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A SENIOR HIGH...A MONOLOGUE

Four stripes on the blue pleated skirt! Yes, I'm now a Senior. My
blouse should be hanged the night before so it didn't show the folds. I
can't wear my rubber shoes to school. They have to be in my bag and I
will change into them when Gym time came. My hair should be shampooed
everyday. I must look and smell good. I'm a Senior!

First period. My skirt was still fine but I felt so stiff from trying
not to crumple them when I sit. Those pleats had to be arranged neatly
and tucked from under me so they didn't go out of crease. Is my blouse
too transparent? What are those boys staring at? Ahh...my blouse is
not tucked in properly. Ellen, could you shield me while I pulled my
blouse from my skirt's side zipper? Hey, smell my hair. I tried the new
shampoo that my sister brought home from college. And I used her lotion,
too. I hope she forgets those stuff when she returns to the dorm.

Second and third periods. Physics is killing me but Mr. Valdeabella is
really nice. How come his hair is never out of place. Now I sweated a
lot from tension. Could you still smell my lotion? I hope I brought the
bottle of lotion with me so I could freshen up before the COCONUT
meeting tonight. Will he be at the meeting? I hope so.

Fourth and fifth periods. It's English and Literature. I can relax now.
I can go on forever with these two subjects. My skirt! I forgot all
about it during Physics. Ellen, could you look at my back
when I stand, please? Am I fine? Yes, except that it was so stiff it
bulged into a balloon as if I was wearing a petticoat. Are those boys
staring again? No, I'm not going to walk in front to pass this
paper. My skirt made me look funny. I hope they will stop staring or I
will write them up in Mrs. Mascardo's daily scribble note. I don't
like it when they stare like that. What is so funny?

Sixth period. Mr. Villabroza was wearing his usual short sleeves polo
barong. How come his clothes remain so neat the whole day? And his
hair cut. Does he go to the barbershop everyday? They never seem to
grow long. Oh God... another subject which made no sense to me. Let me
stay afloat while I'm trying to digest what he is saying. I hope he
speaks a little slower though. He talks in a speed of 140 words per
minute. I wonder if Mrs. Villabroza talked fast, too. Yes, the bell
rung. Ellen, walk with me. I wanted to tell you something on our way to
the next class.

Seventh period. I'm hungry. Ellen, do you know what sandwich
Mrs. Ibarrola is selling today? I hope it's not peanut butter. I
don't like its smell. Can we go to the cafeteria after history?
I like the banana with crashed ice, syrup and milk. A history quiz? Did
you study? Did anyone? Of course Cynthia did. Anyway... Did you notice
how the boys passed their papers? They didn't really pass them. They
corrected their own papers. Smart guys! How could Mrs. Ibarrola not
notice?

End of classes. Is my skirt fine? Ellen, are you going to the Coco
office? We walked with arms in each others waist whispering nonsense and
happy about them. Is he at the Coco office? No, they have PMT and
they are with the pretty WAS of course. Ah well... I need to rewrite
this article. It had so many red marks...Almost everything was
edited...deleted...but still my name appeared on the final copy. The
miracle of editors.

It's past 7:30 p.m. I have to go home...do my homework...put out a fresh
blouse so they don't show the folds...press my skirt under heavy
Encyclopedia books so the pleats remained smooth and sharp...write the
daily scribble note for Mrs. Mascardo's English class...brush my hair
100 times until... I... fall... asleep...too sleepy to say 'God thank
you for the whole day.'

I REMEMBER... by Uel Ongwico

When asked 'bout the "things" that I remembered back in the good old
days, one particular incident always come to mind.

I remember the fight I had with Eddie Nicdao. It happened during our
last days in Lucena West I, just before our first year in high school.
You see, Eddie and I had a war of words that escalated into a fist
fight. "Dahil sa kabubuyo ng mga ka-klase namin, nauwi sa suntukan!" In
other words we gave in to our classmates' relentless baiting (and you
know who you are guys!). I felt really bad about it and I hated myself
for easily giving in to dare. It made me realize how weak I was. To this
date, I still feel bad every time I think of it. And so Eddie "saan ka
man naroroon, I want you to know this. I'm sorry! And I mean it from the
bottom of my heart".

I saw Eddie a few times before I left PI for a lifetime of sea
adventure. Those were just casual meetings. The first time was when he
returned to Lucena to build his house. He's already married then. I even
recommended the builder whom he unquestionably considered. There is
always that kind of genuine trust in Eddie that is readily apparent. My
wife, Leni, was pregnant with our son at that time and I asked him to be
his godfather. Eddie gladly accepted and that made him and I
'magkumpadre'.

When I went home during a break from my maiden voyage, I met Eddie again
(of all places) in a BLTB bus going to Lucena. He was with his family
and that's when I learned that he's taking them to immigrate to
Australia. We had a short but pleasant conversation. Aware that it could
be out last, our intermittent talks punctured the silence that filled
the gaps during the whole trip. May dumadaang pare, so to speak.
Strange, I can't fully explain how I felt about the situation.

I never heard from him again until I learned from JJ when he attended
the high school reunion where Eddie was the president. JJ showed me the
pictures. Does anyone remember the last party we had at their house in
Market View after the graduation? Man, we all had a blast dancing the
diminishing seconds of our high school togetherness under the baling
sound of the Spiral Staircase, didn't we? Yeah!

I miss Eddie. Thinking back, his enthusiasm for life pushed me to react
and match, and sometimes outdo his capacity. Throughout high school, he
remained a challenge that kept me on my toes. A friend worthy of my
undying regards.

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