As I enter the hall, I have seen every lady well dressed, very elegant and suiting perfectly for this evening. Every gentleman wearing their best coats , having their best smiles for each lady they see. I can see everyone is at their best. I can't help but remmber the experiences that we have shared over the 10 months of our senior life. There are events that break and bind us that made us the ladies and gentlemen that we are now. These memories captured and saved for us to remember for another history to be unfolded.
I believe that high school life is the best and most colorful part of everyone's life. For almost all of the first happened during these times. Whether it's personal or group experiences.
It was our first time to Earthaven, here in this picture was Mark Ezekiel Apigo, his “ate” and most of his closest friends called him “makmak.” My so called "nak" a dear friend of mine, who'd always lend me his shoulder for me to cry on, enlightens my doubts and made me laugh. The best Beast a Belle can ever have. I don't think if he still remember what he told me that really touched my heart "mas panatag ako pag sayo ako nag kkwento." It's simply sweet. Here comes the most famous among the four, Jan James Anchete, our Manny Pacquiao. Every time Graceans Staffers gather together for a snack after an activity, this man would eat his share plus an extra meal, take note, “di pa siya busog nun.” And everyone would agree that he had a very, very big appetite. Maybe this asset is the reason why we and his Jinky Pacquiao liked him. The next one is our batch’s “Ninja turtle”, because of his posture, but he was often chosen to take the main role of our High school plays. The one with a great sense of humor and an excellent talent in music is no other than John Anjo Esportuno. Lastly is my English buddy. A quiet guy, that never speak unless asked or teased, known for his 3-points shooting skill, our batch’s Rico Yan is Robert Untalan. This picture was taken during our JS promenade a year ago. If I were to compare the powerpuff girls into reality it would only be these solid BFF ladies. The first is known for her “intrimitida” side. I remember when we were at our 4th grade, whenever she recited she would almost took half of our time. Most often teased because of her slight dark complexion, Pacman’s most special girl Ma. Kristina Clores. The next is one of my daughters here in school, known for her angelic face, petite body AND height, the cute little girl who wishes to be a famous gourmet chef, our batch’s ate nique is Monica Manzo. The last girl in the picture is well known in our batch, she is beautiful, responsible, intelligent and a shallow hearted one. She tends to hit me as she laughs back on our younger years. She was called as Meh, Sis, President, ma’am dep, merose, joan, bhem and lifetime, our idol and beloved NATRE Mary Rose Joan Palad. The next girl belongs to their group (ppg),she owned a beautiful voice and face, she’s athletic, a leader though she does’t want to accept such responsibilties and an acheiver in many many ways. She’s a joker, though she finds jokes on others mistakes(nakakatawa talaga pag siya ang pumuna), she had great courage and ankhs, that create fears to our other classmates, an adviser she used to advice me on my problems(madalas love life), and a true friend I would always remember this pharse she told her bestfriend Meh during a friendly argument “alis ka na, di kita kawalan no, kamatayan lang!”, she undergone trials in her personal life that made her stronger this I know made her stronger and better our batch’s “sexy mama” Shaira Mae Pelle.
He is famous and marked of his immeasurable ankhs, a total bad guy image is what he has. But in him lies a hopeless romantic side. A traditional gentleman, his surname creates a blank face on our teachers especially guidance councilor, but really Kenneth Gallardo is sweet and nice. Next is a lovely lady, the girl with nice legs, a perfect height for a model. She is lazy at times but funny as well, I remember mangoes when I got to hear her name, better ask her why, a bubbly girl but simple she is Lovely Lira Manarang. When I hear the word “kikay” only one name comes in my mind, the girl who knows how to carry her self and project, she lives with ankhs too, a true blown fashionista, my “shalie baby” is Elisha Ejera. From a kikay let’s meet a real dancer. Born with natural grace and fun to be with, she always had the perfect smile in front of the camera, scripted, making it perfect but very unique she is Jennica Ritual. The gentleman in the middle was known as a story maker, well not for gossips but for literary works, a good script writer. He also owned a title, it was given to him back on our grade school, he said Jose Rizal is still alive and was hiding somewhere in Mt. Banahaw. This gave him an impression as weird. But the weird guyt is actually the sweet Ivan Jonnah Carpio. Next is a very shy lady, She’s chubby yet sweet, friendly and bubbly. But she once made me cry, we were on our 4th grade that time, and we have the same school service a tricycle, I always wanted to take the backseat, but she never let me, I m so upset. I admire her for being strong despite of all the criticisms thrown to her. A real fighter: Leah Rose Adriano. From a fighter let’s go to another graceful dancer, with great poise and pretty face. She used to be one of the boys when we were still at our grade school, I would always remember our girl scout times where we had been groupmate, that brought as closer specially during a scout play where we are asked to act like were addicts, we bothnenjoyed that. I saw her bloom from an amazona into a swan. The ever graceful swan is Kiara Lovelia Aring. Let’s now meet my BF. My best guy friend, I used to admire his hair when we were seatmates during our 6th grade, he got mad at me when I tried to destroy his ever georgeous hair, that almost killed me, but more than his hair is his inborn funny side. He is also sweet but also remarkably lazy and sleepy. It was sometimes fun to have a guy friend who does not treat you as a gal friend. My Mr. left no other than Norberto Palma Jr.
