Rene Cerdena

Rene and I used to eat together in high school with our lunch consisting of steamed rice and whatever's available, a slice of fried bangus, some tocino or a couple of hard boiled eggs perhaps but always wrapped in banana leaves. It's usually prepared early in the morning before we went to school but looking back, a couple of things always amazes me; a) it never spoils, b) the flavor of banana wrapped rice smells and tastes oh so good. Ahh, those long ago memories!

His business card from Ferris State University (FSU) - College of Arts and Sciences, reads:
Renato L. Cerdena, Ph.D
Professor of Geography

I Googled FSU and I was pleasantly surprised to see his picture when I clicked 'Faculty and Staff'.

For some reason, I cannot imagine this guy with a Ph.D being the same person that I went to high school with. He's always been one of the smart ones. But then again, I was fortunate to be accidentally included with our batch's cream of the crop. Smart can't even begin to describe their abilities, with forte in every subject, be it Algebra, English, Geometry, you name it and they excel.

Last week, I received a text message saying Rene's in town from Big Rapids, Michigan. And a get-together was promptly organized. It was decided that we'd meet at Bale Capampangan for breakfast. I was grumbling because 7 a.m. is a bit too early for me doing any activity other than walking. But it was Rene whom we haven't seen in a while. Basically, they were waiting for us when we arrived so they started queueing for food. Bale Capampangan is an all-you-can-eat restaurant located in Dolores which serves a typically Capampangan menu.

Fortunately for us, the restaurant was pretty much deserted probably because of all the rain or perhaps the restaurant's customers went to join the throng of Filipinos to witness the interment of former President Cory Aquino. Incidentally the restaurant's owners Jon Castro and his wife Jen did go to Manila that day to be part of the historic event.

It was a typical high school get-together, a lot of reminiscing but now mostly talking about aches and pains and all kinds of medications most of us are taking not to mention classmates with grandchildren. In fact, Ned's wife Imelda (Baby) didn't make it because she's watching her apo! During our previous meeting Donna produced an original Pampangan, our Class '70 Annual. Willy took it and got it reproduced. Of course, everyone was so busy looking to find out how we looked like 39 years ago!

They even convinced Romy Rodriguez, a local Capampangan poet laureat to get up and recite a verse or two. While we were having our pictures taken, I went and shot a video of Romy.

Pardon my pictures, there's insufficient lighting in the restaurant and I have an el cheapo digicam.

Standing from left to right are: Romy, Rene, Mike, Teng, Willy, Ned and myself
Seated from L to R: Susan, Racquiel, Elena and Donna
Teng's wife Roxy was the one who took this picture, I believe.






Rene looked like he's lost a lot of weight since the last time we saw him.

Felicisima D. Maniago

I mentioned on a comment on Facebook, "I noticed I've been putting way too much time on Facebook, but then I asked myself, SO WHAT?"

Some of the perks of retirement, do whatever, whenever! One minor consequence, however, is that it distracts me a bit from blogging. I had to force myself to log out of Facebook right now so I can post my updates.

Talk about Facebook, for those of you who've been living in a cave for the last few months, it's a social networking site not unlike Friendster but I find it a bit more user friendly. It's cool because I'm able to re-connect, among others, with former co-workers (Sharon Mislang, Raul delos Santos, Jo-Ann Chubb - and soon Barbara Biggs) and high school classmates (Jess Cuyugan and Nestor Simbulan). For those of you on Friendster, wonder no more why you never see me in there.

FELICISIMA DAVID MANIAGO
(Aug 6, 1913 - Sept 20, 1993)

My Mom got diagnosed with cancer the day my Dad passed away in California in 1987. She was given 6 months to live because supposedly with her cancer in the mouth being so close to the brain. At the time, my physician Uncle, Dr. Aquino (her cousin), was in the US. I can't recall whether he was there to visit his daughter or on a conference. But he told us to take her home and he'll try to prolong her life with his chelation therapy. True to his words, she lived 6 more years after her initial diagnosis. The last year of her life, however, she spent in and out of hospitals for surgeries and various treatments. Ironically, by this time Dr. Aquino has already passed away - before her.

Today, in spite of the pouring rain, Donna and I went to her grave site, next to my Dad's, at the Good Shepherd Memorial Park in Dolores, CSFP and we prayed the Rosary under our umbrellas. She would have been 96.
I miss her a lot.

Below is an old family picture courtesy of my niece Leilani-Maniago Giles taken during her 18th birthday which would make it circa 1993, (perhaps a few months before she passed away?).


And below are their portraits done by my brother Rafael.




Their graves should look better. In fact I've had Ramiro layer them with blue grass sod and I'm having him go back to weed it out.