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| IV-Capricorn 2011-2012 in their wacky pose |
“Riiiiing! Riiiing! Riiing!,” the alarm clock ticked ringing from my bed side drawer. I snoozed my very infuriating clock. Wake up sunshine; it’s already morning here in Los Angeles. Yes, Los Angeles, California! It’s now six o’clock in the morning and I’ve got to be at the LAX airport by 8 AM. So I need to hurry up and prepare for me not to be late. I am still drained and shattered after going to the wall street yesterday, as an International Human Rights and Environmental lawyer, defending the thousands of wall street protesters who were about to be dispersed by the police and military force lead by the military official Brig. Gen. MA. LEE HONEY DELOS REYES who is now assigned here in States. Just a week ago, I defended in the International Court the right to land and culture of the aborigines of the Amazon Forest who are threatened to lose their land and lives due to insatiable greed of the world’s biggest mining companies.
For now, I have to attend to my flight going back to Philippines, the place where I have seen the first light. After more than a decade, I will be back for a grandiose celebration of the lawyer’s association wherein I was invited by the Supreme Court Judge PAOLO O. JAVIER and the very respected lawyer throughout the Philippines, ATTY. JASSON DOMINIC MACASAET who were my former schoolmates.
I know this day would be different. It would be a blast because I am going to be on the other half of the world which is 8 hours advanced than the time zone here in Cali. Excited as I can be, I went out and drove the latest model of my luxurious Porsche car. As I turned on the TV in my car, the famous music videos of FAITH CRISCHELLE MALDEPEÑA, MIRZA KINTANAR, and other known artists were played on MTV. I was amazed and proud because I recalled that they were my schoolmates way back then. These girls are successful in their fields huh. Right when I looked up at the billboard, shockingly I can clearly see the billboard of ZIGGY RYAN AMORES and SHIENA CLAIRE PARAC, they are now super models walking on the international runway!
Upon reaching at the LAX, I was on the spur of the moment and just went to the plane designated for my flight. I was entertained by the exquisite stewardess who really looks familiar. There it is, I finally recognized her. She was my schoolmate CLOIE CENTILLO, who happened to be an international flight attendant by now. She talked to me and said, “uy, kumusta? Finally, we’ve met again! I am with Maria and JOANNA SIGLOS in this flight today.” She ended with a smile. Then I looked to where she is pointing, and there you go, I realized that she was referring to one of my best friends, MARIA JOSHAYKA JAMER. I can still remember that she was still calling me, “wowa.” We really wanted to have a long conversation for that was the first time we met again after we’ve gone separate ways but then the Pilot finally spoke, “Passengers of flight 1522 bound for Philippines, please fasten your seatbelts because we are about to be on board.” Am I just being tone-deaf? I can hear a woman’s voice. The pilot? A woman? But Maria confirmed that the pilot is a woman. And that is MICHELLE ANDRE BERNAD, the pilot of the Cathay Pacific International Airlines. Who would have thought? That girl was a happy-go-lucky schoolmate of mine who’s always wearing her all out smile!
Suddenly I heard the calm voice of the stewardess. She is waking me up. I realized, I just had a dream! I am not even in California. Hahaha! Because I am actually in United Kingdom. Yes, I am already living there and now happily married to Mr. Harry Styles, one of the boys in “One Direction.” Yes, I am now Atty AYNADERKA ODESSA VYNN STYLES! No wonder, I met him because of KHRIZA AUREA BRUNO-PAYNE whose husband is Mr. Liam Payne of the boy-band group One Direction. We had a double wedding in Paris at the hotel owned by COLEEN MAE CUIZON and JESA MAE BILOY. . We are married for about two months now. That’s what Khriza and I had planned after she took a break from her office as the Senior - Vice President of the famous company known as United Kingdom International Engineers’ Comrades.
Moving on, I realized that I am already at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. As I was waiting for my next flight to Davao City because I am about to go to our batch reunion, I looked around and I saw two gorgeous ladies standing before me. I was mesmerized and awe-struck to recognize that those young ladies were actually my classmates and friends in high school! Guess what? They were PAULINE KAY ROJO who is now a wildlife photographer of National Geographic channel based in the Amazon rainforest in the Southern part of Brazil; and KATE ROMA JOSUE who is now a successful pharmacist who invented many medicines already that were very useful to the less fortunate people. Who would not know them? They were hailed Ms. Universe 2025 and Ms. Earth 2024. We greeted each other and said hi’s and hello’s. I am so glad because, we have the same flight ahead of us. Pauline just came from her environmental advocacy as Ms. Universe in Europe and Kate just came from her “Save Mother Earth” encouragement as Ms. Earth in Australia. We decided to take a tour for a while because we missed this place and our flight would be hours of waiting.