The next slide shows a great group, the Bayot Boys. They are called as such but the truth is they are all men who are gay with kind hearts. Leading them is this very funny guy. He has this killer smile with matching cute dimples. He is macho at times that made him the kuya of the batch, my HBC but the sweetest landscape for his bilog. He is Rozano Roi Mamaid. Next is this little guy who tends to be quit for most of the times but breaks the silence with his destructive “banat”. He is known as our batch’s holiest, Pope as we call him, he is John Paul Baruela. The next guy is known to be weak for he gets sick really easy other than being the huggable Jollibee. But for me, he is “simple bumanat pero tumatatak” I remembered, I was so upset that time, a familiar heart break, he stood in front of me with his friends and said “Ano Joy, babalik ka naba sakin?” so sweet. Stella’s father, the sweetest weak guy I ever met Carl Aaron Lacson. Do you know whose bheb of my life? A very naughty guy, who has his own “pangungulit” way, I bet, everyone would agree to that. I remember during our MAPEH class, he was used to start Mr. de Vera’s day with a slight irritation, he said he can’t hold a single position even for a while. He is mostly punished because of that, but still he manages to smile and ask for a sincere apology, my baby boy Mark Joseph Cariaga. For the Garnet class, what name would you think when you heard an intense voice and felt his unbreakable presence? This guy never fails to surprise us with his jokes that even the most irritated teacher would laugh. Maybe childish for now, but for sure a matured guy will come soon. The late bloomer is Joemel Lagarteja. This next weird guy touched my heart unexpectedly, through the times I never thought he’ll be there he showed up, a hero from behind. He is funny but most often misinterpreted by others. Still he is my most wanted extra, Carl Martin Olivar. Next is an emo kid in fashion. At first he’s quiet, but on the latter part he learned how to express himself, the best Menandro of the Ruby’s Florante at Laura play is Gj Mariano. The Garnet’s stick man, do you know who he is? He is quite unnoticeable. I remember when we were 3rd year, his mother approached me and asked where his class is, forgetting his classmate I pointed the other section’s room, and I am not able to notice it until I saw him inside our room, I was the class mayor at that time. Anyway he would always be a friend to all of us. This guy is no other than Julius Anthony Alacapa. When it comes to visual arts another name reign, he rocks with his silence. At first I thought he is a white empty shell. I never knew him ‘till the first time we had a talk. He has his funny side, he seldom talks but is not hesitant to smile back, he is Sheriff Bangcola. From a white man, let’s go to a so called “tall, dark and handsome,” maybe? He is often teased as flat tops and side burns. But he was always able to find a way to cheer himself up. Meet the hunk, Jefferson Villaruel.
