Tessie, Ted, and Trix Tecson. The undefeated winners!
From L-R Top row: Laura Zozobrado, Tessi Santos, Joel Oporto, Lemuel Cantillas Bottom row: Allan Dolores, Augusto (Raffy) Raffinan, Benjie Abad, Alberto Velez, Louis Densing, James Cuenco, Ronnie Mercado, Stella Sucalit, Kathy Florita, Joanne Aranas, Jojing Murrillo, Maloy Yap, Cora Gaanan, Epi (Dayday) Gonzalez, Claire Ocanada, Joy Jallorina Sitting: Telibert Laoc
Back Row(L to R): Telibert Laoc, Melvin Cabahug, Stella Sucalit, Benjie Abad, Laura Zozobrado-Faelner, Emilio Ybanez, Louis Densing, James Cuenco and Claire Ocanada Balistreri Bottom Row (L to R): Joanne Aranas-Endow, Maloy Yap-Martinez, Barbara Fortunato, (Allan's wife) Tonette Dolores, Lilibeth Ebarle-Luga, Jackie Cuenco
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Morning Event Wearing our new batch T-shirt, designed by our resident artist Lida Solon-Aguilar, we assembled at the Maribago Bluewaters resort front desk. We were each greeted with a glass full of cool fresh mango juice. It was raining that day, but it definitely did not dampen our high spirits, actually it was a relief to have cooler weather. I felt like we owned the resort for a day. Buzzing around trying to check-in, we finally made our way to our rooms and settled in. We then congregated outside Allegro Restaurant with more warm hugs and smiles and started reminiscing about the good ol' high school days and keeping up to date with the latest gossip. Warning to our classmates who were not there: don't be surprised if you were the subject of our conversation. But really folks, you need not worry, they were all just fond memories. Below are some of the classmates and their partners posing for a group picture.
By noon, the buffet lunch and the scrumptious crispy lechon, donated by our generous James, was ready. Once our stomachs were full and the food close to almost gone, some of us continued reminiscing the past, others continued with updating each other with their current lives, and some went swimming in the pool with their kids to burn off all the calories we just ate. Additionally, some of the men were hanging out at James' room for more San Miguel beer. Then they all decided to go swimming in the pool. Described by Allan Dolores' wife Tonette, as a "monk's convention". That's because most guys are "baldy" naman gud. Ha ha!
Evening Event By 7 pm, we were back at the Allegro Restaurant in our Hawaiian attire. Joanne started the event with fun and games with the children. First was the takyan contest using paper balls followed by the plastic balloon-blowing contest. The hands-down winner goes to Tessie Santos-Tecson's lovely daughter Trix who was in fact the grand winner for both contests - it helps to be local to really know how to play this game. Photo below are the kids involved with the plastic balloon contest.
Dinner was served at around 7:30 pm with prayers led by our beloved Nieva Jarina. As we were filling ourselves with more local foods, James, our comedian for the night delivered impromptu jokes and funny stories. Then it was the adults turn for fun and games. The plastic balloon contest was won by Lida, the polvoron eating contest won by our dear Alberto Velez, who thanked us all for giving him "the opportunity" to play the game. In the meantime, we were also voting for special awards. And the winners were (drum roll please):
Tessie and her husband, Ted, won the newspaper dance contest (I guess winning contests runs in their family). Thanks to the other couples who really tried their best to win this contest. Better luck next time guys.
What would a party be without the ubiquitous Videoke? I was surprised to hear the professional alto and baritone voices of Lemuel, Emilio, and Ronnie. Lemuel sang so well that Jojing came up to him and wiped off the sweat from his face and forehead. She accidentally lifted his always-present baseball cap displaying his clean but very shiny head - ooops! Jojing had you kept that hat off much longer, I'm sure Lemuel would definitely have won the HIV award. Ha ha.
James Cuenco's lovely wife Jackie blew me away as she sang a wonderful song dedicated to all of us. (Mas maayo pa gud and iyang tingug ni Celine Dion.) Allan's son Matthew also displayed his musical talent and sang "Eye of the Tiger. Yeay Matt! We kept on singing through the wee hours of the night and, as I recall the song from Abba entitled "Dancing Queen" was sang numerous times. Yes ladies, we truly were the dancing queens that night. I heard the boys were up until 4 o'clock the next morning, while the girls retired to catch up on their beauty sleep. Day 3 - Reunion Recreational Activity Continued June 28, 2003, Maribago Beach Resort Yes, this was the last day of the reunion. After the previous day's marathon of talking, laughing, singing and teasing, some of us took our time relaxing while others went for a swim in the pool and at the beach. Some of the gang resumed gathering back at the restaurant for a light breakfast and yet even more gossip.
By lunchtime, we all assembled at the live seafood Sunset Cove restaurant located by the beach overlooking the open sea. This was when we all had to share our intimate crushes in high school. While some could not recall whom their crushes were exactly , a few of us had so many that it was impossible to keep track of all of them. For the boys, it was a unanimous vote; Susie Solano was their dream girl. Unfortunately, most of the girls were still too shy to admit who their crushes are from our batch. Naturally, a few of the girls did admit on having a crush on Manuel "Cadot" Mercado. Although, didn't Suzy and Cadot have a short fling in high school? Go figure!
The reunion was truly worth attending. The past 25 years seemed to have disappeared once we were all together. We all had a great time and seeing everyone once again created an even stronger bond than the one we already shared in high school. It was indeed wonderful to reacquaint with everybody. Promising to have another reunion in 5 years, we all hugged each other and said our quick goodbyes. Till next reunion, we all bid each other adieu. |
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