As we were walking, we saw a charming guy walking towards us. And no doubt, that was JAN RAYE ARSENIO. He is now a co-company owner of “Orange” which is the number one rivalry of apple and now a senior professional Information Technologists who is a master of advance programming and developed already new soft wares made available to the market worldwide. His co-owners were JOHN A. BACUS, ARNIE CUABO, AND RONAH MAE WATIN. He shared to us that he had a vacation in Korea together with REYMUND ALAGOS, who is now an in demand chemical engineer in United States. He discovered a new element in the periodic table of elements. He was also with ELYKA CIARA BAUDI, who is the architect of the newly repaired White House in Washington D.C., moreover she owns an Architectural Consultancy Company in Asia.
Our conversations were halted when a big voice interrupted us. I was astonished to see some of the high school couples who are now engaged and living a happy life. The one approaching us was PRISZELL A. JALA who is now happily engaged to MOISES G. KAHULUGAN, who happened to be the owner of the famous Southeast Asia’s Swimming Company. Priszell is now a well-respected pediatrician in the country who chose to work for the indigenous children from the remote areas believing that health is for everyone taking special bias to the marginalized sectors. Behind them were the people in white, that was JENNYFER L. MARASIGAN, a very competitive and hailed as the best dentist in the Philippines; BENJIE M. MORALES, who is now a much known dermatologist in the country and throughout Asia; AMANDA THEA SUNGCAD, an illustrious cardiologist who always serves as a consultant in the longest running health program ‘Salamat Dok!’ hosted by no other than KIA ARANCON; and the only lady in blue, Ms. NORJANAH G. LINOG, a Certified Public Accountant showing her smiling eyes to everyone. She owns a Bank with hundreds of branches all over the world together with NIKKI Y. BERNARDO and GILBERT LONZAGA. Remembering the past, Gilbert and Nikki were the shy kind of person, yet they are making a big bang in the Economy.
Then the conversation went on and on. But the chitchat was pleasantly interrupted by the influx of Rev. CARL FAITH BACAOCO, a very known pianist in Asia, but was also actively involved in the charismatic movement in the Philippines with KRAMELE RIVERS FINO who established a successful boutique that offers the best accessories, dresses and suits which makes it the favorite shop of local and foreign celebrities. He is with the very respected owners of the Best Engineering school in the world, the so-called Engineers’ Southeast Asian University (ESAU), ENGINEER DIONISIO B. GAILANAN, ENGINEER MARK ANGELO SANTOS, ENGINEER JEAN Q. REBUTA and ENGINEER JUCYL DONAYRE who shared their experiences with Architect SARA KAYE RECENTES of the progressive Recentes Architectural Association. She designed the tallest building in the world at present located in the Philippines named “The Mount Apo Peak.” The renowned ENGINEER MYKA ALEXA ROQUE, with helping hands, is the backbone of this grandiose project.
All of a sudden, I thought, is this already the reunion? Hahaha! We’re already together and in our way back home! After an hour of confab, we bid goodbyes for we have different flights to go to. We parted ways but for sure, we will all meet again for our get together to be held at the resort owned by our schoolmates JUDY LYNN BEREZO, a marine transportation Engineer; and Mr. PHILIP ORIENTE, a professional tennis player playing in the SEA games this year. I heard that there’s a lot of fun in that resort. According to my itinerary, they are giving us a tour by means of the superferry owned by the Ship Capt. ROLLY MARK VALERIA. What’s cool is, there’s a mall adjacent to the Hotel of the resort. What a co-incidence, the hotel is owned by my classmates JOCELYN ALVAREZ, and EMILY BIOC who were both successful business women and owner of the fastest growing company in entire Asia. I just dredge up; Emily was the pizza girl before. But look at the people around now? They’re already professionals. Astonishing indeed!
I walked to the news stand to get abreast of the latest event in Philippines. Tears of happiness flowed from my eyes upon reading the banner story of the Philippines leading newspaper, “The Philippine Daily Inquirer” now owned by JEROME L. VIBO. It says that “Killer and Masterminds of Slain Italian Priest Missionary, now convicted.” Now justice was served for Fr. Pops Tentorio, the then parish priest of Arakan who championed the cause of the lumads, peasants, youth, and other under privileged sectors. What a slow wheel of justice in solving cases of extra-judicial killings and impunity in the Philippines.