From a hunk let’s go to a hippy dancer. Her own style differs from the others, frank yet very sweet. I would never forget how she scared our entire class back on our 5th grade. It was raining heavily, when suddenly she started crying, then screaming, she was pointing towards a tree that is vividly visible across the street. She said she saw a girl standing at the tip of it, and staring at us. The whole class started screaming, ghostbumps… other than that, Joan Daclan is cool. I can’t find ways to describe this next girl. She’s intelligent as I see her before but choose to change herself for the better. A girl often misunderstood by the others. But honestly she’s sweet and very thoughtful. She was called as Tere, Tets, Tetsie, the girl who owns a distinct megaphone voice is no other than Ma. Teresa Aglipay. When fashion is being talked about only he would be chosen. Elisha’s male version, aside from fashion, I am wondering how he was able to create a very unique poll of alien like creatures and ask us to vote to any of them that would be our bet. That happened to be a trend among us. An epic, aside from that he also had another hobby, he always finds way to make our two batch mates hate each other and create very dramatic scenes, which made me wonder, how’s your uniform mharkie? And your book ivan? He claims to be Rain most of the time but his name is Kevin, John Kevin Subiaco. If our batch has international star, we also have local superstars. Do you know who she is? She is being described as “lampa”, for everytime we have our CAT formation she faints, I also remember when we had our flag retreat she suddenly fainted, the reason “mainit.” Our jessabel: Jessa Kaye Cubelo. Since we’ve talked about “fainting,” I’ll tell you a story. This is during our Buwan ng Wika celebration, we were going to our formation for we were the next group to perform, then all of a sudden this chubby guy fell, he looked up for a while and looked down again. He said he fainted, he never stood until he was assisted. He became famous for his excellent performance during a play entitled “ Kuya Huwag Po!” Have you guessed who he is? He is Mark Macaraeg. From an artist lets go to a choreographer. Her name reign during P.E practicums especially Mass demo. She is often asked to find steps that will fit our dance, a very close friend of mine. She’d changed a lot as I see her now, but a phrase from her reminded me of who she used to be. “kahit kanino ako sumama babalik at babalik ako sayo!” my grade school bestfriend was Sherrilyn Algamon. The next guy I’ll be naming entered the school this year. He was noticed because of his best asset and he was more often teased because of it. I call him “kilay” Garnet calls him “uno” my grandson as he calls me lalola. Man with a very torpe side, despite his very broad sense of humor. He is a very quiet and seemed to be enjoying himself alone. As the days passed, his true self showed he is not really noisy but he would only be silent if his asleep, the guy who owns a very, very, very adorable voice. My “prinsesa” is no other than Christian Louis Pablo. Her age didn’t set a gap from all f us. This lady is very sweet and thoughtful. I admire her long, black and beautifully straight hair. I used to be Garnet’s mommy she is then my one and only “mare”, Amethyst’s mommy, Alina Balando. Everytime I rode any vehicle, especially buses only one name comes out of my mind, a real intelligent guy, responsible and very, very kind, he is also the most matured guy I had ever met in our batch. He is no other than Marvin John Gemino. I admire this girl for her athletic side and admirable height. She is tallest among the race of eve in our batch. Surely “tibag ang babangga.” But amazingly she still had her childish side. She would literally chase you wherever you go whenever she was teased. She is very sweet, really athletic and has an ear for music, she is Ma. Karen de Guzman. This guy is also athletic, a basketball and volleyball varsity. weird guy who is often misinterpreted by others. He used to have a lot of issues with my barkada because of his acts, and his relationship with our dear friend, but he is thoughtful and funny. Sometimes he is described as “ksp” but somehow kind. Noi, Kuya were his nicknames, he is Ernie Fel de Guzman. Mommy is what I call her, but she is called more often as barracks, because of her size. But she is kind, sweet and thoughtful as well. I admire her interest in Math subject, maybe that’s what I did not inherit. She is Janine Manuel. From my mommy let’s talk about my soulmate, our soulmate thing started when we both started to notice our togetherness in terms of tardiness. When I m late he’ll be late for sure this guy completes the Garnet’s gang, his jokes really made us laugh so hard, though sometimes his jokes are the reason why our adviser held us during homeroom for a really long sermon. He is called as Nad, Moy, Daddy lei, Emil, kulots, he is Leinad Emil Asilo. This girl is known to be the holiest among all of us (Garnet), she is really religious. But she never failed to be a part of our every highs and lows, at first I thought she is “kj” but later on I’ve seen that she is also one of us. She is Kelly Clarkson and Dyosa betty as well, because of her braces. She loves green but not the description given to this color, our Dyosa Betty, Mikaela Baguio. At first I thought she is “mataray” but as I talk to hereven for a short time, I felt her friendly side, she is outspoken, that gave her the description as “palaban”, maybe simple but knows how to make herself differ from the others, she is Cristine Jadulan. I admire this guy’s unbelievable voice, he can change and make it sound like someone else’s. He is actually an asset during stage plays. But what is really unforgettable about him is when he betrayed me and all of us because of not attending the play despite of having an important role, but now I can see his sincerity, Rhaine Christian Andres. Next is the one who has an aristic side for visual arts, Riccle de Vera reign the with the title “props and stage director.” I admire this next girl’s patience after all the painful words thrown at her before, she is now stronger and even