Flashbacks - PHS Graduation Ceremonies
The first indication was friend Tess Ibay's text message saying high school batchmate and friend Rey Vergara has been recommended to be the guest speaker for the 2008 PHS graduation ceremony come April 2. In my haste, I sent Rey a text message and told him of the good news. I think it may be his sense of humility surfacing when he said he's not ready. Perhaps after five years or so, then he should be ok to do it. I told him his speech in Bagac welcoming the UP College of Fine Arts seemed ok to me.
I figured the pride of JASHS Class '70 is at stake here so I sent text messages to the rest of our friends telling them to convince Rey. At the same time I also sent an eMail telling our friends abroad of the news. Dan Garcia sent me a text reply and said he'll do it if Rey refuses!!
To shorten this story a bit, Mrs. Macaspac, the high school principal personally went to Rey's office in Manila and talked him into doing it. It turned out Lita Manalastas have already been informed and has agreed she'll be the guest speaker for the morning ceremonies. Mike E. told me they sent her an eMail and she'll be coming all the way from Rome. There are so many seniors graduating every year that they have to split the event - one group in the morning and the second in the afternoon, hence, the need for two guest speakers.
The morning of April 2nd I asked the principal what time we need to be there so we can watch Lits deliver her speech. I didn't want to go too early and wait while they call the names of hundreds of young graduates. I didn't realize that there'll be rush hour traffic on the way, not to mention parking problems when we got to the Bren Guiao Convention Center. Tonette and Marilyn met us there. We got inside, Lits was already at the tail end of her speech. And here was Tess showing us the way towards the stage. It felt good and embarassing at the same time to sit at the stage behind all of the distinguished guests. I mean what are the chances of having two guest speakers from the same batch. Understandably, we were beaming with pride!
Mike's cousin was among the graduates as well as Cindy's son. Cindy had another daughter who graduated but I didn't catch her in the crowd.
Lunch was served at nearby Bulwagan right after the morning ceremonies. We were a bit late going to lunch because the traffic going out of the parking lot was just horrendous, this with the help of one of the school's security officer directing Lita's Mom who was behind the wheel.
They seated us in the table with Lita's parents in the middle of the hall along with the class valedictorian and his Mom.
We sort of skipped most of the names being called in the afternoon ceremonies. But we did listen to Rey's speech before taking off.
Rey invited us for dinner at Fortune's restaurant. So we dropped Lits off at their place in Angeles so she can relax a bit. I think she came from Europe the day before and she was still feeling some jet lag. Her parents went home right after lunch.
Mike as usual was able to invite more people namely Alan, and Elena. Dan Garcia even made it. That was a fun after party at Fortune's. I bet we were the loudest table there. Here was Rey explaining why he had so many children!
Tonette brought some exotic dessert - sweetened dried camyas. They tasted a bit like raisins.
But of course the restaurant provided us with their regular dessert which most of the girls rejected and requested boochie(?) instead. The waiter said it'll take a few minutes to prepare them which was alright with us since we're in no hurry to say goodbye to each other as yet.
But of course all good things come to an end some time. But I think it took us almost half an hour saying goodbye outside the restaurant. It was indeed a memorable night and a memorable day for JASHS Class '70!
I figured the pride of JASHS Class '70 is at stake here so I sent text messages to the rest of our friends telling them to convince Rey. At the same time I also sent an eMail telling our friends abroad of the news. Dan Garcia sent me a text reply and said he'll do it if Rey refuses!!
To shorten this story a bit, Mrs. Macaspac, the high school principal personally went to Rey's office in Manila and talked him into doing it. It turned out Lita Manalastas have already been informed and has agreed she'll be the guest speaker for the morning ceremonies. Mike E. told me they sent her an eMail and she'll be coming all the way from Rome. There are so many seniors graduating every year that they have to split the event - one group in the morning and the second in the afternoon, hence, the need for two guest speakers.
The morning of April 2nd I asked the principal what time we need to be there so we can watch Lits deliver her speech. I didn't want to go too early and wait while they call the names of hundreds of young graduates. I didn't realize that there'll be rush hour traffic on the way, not to mention parking problems when we got to the Bren Guiao Convention Center. Tonette and Marilyn met us there. We got inside, Lits was already at the tail end of her speech. And here was Tess showing us the way towards the stage. It felt good and embarassing at the same time to sit at the stage behind all of the distinguished guests. I mean what are the chances of having two guest speakers from the same batch. Understandably, we were beaming with pride!
Mike's cousin was among the graduates as well as Cindy's son. Cindy had another daughter who graduated but I didn't catch her in the crowd.
Lunch was served at nearby Bulwagan right after the morning ceremonies. We were a bit late going to lunch because the traffic going out of the parking lot was just horrendous, this with the help of one of the school's security officer directing Lita's Mom who was behind the wheel.
They seated us in the table with Lita's parents in the middle of the hall along with the class valedictorian and his Mom.
We sort of skipped most of the names being called in the afternoon ceremonies. But we did listen to Rey's speech before taking off.
Rey invited us for dinner at Fortune's restaurant. So we dropped Lits off at their place in Angeles so she can relax a bit. I think she came from Europe the day before and she was still feeling some jet lag. Her parents went home right after lunch.
Mike as usual was able to invite more people namely Alan, and Elena. Dan Garcia even made it. That was a fun after party at Fortune's. I bet we were the loudest table there. Here was Rey explaining why he had so many children!
Tonette brought some exotic dessert - sweetened dried camyas. They tasted a bit like raisins.
But of course the restaurant provided us with their regular dessert which most of the girls rejected and requested boochie(?) instead. The waiter said it'll take a few minutes to prepare them which was alright with us since we're in no hurry to say goodbye to each other as yet.
But of course all good things come to an end some time. But I think it took us almost half an hour saying goodbye outside the restaurant. It was indeed a memorable night and a memorable day for JASHS Class '70!
posted by reyjay @ 5:02 PM
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