For now, I have to stop thinking about such things because I am now going to my designated plane. Of course I am with Kate and Pauline. I abruptly asked them if they still have communication with our other batch mates. KATHLEEN M. SOLSONA is now a physicist based in France who was recently awarded the Nobel Prize 2026 for she had proven already the Grand Unified Theory. Who would have thought? MA. ISABEL JAMITO and CHARLENE FAYE GASAL, the charming and shy lady of our class, they are now the best, stunning and leading ramp models of Bench Philippines. Dr. KARYSA F. GARCIA is now a College Dean of UP Diliman. DR. APRIL GRACE D. RETIZA is now the President of the Republic of the Philippines. MARJORIE PANTORILLA and JEZEL L. CATUNAO are now composers and recording artists under Star Records. Forlornly, I shared the information that JUSTIN KARL ALMARES won’t be around in our batch reunion because he is still on his way coming back to the earth after miles and miles of his trip from planet Jupiter. Oh, what an advancement in science already! While GIOVANNI B. PAALAN, LAZR D. LUGO, REYNAN TANDUYAN AND MARION VIKTOR IVAN RAMOS, formed a well-known boy group, became famous icons in the Hollywood and have reached the peak of stardom. It all started when they established their first ever album entitled the “ALQAEDA – THE LAST FOUR MEN STANDING.” Lazr was also proclaimed as the International Chess Master when he defeated the grand master of Russia.
But wait. See how time flies? Welcome to Davao City! Finally! I am here! Then we proceeded to the venue of our reunion. Meanwhile, I turned on my laptop and surfed the net. I immediately browsed the longest running social networking site, Facebook now owned by RICK CHRISTOPHER CONDINO after he bought it from Mark Zuckerburg. He chose to work here in the Philippines and is now the Principal of our very own alma-mater, Kidapawan City National High School, the repository our success. Then I browsed until I saw a hit on Youtube, it was when the High Definition crew was just a youtube sensation. I saw JOHN LEVY BONIFACIO, IAN DAVE CADUNGON, JONNAH AND JOHAINA PIANG, ROBERT OBISO, CHRISTINE DENIELLE TOQUERO, RACHELLE ANNE ITUTUD, KENNETH VILLAVER, ELISEO YUNGOT, JR., KENN ALVIN GELICAME, JOHNRAY CABAYA, MARVIN OCON, MHEL JOHN GOCOTANO, and ROBERT ABISO. But now they are the Philipines’ Best Dance Crew. Cool right? My schoolmates are now so prominent and known.
The dreams and ambitions have come up to actuality. The thoughts of our success came into motions. The achievement that we are experiencing is now a reality. One by one, my friends, classmates, and batch mates were coming through that grand entrance in a red carpet. It was the feeling of a Hollywood star taken a lot of pictures by a professional photographer. Undoubtedly it was BERTHEL LYN GUMAPAC. It feels so good to see those guys and gals seen by my very own eyes! With their glamorous dresses, and outfit, it was like a fashion show after all! Babbling and chattering here and there. We had spoken and had given each other our warmest greetings and salutations. This feels so awesome to be finally back to where I feel I belong. We could have never imagined ourselves being like this without our alma-mater. We are more than thankful to KCNHS, our second home!
But hey wait, what’s this? It’s so familiar! It seems that it was a cautionary sound for an urge! “Baby you light up my world like nobody else the way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed, but when you smile at the ground it ain’t hard to tell. You don’t know, you don’t know you’re beautiful!” It was no longer my alarm clock. Obviously. Not even my cellphone ringing. I slowly opened my eyes, yawned, and overextended my arms to the left and to the right. In addition I was now aware that the song that I’ve heard was the school bell which means that it’s already our next class. PHYSICS! I fell asleep while I was inside the computer Laboratory! Gooosh! That was just a dream after all. Or I should say, those were just my dreams.. haha! I come up to realize, SEE HOW TIME FLIES? In the year 2008, I was just a small kid afraid of what is waiting ahead for high school. Scared of seeing and dealing with those strangers that I might encounter at the gate. Afraid of taking a step and go forward. Frightened that I might turn up of going nowhere.
But now? We are about to come to an end. But we should think that this is not yet a farewell. Because in some other’s end, there will be a new beginning. And in every new beginning, it’s just some other beginning’s end. It’s not yet the closing time so open all the doors and let yourself get out of your shell and see the beauty of life and the challenges of the world. We can finally take another step and look forward for another beginning. Our college life. Remember, it will never be the end.
For dreams are only for those people who sleep and make nothing out of his life. In order to achieve our dreams, we should wake up for reality and make those dreams come true. For the future belongs to the people who believe in their dreams and make those dreams come into reality..