better. We had always believe that she had an angelic face, maybe not yet noticeable, but surely she is one of the girls who owns a pretty face. The most quiet among my Dosena girls, she is Jenkins Pamintuan. Another from my group, her unique voice is really her asset, a good “kontrabida” for plays, the best “maldita” I’ve ever met, but Stella Eugenio is really sweet and funny. On the other hand, this next boyish friend of mine had already bloomed. She is described as macho before because of her body size, but Arianne Domantay brought fame to our batch because of her achievements in sports, she had won table tennis competitions. We are all proud of her. Next is the shy, quiet and emo girl who is good at literary writings, and other forms of visual arts, she loved writing poems, something that we have in common. We all ,love her except from the fact that she can’t go out with us if not with a chaperone and that used to be her cousin kyla, which sometimes we thought of as a “ka-barkada” because she is more often present in barkada pictures than our other friend kins and yaney, she is Erika Joy Lopez. My next girl friend has a very shallow personality, bubbly though sometimes “mataray,” and for some she’s “kj” because during grade school she’s always asked to write those who are noisy, when she’s being hate she’ll start crying I used to hate her because of that but its destiny that made us friends. She is also a writer that have lots of ideas, she’s an actress and also has an ear for music. Multitalented, she’s as wacky as my other crazy friends are and she’s a good companion. The very sweet, sensitive, thoughtful and loving Angelica dela Cruz of our batch, Rosemary dela Cruz. A bestfriend is what I have in him, a guy I can talk to, the joker I can laugh with, an adviser I can share my experiences with and a protector. Whenever I m in trouble, with those people teasing me and literallt threatens me, I would just call him and ask for help, he would then threaten that person that used to be either Leah or Martin. His a real rocker, my “dougs” Kevin Douglas Secillano. Next is our batch’s best singer. The groups baby and funny girl, she is also bulol. I mostly remember her whenever I see someone hunting for mosquitoes, that made me laugh really hard, I m sure she knows why. It is her that has the most missed pronounce word in our group and really funny stories, the reason why it is really sad when she’s not around. The small but terrible Marvie Joy Manzo. Next is my craziest “apo,” I always see her wearing fancy pony tails and high straight bangs when were at our grades school, now she preferred having it all laid back and only side bangs. Being with her had never been boring, whenever I see baby boys, I remember her because she love young ones, she claims that they are her boyfriends. Sometimes childlike that made her adventourous, the lovely Lesdy May Mendoza. The next girl came from a family of singers, no wonder she also had beautiful voice. I remember during our grade school fieldtrips she always send me her food sealed even I m on a distant part of the bus, then she’ll tell me to eat them first. I never ate my “baon” because of her, reallygenerous. She left before our second year in highschool, I thought our friendship won’t make it, but it did, when she came back the friendship is much stronger, the reason why we are “the Dosena” , the srong friend of mine Michelle Joy Tiongson. Next is the last but definitely not the last among the guys. An intelligent guy, a gentleman, a playboy as her sister described her and also sweet. I don’t remember how we became friends but I’ll always remember how he made me laugh so hard with his jokesand “bulol” accent and how he made me feel special before. He had thought me a lot of things, things that I’ll cherish as well as our friendship, he is Kenny Homerson Gabia. Next is a very special Indonesian/ spanish friend. An athletis and intelligent girl, who claims to be a dancer, an actress and a singer. A living stationarynas they described her. I’ll always remember her routine of taking 30 minutes whenever she’s in the powder room, because she can’t put powder on her face alone. Do you remember how we choreographed our “Cabarret” dance, that time I felt that our frienship would be sronger even if I hardly understand your words, hahaha.. My best, (nglathys) Gladys Resurreccion. Next is the best “bulol” ever. Crazy is the only word that can describe her. I remember during our first grade, whenever our class is noisy we used to hide inside the comfort room we talk about nonsense things and laugh as we wait for our teacher. She is never sweet but really thoughtful, the proof? During our 5th grade while were passing the schools uncovered court, a ball suddenly hit my face, I was wondering why I m hit when its her who’s closer to the court side, it is because she saw the ball coming she bent inorder not to be hit, but didn’t bother to tell me, well I still love her despite that. Always true but sometimes weak, she is my best gal for 10 years Marion Ann Apigo. Lastly the girl they used to described as kind. They find her a teaser, and the girl who loves being late. But best described as friendly. They often call her “nay,”sexy “ and ”mommy daph”. She is no other than the girl who brought back the memories each and everyone of you had shared, revealed the history that our batch will leave as we go along and fulfill our prophecy. For every story ended another story begins. Thank you and a pleasant evening to all of us.
Friends, batchmates thank you for a very wonderful grade school and highschool that we all had shared. For all our highs and downs, our trips, plays, winnings and loses, sadness and happiness. With you I know I grew up to be a better person, as we go along our separate ways it is very sweet to think that we all shared the same rooms and beloved school making our friendship strong through all the trials we all together had been through. Finding that at the end of the day it is great to even at the very busy college life we are able to go and have the same bonding time we had back at the time we are still and forever will be GRACEANS. Love lots………..
By: Daphne Padilla
